Mexico Orphanage Project

Welcome to Hacienda Navojoa. We are constructing a new orphanage on five acres donated to us by the University of Navojoa... the College of the Pacific, located eleven kilometers south east of the city of Navojoa... about nine hours drive south of Tucson on Hwy 15. The new facility will be approximately 16,000 square feet and is designed like a Mexican colonial hacienda, with suites and rooms facing a central courtyard. On the ground level will be four residences, which will accommodate 32 children and their house parents. Also on the main level will be the dining room and kitchen, a workshop, a directors office, a multipurpose room and the main foyer/entrance. Upper level will have the director’s suite, the cook's suite and three volunteer’s apartments to accommodate up to ten workers. There is also storage for boys and girls clothing and housekeeping storage, plus a guest room for visitors.

This new orphanage is being built using compressed earth blocks (CEB)… adobe blocks made by hydraulically compressing a mixture of moist earth. Sometimes we add six per cent cement powder to stabilize the blocks, but more recently we have been using cement mortar between the blocks as we place them. Unlike the sun dried mud blocks that take a month to cure, CEB adobes can be used immediately as they come from the block making machine.


	Orphanage News In mid-April 2008 the children moved into their new home. There are still some finishing details to complete... but we are planning to return and work from January to mid March and have a Grand Opening celebration March 21, 2009. All who have helped are invited to this event. Yet to do: complete the adobe security wall around the perimeter of the property install closet doors install shelving for linens, etc. waterproof second level patio floor set up timed irrigation in courtyard and around building plant trees seed lawn A Mission Trip is being planned for October 30 - November 10 by Chuck Bobst of Pacific Press. For details contact Chuck at chubob@pacificpress.com group is limited to 20 people so sign up early. Chuck also is organizing a charity golf tournement at the Riverbend Golf Course Nampa, Idaho on August 22, 2008.

The Current Orphanage

Hogar de Refugio Infintil Villa Juarez has been caring for children since 1991, under the direction of Bob and Annette Mason. This orphanage was hit by Huricane Henrietta early September 2007 and suffered flood damage plus some roofs were damaged. But when the local authorities forbade the orphans to return to this site after the diasaster, the looting neighbors quickly dismanted in a matter of weeks the 12 buildings that had taken about 12 years to construct.

The University of Navojoa provided temporary housing for the orphans until we could complete the new orphanage and they could move in... which they did in mid-April 2008.

To visit the Hogar de Refiugio Infintil Villa Juarez orphanage website click on this link.

The New Orphanage

We are now in the third season of construction. Most gringos find it too hot to work in Mexico when the temperatures are between 100 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. So, our construction season is between mid-October and mid-April before it gets too hot. We expect it will take four winters to complete the project. We have several full time local Mexican laborers as well as many volunteers and groups who come to help from US and Canada. If you would like to come and help, or sponsor a laborer for a week or a month, please contact us by email.