Orphanages!

[ThePilgrim]

I didn't see anything in the rules against making a post like this, so I'm going to go ahead. If this violates some rule, the mods can deal with it as they need to :-)

Basically, the situation is this: This summer, God willing, I'll be doing two trips, one with OCMC and the other with the Ukrainian Archdiocese, to work in Orthodox orphanages. The OCMC trip is to the Hogar in Guatemala (I think a lot of you have probably heard of it) and the Ukrainian one is, well, to the Ukraine.

Each trip will be about three weeks, and we need to raise the money ourselves. Any money we raise above and beyond the base cost goes to the orphanages. I was feeling kind of laid back about it until I read in the latest Word magazine in the article about last year's trip that the Guatemalan orphanage is in danger of losing 70% of its funding and so it's not accepting new children. This makes me want to raise as much above the minimum as possible!

So is anyone here able to contribute? Anything at all would help. Or does anyone know of Orthodox groups or people that regularly contribute to things like this?

The Apostle James says that religion pure and undefiled in the sight of God is "to comfort widows in their distress and to care for orphans." St. Maximos says that theology without action is the theology of demons. Let's show what we, as Orthodox, can do to witness to Orthodoxy in the world! :-)

Grace and peace,
John

P.S. The website for the Guatemalan orphanage is www.hogarafaelayau.org and for the Ukrainian trip it's http://www.ukrainianorthodoxchurchusa.org/news/MissionTrip_2006.shtml

[choirfiend]

I dont know why you couldnt post this here...If anyone wants to contribute, they do so directly to OCMC, but earmarked with your name. If anyone wants to give something, they could just PM you, get your full name, and send in their tax-deductible check, so the money never passes through your hands. Good luck!

[ThePilgrim]

I dont know why you couldnt post this here...If anyone wants to contribute, they do so directly to OCMC, but earmarked with your name. If anyone wants to give something, they could just PM you, get your full name, and send in their tax-deductible check, so the money never passes through your hands. Good luck!

That's a great idea! Hopefully that could make people feel safer about randomly contributing over the internet. Or, failing that, people could send me a check addressed to OCMC or to the Ukrainian Archdiocese, depending on the trip.

I don't care how people contribute, but I've been to orphanages like this and worked in them and seen what they're like... and so I just care that people contribute if they can! This is more important than I can express in words on an internet board.

BTW, it was Grete who got me interested in this :-)

Grace and peace,
John

[choirfiend]

Typically, that is how OCMC requires that people donate. So, it's the way to go.

[ThePilgrim]

Typically, that is how OCMC requires that people donate. So, it's the way to go.

Is it? That's not what they told me, although it does sound like a good idea.

Grace and peace,
John

[choirfiend]

If people want to receive tax-deduction, or generally get proof that their money went to OCMC missions, yes, that's how to do it. It's similar to what you do for RealBreak. If you're taking a cash donation at church, that's different from private checks, and online, you'd most likely be dealing with private checks.

[choirfiend]

PS.giving you a check that is made out to OCMC and "donating directly to OCMC" are the same thing.

[OnTheWay]

I don't see why this would be a problem, the links you give are direct to established Churches. I would imagine if you put your personal pay pal account up there that might be a problem.

[ThePilgrim]

Bump with quick update:

I've been turned down for doing a fundraiser using the campus pool. They said that as a non-profit, they can't allow fundraisers for other charities to be done on their property, which seems weird, since other groups do it all the time. I'm going to try to look for another pool to do it in.

Any help, but especially prayerful help is much appreciated! If anyone can contribute financially, PM me.

In Christ,
John

[graysparrow]

Dear ThePilgrim

I have worked in the field, not in Ukraine though, and I want to tell you that the least of your worries should be about money. It will come, with time.

Now what it should worry you is to prepare yourself

a) Spiritually. Go get a spiritual father NOW. I am deeply serious. Be open to the fact that they will teach you about God.

b) Technically. You should learn some ukrainian and spanish, of course, specially those words which are very kind to the children. Make no mistake: you have to be firm, but orphans love to be pampered (though maybe not in public :) )

[ThePilgrim]

a) Spiritually. Go get a spiritual father NOW. I am deeply serious. Be open to the fact that they will teach you about God.

b) Technically. You should learn some ukrainian and spanish, of course, specially those words which are very kind to the children. Make no mistake: you have to be firm, but orphans love to be pampered (though maybe not in public :) )

Thank you, graysparrow :-) That is excellent advice. It's already, to some degree taken care of. I'm doing the trips under the advice of my spiritual father. In terms of languages, i already speak Russian and Spanish fluently, and am taking a one-on-one course on intensive Ukrainian for Russian speakers, so God willing things should progress quickly. Prayers would be very much appreciated, though :-)

Grace and peace,
John

[graysparrow]

Great :)

Just some more simple rules

1.- Never make promises you are not 100% sure to meet

2.- Don't lie to kids.

3.- (Try) not getting too attached.