Testimonials from Parents and Students

Letters from Parents (contact us for more parent references and contact numbers):

 

"Everybody at the ranch has done a great job and we are so happy and proud of what he (our son) has done. He has grown so much and come so far, and now realizes just what he can be. You have saved our son, and we just wanted to let you know. This is the fourth place he has been in and we wish it was the first. The ranch has done what no where else was able to accomplish. The program works, you do build young men, one horse at a time." -- Steve & Maggie A.

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"Thanks for everything you have done with Brian. He is a completely different son! We are so proud of the young man he has become. It was a blessing sent from up above that we sent him to Arivaca. I'm so glad we stuck in there and kept him in the program until the end. What a difference! You all have saved our son. Thank you so much. We'll be forever grateful." -- Tammy M. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I am writing on behalf of Kay and myself (and Elliot) to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous work you have done in showing Elliot the love that he deserves and received. Thank you for teaching us more than words can express. There were a few times when I thought this was not all what it was cracked up to be. While the principles seemed good I had my doubts about their efficacy. I am truly amazed at the tremendous growth that has taken place in Elliot (and us). Please feel free to call on me any time to share with others the miraculous work the founders of Arivaca have done. Arivaca works! The principles espoused are not just talk or hyped-up self-promotion. I know what you have accomplished is truly inspired of God because there is no other source that could have such a profound impact as I have seen and heard and felt in the lives of these young men, especially Elliot. When he stood to share his thoughts, in that brief moment he helped me realize what a tremendous sacrifice everyone associated with Arivaca has made (and continues to make) in behalf of our son and the other young men you are teaching.

Why? Because you have a true love for each of these young men and an abiding commitment to the monumental task you have taken on. Thank you all so very much for making such a dramatic difference in not just the lives of these young men but in their families and extended families and in the world. That statement is not too broad in this day and age when selfishness abounds and entitlement mentalities are rampant. Arivaca may be relatively small and insignificant in the eyes of the world, but it is mighty in proportion to what has been accomplished there in one short year of existence. I am proud and humbled to know each of you and to claim our family association with you. We know you loved Elliot as your own and he has felt that and responded to it. He is anxious to return for the round-ups. He has said he misses getting up to feed and care for Lacy. We love her for what she taught Elliot too.

We will look forward to seeing you and coming to round-ups periodically. We cannot thank you enough for everything you have done. God bless Arivaca and all associated with such an inspired and absolutely worthy program! We will keep praying for you, for your success and for the boys and their horses."

-- Mark and Kay B."

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"I just wanted to thank you for all you have done.  I’m so truly grateful words cannot express.  Thank you for taking the time, giving yourself and your family to help these boys, it is a gift from God.  It was the hardest thing I ever had to do but so worth it.  It saved him. He wants to join the Navy, he has goals, sees a future.  Wow, I am so proud of him.  Thank you.  I hope he wants to visit the ranch someday, and if you are ever our way, stop by.  Thank you again and God bless you, your family, and the ranch staff. -- Lori

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"Thanks for all you do. We couldn't be happier and more at peace with where our son is right now. What a blessing you have been in our lives, and I know that it was through divine intervention that the timing of all events that led us to you were in perfect order. It couldn't have happened otherwise. Thanks will never be enough to pay back the debt we owe you, but it will have to be a start for now. So thank you, thank you, thank you." -- Terry

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"Just have anyone call me for my positive input of Arivaca. Your prospective clients will get a good, detailed sales pitch from both Mimi & me. We're very pleased (& amazed) at the results with Mike--in such a short time! You folks are on the right track & have our full support in your endeavor. -- George & Mimi

 

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Dear Ron and Arivaca Boys Ranch Staff,

A year and a half after my son attended the ranch I am finally writing to you.  The delay was actually intentional because I wanted to let you know about the long lasting and life changing results your program had on my Son and family. The Arbinger Method that was taught to my wife and me through the telephonic sessions had a great impact on the way I related to my other two sons.

Before my Son attended the ranch I had absolutely no peace, I felt for sure that one day I would get a knock at the door and I would be asked to go and identify his body. Since he attended your program I have been able to sleep better and be more at peace. I still worry; I guess that after what he put the family through it will be a good while before I feel completely safe with his decisions and actions.

Before my son attended Arivaca Boys Ranch we had tried numerous different therapies and medications, nothing seemed to help.  When I heard about the ranch I decided to look into it, by that time I was practically at the end of my rope. If you recall I set up a meeting with you and you gave my wife and me a tour of the ranch. I was quite impressed with what I saw and at that time knew what needed to be done. If accepted my boy was going to attend the ranch.

Now for the shocker, tuition fee; how was I going to afford this? Answer, my and my wife’s 401 plans. But how could I give up so much money? Easy, as I mentioned before, I was expecting to have someone ask me to identify a body. So I asked myself, if I don’t do this for my son, will I be able to retire and use that money with a clear conscience. I figured if the treatment works this will be money well spent and if it doesn’t; well it’s only money.

Ron, I am happy to inform you that I have come to the conclusion that the money I paid was very, very well worth it. My son is living away from home but as it appears he is living in a decent and honorable manner. He enrolled in a trade school and will be graduating on October 8th at the top of his class. He has made every effort to finish what he starts and for the first time in a very long time, I feel proud of my son and all his efforts. The Arbinger system works, Arivaca Boys Ranch works. Every day I thank God for pointing me in your direction and every day I am grateful for what you and your staff did for my family. Thank you again, you the staff and all the kids you have there are included in our daily prayers, I know that what my wife and I now feel about our son is priceless and I am sure that other parents will feel the same about their sons after the Arivaca Boys Ranch experience.

Ron, if a parent has any doubt of whether or not to send their troubled sons to Arivaca Boys Ranch, please feel free to offer them my contact information. I will inform them of my personal experience and everything my family has gained since my wife and I decided to send our son to you.

God Bless you and your staff for what you do.

Sincerely,
Jose & Caridad M.

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Letters from Resident Boys:

 

"Dear Dad,

So this is it, my last letter here at Aricaca. I cannot believe how times have changed. By the time you read this it will be Tuesday and I will be 3 days away from coming home. WOW. I just want to start by saying thanks for giving me this opportunity to make my life succseful. I think that while there may still be some obstacles to jump in the future, we have accomplished many of them with my stay here. I have alot of goodbyes to say but a good, hard, so long is proof that the relationship was good and you had good times and all of these people I would not have met without you deciding to send me here. While it may have been one of the hardest desicions you have ever made for me, it was definately one of the best. I believe now I can go home and have a good life and I couldn't have done that without your help. That is something I can't ever repay you for.

Thank you!

Love Jacob"

 

"My behavior back home was not always acceptable. Especially towards my parents. I put my parents in a position where they could not trust me any more. I would treat them harshly and constantly argue and push them around. Everything had to go my way or the highway. I was selfish and spoiled. It was a bad habit but I did it anyways. Many different events led to the discovery of this ranch. It wasn’t until the last event that secured my parents decision of sending me here. Things were not going so well for me. I was also hanging out with the wrong people and making wrong decisions. It was time that something happened to put me back on the right track, and being sent here has opened up that opportunity for me.

When I first got here I never had the thought of being a Trail Boss. I was looking up to the people who were at that level and thinking that I could never be like them. Throughout my time here I have realized that anybody can be a leader. Anybody can step up and do the right things for the right reasons. All it takes is self confidence and a positive change in your way of being.

One thing that I can safely say is that I have made some very big changes with my self and my interactions with the people who surround me in my every day life. When I first got here I felt like I had to defend my self by acting better than every body else. I made situations worse by arguing with people and acting very passive aggressive by saying things behind their back knowing that if I said it to their face it would not end up good for me. I realized that I needed to start changing the way I treat people and continue changing even if I think I have changed enough. I started noticing these bad choices that I was making. In order for me to change them I needed to become more compassionate, caring and understanding towards the people around me and learn from them so that I could become a better person. I was realizing that the way I am treating the people around me is the way that I feel about myself. Angry frustrated and unwanted. It was time for me to stop taking out my pain on other people. This is where I started noticing a difference in my way of being. As we know way of being is deeper than behavior so just changing my behavior is not going to change the real me. I had to feel the difference. Sometimes when there is a situation that would have ended up poorly it doesn't. It wasn’t a change just about the way I act but also the way that I treat people around me. Like I said feeling more care and compassion for them. Seeing them for who they are and not what someone says they are. Not judging people but getting to know them. These are the differences that impact and can change everyone's true self.

There have been a lot of fears that I have kept to my self. I didn’t feel like I could trust others to know about them. One inspirational experience that I had here was in a selective group, We were talking about behaviors and the the ways that it impacts your life. The two behaviors that I picked were shame and guilt. At the time I did not want to share why I felt like this but I realized that it is better to not have to carry this burden on my shoulders. I let go of this good kept secret only to get a positive reaction. It felt great to be able to trust myself that I can make right decisions and trust others to embrace what I am saying and not wave it off. In the end it really had a positive effect and it showed that  I have became more honest and trust worthy. Just because I said something does not mean that I will not worry or learn from it. It meant that I will continue to grow and learn from my mistakes so that I can become a better man of integrity. One big principle that I have learned that secrets and lies can ruin any relationships. It is when you realize that way of being comes before  responsive and resistant, that these changes are made.

My mom always used to question if I thought people were irrelevant because I never remembered their names even if I knew them for multiple years. This was true, but not anymore. I've noticed that I remember the names of horses and boys here because I care about them. I look forward to seeing everybody the next day even if I’m in the box with them. The last change that I want to talk about is a stronger belief in a higher power. Since I have been here I have had a chance to explore deeper into my religion and become a part of it for my self by having a stronger relationship with God, and not to impress any body. Having this strong foundation is going to allow me to accomplish a lot of things in life. I feel like I am picking my self back up and doing the right things for the right reasons. I feel like I have changed by believing in my self, Not taking for granted what is given to me and using every bit for the best, and my way of being.

My life now is going great. I have showed myself that I can work though hard times and still come out strong. I am working hard in therapy and getting along with people much better by improving my relationship between us. I am also able to make the right decisions with out even hesitating, still knowing that  their will be mistakes that I will make.

When I go home, I plan on doing the right things as much as I can. Since I am growing up I am also going to have a lot more responsibilities like getting a job and planning for college. When I go home I want to have a great relationship with my parents that is healthy. I plan to work hard in my job in a restaurant and become a chef. When I grow up I want to have a family of my own and raise my kids up to be men of integrity. I also hope to come back to visit Arivaca Boys Ranch  and help out. One thing that I want to end this letter with is that it's not so hard to do the right thing, but it is important to know that life throws all sorts of challenges and it is up to ones self  to overcome them. Thank you for your patience and your time."

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"To The Fam...

So I’ve been thinking a lot lately and was talking to one of the younger guys, Brian the 14 year old, he was saying to me that when you’re a teen ager you have to get in trouble and just be a kid, but I said to him that there is a limit to the trouble that you want to get into, and yeah you are supposed to be a kid when you are a teen but then there is a time to mature and finally become an adult and start to figure out the more important things in life. And if I am not mistaken I am positive that it’s my time to do exactly that! It’s my time to figure what I’m going to do with my life and that I need to be mature now and stop acting like a little kid, I’m going to be over 18 by the time I leave here and need to be mature enough to face the real world again but to stand firm with what I believe and what I know is right to do!

I know friends are really important and especially when you are in junior high and high school, friends are a huge part of your teen life! But the funny thing about those friends is that after high school no one really keeps in touch with their friends. Your real friends are your family! I thought before I came here to Arivaca that family is just family, and that I was going to keep my friends forever, but just think about this for a minute.. Would your friends die for you, would they drop everything to help you or come to your aid? I know none of my friends would!

All I’m saying is that family is most important over anything else, and you want to stick as close to them as possible cause they are truly your best friends! Cause they are mine and I didn’t figure that out until just a while ago."

 

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