 “It was the children’s smiles that captured your heart”, said Dawne Carver director of youth ministries at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She and 12 senior high youth along with 3 other leaders spent a week at Rancho de sus Niños, an orphanage about an hour outside of Tijuana, Mexico.
The senior high youth group called ‘AWAKE’ does an annual mission trip every summer. This year’s trip started with a flight to San Diego where the group was met and transported to the orphanage. Rancho de sus Niños was founded in 1987 by a couple from Woodside, CA who had a calling to help the children in Mexico. It has since grown to an orphanage, day care center, Pre School, and Bible College, all funded by donations. Every building was built by hand using volunteer labor. Among the dedicated staff are former children who grew up there.
 AWAKE spent their mornings working, and I mean hard work, such as mixing concrete by hand and pouring foundations one wheel barrel at a time. It didn’t take long for the group to get an appreciation for the people who live there and do this every day.
The afternoons were spent with the children, by far the most popular time of the day. They played soccer, jump rope and introduced the kids to four square. Bonds were quickly formed and by the second day many smiles and hugs were shared.
 During the evenings the group joined several other groups and participated in church services in the nearby communities or colonias. It was there that they got a taste of the poverty that is in the area. “It is so good for the kids to see the rest of the world,” said Doug Peters one of the adult leaders, ‘it really makes them appreciate what they have back here in Sonoma.”
AWAKE sang songs during the church services and performed a drama in which their own James Mitchell portrayed the prodigal son.
Rancho has also built over 20 churches in the area and one task AWAKE had was to paint a sanctuary. They started early in the morning and finished the job in time for the evening service held there that night! Sarah DeSmet spoke at the service praising the children at the orphanage for their positive attitude even though they had very few material possessions.
The group brought playground equipment; school supplies and Dr. Lopes, a local dentist donated tooth brushes and tooth paste.
 Overall it was a wonderful experience in which the youth and adults grew spiritually, while bonding as a group and helping the children of Rancho.
If you would like to join a group like this they meet every Sunday at St. Andrew Pres on Arnold Dr. at 12:00 noon. Lunch is provided and the group does many fun activities throughout the year.
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