We were able to go on a service trip to an orphanage in Baja Mexico this past week with A Child’s Hope Foundation and other volunteers. Our good friends the Ludwigs were able to share in this experience with us which was special.
We worked from breakfast to lunch each day, making improvements on the orphanage and then we had free time in the afternoon to go on outings in town or stay and play with the orphans.
This was such a neat experience for our family. Every one of the kids have asked if we can go again soon and they’re all very interested in practicing their Spanish which would’ve made my dad so happy! I’m grateful we were able to connect more with our Mexican roots, and that we were also given a greater appreciation for all the things we have and we were reminded of the things that matter most (people around us and relationships). God’s love for all of his children was very apparent throughout the entire trip and that he doesn't see people the way we do. He looks on the heart, not on the outward appearance or by social class or standing.
A few observations:
We delivered care packages to a few of the families in the community near the orphanage. Their homes were very humble with dirt floors (mud when we were there) and plastic or a sheet as a roof covering, and a wide plank of wood with blankets on top where the family slept. These people were hard working, they were growing crops of food and they were kind and happy.
Toilet paper cannot go in toilets because of the plumbing there, so you must wipe and put toilet paper in waste baskets. You also can’t brush your teeth with sink water, so you’ve got to bring bottled water to the bathroom and brush your teeth with that. Also the shower water in the buildings where we stayed at the orphanage came out like a dribble or tiny stream which quickly and repeatedly changed from freezing cold to scalding hot. I chose not to shower that week.
There are lots of dogs everywhere. Some are pets but many are strays. We found several stray puppies just outside our orphanage which often found their way to the garbage pile to scrounge for food which was hard to watch.
Speaking Spanish is nice but not a necessity. You can still play games, smile, serve and create strong friendships and bonds.
Work and service brings people together and creates strong, loving bonds. We quickly felt like we were family with all the volunteers who came to help and with all the orphans and people there.
Day 1: Monday - arrive, unpack and get situated, play, eat dinner, devoational, bed
Pandito, or Guchi as the kids mostly called her
Day 2: Tuesday-Work and then Ensenada for dinner (and we made a Walmart stop), devotional, bed. If we go again, I'll try to be prepared so we don't have to make a stop at Walmart since that took away from our time in town. But we wanted to get a broom (so much mud and dirt and it was getting all over the floor to our bedroom), some rags, shoes for Charles since he only brought his one working pair and he was working in the mud each day so they got filthy and he didn't have anything to wear in town that wasn't covered in mud or soaking wet. We also got some more snacks, mostly candy.
Dinner at Birrieria La Guadalajara
Day 3: Wednesday- Helping Ludwigs with breakfast, Work, Rosarito (beach, horses, dinner, shopping), devotional (our turn), bed by 10 though usually more like 930
making guacamole to go with the breakfast burritos
elisabeth and annabelle were asked to organize the volunteer kitchen during one of our work days.
This area that the guys are working on would be cement by the end of our trip.
Elote! Delicious!
We ate dinner with everyone at Tacos El Paisano
Day 4: Thursday- Our day for breakfast prep(but we always had lots of help), work, play, get care packages together, pizza dinner
We got a good amount of rain on a couple of days which made our working zone very muddy.
Elisa L brought stuff for the kids to paint. They loved this. We brought stuff to make beaded bracelets or necklaces which they liked too.
They liked jump rope and they really liked 4 square. They were playing this constantly. Next time we come we'll need to bring another 4 square ball.
Normally on the last night we have a fiesta with a pinata and we'll have a soccer game. But because of the cold and rain we couldn't do either which was a bummer.
Sophia was such a great artist. She painted some beautiful pictures while we were there.
Lupe used to be one of the orphans but now he's an adult and works there. He was hilarious and everyone loved hanging out with him.
Day 6: Saturday- We woke up around 530am, finished packing up our van and were on the road by around 615am. We got to the border about an hour later and were through the border by about 745am. We drove straight home. San Diego to our house is just over 10 hours. We made a lunch stop plus a couple other bathroom/gas stops and were home by 8pm.
