why he does it

"For Andrew Bordoni, a private guitar teacher in St. Charles, music is more than just entertainment. It's a tool that can help better the world."

So begins an article in today's paper on my husband's student concert and fundraiser for the community of Taurage, Lithuania. I couldn't have written a better lead.

Last weekend Andrew pulled off a concert/recital that featured a dozen of his guitar students strumming, picking and shredding their well-practiced tunes with a full backing band. Playing everything from the Beatles and the Blues Brothers to Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, these kids (and a few adults) rocked the house (or our church's fellowship hall, as it were). The concert also included a silent auction to benefit our sister church and orphanage in Taurage, which raised about $2,000.

My husband had never been on a "missions trip," but a couple of years ago, he was (gently) coerced by our associate pastor at the time to go and visit the orphanage and see firsthand the work of the Taurage UMC, dubbed "The Little Church That Helps" by locals and government officials. Andrew was so moved by the beauty of the children coupled with the absolute hopelessness they face. And he can't get them out of his heart.

Lithuania currently has the highest rate of suicides in the world. Most children in the orphanages have at least one living parent and are, thus, unavailable for adoption. In many cases, the extremely poor economy has made it impossible for parents to keep their children, or the parents have left the country in search of work and left their children behind. It's devastating. And Andrew is all about nurturing whatever hope these kids have left.

Because he overcame an incredibly difficult and painful childhood, my husband believes in the impossible. The kids (and adults) on his student roster get the benefit of his passion as well. He teaches students with developmental delays, social disorders and autism. One mom told me, with tears in her eyes, that her son's response to lessons with Andrew has been a complete miracle.

A former student, now studying music in college, recently wrote about Andrew, "Some people are blessed with talent. Others are blessed with the ability to teach. Andrew is blessed with both."

My husband could probably find a salaried job somewhere. Or he could be out on the road with a band 300 days a year (as he's quite the genius guitar player himself). Instead, he uses his gifts and channels his passions to change lives. In my humble opinion, nothing could be better.

{photos by Tom Nicol}