Drew Lund's Mexican Adventures: Living Mexico

Drew Lund's Mexican Adventures: Living Mexico:
February 24, 2014

"Today I went on what I would consider my first true Mexican Adventure. Every Monday I travel to Ensenada with a few other staff from the ranch to attend a sign language class taught by Carlos, a former student-turned-staff from the Rancho Sordo Mudo. This time it was only David (Pronounced Dah-veed -- also a former student from the ranch, now on staff as a dorm parent) Noemy (girl's dorm parent) and myself.

The three of us got a ride into Ensenada with Luke (El Jefe) and Josefina (La Esposa del Jefe), who dropped us off on the edge of town to find our way alone. Now, David lived in Ensenada for several years working construction all over town, so he was essentially Noemy's and my guide. We caught a crowded bus that was mostly full of kids on their way home from school so we could make it to David's friend's house to get a car (the friend also happens to be Carlos, our sign language teacher). We definitely attracted a fair amount of attention on the bus and the streets, probably because we were a group of two Mexicans and a 6'3" gringo that only spoke to each other in English and sign language.

After we talked with Carlos and his sister Gabby for a while at their house, we left with the car to continue our Mexican Adventure. We drove around looking for place to get some quality Mexican cuisine and eventually ended up at a medium-sized diner where I ate something that a don't even remember the name of, but there was meat in it and it was good. Once we finished, we drove down along the beach looking for something to do. It wasn't too long before Noemy spotted horses on the side of the road that you could rent and take for a trot along the beach. We decided that sounded like fun.

Once we parked and walked back to where the horses were, David told us he didn't actually like horses so he didn't want to go for a ride, but he insisted Noemy and I go without him. So, we paid our dues and embarked on what turned out to be an hour-long jolty ride along the beautiful Mexican beach with the sun setting on the horizon. When our hour was up, we left with David again and went to the church our sign language class is held in. To finish of the experience, we stopped by one of the many taco stands on the way out of Ensenada to get some tacos and tortas to take back to the ranch with us.

David joked with us as we waited for the bus at the beginning of our adventure that we would be living Mexico instead of just seeing Mexico. That turned out to be a good summary for the day. I really feel like a got a whole different view of Mexico than I've had in the past. You see one thing when you just only to the touristy beaches and streets that are so angled towards catching tourist's attention that you pass with more signs in English than you do in Spanish, but you get an entirely different picture when you walk, ride the bus, and drive through the real Mexican streets, eat at the real Mexican restaurants, and meet the real Mexican people. Today I got to experience more of the real Mexican culture at one time than I have at any of my previous trips through town. Today, I got to live Mexico."

Tortilla Chip Day!

Today is National Tortilla Chip Day!  We can one-up that with the street tacos from our local taco stand. 

Snoopy Rock

I know parts of the country are have crazy weather, but we are enjoying SUNNY DAYS!  Disc golf and hiking weather.  We have a ridiculous disc golf course that takes you over hills and through ravines...I only made 9 holes! 






This is the view from the back side of Snoopy Rock with RSM down in the valley.

Drew Lund's Mexican Adventures: Day 5 at Rancho Sordo Mudo

Drew Lund's Mexican Adventures: Day 5 at Rancho Sordo Mudo:
February 14, 2014

"I've only been at Rancho Sordomudo for about five days now, and I have to say, these kids are really growing on me already.

The students here make it pretty hard not to love them. They spend nine months out of the year living here on the ranch and for them this is home. Then, when some tall white kid shows up over halfway through the school year and the other staff tell the students "he's staying," they just immediately accepted me into their lives. They didn't wait and watch me to see if they liked me, they just welcomed me.

Every day after dinner most of the staff goes outside with the students to the playground for an hour or so. Usually I just stand on the basketball court and kick soccer balls around the whole time like a lot of the kids, but last night I left the court early to go stand on the side and watch. Before I could sit down on a bench nearby, a group of kids started asking me questions. Lots and lots of questions.

It started off nice and simple with questions like "how old are you?" and "where are you from?" and those sorts of basic conversation-starters (a couple other staff members, Lucas and Noemi, were translating the words I didn't know). Then they asked me strangely specific things like "do you have a best friend?" One student even asked me "what do you like?" No category, like sports or something, just "what do you like?" Then they transitioned into trying to teach me new signs I didn't know, which consisted of three or four students all pointing at something nearby and then signing it for me. And while I appreciated their enthusiasm to help me learn, it was fairly difficult to actually understand anything that was going on because all of them were frantically signing at the same time. It's hard enough to pay attention to multiple people talking to me in a language I'm actually competent in, never mind it all being in a language I've only been exposed to for five days. The whole time this was happening the kids were just laughing and smiling, and their high spirits rubbed definitely off on me and the other staff involved in the conversation.

One of the questions I was asked (before the conversation turned into a teaching frenzy) was "are you coming back next year?" In response I just laughed a little and reminded them I haven't even been here less than a week so it's a little soon to tell. But I couldn't help but think about that while the conversation continued. I can already understand why all of the staff of RSM, past and present, are so committed to these students. They  really have a way of getting into your heart. While it is true that it's too soon for me to know where God will want me next year, I have to be honest, I can't imagine leaving these kids after just four months."

Purpose Statement

nuff said.

Praising God because He has provided the opportunity, the facility and the people of His choosing, in order to carry out this amazing purpose!

San Diego Airport

We are picking up our 2014 Intern, Drew, from the San Diego airport.  We are so happy that the new program is finally under way because we have lots of cool projects planned.  Check back from time to time and see what's up!