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The Huron Expositor • April 1, 2009 Page 11
Bethel Bible Church group travels to Mexico to
help build dormatories for teachers at orphanage
Dan Schwab
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Despite being neglected by their
parents, who are prostitutes, drug
abusers or dead, a group of Mexi-
can orphans Bob Hulley recently
visited were so generous and kind
that it blew him away.
"It was just amazing, seeing big
kids helping little kids," says Hul-
ley, who visited the Pan de Vida
orphanage from Feb. 13-23 with a
group from Bethel Bible Church.
Hulley was astonished to see "an
assembly line" of orphans having
their hair combed, shoes cleaned
and pants laid out by older orphans
in the home for children ages three
to 19.
Hulley, who lives on a. farm be-
tween Seaforth and Blyth, was ac-
companied by his daughter Peggy,
Seaforth residents Valerie Dalton,
John and Susan Blanchard, Marc
and Heather Robinet and their
children Sammy and Rachael.
Along with 10 members of the
Waterloo Mennonite Brethren
Church, the group volunteered
to build dormitories for teachers
and their families to stay at the
orphanage..
They spent about seven hours
every day laying bricks, installing
drywall, plumbing, painting and
doing electrical work.
"The major thing was the team-
work," says Dalton. "The team
came together and just kind of all
started working."
Children at the orphanage are
educated and taught about the
importance of developing a good
work ethic so when they turn 20,
they are provided with the skills
to get a job and make it on their
own.
Dalton says she
the dramatic sto-
ries from the or-
phanage leaders
about how the
children were
neglected before
being taken in
to Pan de Vida,
which currently
houses 65 girls
and 62 boys.
She says hear-
ing their pitiful
stories and then
seeing their
smiling faces
had an emo-
tional affect on
many members
of the group.
heard some of
"I can't get over
how much it affected
me," Hulley says. "It
shook us right to the
roots."
During the work-
day, Hulley says he
always tried to take
a break when the:
children came out
of the orphanage for
recess.
He and others
would give them
snacks and trinkets.
They didn't expect
anything in return
and were surprised
when the orphans
offered some of their
meagre belongings to the group as
.�.
g "They started giving me stufflike
candy and one little girl gave me
a charm from her shirt," he says.
"That blew me away. I was think -
Marc Robinet, Peggy Hulley, Susan Blanchard
and John Blanchard are yelped by some Mexi-
can children while loading sand to be used for
levelling areas where brick and tile was laid.
Peggy Hulley and Valerie Dalton paint
gymnasium wall with masonry paint.
NOTICE
THE MID -HURON LANDFILL SITE
WILL BE CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE
TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2009
ALL DAY
Sorry for the inconvenience
Don Hosack, Supervisor
Mid -Huron Landfill Site
RR#2 Clinton, Ontario
NOM 1L0
519-482-7668
a
Bob Hulley poses with a Mexican child, stand-
ing In front of the girls' dorms at the Pan de
Vida orphanage,
Submitted photos
ing, 'You don't have any-
thing and you're giving me some-
thing?'"
Hulley says he's been "constantly
thinking about it" since his return.
He hopes to be a part of another
trip to the orphanage next year
with a group from Bethel Bible
Church. go
" I would definitely back," Dal-
ton also says.
Starting at 7 p.m. on April 6, the
group will share details of the trip
at Bethel Bible Church.
The Munlcipality
of Huron East
FREE E -Waste Drop Off Day
Huron East Town Hall
72 Main Street South,
Seaforth
(rear of building)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
9 am to 12 Noon
The Municipality of Huron East is pleased to support a FREE drop
off depot for used electronic equipment (e -waste),
E -waste is commonly referred to as 'bid computer equipment"
but many other types of householb electronics are also recyclable.
A complete listing of acceptable materials is available at the
Municipal Office or check the Huron East website.
Watch for the "Flyer" in your mail for more details.
r
If you have any questions, please contact the Huron East
Municipal Office at 519-527-0160.
i.
Space provided through a partnership between industry mid Okae 0 wloicipalities to support waste diversion programs.