Russia
October 22, 2010
This mission gave me a greater understanding of what it means to be human, and a deeper understanding of love. We worked with the neglected elderly and orphans in Vladivostok, who have no one to defend their dignity and no one to show them love, and with the children of the poorest and dirtiest neighborhoods, who longed for attention and meaning. In their pain, suffering, and neglect, we encountered the passion of Christ, and He taught us that His love transcends language, it fulfills all longings, and it overcomes all weaknesses. In the chaos and brokenness of Russia, we found the light of Christ reaching out and overwhelming the darkness.
-Former FOCUS Mission volunteer
Dates: July 15th-August 2nd*
Trip Director: Mike Guenther
Mission Co-Leaders: Michael Selenski, Jessica Connelly, Melissa Weeder
Amount to Fundraise: $3900*
Under communist rule, the practice of Christianity was illegal in Russia. Now, in the post-Cold War era, the people of Russia are still recovering from oppression. Come bring the hope of Christ to them on this summer Mission!
On this mission you will catechize the youth of Russia who are longing for a Christ-like example of love and mercy. We will be working with Fr. Myron Effing, an American priest who has been in Russia for an extended period of time. He has helped found an order of priests to minister in Russia and played a key effort in re-evangelizing the post-communist community in Vladivostok. Fr. Myron’s parish feeds meals to 40-50 children from single-family homes each week. Most of these children reside in Soviet-style single room apartments with their parents.
The mission is to put on a summer youth camp for the children in the wilderness of Lesovovodsk, showing them what it truly means to live a life for Christ. Come impact the future of Russia by ministering to the youth on this 2011 FOCUS Mission!
In addition to running a wilderness camp for the youth, we may be attending the Far East Catholic Youth Conference taking place in the Vladivostok region in the last week of July or first week of August. Our presence at this conference could represent a profound opportunity for Catholic evangelization and solidarity. Our FOCUS Mission team may even have the opportunity to lead sessions at this conference!
*Trip dates and price subject to change
