In lieu of the usual trappings of toys and gadgets, the basic necessities were the request on the Christmas list of 120 children living in an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico
“Instead of Christmas toys, bring food,” Lea and Leon Johnson of Malibu were told when they asked how they could help children in the Tijuana orphanage this Christmas.
Thanks to the Johnsons of Prudential Malibu Realty and their co-workers, the children at Casa Hogar El Faro Orphanage will get their Christmas wishes.
This is the second year in a row the Johnsons and their co-workers have raised funds for the orphanage. Office managers Kate and Michael Novotny were instrumental in this year’s fund raising effort, which resulted in $995 of Costco gift certificates for the orphanage, $1,640 in cash and checks, as well as donations of school supplies and clothes.
“They don’t have enough food to eat, and the rainy season is coming, so they will be flooded in and can’t get out for most of January and February,” explained Lea Johnson, who said she “has a heart for orphans.”
Originally from Romania, Lea Johnson emigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1980. She met her husband, Leon, who was born in Washington, at a church while traveling. The couple has been helping Romanian charities for 20 years. Three years ago, the Johnsons felt moved to seek out a way to help people closer to home.
“God just put on our hearts to help orphans,” Lea said.
She searched on the Internet for orphanages that needed the most help and found Casa Hogar. Lea’s phone call was an “answered prayer” for orphanage directors George and Carmen Gonzalez.
“Only God sent you to us,” Gonzalez told Lea when she called. “Our kids are eating stale donuts. God answered our prayer.”
Two days later, the Johnsons drove to Tijuana on a mission to help the children.
“In Mexico, nobody helps those kids,” said Lea, who talked of the “unbelievable poverty level and horrible conditions that they lived in.”
Since the Johnsons have been involved with the orphanage, they have helped them through fund raising and personal donations to purchase land and build a playground and two school buildings.
The orphans at Casa Hogar range in age from six months old to 15, with most of them between five and eight years old.
The Johnsons visit the orphanage every month, taking with them supplies and smiles for the children. They take them shopping at Costco and help the orphanage pay its bills.
“The money goes so far there,” said Leon Johnson, who said he is touched by “seeing their gratitude.”
“They have a humble, appreciative attitude for any little thing you do,” he said. “It’s so appreciated and you cherish it.”
The Johnsons are rewarded also with seeing the positive changes their involvement has brought in the lives of the children.
“We’re delighted to see the wonderful transformation in them,” Lea said.
“Many of the kids have dealt with issues of abuse, drugs and/or rape. At the orphanage they get warm meals and as much love as they need.”
Twelve people on the orphanage’s staff, including five teachers, help nurture the kids.
The Johnsons are also involved in other relief efforts including helping a widow with four children in Mexico, donating funds and clothing to Romanian orphanages and serving on their church’s, Calvary of the Palisades, missionary committee where they, with others, support 26 missionaries.
Lea and Leon invite anybody who wants to make a difference in the life of a child to join them on one of their monthly trips to Tijuana. The more people that they take with them, the more supplies they can take across the border, free of charge, Leon explained.
“I extend an invitation to whoever wants to come and meet these kids and to see how the kids live and to make friends,” Lea said.
Interested parties in going to the orphanage may contact Lea or Leon Johnson at 317.1703 or by sending an e-mail to leajohnson@yahoo.com.
Donations are tax-deductible through Northwest Outreaches, a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization.
“This is the best thing that we can ever do,” Lea said. “I know that every time you touch a life, that’s priceless. When you touch and help a child’s life, that’s the highest accomplishment.”
Samuel, the orphanage director’s son, said, “Besides being a part of the orphanage with the help of their donations, Lea and Leon have become part of our lives … when they come it’s not like ‘look, another group,’ it’s more like, ‘Hey, welcome back.'”
Lea and Leon are part of El Faro in every sense of the word.