We arrived in San Carlos having time on our hands before heading out to the camp on Magdalena Island. We decided to organize the gift packs we had brought for the children of Puerto Magdalena.

Special Thanks to:

1. Dr. Shelley Breadner, Sharon Neeves and Stasia Ferbey  - monetary and childrens' clothing donations. Also in helping with the purchasing, transporting, organizing and distribution of the gifts.

2. Alaska Airlines - waiving baggage fees.

3. Lucy Hart - monetary donation.

4. Wendy and Dale Renton - donations of childrens' clothes.

5. Dr. Robert Jost - donations of toothbrushes and dental floss.

6. Monk Office Supplies, Sidney, BC - misc. school supplies.

7. Christine Hayes and Jeff Ogilvie - monetary donation.

So this is how it all began... 

I wanted to spend a couple of days away from it all and lose myself in the gray whale lagoons of Magdalena Bay. I thought I would stay in Loreto and drive back and forth to Mag Bay, an hour and a half drive each way. I am very blessed to know a couple of the fishermen in Mag Bay that once crewed for me many years ago. They had taken me out in their panga, last year, giving me a locals tour of the bay. It was brilliant and I wanted to do it again.

I asked Stasia, my friend and co-worker if she wanted to tag along as she would be in Mexico anyway. 

Then, somewhere along the way I invited  my parrots' veterinarian to join us in both Mag Bay and a school trip starting a day later. I really didn't know Dr. Breadner but I needed to do something special to thank her for a gift she had given me in the care of a serious health issue with Julio (my parrot), who will be 31 years old this year. 

I mentioned to Sharon from our BC office what I was doing and within moments she was onboard. 

Soon after the invitation I heard that Shelley was into backcountry camping. So I inquired into camps at the lagoon as it seemed easier than driving back and forth from Loreto with  three friends in tow. I booked us into the Mag Bay Tour camp. Okay, now everything was organized and we were good to go... not so much.

Shortly after organizing the Mag Bay getaway I was talking with a friend in La Paz who told me the fishing community of Puerto Magdalena had been severely damaged by Hurricane Jimena, the one that struck the Baja in September, and the kids of the community needed help. I contacted the teacher of the community and he informed me of the situation and the best possible gifts the kids could receive.

This is how, I went from a couple of days of peace and tranquility to full on work. I decided to raise monies for blankets, clothing, toys and school supplies for the kids of the Mag Bay community. The four of us spent hours buying, collecting, organizing and transporting the gifts. Friends, colleagues and business associates participated in monetary and gift  donations. There were at least 10 large packages, suitcases and dufflebags. Each one full of gifts to be distributed to the children of the community.

For me, many blessings came of this adventure and the kicker was we didn't even see a whale! They had already left on their northerly migration. It did not disappoint us as we had an adventure of a lifetime in laughter, tom foolery and a heartfelt journey of giving. 

I would like to thank Esteban Warren, owner of Mag Bay Tours, for his help in putting us in touch with the teacher and community members of Puerto Magdalena and for storing many of the suitcases prior to our official arrival.

May we always find it in our hearts to be kind.

Lela Sankeralli - Founder