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Published by
Project Mexico,
November 3, 2004
Orthodox Volunteers Build Record Number of
Homes
Thirteen Needy Mexican Families Receive
Homes |
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Thanks to the overwhelming number of
volunteers, Project Mexico, a pan-Orthodox
ministry, was able to build thirteen homes - a
record number for needy families in the Tijuana,
Mexico area this summer.
“This year we were able to build more
homes than ever for a number of reasons,” explains
Founder and Executive Director of Project Mexico
Gregory Yova. “We now have larger and more
permanent sleeping quarters for our volunteers
that replace the tents we were using. We acquired
more tools and equipment. We scheduled more groups
this summer, and actually had two different work
groups working on two different homes at the same
time.”
Nearly 400 individuals from more than
35 parishes from all jurisdictions in the United
States and Canada worked on home sites scattered
throughout the Tijuana area. Those families
receiving the homes usually experience terrible
living conditions such as dirt floors and
cardboard walls. The Project Mexico homes, which
are built without the use of power tools, are
about the size of a typical American family room.
The two-room homes have two windows, one door, a
concrete floor and stud walls.
One family was living in a very
unsanitary environment. Anilu and Julio were
renting a room in a complex where the landlord
cared for and butchered animals. The waste and
butchered carcasses were strewn on the ground near
the family’s rented room. Living in these
conditions was causing the children, 4 year old
Cesar and 2 year old Naydelin, to become sick.
Their doctor told them they must move if their
children were to get well. Anilu and Julio had
been praying for several months for a house,
especially since Anilu was expecting their third
child in August. Project Mexico was able to build
a home for the family in a more suitable
neighborhood. Their new home means the
children-and new baby-will live healthier, safer
lives.
Another family desperately in need of
a home included Raul and Virginia, their 4 year
old son Jorge and Raul’s 67 year old father Jorge.
The four of them were living in a camper that
would normally fit in the bed of a pick-up truck.
The camper was placed on the unstable road because
their land was not level enough for the camper.
The home Project Mexico built has dramatically
improved their situation and has helped this good
family take a giant step forward.
Equally profound is the experience for
the young volunteers. Fr. Michael Kallaur, rector
of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has brought teen groups
to Project Mexico for the past eight years, and
says, “When teens leave their comfort zone and are
confronted with the poverty of this third world
country, it makes an impression on them. They
realize their small contributions make an
important difference especially in the life of the
family they are helping. The experience at Project
Mexico encourages these young people to become
more involved in their parish community. The
experience snowballs into something bigger and is
an important building block in their lives.”
One teen volunteer reflected, ”I now
have a zeal to do more and I will definitely
change my lifestyle.” Another volunteer remarked,
“I now look forward to answering God’s call to
help others.”
Mr. Yova is pleased to see the
interest so many Orthodox teens have in the
ministry of Project Mexico. “We hope to continue
bringing as many good people as want to come and
give of themselves to help the poor,” Mr. Yova
says. “From the very beginning my goal was to
bring as many people as possible to Mexico to have
this experience,” he explains. “It changed my life
and I was certain that it would affect others
equally. More young people coming to volunteer
mean more poor families who get a giant boost
forward. It also means more young Orthodox are
touched by giving of themselves. The ripple effect
is that people go home more aware of those in
need, more eager to help, more thankful for what
they have, and more appreciative of what our
Church has to offer.”
Since 1988, Project Mexico has
involved over 6,900 young people in the
alleviation of suffering by building homes for
Mexico's poor. In 1996 outreach expanded through
the opening of St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage
which provides a home for teenaged boys who live
on the streets or who have been put out of other
orphanages. Project Mexico and St. Innocent
Orphanage are unique because they have been
envisioned, designed, built, and operated by the
combined efforts of Orthodox from all
jurisdictions and operates under the blessings of
SCOBA.
More information about Project Mexico and St.
Innocent Orphanage can be found at
www.projectmexico.org.
Above: Father Elias Villis, (back row, left)
rector at Church of Our Savior in Rye, New York
and Father Nicholas Adnruchow, (back row, right)
rector at the Greek Orthodox Mission of Northern
Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona, stand celebrate the
completion of this family’s home. Pictured in the
middle row, from left to right, is Mario, the
father; Elda, the mother, holding their baby,
Aline; daughter Carla; Elda’s sister Norma, who
lives next door; and Norma’s daughter, Liz. The
boy in the far left of the picture is one of the
neighborhood children who wanted to be included in
the photo!
Above: Rector Fr. Michael Stearns and
volunteers from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox
Church in Fort Worth, Texas and volunteers from
St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Wichita,
Kansas pose in front of the home they built for
the expectant mother Anilu and her husband Julio.
The new home will provide a healthier and safer
environment for the family and new baby.
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