My last update was so long ago, and for that I apologize.
We left off in March, as the kiddos at my school headed to Missionary Kid Camp. Due to lack of leadership and communication, camp last year was a difficult ordeal. I went into this year’s camp with wariness, but came away refreshed, overjoyed, and encouraged. The kids truly enjoyed camp, made lasting friendships with other MKs, and had a blast. We were understaffed, but those of us working at camp came together in our sleeplessness to make camp happen. The speaker spent the week talking about faith; he labeled believers as “believing believers,” or “believing unbelievers,” or “unbelieving believers.” It was a challenge to the kids who have grown up in the church to look at their lives and their faith, checking to see if they believed but didn’t act, if they didn’t believe, but followed in the steps of a Christian, etc. We had breakout sessions talking about big topics like, “If God is so good, why do bad things happen?” and even Apologetics. MK Camp changed my life when I was their age, and my hope is that these kiddos will allow God to move in their lives and change them, too.
At the beginning of April we had another camp, this time with my church. 70 youth, ages 15-25 gathered at the little camp in the mountains to learn and grow. This was one of the biggest groups we have ever had! The youth that came last year to hear my home-church pastor, Will, invited friends and family members to join this year. The speaker this year talked about being abnormal. “If you want what the normal people have, do the normal things. If you want what God offers, you have to be abnormal.” 17 people came to Christ. It was an amazing experience. We spent time in prayer, small group discussions, and worship. We played games in slime, with water, and ziplined to our heart’s content.
April ended in camping as well. Our group of Youth Leaders from the school got together for a small retreat in the mountains. When Isaac and I first started this year’s youth group, our main concern was that we wouldn’t have enough leaders to help us. As the year drew on, and many potential leaders told us they couldn’t help us, we prayed for people with hearts for youth ministry to join us. And we got them! God brought us the most enthusiastic, kind, wise, and encouraging people to work with us. We have become a close-knit group, praying together, laughing together, and pouring into the youth together. I am blessed to call these people my friends.
Unfortunately, most of these people will be leaving next year. So we fled the city to spend some days relaxing and showing our thanks to those who gave so much this year for the youth. We swam in a river, played games, laughed till we cried, and had some much-needed rest. Missionaries often are so busy that we rarely find time to just spend in friendship, but this trip was exactly for that.
And just like that, the end of the semester is upon us! May is filled with finals, tests, projects, essays, and a fair amount of stress from school. Pray for our students as they face endings, new beginnings, change, and mountains of homework. Pray for the seniors as they pack up and prepare to move to another country. Pray for them as they cherish the last moments and memories in Oaxaca. Pray for those of us who will be left behind, as that change is also difficult. And please pray for the school as we prepare for the next year, slightly understaffed and with a couple of uncertainties. As for the church, we will continue to do village missions all summer, as well as VBS outreach and more medical teams.
I will be heading to the Arizona this summer to visit and re-charge….and to begin fundraising as well. I have lived in Oaxaca for almost two years, but with a non-permanent mindset. Looking to the future, I know God is calling me to stay here, and I will need to be an official missionary, funding and all. My heart has struggled with the idea of fundraising, so please pray for my attitude and pride as I take this step.
Lastly, we ask for continued prayer in the Women’s Ministry. We have taken giant steps this year, and I am so excited to see God work! We take trips to visit the women we work with every week, and once a month we give free manicures. Every step we take is guided by God, something that is completely evident in our continued safety, our growing relationships with some of the women, and our daily providence.
Thank you all for your continued encouragement, support, prayer, and love.
Dios Les Bendiga,
Ruth