Count your blessings!

John and Jeri arrived from Arizona on Saturday and everyone in the park was very happy to see them. 

Today it was time to head up to the orphanage that our park (Las Jaibas) supports with bags and bags of donated and purchased items for Lupita, Geraldo and the children that they look after.  The number of children in the orphanage fluctuates so we are never sure who will be there when we arrive.  

Marion and I travelled with John and Jeri followed by Betty and Boomer in their truck and Anita and John in their Jeep.  Each vehicle was full of donated items. 

Hogar Para Ninos Centro La Mision.  The gate is locked but Lupita and the children are inside and we are welcomed with open arms.  

This is the small compound where they live.

I had brought a bag of stuffed animals which were a life long collection of my friend Barb in Terrace.

They will be appreciated and loved.

Betty and her husband Boomer had a truckload of supplies for the family including turkeys and many other items.   

Turkeys for the previously empty freezer.

Christmas decorations, toothpaste, pencils, paper and so much more. 

Bags and bags of clothes, shoes, coats, sheets for beds and all of it is so much appreciated.  In this day and age when we can’t even find something to buy that our grandchildren need or even want it is so good to be able to help those who really need what we bring. 

That’s little Ruthie with her arms around Lupita.  The children are all polite, well behaved and so happy to see us. 

John is talking to Lupita and the children.  We would be lost without him as he speaks Spanish. 

Geraldo was not home this morning as they have no phone and we could not tell them that we were coming.  No car, no internet, sometimes no propane but it doesn’t matter when you show up everything is always spotless.

The kitchen.

Laundry is drying.

The little girls bedroom.  That’s Ruthie on the bed.

Lupita and Geraldo’s room close to the little girls room.

Their current dog. 

One of the chickens in the yard.  They are tame and Ruthie insisted that I hold it.  I asked if it laid “huebos” and the word was yes but very “poqueno” or small!  David ran inside to get an egg but he got bumped and dropped it….the dog was happy to help with clean up.  We all had a good laugh!

Who dropped the egg? 

There was one hat with ribbons and Ruthie tried it on first and then David and even Lupita!

Some of the children go to school in the morning and some in the afternoon as the schools are crowded so the days are split in two.  Here the children must wear a uniform to be allowed to attend school and at about $60 each that is a huge expense for the orphanage. 

Time to get some group pictures. 

Marion,  Betty one of the children and Jeri.

They are really lovely people and it is a pleasure for us to be able to help them. 

This is Lupita’s mother with Marion.

Marion and John follow Lupita, Ruthie and David to the gate as it is time for us to head home.

 

Time to say goodbye.

In February we will have our Chili Cook Off and raffle which is our big fundraiser for the orphanage.  We raise a large amount of money that helps to pay their power, water and other bills for the year to come.  Geraldo and Lupita open their gates to other children in the area who need a meal and share what they have.  Anything that we bring that they can’t use they will give away or sell to help support themselves and the children. 

Thank-you to all of you who take the time to collect and bring donations for the orphanage.  I think that we get as much from giving to the children as they get from receiving.  A good feeling for all.