As we watched the choir of joyful children singing Feliz Navidad, you wouldn’t know they were orphans. I had to blink back tears as they performed because I was amazed at how happy they were with so little! I wished every child in America knew how good they have it and could experience what we did during our visit.
An Angel on Earth
Every now and then, you meet someone so extraordinary that your mouth hangs open in awe. That’s how I felt listening to Soledad Valdez Enriquez, Executive Director of Casa Hogar Cañón Buena Vista, an orphanage for girls in El Zorillo, Mexico. As she told us how she started the orphanage because she grew up in one that was not nearly as nice and wanted to do things right, I got choked up. This woman was on a mission to provide these 30 girls an opportunity not just to survive but to thrive!
The Joy of Delivering Christmas Stockings
We felt honored to participate in delivering Christmas gifts to the orphanage a week before Christmas. The back of our friend’s truck was loaded with homemade stockings stuffed with goodies. We also had all the ingredients to make a pancake breakfast. I did not know what to expect when we arrived, but I was excited to be part of it!
Making Breakfast for the Children
The older children came running out to greet us and help us unload the truck. We hid the stockings until later and handed them all the things we needed to make and serve breakfast. Pancakes are always a hit, no matter where you are in the world! The five of us quickly went to work stirring the batter and flippin’ the pancakes. We also made sausage patties and prepared glasses of orange juice for each child. Soon they rang the meal bell, and the kids came and sat down at the tables in a very orderly fashion.
A Very Special Baby
As the 26 girls (and three boys) ate breakfast, I offered to hold one of the babies so his young mother could eat in peace. Several of the girls there have babies. Their families kicked them out of the home when they found out they were pregnant, and with no other place to go, Soledad welcomed them with open arms. The baby’s name was Lewis, and he was adorable with plump little cheeks and big golden eyes.
Happy Faces as They Opened Their Gifts
After breakfast, we presented each child with a Christmas stocking, and they tore into them with the enthusiasm you only see from children. They quickly opened their candy canes and a little envelope with $10 for each child. When they saw the cash, their faces lit up like fireworks on New Year’s Eve! If you give a child in the United States $10, they will likely look at you disappointedly. But $10 to these kids was like gold, and they jumped up and down with the utmost gratitude and excitement!
A Tour of the Orphanage
Soon we got a tour of the orphanage. Soledad proudly showed us their school and computer lab. She opened the sewing room where they learn to sew clothes and the makeshift salon where the older girls learn cosmetology as a trade. They even have a little gym where they can get some indoor exercise if they do not want to play soccer out in the field.
A Christmas Pageant We Will Never Forget
Before we left, the kids treated us to a Christmas pageant with singing and dancing, and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I was moved to tears but didn’t want to alarm the children, so I choked them back the best I could. It was one of the most moving experiences of my lifetime. As we said our goodbyes, they left us with big hugs and smiles, which will warm my heart for years to come.
Will You Help These Children?
I invite you to make a difference and give a little donation to show your support to the children. They need supplies for the cosmetology program, computer lab, and sewing room. Your generosity will go a long way in Mexico! Please give directly by visiting their Facebook page.