This page is directed to those individuals or groups ministering in a Baja orphanage or planning to minister in an orphanage.

It was about noon when I saw a little car slowly bouncing up the dirt roadway to a large orphanage in La Mesa called Christian Hacienda. The little old lady parked her car just outside of the orphanage. Kids started streaming out the gate to meet the car and visitor. Crowding around the car, they watched the lady get out and walk around to the rear of her car and open the trunk. She spent a little time lovingly placing homemade cupcakes on a flat board. Then, smiling, she turned around and held the cupcakes out for the kids to take. Suddenly there was an explosion of kids and cupcakes. I saw some of the cupcakes fly into the air and the board skirted to the side while the woman was knocked down with several kids landing on top of her! When she got to her feet, she ran to her car, got in, slammed the door, then drove off. She was angry. She was hurt. She didn't understand what had happened or why it happened. She didn't know that those cute kids could turn into little tigers. I'm sure she never set foot in an orphanage again. The situation was so sad both for her and for the kids AND it didn't HAVE TO HAPPEN that way!

CREDIBILITY: For more than thirty years I have visited or worked extensively, and hopefully successfully, with about a dozen different orphanages in the Tijuana, Ensanada and Tecate areas. Let me share with you some information that may be of help. Information that most people won't tell you about these orphanages. In some cases I'll be telling you things that the directors would love to tell you but just don't feel comfortable in doing so. Take the time to read the following pages. Let's make your work and time at the orphanage the best possible!

For speed these pages consists of ten sections. You may scroll to which ever section you feel will help you.

Here are the ten sections.

1. BAJA ORPHANAGES
2. WHOOPS!
3. SUPPORTING YOUR ORPHANAGES
4. ORPHANAGE NO-NO's
5. MINISTRY
6. DOING PROJECTS
7. CONSTRUCTION
8. SOMEONE GIVE ME A MAP!
9. ADOPTION
10. WORKING AT A MEXICAN ORPHANAGE

1. BAJA ORPHANAGES: For the most part these Mexican orphanages are not really orphanages at all but homes or institutions for dysfunctional and/or abused kids. There may be three or four percent real orphans in a given orphanage. For the most part there is a pretty high turnover rate of kids coming and going. Some of these orphanages have both boys and girls while others major on boys or girls. Boys are most often seen as the trouble makers so there are more boy orphanages. Some orphanages are quite large numbering as high as 150 kids while others are very small having no more than ten or twelve. There are not many all girl orphanages. Most orphanages keep children to the age of twelve or thirteen. Very few see their kids through college; that's expensive! Schooling costs in Mexico.

2. WOOPS!: Unfortunately most Tijuana orphanages have many groups that come and visit. As you go further south, the orphanages have fewer visitors and lower support. Most groups like yours choose a weekend or an American holiday. Plan ahead and use a calendar with your orphanage otherwise you may be disappointed by being one of three other American groups at the orphanage on the same day. OH, OH! You come down on an American holiday and find that the Mexican kids are in school. Plan ahead and use a calendar. Nothing like visiting an orphanage when there are no kids! Caution, some orphanages just aren't into calendars and that may prove a problem. Communicating with an orphanage by phone is tough! Lots of luck!

3. SUPPORTING AN ORPHANAGE: Boy, how many times I have been asked counsel or advice on this whole question of financially supporting an orphanage in Tijuana and the point of accountability.

   First, how do these orphanages get their money? Most have no budget and many have no books, even thought the government insists on books. A given orphanage never knows how much is going to come in from week to week. In some orphanages the kids, staff and director simply pray the money in. The bills these people have to pay for themselves and their children are. Water, gas, electricity, food, schooling, shoes and clothing, medical, gas and maintenance for car transportation plus miscellaneous expenses.. Try depending on God for that for fifty kids.

   Here are some areas to think over as you consider BaJa orphanages. There are good orphanages and bad ones, honest ones and somewhat honest ones and plain dishonest ones and in most cases you can't tell the difference, especially when you come down occasionally. Be cautious when you support an orphanage or even a church here in Mexico. When you see them only occasionally you had better be cautious. Remember, the front door always looks great; it's the back door that tells the story. There is good reason to be suspicious of Baja orphanages, they have a long history of corruption. Some orphanages keep a beat up environment and kids that are dirty and poorly dressed just to get support from the Americans. Exploiting the kids? I would say so. I know of one small "orphanage" that gathered the neighborhood kids in when American groups were coming, just to look like the orphanage they claimed to be. How can one tell if an orphanage is a one in which you might want to invest and one that you may suspect is corrupt?

   Be observant and ask yourself some insightful questions. What is the long term reputation of the orphanage in question? Do the kids seem healthy, happy and respectful? Do the directors seem open about their finances? Do they keep some kind of books? Watch carefully, do the directors show that they love their kids and do the kids relate well to them? Do the kids show a love for the staff? Are the kids open and happy or quiet, sullen and fearful? You must not simply go by your heart; it's critical that you use your head too. To really find the truth about the orphanage itself discretely check out their bathrooms and casually look over their kitchen. Like checking a restaurant, the bathrooms tell a lot as they are often last on the list of priorities.

   TIP: Americans seem to get along better with American run orphanages because they are run more in keeping with our thinking and the directors speak English. Caution, American-run orphanages in Tijuana can be corrupt too. Be wise. Observe. Take a little time before you commit.

   Mexican orphanages are generally run by a compassionate Mexican couple and/or their relatives. They may have started by taking in a few kids and ended up with an "orphanage." They have never gone to orphanage school. Many directors are not educated beyond junior high school. It's sort of an occupation, a means of support. In many cases they will skim off some of the money for their living expenses. I guess this isn't bad, after all loving and living with these dysfunctional kids 24/7 is something most of us would never do. Bear in mind their responsibility, when a major problem or accident happens with one of their kids, the directors go to jail! This is Mexico!.

   Admittedly we have worked in orphanages where we knew the leadership was corrupt and less than honest but their poor kids! We didn't give cash, we gave love, fun, food, kids clothing etc. and watched how it was used. (Food? Meat protein is something they need but seldom have.) Try eggs, chicken and carne asada. Most of the orphanages in Baja are supported by Americans; indeed the gold comes from the north.

   Lets talk a little about what orphanages might need that you could bring to them. Food is really important. Children eat every day. Most orphanages have about two meals a day, in the evening they may have a warm drink and some bread before they go to bed. If you have fifty mouths to feed and each meal costs 50c add that up for a week. More than $500. Or a monthly bill of way over $2,000.00 a month. With hungry mouths to feed the food bill adds up fast. If you see a lot of food in the pantry of any orphanage, don't be fooled. It won't last long.

   Bring canned foods. (Not smoked oysters or bamboo shoots or baked beans. . but good food!) Canned ham or spam or fruit in a number 9 can. Powdered milk, oatmeal, rice, pinto beans, (never splits, please.) eggs, meat, lard and/or cooking oil, potatoes, peanuts, pasta, sugar, fresh fruit in season. Other needs. . .soap, plastic dishes, silverware, towels, paper towels, toilet paper, typewriters, kids shoes (wide size) kids underwear, tee shirts, socks, belts, pencils, paper, color books, crayons, flashlights, Money? Yes, money is needed too. (Please don't give money to the kids.)

   What not to bring? Adult clothing, firecrackers, alcohol, knives, slingshots, guns, darts, all of this is just a matter of common sense.

   "Jose, I have a great carpet and a couch you can have just come over and pick it up." Please don't obligate the orphanage leadership into coming to the U.S to pick up your good stuff. Furniture, drapes, carpets or other good stuff you might have for them. Boy, the stories I could tell on this twist. These directors have more to do than run across the border and cruise around southern California looking for goodies to bring home. The rule here is "If YOU can't get it down, forget it." Well meaning gifts so often become a white elephant and your Mexican friends are too polite and intimidated to tell you so. Your best bet is the Salvation Army.

   AN EXAMPLE OF A DIRTY ORPHANAGE: Years ago we stopped by an orphanage called Hogar de Luz located along the highway just below Rosarito. It was one of the few original orphanages in BaJa. Our first introduction was rather unusual. Here was the mama with a hose spraying water on her fifty little kids. They had their shorts on or swimming suits. She was giving them their monthly bath. We introduced ourselves and chatted with her, dropped off some fruit and left heading home to San Diego. Two weeks later we stopped by again. We gradually started playing games with the kids, giving them fruit and having a fun old time. We were slowly developing a relationship with the kids and staff. We were also showing that we were more than talk. Now this orphanage was dirty! Real dirty and messy by American standards. The bathroom was bad!

   As we gradually began working with Hogar de Luz one thing became apparent, the kids loved mama and papa, and mama and papa loved them. It was one big happy family, dirt and all. Mama could sure cook great meals. We continued working there for years until mama and papa just got too old and it was closed. We supported them by buying them food and paying for projects. You could tell that mama and papa considered their calling a true ministry, and it was. They were honest too. I'm sure they kept no books, I'm not even sure they knew how to read or write.

   We intentionally kept a low profile. We always came as guests and were considerate of their home of kids. We were simply there to help in any way they wanted us to help. We were regular like clock work every two weeks. When the kids saw us they would jump up and clap their hands. Indeed a great feeling to be wanted and needed. The directors were never threatened by us as we were not out to change the orphanage. More than one group or church has come down to change an orphanage and learned some sad lessons. Never come down to change things, better to learn to live with them.

   If you take on an orphanage I would suggest you visit at least once a month and be a help not a hindrance. Let them define "help." After all, it's their home.

4. ORPHANAGE NO-NO'S!: A few cautions here. Girls don't be physical with the older boys (boys four or five and under OK) Be considerate of meal times. Don't fill up the kids with candy and colas before meals. Never take kids from the orphanage without permission, all orphanages have boundaries, be sure you know where they are and honor them. No photos without permission.. Having a favorite little kid is so natural but this can produce so many problems. The rest of the kids may "deal" with your little "favorite" and will take the gifts you give him after you leave. Think. . .your favorite will probably be every gringos favorite and so you set the poor kid up to be the target of his jealous peers. Never give money to kids without permission from director. The kids are told not to ask for money. They are told not to get into your cars or vans, don't invite them in.

   Make culture and common sense your guides. Other orphanage no-no's you should know about. Never leave your valuables around! (purse, camera, glasses, keys, etc.) This will tempt some children to steal. Stealing has been a part of life to many of these children, they had to steal to exist. Stealing at an orphanage is seen as a capitol crime! They will use strong measures in finding and disciplining the kid. If you bring a situation like this to the director be sure you have all the facts! It's going to be a big blow up!

   Special note! Please observe this. Don't cruse through the orphanage like you would your home. Kids take showers and you might run into an embarrassing moment. No girls hanging around in boys rooms or areas and no boys hanging around in the girls areas. The kids need what little privacy they can get.

   Oh yes! American kids need to understand that the toys and equipment are for the orphan kids not them. For the little kids. Heavy American teens cruising around on orphanage tricycles or wagons is not acceptable. (How often I have seen teen groups do this. Where was the youth man? Who knows? )

   Let's continue with some important points Gringos rarely consider. Most orphanages are run by religious leadership. Many directors are older and conservative. Earrings in boys, tattoos, will raise their eyebrows. American women with lots of makeup and wearing loads of jewelry will find that this just isn't the place for either. Girls dressed in sexy tight clothing are out of place. A real cultural no-no!

   Note that water and electricity are very expensive in Mexico. Washing your cars or water fights are fun, but?. Someone has to pay for it. Caution don't drink the tap water.

   NOTE: Always keep your cars and vans off limits to the orphanage kids at all times. Never leave valuables on your van seats where they can be seen. Too tempting and windows can easily be broken.

5. MINISTRY: Ministry means so many things, working with people, teaching, preaching, building, sports almost any effort seems to fall into the big box of ministry. Here are four common ministries that we find at orphanages.
   1. PLAYING WITH THE KIDS: I guess that's the most fun thing we gringos can do is to have a lot of fun interacting with the kids. Whether it's balloon animals or bubble pipes you can have a great time.

   2. PUTTING ON A PROGRAM: I know this is fun and some thing Americanos like doing. There's just something that's so spiritual about it. If you are going to put on a program make it a good one and one geared to the Mexican kid and in Spanish! Don't make it a long program. Understand that the average Tijuana orphanages have been a captive audience for many many American groups throughout the year and if you are Evangelicals, bear in mind that the kids have been "saved" over and over again. Many of the orphanages have their kids attend church on a regular bases. Make your skits, puppet shows, dramas worth while. Having your kids share their testimonies with the kids may mean a lot to you and your own kids but to be honest it isn't that great for the audience. I hope you don't mind my being honest.

   3. FEEDING THE KIDS: Americans like to feed orphan kids, and in many cases it turns out well but sometimes it doesn't work out well for the orphanage leadership but you will seldom find that out. Always get permission from the director before planning a meal ministry. Never just pop in with your plans for them. Don't make it hard on the orphanage cooks by coming in making a meal and then leaving the mess for them to clean up. Always be polite and use common sense. Bring all the food you are going to use. Bring paper plates, plastic ware, trash bags and plan for trash disposal. Leave the area clean.

      NOTE: Some foods the Mexican kids don't like. Pickles, relish, baked-beans, root-beer. Kids do like colas, pizza, hotdogs, hot chips and hamburgers. Most Mexican kids like chilies with their meals.

      CAUTION: All or nothing at all: If you intend to give something to the kids be sure you have enough for everyone. Let me change that to more than enough for everyone. In giving stuff out be sure to work this out with staff so there will be control. If there is no control then you must be the control or you will have anarchy! Stand in a corner and always make the kids form a line. Start with the big kids (Grahndes) and the little kids (Cheekos) last. Big kids cause the problems so get them through first and fast. Mark the kids hand when he gets his goodie, otherwise the kids will cheat big time! It's a game to them, nothing to get upset about. You must have control!!

   4. TAKING THE KIDS ON A TRIP: Some groups get a little more sophisticated and take the kids on a trip. This is fun for all but a little expensive. Be sure you have a calendar date on the Mexican side. There are inexpensive parks to which you can take the kids and there are expensive parks also, great to take them all to one of the several local swimming pools. Plan on a dollar or two per head. Caution. I wouldn't plan on taking the kids on a trip across the border. It's just too much trouble and too uncertain. You are dealing with Mexican and American bureaucracy here and it's BAD! Take it from one who knows. The Bureaucracy could care less about making poor kids happy.

      REMINDER: Big red flag! Dress code. Proper dress for the girls. I'm amazed at what the American leaders allow the girls to wear in Mexico, and I'm a stateside Youth Man! Never let your girls come down dressed like Mexican prostitutes. I've seen this so often. Most orphanages are conservative. (PTL) Have the girls dress conservatively even on hot days. Denims and big shirts. Hopefully your girls are not there to turn on the boys. Boys, don't take off your shirts, this isn't quite right yet. Adapt to the Mexican culture. You are a guest in Mexico, remember this. If you don't want to adapt to the Mexican culture, stay home.

      The kids will all speak Spanish so don't let that surprise you.

6. DOING PROJECTS: Americans it seems are always into projects. Give them a hammer and a paintbrush and they're happy. Painting, Americans love to paint, especially junior highers.. Youth men love to have their teens come down and paint. Be cautious here. If you want to paint, check with the leadership first. Give them a chance to be in on major decisions like the color, after all they have to live with it. Plan ahead. Buy everything needed and check the list twice, including drop clothes, Garbage bags, paper towels, thinner, etc. Think ahead and think of the orphanage kids. Be careful in using enamel, why? It takes a long time to dry! It smells! The kids want to eat but the kitchen, tables and benches are still wet and sticky with enamel paint. The kids want to go to bed but their rooms are still sticky with enamel paint. The kids get high on the enamel paint fumes. Think I'm kidding? It happened to an orphanage I was at last week. A water based paint might just be best. I guess I'm simply saying keep in mind the orphanage kids and their staff. (I'm a long time youth worker and I understand the youth worker's point of view too, but?)

   CAUTION: Some projects you shouldn't do. Cleaning up an orphanage. Be careful here. What would you feel like if some group came to clean up your house? This is tricky. Could turn out to be a cultural boo boo. Be sure you have the whole hearted consent of the director if you want to clean up a dirty orphanage. Don't even consider bringing your group to clean up the graffiti of a Mexican neighborhood. And never have your group use rubber gloves or face masks. That's a big no no!

   Any project that will end up half done shouldn't de started at all!

7. CONSTRUCTION: Unfortunately, most Baja orphanages depend on volunteer labor from America and it shows itself in light, cheap short term construction. Well meaning amateurs and well meaning professional contractors volunteer. In most cases they don't understand building for "institutions." So I guess I can say what most orphanage directors wont tell you.

   If you are or will be involved in the building of an orphanage facility or the repairing if an orphanage, here are some suggestions to seriously consider. Better to take one project and do it well than to spread out your money and effort to a lot of half done projects. Be sure you know that you are dealing with an institution not an average American home with two or three lovely little kids. Repeat, never build like you would be building an American house or building. CAUTION: Don't send in a bunch of junior high kids to do a professional job. It takes so much time and effort to undo and redo their job. How many times we have done just that.

   Build using heavy solid materials! Cement, steel and hard wood. Always use thick glass with small areas of glass! Glass is dangerous in an orphanage. These kids are many and they are tough and give the facility and furniture hard use so always build with that in mind.! I've seen so much well-meant American construction that ends up being a problem for years. (That's one of the reasons I writing this page.) Often the orphanage directors just say nothing because they don't want to offend any volunteer. Unfortunately they and the kids have to live with our well-meant mistakes.

   It seems that we Americans build for light use when heavy duty is needed all the way through, especially in the bathrooms and kitchens. Please don't use expensive complicated shower fixtures when simple faucets will do, the same for the kitchen. For a shower room? A long pipe with holes drilled into it every six inches stretching across a large tiled shower area makes a simple, efficient and easily controlled group shower and group showers are what you need in an institution. Think group here. Think ten or fifteen or twenty kids at a time here, not individual showers. Don't use expensive shower heads and complex expensive faucets. Always non-skid tile on floors. If it's a boys orphanage or there are many boys it seems only logical that urinals be used along with toilets. Always use large diameter pipes and good drains. Make plumbing easy to clean out as every other month they will be cleaning out the plumbing somewhere. In the kitchen you should think industrial and include some type of good water filter for drinking. Electrical? Again think industrial. 220 and 110! Wall plugs where kids can't get at them. All these things need to be thought out, not randomly placed. Remember too that electricity and water are much more expensive in Tijuana than here in San Diego. Many orphanages can not afford to use dryers but will hang the washing out to dry. Heavy duty washing machines and a couple of heavy duty dryers. Orphanage laundry equipment is heavily used. AND used by a variety of different people! If the kids will be located in small rooms of three or four bunks remember there needs to be a place for stuff and clothing. Don't use doors on the rooms, leave rooms open. Make or buy strong bunk beds. Use metal bunks or wooden with screws and glue not nails. Plastic covered mattresses. Along the rooms and hallways reinforce the walls with hard half inch plywood up to five feet from the floor. Strong durable furniture. Always heavy duty doors and hinges!

8. SOMEONE GIVE ME A MAP! SOMEONE GIVE ME A MAP! I can't remember how many times I have been asked for a map or directions to a location in Tijuana. We learned our lesson early on this. After giving people detailed instructions to our areas they would return angry and frustrated because they couldn't find the location with our instructions or maps. Tijuana isn't San Diego. Street signs are small and many times non-existent. Streets suddenly change names. The best solution, unless you are really familiar with the Tijuana area, is to follow someone to your location, or better yet, have them in your car directing you.

   Another method many find useful, is to make use of the custom Google Maps we've setup on this site. You can check out this SINGLE MAP OF ALL THESE LOCATIONS/a> or this LIST OF INDIVIDUAL MAPS OF LOCATIONS where we work. You can check out our

9. ADOPTION: This is another question I have been asked over the years. I wish I could be more positive on this as there are so many neat kids that should be adopted out of bad situations. Repeating myself, there are very few real "adoptable" orphans in these orphanages, with the possible exception of the Catholic orphanage Casa de Cuna. By and large Mexico discourages north Americans from adopting their young and very young children. Many of the "adoptable" kids have no birth certificates. It gets complicated and expensive. I know most orphanage directors hesitate to get involved because of the time and expense. If you want to adopt, you would have to take the initiative and do the research and footwork. It's possible to adopt but not easy! Be cautious of a lawyer that will take your money and leave you childless.

10. WORKING AT A MEXICAN ORPHANAGE: (Individuals) If you as an individual are considering working at an orphanage in Baja California carefully read through the following pages. Here are some facts and counsel that may be of help to you. In some cases I can say what the Mexican directors won't say. Mexicans are very polite people and it's hard for them to say no, so their "yes" may actually mean no.

    I have spent more than thirty years in Mexico and have seen a lot of well-intentioned "workers" return home disappointed. I have listened to disillusioned orphanage directors too. Unreal expectations produce disappointments.

    REPEAT: The term orphanage is misleading to many Americans. In Africa, Korea, and other poor nations an orphanage would contain children who have no parents, but this is not necessarily so in Mexico. Most orphanages in Mexico have just a few true orphans. The vast majority of children in an "orphanage" are simply disadvantaged kids from dysfunctional families, similar to the foster care system in the U.S. They are problem kids, some brought in by their mothers, other relatives or on occasionally the State, and mostly boys, as they tend to be seen as the "trouble-makers." These kids are kept until about the age of thirteen to fifteen. There are many girl and boy orphanages and all boy orphanages but very few all-girl orphanages.

    Most Mexican orphanages in Baja California are supported by American money. There are a few State and Federal-run orphanages. All orphanages are overseen and controlled by the Mexican government agency DIF. Not all orphanages are good and/or honest. Not all orphanages are what they seem like on a visit. Of course there are many good orphanages with an honest and sincere person running them. Some orphanages are institutions with over fifty kids while others are simply extended families. A woman, or husband and wife running an orphanage is a "family" and if you join it you will have to become accepted and part of the "family." This may not be easy! Politics? Of course. This is not an adventure for the naive! Trust me.

    There are not many American-run orphanages in Baja or Mexico. There are, however, American-run mission agencies in Mexico that have contacts with orphanages run by Mexican nationals and these agencies do welcome American help. My observations and philosophy may differ from theirs, and I would caution you that in Mexican-run orphanages American volunteers may find it difficult to adjust to the culture, leadership and living conditions. These agencies rarely adequately prepare the willing and often young volunteer for serving in a National run orphanage. Result? Problems.

    If you plan work in and orphanage anywhere in the world be sure you have a skill to offer. Don't be just a willing worker, unless you really want to work. Most American volunteers don't want to do what is a real help, like washing a ton of clothing each day or washing hundreds of dishes, or cleaning floors.... that's often what is really needed. We simply want to be with the kids. If you plan to work with people of another culture you must be tolerant of their culture and if you want to work with people speaking another language you must know their language. This seems logical but many Americans don't seem to understand this. Learn the language and culture. At least have part of the language going for you. Be sure you can adapt to the culture and conditions you will find yourself living in.

    This means check out the orphanage you plan to serve in BEFORE ever committing!

    If you intend to work at an orphanage don't become a handicap for the orphanage. Work! Do your share! Be sure you are mature and don't end up as another kid for them to feed and care for. Be sure to have your own transportation and money and be sure you pay your way. Be prepared to pay room and board even if you are working. Don't be a free-loading Gringo!

    If you are a young man or woman, particularly a teenager wanting to work at an orphanage for the summer please consider this! You may have a good experience and I hope you do, however there is a flip side. Hardly anyone will tell you this!. The kids in any of these orphanages have often been abused or rejected in their short lives and all have loved and lost too many times. They want attention. They want to be individuals. They want love and need love. You can meet those need when you are going to become a "permanent" part of their lives. Then they will begin to trust you and love you. Caution, a problem can develop here. The older guys can easily get a crush on a cute young American girl and when you leave, (and you will), they and the others will be hurt, a deep kind of hurt you are incapable of understanding. You will be sad at leaving, you may even cry, but the kids you leave behind will be deeply affected. Their subconscious conclusion: Here is another person I trusted and loved who has abandoned me. Result? Another scar. They become a little more cynical, cold and hard. Example: In one orphanage we had three boys leave a week or so after their gringo girl friend left. The boys ran away and went to America to find their friend. It's very important to consider this flip side of working with kids at an orphanage always keep your temporary status in mind and let the kids know from time to time that you will be leaving but that you will still love them.... and hope for the best.

In saying all of this I don't want to discourage you but to caution you. Be sure you know yourself and know what you will be venturing into before committing. Think and pray it over. Know the agency you will be working through.

May God bless you. Pastor von.

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