I am frequently impressed by the things done by youth these days (yes, they do many positive things). When I was in high-school summer was job time. In college, summer was again, job time. Of course, I had no international connections at the time.
One of the youth from our parish, Ryan Erickson, is a student at the University of Chicago, active in the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (the college organization). This summer he is in Georgia (the one that is not to my South) where he is learning Georgian (an amazing feat to me) and assisting in hospital settings. He is a pre-med student. His trip is under the auspices of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship. There are many activities such as this available each year – one of my daughters went to Guatemala for Spring Break one year to help in an orphanage. Again, I am more than impressed by such youth – I am in awe.
I offer a link to Ryan’s website. Keep up with him and ask God’s blessings on young people whose idea of a summer vacation is serving others around the world.
Glory to God for All Things 
June 28, 2007 at 9:15 am
The Photo is one of Ryan’s. It is of a Church built in honor of King David the Builder.
June 28, 2007 at 11:46 am
“one of my daughters went to Guatemala for Spring Break one year to help in an orphanage.”
Hogar Raphael, by chance?
June 28, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Absolutely. She came back speaking more Spanish than the average student with a year under their belt. Gifted ear for language. She also became godmother to child there. What an incredible place.
June 29, 2007 at 1:29 am
Thank you for the information on Ryan and the link to his page.
And yes, many young people put my wasted years to shame. He has my prayers.
June 29, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Small world. At my former parish in Pittsburgh there was at least 7 children that had been adopted from Hogar Raphael, with an extended network within 150 miles that included about 20 children from there. They have mini-reunions, as many of the kids are related.
One of the nuns from Hogar Raphael visits my former parish regularly to raise cash. If any of your readers is feeling philanthropic and is seeking a worthy cause, they should take a look at this orphanage.