An Incredible Experience for USANA Volunteers

Editor's Note: The following is a report by Amber Bailey, a writer in USANA's creative services department, chronicling USANA's recent volunteer trip to an orphanage in Mexico. See more photos from the trip, courtesy of Kelly Branan, who also blogged about the trip for What's Up, USANA.

I just got home after an amazing week working in an orphanage in Vicente Guerrero, Baja California. I went with 24 volunteer USANA Associates from Québec and three other employees. There was a sign in the orphanage that said, “You will never be the same.” They were right.

The Christmas season is all about giving and helping others and I’m glad I had the opportunity to serve the people of Mexico. I loved getting to know the children in the orphanage who, despite difficult circumstances — needy, abandoned, mentally and/or physically challenged — were so loving and grateful for what little they had. It made me stop and think about what my priorities have been and are.

USANA's Director of Canadian Development Jeremy Lunt, Photographer Kelly Branan and I arrived in San Diego mid-Saturday morning so we could get items for our 5-hour bus ride to the orphanage the next morning. We went to the airport to greet some of the Associates who arrived that afternoon. We later picked up Tairel Love, the French/Spanish translator who arrived that evening.

The next morning we all met for a yummy breakfast before getting on the bus. On our long ride down we played a get to know you game and Trivial Pursuit in French. We stopped in Ensenada for a quick break and photo over looking the ocean. Little did I know that by the end of the week these strangers would feel like family.

Arriving at the Orphanage
We arrived at the orphanage and received our room assignments. I ended up sharing a room with four Associates and one other volunteer from California who came with her church. We partially unpacked and put sheets on our bunk beds before heading to dinner.

After dinner we had an orientation where we learned the rules and guidelines of the orphanage and we met some of the orphanage staff. The Associates went to the visitor’s lounge where they wrapped presents they had bought for the children. No matter his or her age, everyone was going to receive a present. “It was really important that no one be left out,” said Eve-Line Bélanger who coordinated the presents.

Bright and early Monday morning, promptly at 7 a.m., we ate breakfast in the mess hall that accommodates the children, the orphanage staff and visitors working at the orphanage. I have never eaten so fast. The food was already on the table, so as soon as we sat down we ate, usually within five minutes. We then cleared our plates and took them to the dishwasher. Any leftovers went back to the kitchen area. Nothing was wasted and everyone helps.

Every morning we attended sala, or church, that included songs, a prayer, and a sermon. The music was beautiful, with many songs I had never heard or sang before, especially when we sang in Spanish. Even thought I didn’t always understand what they were saying, I was moved by their message.

A History Lesson
After church we learned the history of the orphanage and went on a tour. The orphanage was created by Charla Pereau, who after adopting a child from Mexico felt passionate about helping abandoned children. She received a vision when discovering an abandoned building in Mexico and heard children’s laughter.

Though she didn’t have the funds at the time, gradually she received enough donations to buy the property. Today the Foundation of His Ministry has an orphanage, school for the children K-6, church, bible school, medical clinic, daycare and care center for children with disabilities, theater, orchard, kitchen, drug rehab for men with substance abuse problems, and an outreach program. Presently, they are trying to raise enough money to build a women’s shelter to help abused women in the community.

Getting Down to Business
After our tour we had lunch then met in the sala for our first work assignments. It was pouring rain, the first rain they had had since March, so I volunteered to clean one of the buses they use to shuttle students with disabilities. We then helped clean up the odds and ends in the orphanage’s junk yard.

After dinner, we met back at church to receive our babysitting assignments. This orphanage is unique in that it has a mother and father, or a single mother, who live with 8 or 10 children in the casas. These parents are people, usually very successful, who have sold their houses and businesses to be parents to the children in the orphanage. We met and played with the children, giving the adults a night out.

We went to Casa 5 with 10 children. The parents greeted us, thanked us and introduced us to the children. We introduced ourselves, as best as we could, since they all spoke Spanish. The Associates then gave each child a present that included everything from new clothes, socks, gloves, and toys. They were so grateful for their presents! Especially one little boy, Lorentino, who as he put on his new sweater, had the biggest smile on his face. It melted my heart.

That night I realized that it didn’t matter where we were from or what language we spoke, love transcends any barrier and truly is the greatest gift of all.

Here's wishing you a peaceful and joyous holiday season.