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Making a Difference South of the Border
STORY TOOLS 
More from CamarilloFor students, the coming of winter usually marks a busy time filled with school, sports, activities, and of course Homecoming. But for 17 students and adults from Camarillo Christian Church it also meant a chance to make a difference. On October 25-28, a group from CCC travelled to El Porvenir, Mexico (east of Ensenada) to serve with Niños de Baja, an organization that serves hurting and needy children.The group specifically worked with Casa del Pastor a full-time care facility for infants and toddlers. Students and adults spent time playing with the children at the orphanage, and despite any language barriers the play area was filled with the sounds of laughter. With 6 current children and a capacity for 8 more, the small staff at the orphanage is in constant motion. Phil Drain, assistant director of Niños de Baja, commented that having groups come down to play with the children is a huge blessing because the children receive so much personal attention during these times.In addition to spending time with the children and staff, the group worked on a new facility for older children currently under construction. The new group house will house 6-12 year olds which Casa del Pastor cannot currently take. The new facility was built earlier this year by a group from Newbury Park First Christian Church. The group from Camarillo prepped 2 additional storage sheds for a stucco exterior and completed one layer of stucco on one of the buildings. Nate Bradshaw, a senior at CornerstoneChristianSchool and a member of last year's group, says "It was really exciting to go back after a year and see all of the progress that has been made on the various projects."The weekend was capped off with a BBQ at the orphanage. The menu featured hamburgers and root beer floats. Both the students and children had a great evening, and were very sad to say good-bye. "In only a few hours I feel so attach to the children, especially Carlos, it was really hard to leave," said Travis Ritchie, a senior at NewburyParkHigh School. More information about Niños de Baja can be found at www.ninosdebaja.org.
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