Ola!!! From Aguascalientes, Mexico

Mexico. Before your mind instantly brings you to a location where sparkling blue waves wash upon warm sandy beaches, I’d like to remind you that central Mexico is a striking contrast. Different species of cactus, from the traditional looking ones displayed at taco bell to circular flat discs with spikes speckled the landscape. Cloudless sapphire skies stretch from horizon to horizon, like a gigantic canopy covering the earth. I would like to share about a trip 18 of us went to from Dec 26-Jan 5 with Samaritan’s Purse.

Our adventure began with an eight hour flight from Calgary, to Aguascalientes, Mexico. Needless to say, all 18 of us were ecstatic as we disembarked from the tiny 30 seater plane and took our first step onto Mexican soil. Upon arrival, however, we counted our luggage and realized that over half the bags were missing! The entire process of reporting these bags with our broken Spanish required more than ½ an hour before our coordinator Jeremy, a 28 year old Canadian and construction manager Dwayne came to pick us up. We loaded all our luggage, or what was left of it, onto one truck and climbed into the other. With such a fuss happening in the airport, we were looking forward to a safe trip from the airport to our living quarters, but we were wrong! Within 5 minutes of traveling, red and blue flashing lights appeared and the truck with all our luggage was signaled to a stop by none other than la policia! Fortunately, they were just curious as to where we were headed with so much luggage in a truck, and luckily, Jeremy knew Spanish! A few minutes later we were free to depart.

As a nutritionist, the first thing I noticed upon arrival was the food. Hot sauce and colorful chili peppers laced the edges of our every meal. Children eat anything from chips dipped in chili sauces, to chili sauce flavored candy! For a person who rarely eats spicy foods, I inevitably became the center of comic relief. As much as this may bring a smile to your face, I’d like to illustrate our team’s first experience at a taco restaurant. A restaurant by no means is one such as Red Lobster or Joey’s Tomato, but rather a spacious white tent with grills, tables, and chairs inside. As the odors of fresh meat invaded our senses, we knew this would turn out to be a wonderful experience. With the menus laid before us in Spanish, delicious pictures of fajitas, tacos, and burritos danced in our heads. We were all so happy to try authentic Mexican food, because taco time just isn’t the same. All was well until Jeremy translated the menu. *pause* All right guys, the first thing on the menu are tacos. You can choose to have different fillings in these tacos. The first one is brain, second, pig’s snout, and the third is eye. I wish you were there to see the expression of our faces! Luckily, there were some “normal” tacos, and I’m disappointed to say that none of us had the courage to try the unique selections.

More importantly, our team was not there to eat, but rather to help construct an orphanage, run medical clinics, and help in the existing orphanage. For ten days, two groups alternated between construction and medical clinics. Orphanage construction supplies and labor relies completely on donation and volunteer work. There are normally 5 young men who have dedicated their time and efforts to work long term at the construction site. I personally have never been on a construction site, much less worked in one! We used no machinery except a cement mixer, of whom we are all very grateful to have. Prior to going, I envisioned that the orphanage would just be a shack, randomly put together by different groups of people. Boy was I wrong. Dwayne, the construction manager showed us the architectural layout of the new orphanage. The plans include a 3 story boys dorm, a girls dorm, a kitchen, a chapel, and a court. So far, only the kitchen has been built. Over those ten days, we accomplished pouring the boy’s dorm’s foundation by mixing cement, carrying bricks, and shoveling dirt. At the end of each night, we would visit the existing orphanage called dulce refugio, which is a rented location, and play with each of the kids. At first, I had no idea how to interact with them, since I can only ask a kid how old they are so many times. However, these kids loved us as soon as they saw us soaked up every bit of love we gave them. It still breaks my heart knowing the background these kids came from. Some had violet, abusive parents, while some who’s parents deliberately abandoned them, and some who’s parents are deceased. I’m so grateful for the founders of this orphanage, Marcel and Golye, who sold their own house and everything they had to start up and pay rent for this orphanage. As we got to know the kids better, the contruction got a bit easier because we knew who we were doing this work for, and in the end, that this back-breaking, advil taking labourous work will make a difference.

Lastly, I believe one can learn a lesson with every trip they go on. A resounding theme crosses my mind each time I think of this trip. It is the word appreciation. First of all, an appreciation to construction workers: I can never look at another building without thinking of the amount of work put in it. Secondly, appreciation for basic luxuries, such as drinkable water, warm showers, and flushable toilets. And lastly, appreciation for people who have left the comforts of their own homes to give their lives and talents to a selfless dream: to offer orphans a refuge filled with love and acceptance. Unlike me, the labourous hard work doesn’t end after ten days. They are there for the long haul, and their joyous attitudes always seem to amaze me. To illustrate, at the end of the day, we’re all tired from construction work. You would expect to see the Dwayne exhausted and not wanting to do anything but rest. Instead, we find him at the orphanage, playing with the kids with a giant smile on his face. That to me, is dedication.

All in all, this trip has been an eye opener. I’ve taken home with me the culture, the experience of construction, as well as appreciation for long term workers. After hearing this story, if you are compelled to find out more information about this orphanage or ways you can help out, I’d be glad to share more with you. And guess what? I now eat spicy foods!