Micaela discovered that in the level one class (there are students in here ages 5 to 14) that the only signs she needs right now are: pay attention, stop, don't fight, be nice, yes, and no.
Robin, on the other hand, is in way over her head! One girl in the class seems to understand her better than the others, so she acts as an interpreter. We had an awesome moment today when she discovered that addition is the opposite of subtraction. She immediately asked if she could show another teacher what she had learned. What an incredible feeling to see a student's eyes light up with discovery.
There are two girls and six boys in the class, ages 9 to 16. Two boys have not arrived yet and apparently this is the norm. Kids will continue to trickle throughout the month; whenever their parents/guardians can get them here.
Please pray for a 14-year-old deaf girl from Tiajuana who we would like to see come here. She is being raised by relatives who send her out to beg for food that they then sell. She has no language and we can assume that she has no knowledge of Jesus. A staff member is working with the Mexican version of social services to try and get her in school.
Serving the deaf of Mexico!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Week 2
The highlight of week two was a tour of Ensenada given by Eddie Everett. A dozen of us piled into the van and began the tour in Guadalupe, a small town just down the road. There is a vet/pet store, markets, ice cream store, hardware store, mechanic, and the famous Guadalupe taco stand. We can find most of what we need there, but driving there borders on insane. The road is shared with autos, ATVs, pedestrians, and animals. When time allows, it is definitely better to stay on the main highway and drive the thirty minutes into Ensenada.
Next stop, a taco stand in Ensenada that Eddie recommended. This was followed by much debate on which is the best taco stand in the city. Then it was on to the tourist area of the city, complete with Starbucks and Thrifty's ice cream. This area used to be fed by tourists from the cruise ships but with all the bad press about Mexico, the number of ships docking here has decreased dramatically and tourism is way down. Then it was on to Eddie's favorite spot, a small cart selling gellatto right next to the house where his family first lived when the Lord brought them to Mexico. From there he showed us some important locations: bank, currency exchange house, and teacher supply store. Next was dinner where we learned what to do if a mariachi band is playing at one table for a long time; pay your bill and leave. That person obviously has money to burn and wants to impress and we don't want to stay around to find out why. Life in Mexico! It was dark by now so we drove to Little America. This is the area where everything is more expensive but there is a Costco, Walmart, and Home Depot. The drive home was a lesson in driving in Mexico (not a lesson any of us want to repeat).
One of the greatest finds here has been an organic farm less than ten minutes from here. They have a variety of vegetables, fresh baked bread, a few fruits and an assortment of fun bottled things: mole, salsa, rice pudding, pickled carrots and jalepeños. Each week there is something new.
The rest of the week has been full of preparations for the children to arrive. Cleaning, preparing classrooms, and learning Mexican sign. Please continue to pray that Robin's sign language is sufficient to teach her class.
Blessings from Mexico!
Next stop, a taco stand in Ensenada that Eddie recommended. This was followed by much debate on which is the best taco stand in the city. Then it was on to the tourist area of the city, complete with Starbucks and Thrifty's ice cream. This area used to be fed by tourists from the cruise ships but with all the bad press about Mexico, the number of ships docking here has decreased dramatically and tourism is way down. Then it was on to Eddie's favorite spot, a small cart selling gellatto right next to the house where his family first lived when the Lord brought them to Mexico. From there he showed us some important locations: bank, currency exchange house, and teacher supply store. Next was dinner where we learned what to do if a mariachi band is playing at one table for a long time; pay your bill and leave. That person obviously has money to burn and wants to impress and we don't want to stay around to find out why. Life in Mexico! It was dark by now so we drove to Little America. This is the area where everything is more expensive but there is a Costco, Walmart, and Home Depot. The drive home was a lesson in driving in Mexico (not a lesson any of us want to repeat).
Port of Ensenada
One of the greatest finds here has been an organic farm less than ten minutes from here. They have a variety of vegetables, fresh baked bread, a few fruits and an assortment of fun bottled things: mole, salsa, rice pudding, pickled carrots and jalepeños. Each week there is something new.
The rest of the week has been full of preparations for the children to arrive. Cleaning, preparing classrooms, and learning Mexican sign. Please continue to pray that Robin's sign language is sufficient to teach her class.
Blessings from Mexico!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Day 6
It is amazing how quickly the days pass and how exhausted we all are by 9:00. Today was another day of meetings and preparing classrooms and the campus for the students. Eddie Everett taught us about driving in Mexico. If that was not enough to scare us away, nothing will.
School starts on the 5th of September and students will start trickling in as early as the first. Robin has a list of her six students and has begun praying for them. She is really excited that Josefina Everett will be leading Chapel for her class each morning. She will likely enjoy this time ever more than the kids do.
Ruben has been very busy learning his new job and helping to prepare all of the buildings. The kids and Robin were sitting in the kitchen and at 5:00 Dad was home. Robin took a few minutes to register that he had just been there in the morning too. Retirement from the fire department is gradually sinking in for both Ruben and Robin.
We had sign language training today. Robin probably needs to learn it quicker then the others just because she will be teaching, but she also seems to struggle with it the most. Ruben picks it up quickly but needs to work on his facial expressions. Please pray for us! We have Saturday off, but after that, studying sign will be Robin's full-time job until the kids arrive.
As the time for the students to arrive gets closer we would ask that you would pray for us. Robin will be teaching from 9:00 to 1:00 and the kids will be doing school work on their own (with the help of video teachers). After she is done teaching for the Ranch she will continue with the De La Rosa kids and some staff who want to learn Spanish. Micaela will be in a classroom 4 days a week for three hours a day and Ruben will be working long days. Ruben will be able to check in with the kids while Robin is at school but for the majority of the time, they will be on their own. Please pray that the kids will stay focused without Mom in the room, that both Micaela and Robin will be able to keep up with their responsibilities, and that Ruben is able to maintain a flexible schedule.
Blessed to be in His service!
School starts on the 5th of September and students will start trickling in as early as the first. Robin has a list of her six students and has begun praying for them. She is really excited that Josefina Everett will be leading Chapel for her class each morning. She will likely enjoy this time ever more than the kids do.
Ruben has been very busy learning his new job and helping to prepare all of the buildings. The kids and Robin were sitting in the kitchen and at 5:00 Dad was home. Robin took a few minutes to register that he had just been there in the morning too. Retirement from the fire department is gradually sinking in for both Ruben and Robin.
We had sign language training today. Robin probably needs to learn it quicker then the others just because she will be teaching, but she also seems to struggle with it the most. Ruben picks it up quickly but needs to work on his facial expressions. Please pray for us! We have Saturday off, but after that, studying sign will be Robin's full-time job until the kids arrive.
As the time for the students to arrive gets closer we would ask that you would pray for us. Robin will be teaching from 9:00 to 1:00 and the kids will be doing school work on their own (with the help of video teachers). After she is done teaching for the Ranch she will continue with the De La Rosa kids and some staff who want to learn Spanish. Micaela will be in a classroom 4 days a week for three hours a day and Ruben will be working long days. Ruben will be able to check in with the kids while Robin is at school but for the majority of the time, they will be on their own. Please pray that the kids will stay focused without Mom in the room, that both Micaela and Robin will be able to keep up with their responsibilities, and that Ruben is able to maintain a flexible schedule.
Blessed to be in His service!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Day 5
Another exciting day. A water leak in one of the houses filled a bathroom with two inches of water and kept Ruben busy on a water sweep. Robin is still coming to terms with the fact that she will be teaching in a foreign language (Mexican sign) that she does not know. She will also be teaching Spanish to her students, her own kids and a few of the staff. She's much more comfortable with that. The only thing that makes any of us confident that we are equipped for this is that where the Lord has called He will provide and we are sure that He has called us to this ministry.
Micaela will be a teacher's aide in the youngest class and is very excited to begin serving the kids. Amber is the teacher in that class and Ruben and Robin are very happy that Micaela will be spending time with such an exceptional young woman. If you do not know Amber, go to www.RanchoSordoMudo.org and read her bio. She and her husband are great examples of obediently following the Lord's calling.
Christopher has been very busy helping his dad. He is learning many new skills and runs from one end of the ranch to the other with a great attitude. This is really saying a lot when the temperature is over 100 degrees. Ruben and Robin were so relieved today when Erin offered to give him a haircut. She did a great job and we have stopped calling him Justin B. Erin is also an incredible servant. What a comfort it is, as a parent, to know that your children are being influenced by such Godly young people.
Danielle and Kelli are working like crazy! From laundry to KP duty to organizing teacher supplies they are very busy. We are certain that they will consider it a break when school starts next week. We are going to the States on Saturday to purchase a swamp cooler so that the house will be bearable during the day. Otherwise, school would have to be postponed until cooler weather. Our ceilings will not support fans so everyone tries to sleep with a fan right in front of their bed. Okay for the evenings, but not for daytime.
Gotta go, a large (and I do mean large) bug just ran across the floor! Oh well, at least the mouse is dead.
Blessings from Mexico!
Micaela will be a teacher's aide in the youngest class and is very excited to begin serving the kids. Amber is the teacher in that class and Ruben and Robin are very happy that Micaela will be spending time with such an exceptional young woman. If you do not know Amber, go to www.RanchoSordoMudo.org and read her bio. She and her husband are great examples of obediently following the Lord's calling.
Christopher has been very busy helping his dad. He is learning many new skills and runs from one end of the ranch to the other with a great attitude. This is really saying a lot when the temperature is over 100 degrees. Ruben and Robin were so relieved today when Erin offered to give him a haircut. She did a great job and we have stopped calling him Justin B. Erin is also an incredible servant. What a comfort it is, as a parent, to know that your children are being influenced by such Godly young people.
Gotta go, a large (and I do mean large) bug just ran across the floor! Oh well, at least the mouse is dead.
Blessings from Mexico!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Day 4
We are loving it here! The staff are incredible people and we are already feeling like family.
We are working hard; from sunup to sundown and them some. Cleaning, preparing classrooms, fixing water pipes, and cleaning some more has made for a very exhausted family. Everyone is chipping in and Ruben and Robin have been very proud of their kids' attitudes. Scrubbing floors isn't much fun, but they are doing it with servants' hearts.
The mouse is still winning. Any ideas on how to trap a mouse that is smarter than your average trap?
Buenas Noches!
We are working hard; from sunup to sundown and them some. Cleaning, preparing classrooms, fixing water pipes, and cleaning some more has made for a very exhausted family. Everyone is chipping in and Ruben and Robin have been very proud of their kids' attitudes. Scrubbing floors isn't much fun, but they are doing it with servants' hearts.
The mouse is still winning. Any ideas on how to trap a mouse that is smarter than your average trap?
Buenas Noches!
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