September 7, 2010
Greetings again from Nepal! It is hard to believe that summer is over, and fall is on its way! I have been keeping busy over here over the last month and a half (since last writing).
Highlights of the summer…
I have been spending a significant amount of time with our church’s junior youth group. They are all dear and wonderful kids, with soft hearts toward God. Pray that this softening by the Holy Spirit will continue as they allow Him to do His good work in them. Our activities together, besides weekly Bible study, have included spelunking, neighborhood prayer walking, washing Dan and Sheryl’s five puppies, and several picnics.
The weekly Girls’ English Bible study has been going really well. We’ve been studying a good book about purity and preparing for marriage while we are still teenagers, and had some really good conversations stemming from that.
The past few months have given me opportunities to hang out with Shanti, Sharmilla, and Junu (Dan and Sheryl’s three Nepali daughters), and get to know each of them better. They are dear girls, and this summer gave us a chance to grow closer through the fun times as well as through some challenges we had.
Although the weather did indeed feel like summer, the atmosphere wasn’t like how westerners typically think of summer, because school has been “full steam ahead.” Teaching at Living Stone three days a week has allowed me to build lasting relationships with the teachers and children over the past several months.
In our own Studio TEN ministry, all the teens and youth have been working pretty hard to complete assignments, take tests, and keep up their performance in school. Naturally, that makes me busy also, as I am a tutor for most of them, helping them with what I can, and especially helping with their English as they study all subjects in English. These days, I am really wishing there were more tutors like me to do this work, because I can’t adequately help everyone who wants and needs help.
I have two new students! Last month I started teaching English class for two boys who were falling between the cracks of education. Ajay is being homeschooled by Yashoda, our pastor’s wife, and these days he is making such great progress! It is always very encouraging to spend time teaching him. Budai, who is attending my English class together with Ajay, is also making progress, which is so exciting, as he had been floundering in school since he came to us. Hopefully, with some extra tutoring and care, we will be able to see him make amazing progress in all areas. Already, his boosted confidence is a joy to witness and be a part of. Be in prayer for both of these boys’ futures. I know God has wonderful plans for them in His kingdom!
Be in prayer for us here…
Praise the Lord that we all made it through the summer without Dan, Sheryl, and Kristi… although they were greatly missed. Praise the Lord, also, that they will be back with us again soon, Lord willing, tomorrow!
Pray for me, as it is easy for me to get distracted from God’s purposes. In my busy schedule, especially, it is easy for me to forget. I was reminded recently that the goal of my life is not to “do great work for God.” God does great work through us, but his goal for his children is that we will know him intimately. “I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead…one thing I do: forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:10-14)
Remember also what God promised Abraham, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” His promise to us, our inheritance is this: He gives us himself. He is the goal we should seek. Pray for me, as I pray for all of you, and let’s aim together for that One who sustains and satisfies our hearts.
Pray for our Nepali leadership team, that we will be built up in unity and love for each other, and that all will be especially united as we remember and act upon God’s purpose for our lives, His church, and the people of Nepal to know Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Looking toward what is ahead…
I am planning to make a trip to visit the Midwest and Japan this winter. I really hope that I will be able to see a lot of you during that time! This year God has been confirming in my heart that he wants me to be involved full-time in ministry similar to what I am doing here in Nepal now. The situation and role I am in right now is a great training field to prepare me for whatever God will bring next. So, I have made a commitment to stay here and work with Dan and Sheryl for another year, from this February. I am still praying about what God wants me to do after that, but I am pretty sure that whatever work it is, it will most likely be overseas in a place similar to this.
All that being said, I know it is really important for me to spend some time with you, my friends in the USA and overseas, to explain the work I am involved with here, and share the visions and dreams God has been placing on my heart. I am planning to go to Japan on December 20th, and go from there to Chicago on January 11th. I will spend several weeks, and return to Nepal in the first week of February.
Let me know if any of you are interested in having me speak at your church or small group about the good things God has been doing over here in Nepal.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support!
The peace of the Lord be with you,
Ruthie Kaufman
Studio TEN Ministries: http://www.studiotenministries.org/
To make a donation to me, or to other ministry projects: http://www.studiotenministries.org/donate/
To see the jewelry made by Guardian Village widows: http://guardianvillage.org/GuardianVillageHandicrafts/Home.html
