The Orcas Christian School held a benefit concert for their Mexico mission trip on Saturday, Jan. 3 and raised approximately $300 towards the annual outing.

The event, which included performances from musicians John van Deusan, He is We and Pirate Pirate Motorhome was attended by about 50 people, according to Olivia Roseberry, one of the high school students who attended the fundraiser and plans to go on the trip to Mexico.

“Going to Mexico is a wonderful experience,” Roseberry said. “It really opens your eyes and your heart to the world and gives you compassion for others in need.”

Roseberry, who will be going for the third time, says that many of the same students go every year because they find it such a worthwhile experience.

Last year the group took workers from a construction company in Bellingham with them to the Bethesda Mission and Mount Olives Children’s Home to help with the construction of an orphanage in Yuruapan, Mexico.

“This year we will be working on additional construction to the orphanage,” Roseberry said.

She says that last year eight students and four adults made the journey and a similar number are expected to go this year.

The school still needs to raise money for the trip, which is scheduled for March 5 to 12. They plan to raffle off tickets to a gift basket with gift certificates from area businesses including Teezers and The Nest at the Orcas Christian School, the high school and occasionally at a table outside Island Market. The raffle winner will be drawn on Feb. 13.

Roseberry says that no special training is necessary to attend the mission trip and that most of the participants are somewhat familiar with using a hammer and nails from living on Orcas.

“It is so hard to leave every year. There is a lot of crying. Even the guys cry. It is such an amazing time that no one wants to leave and everyone always wants to go back the following year,” Roseberry said.