In Albania there are many examples of a single life having a positive impact on countless others. The ripples of goodness run wide here. Following Divine Liturgy and an afternoon meeting with OCMC missionaries, I was taken to the home of Kristo – a man who, even after his passing, still affects the lives of many in Albania.

Thirty minutes to the northwest of Tirana, on the outskirts of Durres, lies Shen Vlash. Originally a monastery, Shen Vlash was one of the first targets of the Communists in the 1960s. The monastery has since been rebuilt. Today, it is a beacon of truth to a nation, and it is also now home to two of the Church's most fruitful ministries – Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and the Children’s Home of Hope.

Did I mention that Albanians LOVE coffee? Today I learned why. The cafes that can be found on nearly every block of the city in Tirana are a fantastic and relaxed atmosphere in which people can talk with friends or get to know new ones.

An environment that encourages the free exchange of thoughts and ideas, a system that welcomes challenge of the status quo and self-exploration, and a belief that dreams can actually come true is a mindset that many of us take for granted in the United States. I certainly did until today.

“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.

This blog is about missions and missionary work. So let's start with that. What is missions? What does it mean to do missionary work? Where, and how?

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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