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Casa del Pastor Orphanage |
In May, 2006, our dream of reopening a home for the full-time care of children became a reality. We began in a rented three-bedroom house in El Porvenir, but switched facilities with our Las Brisas daycare center in December, 2006. We are now in a house owned by the ministry and are full to capacity. We are serving infants to five-year-olds at this time. The children are thriving. You would never know from seeing their happy faces now, but each child is with us because of severe trauma in their young life...found in a drug house, abandoned in a park swing, living in a car, parents in prison, severe malnutrition. They are placed with us through the Mexican social service agency.
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SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
While the cost to attend public school kindergarten in Mexico is minimal, there are a number of families too poor to afford even the small fees charged or provide the required school aprons and daily nutritional snacks. Because Niños de Baja helps poor families who otherwise would be unable to send their children to kindergarten, the children begin first grade starting with the same educational experiences and knowledge as their peers. The schools themselves often lack basic supplies, and we also help with this need. Mission teams have helped by painting the exteriors of the two kindergarten buildings as well as building a small country school when it burned to the ground. Serving children in this way leads to positive and trusting relationships with families and the community.
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The Las Brisas daycare center opened in March, 2005, and cares for up to 20 infants and toddlers, operating five days a week. We are blessed with a highly-qualified staff who understand their work is not just labor, but a Christian ministry to the children and their parents. Served, primarily, are single mothers who must work. In Mexico there is no welfare system, so single mothers must work to feed and care for themselves and their children. We call it our “Orphan Prevention” program. While parents are charged no fees, they must contribute through donations of goods or through service to the center or the community. Our goal is to serve the community while helping recipients maintain their dignity by giving back to others. Our prayer is that Christ’s love will be shared and children and families will be drawn to Him.
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Kindergarten Assistance Program |
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Our Kindergarten Assistance Program makes it possible for children to begin first grade with the same kindergarten experience and knowledge as their peers. These children would not be able to attend kindergarten without our assistance, since their families cannot afford the required costs of tuition, materials, aprons, and the daily nutritious snacks. We are pleased to step in and help. We also assist the school with educational materials and supplies and with improvements to their facilities.
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