The Orphanage in Todos Santos: “Hogar del Niño” (Home of the Child)   http://www.hogardelnino-baja.org

Armed with scissors, paper, stickers, glitter tape, and pre-made pop-up book pages, we made our way through a river of happy, smiling children. My girlfriend, Tanya, introduced me to the Hogar del Niño today. We put together some craft supplies from our personal cupboards and bought more at a local papaleria–a tiny stationery/craft store. The small space in the store held so many paper products and children’s books and goodies. I’ve often thought about going to the local orphanage to volunteer some time, but didn’t want to go by myself. I’ve been here four years and finally made it. Whew!

What a wild and crazy, but wonderful time!

 

As we pulled into the parking area, the children swarmed us at Tanya’s van. They were all smiles and hugs for Tanya who has been there several times (all by herself too! She’s no sissy). It didn’t take long they were hugging me too. We also had a box from our neighbor full of clothes, candy, an old VCR/DVD player, The Lion King video, and a boom box complete with Michael Jackson and Carrie Underwood CDs. One of the girls, about 12, held up the CD next to her own pretty face and pointing to Carrie Underwood she said in English,  “This is my sister!” Then she broke into uncontrollable laughter.

The kids were eager to see what else we had and got started cutting and pasting and coloring before I could even get everything out of our bags. A mini riot of little arms and hands, getting busy–without any prodding whatsoever.

 

I’ve not been around 20-25 little kids for quite some time, and I have to say it was WILD–in a good way! a very good way! Fifteen minutes into the organized chaos, I spilled a big bottle of glue onto the table. I screamed like a good teacher would, “Oh great! I spilled the glue all over the place.” Tanya just kept on working with her little charge and told me not to worry. Oh well. I picked up the paper holding the spilled glue and started off to the restroom. Not good. The wind rattled the paper and the glue ran off onto the cement. A huge puddle of glue. Kids scurrying about without a care in the world and I’m on my hands and knees. A boy about 6 says, “Oh my God!” Laughing  I ask,”Donde está el baño?” Twelve little arms point the way.

 

I make my way there trying not to spill more glue and what do I find in the bathroom? A little girl with flour in her hair and on her face and shoulders. Huh? I guess she was seeing what she could come up with for Halloween? There weren’t any paper towels, so I took a tiny bit of toilet paper and ran back to the glue spill. Then I ran back to the bathroom to wash the glue from my hands and shirt. The little girl with flour all over her was in the shower room getting clean again.

 

 

 

 

One of the older boys, probably about 11, communicated only by pointing and making a single sound. He was content to put glitter tape in a framework around his card. That was all he wanted. Okay, good enough for me.

Happy and active, the others shared the three pair of scissors, what was left of the glue and the myriad of supplies we brought for them. Not one argument or disagreement all day. Just sweet, busy little people being creative. It was the quickest two hours of my life. Tanya and I had made 26 cards for them to make an alphabet book, and all the pages got made, but somehow I didn’t make it back with all 26–guess they squirreled them away in their spot in the dorm. Now the book I’m putting together only has about 11 pages of random letters. Ah, the beauty of it.

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving meant lots of hugs and the refrain, “Hasta Luego” (see you later). And yes, we will see each other later…maybe Monday, in fact. After all, it was so much fun.