Hello Friends!


I have been at Holmsted for 11 weeks now and the training phase is officially over. The past 11 weeks have been so full of learning, experiences, and good times.


A couple weeks ago we learned about ‘Identity’. It was basically a whole week of encouragement, they spoke a lot about who we were in Christ, how we were meant to see ourselves, and who as individuals God had made us to be. One of the first things they did in the week was our ‘Original Design’. Original Design is just a fancy name for how God made you and who he made you to be, basically prophecy. Some of mine were new and some were just confirmations. Over this whole DTS, the nature of a mother has been spoken over me several times; from my fellow students and the leaders. So, when one of the speakers was doing my original design she saw me showing moms how to take care of their babies and she saw me showing them basic healthcare. For me, this was confirmation; I’ve known that medical care was one of the callings on my life and ‘moms’ part was just another thing God has spoken into my life several times.

Now that lecture phase is over it’s time for outreach phase and I will be there for 10 weeks. There are 7 people on my team, 2 boys and 5 girls. We range from 3 Americans, 1 Dane, 1 British, 1 Swiss, and 1 Canadian. When I am on outreach I would love to have emails and Facebook comments but please, please, please, don’t mention God or evangelism. That is very important when you are emailing me, neither are safe and our visas could be taken away if it’s found. But please do feel free to email me! I will only be on the internet once a week, so if I am slow in getting back to you please do not feel I am being rude, I am going to try my best to get back to everyone in good time!

We recently just had an outreach simulation day. Outreach simulation it where you spend the whole day with your outreach team and you are “in another country”. Some of the activities included building a fire on wet ground, having 30 minutes to search for the market so that we could have food, only to find the food was not very appetizing but must be eaten, and being dropped off about 5-7 miles from the base and having to find our way back. The whole day we were not allowed inside and nor were we allowed to talk to other people from different outreach teams, if we had to use the restroom we went outside. It helped so much with unity in the team and it allowed us to see how others worked under stress. The whole day we had to work and interact as a team, we had to be one, and really be there to support each other.

Some prayer points for the team:

- Health and Safety: Travel (plane, trains, and local transportation), food poisoning, culture shock, and in ministry.
- Unity: To grow as a team, continue to learn about each other, and to be effective as a team.
- Strength, Encouragement, and Boldness: When we are in ministry, in prayer, in intercession, and in every situation.
- Hospitality: To be able to express full gratitude and thanks to the people who we are staying with and to know the best way to bless them back.
- Hearts: That God would continue to speak to our hearts about India and keep the passion for outreach ignited!

It’s Christmas at Holmsted and it’s so pretty! We had carols last week and we invited the community for mulled wine and mince pies and we sang for them. We had all the fire places going and it was very cozy, like Christmas should be, the only thing missing was the snow!

Well, as I come to a close I want to thank you all for your letters and support. Your prayers have really lifted me up and the letters helped in my lonely times, I was so happy when I got them!

Thanks to all! And I give you my love!
Merry Christmas!

Ruthie **Luke 1:37**