“Albania is a place where anything is possible.” These were OCMC Missionary Nathan Hoppe’s words to me as we drove into the capital city of Tirana from the airport. In the hours that followed, I would begin to learn more about how wonderful, and how dreadful, these possibilities may be.

Breaking through the clouds to see the snow-capped mountains of Juneau, Alaska started this Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) mission trip. There was a team of 9 Orthodox Christian volunteers to help the communities of Juneau and Hoonah, Alaska (both churches are St. Nicholas), along with repairing the Hoonah church building. We ranged in age from 19 to 84, and traveled from Florida, Alabama, Indiana and Illinois.

One team member was on her 11th OCMC mission trip in 12 years. Another member was on her third OCMC trip in three years. For the rest of us, it was our first OCMC trip.

OCMC Hoonah, Alaska 2011 Mission Team Experience -

Off to Hoonah. The excitement of finally seeing St. Nicholas Church in Hoonah, Alaska overcame any tiredness from the 5:00am wake-up time, so that we could make it to the ferry During the ferry ride, Fr. Simeon shared his journey to orthodoxy.

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