Spring 2026

Hello all!

I am writing from one of my favorite places: Missionary Kid Camp! I grew up going to this camp and feel so blessed to continue to be a part of making this camp happen for other MKs. We have over 150 Third Culture Kids gathering this week to learn and grow in their faith and connect with other TCKs. It’s a week full of bilingual worship, in-depth breakout sessions tailored to this group, and so much fun. 

Work in Oaxaca is going great! 

School is always fun. Camp actually counts as “school days,” so the kids have been pretty distracted counting down the days. We’re finishing up our big novels for the year, and after camp, will begin our Shakespeare units, which are so entertaining. Math has gone surprisingly well, and my admin duties have become less difficult this semester. AP testing will take place in May, and we have many students taking tests in order to receive college credit for the work they’ve done this year. It’s a stressful time (since I am an AP teacher).

We have 4 seniors graduating this year, and I have mentored or worked with each of them for years. I know I will be very sad to see them go, but I am incredibly proud of them. 

As for Youth Group, we had a lovely addition to our leadership team! Alé joined us at the end of last semester, and she’s been so helpful, connecting with our youth and mentoring them. After camp, we only have a few more weeks of Youth Group (we are interrupted by Spring Break), and then we finish out the school year with a fun event! 

Girasol is always growing and changing. We are so excited because: we are about to celebrate our 7th year in the Girasol drop-in-center, we have 2 new ladies who left the work downtown to come work at Amanecer with us, and we have huge new steps happening for the ministry! For our 7th year celebration we will be having a week of spa days, doctor visits, and a fancy meal to celebrate with the ladies.

They LOVED our Christmas celebration (which was such a success! We handed out 150 gifts, had a mariachi, handed out tamales and soda, had a raffle, broke piñatas, and so much more!) and are looking forward to more fun activities. These fun activities are an incredible way for us to reach more women, create stronger trust and friendships, and offer help to more women. As for the two ladies who have recently left downtown to join us making jewelry at Amanecer, one of them is a woman whom we have known since we first opened our drop-in-center. She has tried leaving many times, and we’ve waited for her, but she has never been able to take those steps. Finally, in December, she asked to leave again, and we were able to get her a job and help pay her debts in order for her to be free. She has gone through incredible hardship since then, losing her grandson, facing violence for leaving the red light district, and the difficulties of beginning to face her traumas. We are so incredibly proud of her for her strength, her commitment to a life change, and her vulnerability as she begins to open up and share. The second woman who joined did so BECAUSE of the first woman. She convinced her friend to try something new and different, and she showed up with her friend in tow for work one day. We are hopeful that she will also be committed to this life change. And we are so encouraged seeing how one life change can have a ripple effect on others as well. Lastly, we have huge new steps for our ministry! We have fundraised to do the non-profit paperwork in the US, and that ball is now rolling. We are considering next steps for Amanecer- branching out and reaching more women. Please keep us in our prayers as we consider what steps to take and when to take them. 

I will be traveling a bunch this summer- I have a wedding, AP Essay reading, and many church visits coming up! I hope to visit many of you this summer. 

Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and encouragement. I know that I could not do any of this without all of you. Please continue to keep the ministries in Oaxaca in your prayers. 

Gracias, 

-Ruth