Wednesday, September 9, 2009

School Days

Rancho Sordo Mudo is now into it's third day of school. This past week end was a busy two days of our deaf students arriving and checking them in. So far only ten of my girls have come. I am expecting fifteen. I hope they all come back again. Thankfully, so far they are all lice free! This morning started off like any typical morning. I was up at 5:30 getting ready. I had hoped to water the garden before waking the girls up at 6:00 but it was a little too dark and foggy so I waited until they started their chores, and then went down. Breakfast, staff devotions and they kids' chapel are all over and now "mom" gets a break while the girls are at school. Morning classes are from 9:30-1:00. Three evenings a week the 1st through 9th graders have night school. In Mexico there is primary school which is K-6th grade, at the end of which students receive a diploma. Secondary school is 7th-9th grade upon completion of 9th grade they receive another diploma. Preparatory is 10th-12th grade, at the end of 12th grade students receive a third diploma. Most of our students only complete primary or secondary school. The reason being many do not come until they are 7, 10 or 14. Most come with no language, other than pointing or gustering. So for example our 1st grade class has a 12 year old, an eight year old, a ten year old and an eleven year old. It is so amazing to watch them learn sign. A whole world opens up to them. They learn who they are, that they have a name! So many of our students don't even know that! Best of all as they learn MSL, they learn who Jesus is! Our goal as a school is to give our students a language, teach them about Jesus and give them a good work ethic when they leave. The girls are learning how to cook, clean, sew and garden. The boys are learning how to do landscaping, painting, stuccoing, laying tile and roofing. Our school is a residential boarding school, our kids come in September and don't go home until June. Parents will come and visit but not very often. They either live too far away or can't afford to visit very often.

It's so exciting to have our kids come back after the summer break. I enjoy seeing my family and friends every summer but I always miss my girls and our life here.

This year my daily morning chapel class has nine kids. The ninth just showed up an hour ago. It's so exciting teaching them about God. Right now we are learning about prayer. Here is a picture of my chapel class from a couple of days a go. As you can see, not all of my kids had arrived yet. More keep coming every day!

Monday, September 7, 2009

The Kids Are Back

I finally have girls here again! This past week a few boys showed up but it wasn't until Saturday that my girls started arrive. So far only eight have come. I hope more come in the next few days, I am supposed to have between 14 and 16 girls. I have a new girl in the Dorm, here name is Dayan, she is 14. She already knows Mexican Sign Language, which is a huge plus in Dayan ajusting to life at our school. Today was is the first day of school, be praying for out teachers and students. Most of the teachers are still learning MSL which makes it hard for the students as well.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Waiting For the Kids

It's wonderful to be back in Mexico. It's like coming home. I've been back for a week and a half now. The dorm is clean and orginized, waiting for the first girl to arrive. It's been almost three months since I have seen them. I'm so excitied for my "daughters" to come back! Our first boy, Guadelupe arrived Monday. Normally most of the kids don't arrive untill the weekend when their parents have time off form work. It's looking to be a crazy weekend if some of my girls don't come before then. I should have fifteen this year. Two new girls may be coking this year. One girl is around five years old and the other around seven. Be praying theat God safely brings all our students back to us.