Purpose: The Hogar Rafael Ayau is an orphanage of approximately 60 children from infancy to 18+ years old. These children are abandoned, orphaned, mistreated, or abused. The children are provided everything they need, including food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education. All children are baptized into the Orthodox faith and attend church regularly; they sing the liturgy and participate in the sacraments of the church.
The orphanage is surrounded by very high brick walls with barbed wire. The only entrance is secured with a steel door and an armed guard. The facility is equipped with classrooms, swimming pool, gymnasium, its own water supply, administrative building, chapel, missionary quarters, bakery and dining room.
Special documentary DVD: We have recently produced a documentary about the orphanage’s work, entitled With Love, the Children of the Hogar Rafael Ayau (Con cariño, los niños del Hogar Rafael Ayau). See 6-minute excerpt here. Proceeds from the sale of this video are donated to the orphanage. To purchase this DVD for $20.00, visit our Donate or Purchase page for secure electronic payment via PayPal.
Date of 2011 trip: August 1 - 8.
Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Travel: Fly from Indianapolis to Huston, then Guatemala City. Travel by bus to the Orphanage.
Number of people for mission team: Eleven (11) including a priest.
Total Cost: $1,000 — a $200 deposit is required by each team member. The remainder to be raised via projects.
Requirements: You must be 18. Younger children allowed if accompanied with parent or adult guardian.
Expectations: Missionaries bring suite cases full of needed supplies, containing arts and crafts, medical items, educational material, clothing and shoes, etc. Most teams bring cash donations from their own parishes. Team members spend much time interfacing with the children, playing games, taking them on tours and in-city visits, and teaching them many things depending on the special team skills. The teams provide medical, dental, and audio/visual screening. Teams also do manual labor, including plumbing, painting, electrical, and yard work as needed. Most importantly, the team members bond with the children and provide an example of Orthodox Christian living.
Living accommodations: Team members stay at the missionary quarters in the Hogar complex. These have running hot and cold water, showers, electricity. Some units have individual rooms and some are large rooms shared by a number of people.
Team leaders: Mike and Helen Young
Contact info: To learn more, please contact our Missions Coordinator for more information, or call the church office at 317-733-3033.
Website: Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage