Last day at Los Mochis!

So, today is my last day at Los Mochis! I have met some new people and have made new friends! I have been blessed to see their ministry at work in complete reliance on the Lord and to see kids be blessed by what God is doing in their lives. It's funny how God tugs at your heart in His direction and to see these kids, these people, this ministry, I just feel so honored to have gotten this experience. These people have quickly become people who I hold dear in my heart in the short amount of time that I've gotten to know them. There is a different bond that you have when you're working alongside your sister or brother in Christ. I can't quite explain the feeling except that it's totally a God thing! Thank you Lord for what you do!

WHOA!!!! Say what?

Now you Americans I believe have capitalized on what we know as the hamburger and the hot dog, but I believe the world is changing. I believe that people have brighter dreams of tomorrow and are taking imagination to new limits. You see, things that we once new no longer are suitable for the evolving generation of critical thinking people. America has seemed to be in power with it's food identity and I provide proof that this can not longer be classified as a fact. Take a look at what Los Mochis, Mexico can offer to humanity. It is called...... Hot Dog!

Look at these faces!

Very swiftly, I was introduced to the bunch here at the school in Los Mochis. Since I stepped in the door, these little ones have asked me to play with them and help with their studies. They are some interesting kids with wonderful personalities and have so much energy!! I'm just hoping to see if I can keep up with the bunch! Please pray for these children though being that they from pretty bad backgrounds needing God to lead them in the right direction!

Los Mochis, HERE I COME!!!!

As part of my program at RSM, I was surprised by a trip to the luxurious city of Los Mochis!! Actually, it is a city that happened to be a bit flatter than I expected it to be, but here is a view that you can see in front of the school area. This place I am staying at for the next two weeks is at a school provided for both the deaf and at risk children. I think God is going to provide a lot of blessings as He continue leading me through new experiences!

Starbucks Social

Every week here in the city of Ensenada, they have a get together of some of the deaf community to have what we call a coffee social! We originally didn't meet at Starbucks but a different coffee joint; however, that didn't stop us from migrating there to what us Americans know very well to have some GOOD coffee! I got to meet some new people, learned some great sign, and just had a wonderful time making new friends! It wasn't too hard to jump into conversation with the people being so welcoming!

INEA

So, with being here for a little bit of time, I have been able to see a gentleman by the name of Robert do what he does best, help the people around him which include both the deaf and the neighbors that around him. I feel so blessed to see God using him in such a way and to also know that he has been with the Ranch for such a long time! He is currently working with two young gentleman finish some of their schooling with the INEA program. INEA is a type of homeschooling program the Mexico endorses and Jose Antonio (on the right) and Alfredo (in the background) are the two that he is working with. I have had the chance to jump in there as well by helping Robert teach these two all in Sign Language and Spanish. These two are working hard to pass their tests and then they will be then ready for the workforce after they finish their education!

Such Beauty!

Standing on the back porch, I have such a beautiful view of the city. Being that we are located in the hills far back in the picture, I have a pretty nice angle to look upon the people of Ensenada way down below. But when it became night time, it was a completely different city to my eyes seeing the beauty of people bustling between the many city lights and seeing the ocean brush up against the city's edge. Having the cruise ship in the distance quietly sitting there with it lighting up as well! Now to take it up a notch, I am standing there alone on the porch looking out and realized that in fact, I wasn't alone because God was right there with me! Such an amazing feeling to spend a couple hours just looking at this view with the God of the Universe!!

Going to Ensenada!

The next part of my internship is the near by buzzing city of Ensenada! There are a lot of people there compared to the Ranch and some pretty crazy drivers. Until you have tried a bus ride in a country like Mexico, you haven't experienced life! It doesn't matter if it is a narrow step road located on the side of the hills we live in, speed is not really a concern to our wonderful bus conductors! Anyway, I am currently living with 7 deaf people with one of them being in the picture on our back porch. It is wonderful to have deaf adults to have some good conversations to really pick up on the sign that I really need! This is going to be fun while I am here!

Let's make a movie!

The girls here at the ranch are wonderful young ladies that apparently have a creative side! A few of the girls within the dorm got together and decided that they would like to make a small movie just for fun. Marisela, on of the staff members from Queretaro, was able to make an outline of what the girls would do for a story line and I became the man behind the camera! My skills aren't that great, but God is good no matter how many faults I have! lol. The girls were pretty amazing though. They just knew the plot of the movie and I started rolling. On the spot, they made up dialogue and did some pretty good acting for not practicing prior to us filming! The movie is about a mother who loses her daughter and is frantically trying to find her now with the help of her community.You guys have to check out this video when you have the chance just for fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDwOOW4Cw_E

When Helping Hurts

Part of the program is to read some material that inspires us as Christians to really think what we are doing as a church. I hold the Bible very highly, which ought to be done, and I appreciate that these authors, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, are able to use the Bible to backup what they are saying. I am so far about half way done with the book and I am enjoying so far what they are saying. I am looking forward to finishing the rest of this book in the nearby future!

Triple Torta please!

We had an awesome group come down and experience our wold's famous taqueria down the street and I was shocked! I have always enjoyed the food at the taqueria and at times may appear to be slightly obsessive to go eat their food; however, I believe after seeing what I have seen, my yearning for their food is now miniscule compared to some of the boys from this recent group. I have now officially witnessed the first triple torta that Valle de Guadalupe has made and is willing to serve this to any brave takers! ¡Viva la raza! lol

Lights, Camara, Action!!

So, to start off the Spring, the Ranch decided to put on a play on the topic of Deaf history! A lot of the focus of this celebration was primarily based on Benito Juarez, the first president to recognize the Deaf and help establish the first Deaf school in Mexico. The students were able to put on costumes, hand paint the background of one of the Deaf schools, and even sport marker mustaches! These kids had a wonderful time!

Let the Games begin!

I am now back at Rancho Sordo Mudo and had the wonderful chance to meet a wonderful interpreter lady named Mary Alice who has come from Missouri. She is part of a neat Deaf ministry that helps fund missions that are in need of support and to see her some down to the Ranch with one of her students, Kristin, is great! She is wonderful with the kids and is extremely creative in having games and activities provided for them. We had an afternoon filled with people searching for hidden items, relay games, and dress ups. This is a pic of one of our students, Ruben, attempting to roll a plastic egg from the half court line down and back. Now that was fun!

Mission Conference

For the past week, I had a wonderful opportunity to go to Biola University to attend their Mission's Conference. It was great to meet so many different people on the mission field, running mission organizations, and the many students who are interested in seeing how they can become part of the mission field. We had people speaking from Texas, Indonesia, India, and many more places with each person painting the wonderful stories of their experiences. It was encouraging to hear great Biblical views on how a person should go about missions realizing that listening to what God wants you to do is the most important thing you should do, whether to go to another country spreading God's word or to do it in your own neighborhood. I had an amazing time at the conference and feel very encouraged to see how missions can work in my life.

Art Contest!!!

On March 8th, Rancho Sordo Mudo was proud to present our annual art contest! It was so great to watch so many of the kids become involved and use their creative skills. We had different age groups competing including a group for staff members to compete and to see so many submissions for the contests was amazing! We had some very interesting pieces of art, but hey.... that is what makes it art, right!

¿Quieres bailar?

 So, when we get bored here at the Ranch on a groovy Saturday night, we start a dance class! Moriah, one of the teachers, has a background of dance and happens to be very good at what she does. It was so interesting because Jason (roommate/teacher assistant), Chris (awesome staff kid), and myself were accompanied by several of the deaf boys who a few of them happen to have rhythm. Who would have thought? It was a great night to get some blood flowing and all around have a good time together!

Día de la Bandera

Monday was an awesome day for the kids because they had the opportunity to fully celebrate their Mexican heritage by celebrating the Nation's Día de la Bandera (Flag Day). The kids assembled together to honor their nation's flag and learn about the meaning of the colors, the representation of the eagle, the cactus, and then follow it up with capture the flag and a piñata. It was extremely fun for them and a great experience to be proud of who they are! Praise the Lord!

Awkward Moment

Check Out Those Math Skills!!

I spent most of the week observing kids in their classrooms taking up several different subjects such as biology, Spanish, Sign, and probably the most crazy is their math! I say this because most children will often use their fingers in order to count or to add, but the deaf kids here at the Ranch sure do take it to the next level. It is very common to see these kids simultaneously use their fingers along with sign as they do some magical formula with their hands to produce the solution to their math problems. The younger kids are still learning the concept of numbers and how to add and subtract, but some of these older kids with lighting skill just move some fingers around and create the answer! You totally have to check it out if you are ever at the Ranch!

Classroom Time!!

For the past two days, I have been able to observe some of the classrooms here at Rancho. The first day was taught by a hearing teacher teaching the subject of math and the second day was a class taught by a Deaf teacher who was teaching the subject of science. Both teachers were good at what they did and I was interested in taking in things such as differences with signing styles, kids at different stages of learning, and ages of each class. To make matters even more complicated is for these teachers to have to handle a class that may have far more boys or girls in the class which can easily change the energy that the classroom possesses. By far, seeing some of the staff in action was an amazing experience and to see these kids get projects done is very uplifting. These kids have smiles that just melt your heart when they have completed a task well and that is just another step forward for these kids to become more educated thus making them more independent. It is so great to see that the classes emphasize God in their curriculum to continually remind these kids that the power of the cross is so awesome and to see them pray for the things they do brings such encouragement. I still have the rest of this week to go to see more classes in action! Prayer is very much appreciated for these children as they continue to learn about academics, work ethic, personal development, and most importantly about Jesus!

First impressions of the Ranch

I have finished my first week here at the Ranch and have had so many blessings happen! These kids are each amazing kids and to see them interact with the smiles that they have just gives me this great joy! Much of the week so far has been observing the kids in action! Being that the location of the Ranch is in Mexico working with Mexican deaf children, there are several languages that I am trying to learn in order to get by which is a pretty gnarly challenge. I have had the opportunity to learn more about the children by playing with them, eating meals along side them, and also tiding up the school yard in work teams with them. If you want to have full immersion, this is the best way to go! I even had the chance to go to Ensenada a few times and interact with some of the people there to learn my Spanish. The culture here is different though then what I am accustomed to in the States such as an hour long carwash and how people earn their money, but I see many hard workers and people striving to make a living. As this week unfolds here at the Ranch, I will be observing the classes that we provide so that I can learn more about LSM (Mexican Sign Language) and learn how these kids respond to the subjects being taught. God has been really good and I certainly feel blessed to have this opportunity to be involved in such a wonderful Deaf ministry as Rancho Sordo Mudo.

Written by Peter Boklund
Intern at Rancho Sordo Mudo

Internship 2013!

We have been counting the days until Peter moved to the Ranch as our Intern for Spring 2013.  We spent the first week in orientation; learning about life at the Ranch, his duties for the next four months, and a tour of the neighboring towns.  The tour included a visit to other local ministries, an organic farm and, of course, Ensenada's famous fish tacos.