Fr David Subu, member of the OCA Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministries, leads a group of OCF Real Break participants at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala

Click here to see photos from all the trips

Boston, MA — This spring, while hundreds of thousands of college students flocked to spring break hot-spots such as Cancun and Ft. Lauderdale, 102 Orthodox college students opted for dramatically different destinations. These students chose to spend their week away from school pressures serving those less fortunate. Real Break, the spring break alternative program of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) had another record breaking year, with eight teams working in five different locations. They served the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala, Project Mexico, the Aleutian village of Eklutna, Alaska, Raphael House in San Francisco and St. George the Martyr Monastery in Greece.

Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala hosted two teams, who experienced the love and hope of over 150 children living there. Real Break returned to Project Mexico with three trips, where the teams completed three buildings to be used as housing for Project Mexico’s summer groups. The Orthodox young people also spent valuable time with the 18 boys of St. Innocent Orphanage. In the serene landscape of Alaska, a world away from the tropical beaches where many of their classmates were spending their week, a team built a new floor for St. Nicholas Church. In Karditsa, Greece, the students worked on a monastery landscaping project, while witnessing the vibrant expressions of Orthodoxy of the surrounding community and monasteries. Real Break also returned to San Francisco to help serve food and maintain facilities at Raphael House, a shelter for homeless families.

The intent of the program is to impact our Orthodox college students with the life-changing experience of living a full Orthodox lifestyle. Elyse Pickwick, a sophomore from Eastern Kentucky University reflected on her experience in Greece: “I have been influenced in so many ways – my focus was put into perspective. I realized its ok to change your plans for no other reason but GOD!”

Now in its fifth year, Real Break has had 340 students participate, with 2004 the biggest year, seeing a 50% increase in participation. Fr. Michael Nasser, Executive Director of OCF stated, “Real Break has become one of the most important experiences a student can choose to take. The time spent in these amazing places changes the student for life, spiritually and mentally, ultimately bringing them closer to Christ.”

Each Real Break provides alternatives to "traditional" spring breaks for Orthodox college students, and gives them instead a full Christian experience of fellowship and service to others. The program provides opportunities for spiritual growth with one-on-one interaction with a priest accompanying each group. Each participant is asked to raise the funds for their trip, with donors becoming a part of each participant’s experience as photos and stories are shared upon their return. Excess funds are distributed directly to the location. This year over $30,000 will be given to these locations’ ministries on behalf of the students and their donors.

For more information about Real Break visit http://realbreak.ocf.net