As soon as school was dismissed for the holiday break, a group of current and alumni Calvary Christian School families, priests and friends boarded a bus bound for Tijuana, Mexico and the Casa Hogar Sion Orphanage.
Casa Hogar houses 120 orphan children from newborn babies up to 16-year-old children. The orphanage ensures that all of its children go to school and receive training for eventual life outside the orphanage.
Annie Barnes, a Calvary parent and Vice President of Outreach for the Parent Association, and eighth grade student Caroline Vincent share their stories.
It was a perfect day at Casa Hogar Sion Orphanage in Tijuana with families of Calvary Christian School during the holiday season. Calvary families brought gifts of hope and love to each and every one of the orphans, as well as every staff member.
Proving once again that at Christmas time and always, it is far more rewarding to give than to receive. What a spectacular day it was delivering hope and joy to 120 of God’s children. The smiles on their faces were priceless. Thank you Calvary Christian middle schoolers and their families for continuing to serve the precious kids at Casa Hogar Sion. A second visit is scheduled during Easter break, and again for our annual holiday gift-giving visit in December. If you and your family would like to join in this amazing service trip, please contact Vince Downey, Head of School.
–Annie Barnes
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The week before Christmas, my family and a few others got to go to Casa Hogar. We got to play soccer with the boys, play games with the girls, and have a meal together. After lunch, we sang Christmas songs then handed out the presents. I wish everyone could have seen the kids’ faces as they opened up their only Christmas present for the year, delivered by the middle school students. Some kids didn’t open their presents because they wanted to wait until Christmas day.
What was most shocking to me is that at 8 in the morning we were at Starbucks and Noah’s Bagels, and at 11 a.m. we were in a Third-World orphanage with kids hugging our legs and not letting go. It’s one thing to see it in a movie, but another to think these beautiful people are our neighbors. A building housing 35 girls with two toilet stalls and one shared closet really makes you thankful at a different level.
It made me appreciate everything so much more, especially after seeing the houses in Tijuana that were basically made out of trash that the locals would find on the street. The rooms at the orphanage had 15 kids per room, and barely had any possessions. When looking through the rooms, I saw a bed with a piece of paper next to it. When I walked closer, I realized it was a letter from one of the middle school students at Calvary. The girl who slept in that bed only had one possession — the letter.
Our visit was definitely the highlight of the entire Christmas season and the other students and adults that went all felt the same way. We left feeling very grateful for everything we have, especially our own families, and our warm homes. I had an amazing time with the kids, and hope to go back every year.
–Caroline Vincent
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