Local Missionaries Bring Hope to Mexican Children

Sometimes, a certain situation or event takes place in our lives that has such an impact, it may forever change who we are and how we think. Thirteen people from Monroe Congregational Church spent one full week volunteering at Casa Hogar Benito Juarez Children's Home in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is not so much what the missionaries did that affected them; but it was the children - who they communicated with, played with, and lived side by side with - who left a mark on each and every one of the missionary's hearts.

It was an ordinary Sunday in February 2004 when Bryan Nurnberger spoke to the church's congregation during its morning service. Mr. Nurnberger, a 26 year old former teacher from Naugatuck, had founded a fairly new organization called Simply Smiles: a not-for-profit organization "dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished children by providing funding for food, shelter, medical assistance and education regardless of location, ethnicity, or religious beliefs." Mr. Nurnberger explained that Simply Smiles' inaugural project involves an orphanage a friend told him about called Casa Hogar in Mexico. He said that, upon his first visit to Casa Hogar, "I quickly realized how desperate the situation was; and in the two months that followed, I grew to know and love the children. I fell for them all, and saw no other path but one to dedicate my life to helping these children and children like them, to have bright futures."

Monroe resident Lynn Levins was part of the congregation that day and was "enamored by Bryan's passion." Mrs. Levins knows children, for she has two of her own and currently works in the Monroe School system as an aide for a blind boy. She said, "After the service was over, I knew that I had to stay to listen to more of what Bryan had to say. He spoke of the children and their needs: from the basic necessities to Braille supplies and canes for those children who are blind."

She continued, "Originally I thought that we would work together as a church to collect the needed items and send them over; but the more I thought about it and spoke to others about it, the more we were determined to get a group to go to Mexico and help out."

When the sign up sheet for those interested in going was first posted, Mrs. Levins said, "about a dozen or so people signed up." Eventually, there were thirteen people from all ages and walks of life who committed themselves to spending the week before Memorial Day 2006 working at the Casa Hogar Children's Home.

Each person who signed up had his/her own personal reason for making this commitment and each had something special to share with those children. The group included Monroe Congregational Church's pastor, Peter Allen, and 12 other people from all phases of life including: college students, parents with school age children, empty nesters and those who are semi and fully retired. Many were leaving their spouses and children, while all were leaving the comforts of their homes to work with those less fortunate.

The group knew that a great deal of fundraising would have to be done because each person had to pay his own airfare plus $500 for what is called "room and board donation." During the course of one year, the church held a fundraising barbeque, a silent auction and fiesta, a Partylite party, and a concert with a pianist and violinist. Mrs. Levins said that one person donated candy bars to be sold for the trip. Church members also donated many items throughout the year which were stored and then brought to Mexico.

Once it was established who would be going, Mrs. Levins stayed in constant contact with Mr. Nurnberger and she made airline reservations for everyone. A few weeks before they left, the group had a "packing party" at the church hall. Airline regulations call for a maximum of two checked suitcases per person. Mr. Nurnberger suggested that each member use one suitcase for personal items and one for items such as toiletries, games, snacks, socks and arts and crafts that would go directly to the children. Many carried on donated computer supplies which cannot be shipped separately because those items often don't arrive. The missionaries also used donated money to purchase 96 new plate, mug and spoon sets to replace the broken, dirty ones that were used at the home. This trip was not for the faint-of-heart, for the missionaries sleep on dorm style bunks with little hot water and a possible cockroach or two. It is cautioned that personal items be brought back home in plastic bags so that no bugs or lice, a chronic problem, accompany them. Mrs. Levins said, "It sounds gross but when you are there it is not so bad." The volunteers' jobs included cleaning bathrooms, painting buildings, cleaning cabinets, building, repairing broken fixtures, replacing toilet seats, cooking and anything else that would allow the children to live an acceptable and suitable way of life.

Although the aforementioned jobs were important, and the insects were a nuisance and the sleeping and grooming conditions were not the most comfortable, that was not what left an impression on the missionaries - it was the children. Eighty-three children, between the ages of two to nineteen, live at Casa Hogar. Mrs. Levins said that one third of them are special needs including three blind and six deaf children. Some are in wheelchairs. Not all the children are orphans; some of them have been abandoned and a few have parents who simply can not take care of them but still maintain a relationship. Each day the number of children can change, for many come and some leave.

Several of the children go to school, although not all. For some, especially those with severe handicaps or disabilities, there simply is no school for them to go to and not enough resources for them to use. While the Monroe group was there, the teachers were on strike so for even those who normally would attend, there was no formal schooling available. At press time, the strike was still going on.

Beside the visiting missionaries, there are workers at Casa Hogar who see that things run smoothly and that the kids are looked after. It is primarily the kids, however, who look after one another. "The older children take care of the younger ones," said Cindy Kuchenbecker, one of the Monroe missionaries. The children hand wash their own clothes in basins, are responsible for keeping their living areas clean, cleaning the bathrooms themselves (although volunteers will often scrub them down), and help in food preparation. Since Simply Smiles began lending a helping hand, the children are fed meat once a day; whereas before, days would go by without any meat in the meals.

The missionaries said that it was clear right from the beginning that what the children most want from the volunteers is their time. The children were happiest when they had someone to play UNO with, or when they painted, were read to, sang, were tickled and hugged. There was a language barrier, but the volunteers said that it hardly mattered; laughing is the same in any language.

Mrs. Levins grew particularly close to Esther, a 13 year old blind girl whose parents simply can not take care of her and her two older brothers who are also blind. Mrs. Levins has worked with a blind child in Monroe for many years and will continue until he graduates from high school. She said, "I have a 14 year old daughter myself, so I know what it is like. While at Casa Hogar, I just wanted to spend time with Esther - to work with her - although what she really needed was someone to just spend time with her. She often wanted to rest her head on my leg and be assured that someone cares."

Everyone in the group grew to love the children and found it extremely difficult to leave. Many cried as they said 'Goodbye' to Nacho, the eleven year old blind boy who was so charismatic and energetic that he amazed everyone. Each child mentioned, including Florencia, Ricardo and Elizabeth, brought a smile to the faces of everyone. One missionary said that she cried so hard on the flight home and in church the next day that she popped a blood vessel in her eye. "What we saw at Casa Hogar is unbelievable. The children are so beautiful and so willing to love. They also need so much, not necessarily in the way of materialistic things - although they need that too, but they need people willing to give their time and guidance and love. It just gives you such a high to help. It is incredible," said Mrs. Levins.

Originally the group thought that they might try to go back in two years, but now they are rethinking their original plan. Mrs. Levins said that they would like to try and go next May or June. In the meantime, she and the others continue to look for ways to help. Some have joined Simply Smiles Sponsorship Program which involves donating a certain amount of money each month in a particular child's name. Although the money may not go directly to that child, 97% of it goes to Casa Hogar's children. Mrs. Levins has already raised money and purchased a used Braille machine, which the home has received. Her latest project is to raise money to purchase the JAWS Program, a program for people who are blind. A voice reads the computer screen aloud for the child. "A tool like that would open up the blind children's world so much more," she said.

Upon returning from Casa Hogar Benito Juarez Children's Home, Mrs. Levins and a few of the other missionaries spoke at their church service the next day. After relating her experience, Mrs. Levins ended by saying, "I can't possibly explain what I felt from these people, these children. I may not be able to find my batteries, my toothbrush or my vitamins; but at Casa Hogar I found joy, compassion, gratitude and most of all I found love."