Dear friends,

Greetings from Minnesota, with prayers that you are experiencing the presence and love of God in the events of your lives. I hope to see many of you this year.

I left Costa Rica the end of June to begin my year of church visits, and after a few days with my sister Kathy in Houston (where I  mostly slept), arrived to Minneapolis on July 1. In this amazing world of Internet and with the help of a friend, I was able to rent an apartment before leaving Costa Rica and moved in July 2. As if that blessing were not enough, I had a car waiting for me. I am so grateful to First Baptist Church of St. Paul, which graciously offered to lend me a vehicle for the year and even to pay the insurance. Always housing and transportation are the two huge problems for returning missionaries, and this eased my stress level enormously.

Of course, there are always adjustments coming back to a different culture. I have to be careful not to kiss people at church when I greet them, or to worship with my whole body as we do in Costa Rica. I was puzzled that I couldn’t just plug in the TV and get local channels like I had before. It took me a while to get the hang of the customer-run credit card machine at supermarkets.  Self-service gas stations were such a let down after the excellent service in Costa Rica. On the other hand, I have been gorging on summer fruits not available in Central America: blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb, nectarines. My first priority was to renew my library card; public libraries are such a blessing!  I’m thrilled to be back in the Twin Cities, walking distance from the Mississippi River and biking distance from the lakes. Everything is so beautiful, and the parks and trails are filled with friendly people.

Another reason for praise to our faithful God is that the doors opened for a new ministry in Costa Rica when I return.  I had been living with months of uncertainty, when I called one of our bookstores to let them know that our ministry was closing. Doña Clarisa asked what I would be doing and when I said, “I have no idea”, she responded, “How exciting! God is preparing a wonderful surprise for you!” It really jolted me. Of course! Why was I worried and stressed if I was in God’s hands? Our God gives good gifts and wants the best for us. I realized that I could trust that, in God’s time not mine, the future would become clear.

In May the Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana in San José requested that International Ministries “lend” me to them as a professor. This is a highly respected seminary that prepares pastors and leaders from all Latin America. I will be teaching Christian Education, working in the publications department and participating in the lay leadership training program. I have maintained an ongoing relationship with this seminary since my years in El Salvador, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with some of the great Bible scholars and theologians of Latin America, as well as to impact the church in many countries. I have included some pictures of the University.

Together serving God,

Ruth