The Ruiz Family
Serving the Lord in Tixtla de Guerrero, Mexico
January February 2025 Update
Dear Praying Friends,
We´re still here. Still being faithful. How can these months fly by so quickly? Thank you so much for praying for us. We remember you and praise the Lord for you each month as we see your faithfulness in the monthly checks we receive. Thank you for not growing weary in well-doing.
February we had our annual couples’ dinner. After a fun time of games and a delicious meal (served by our most handsome and beautiful young people), Efrain gave a short message and concluded with a couple saying their vows before the Lord for the first time. It is so typical here to have couples come to know the Lord who are just living together or perhaps are married by civil officials, but not by a pastor. Every year we have the joy of seeing couples want to get things right before the Lord, and this year was no exception.
Our family was invited to teach and serve in a family conference in Ixtenco, Tlaxcala, about 4 hours north of us. We spent 4 days encouraging this new little church in every way imaginable: Efra preaching, our family singing, the girls teaching kids’ classes and washing dishes, etc., and me teaching the ladies.
The pastor of this church Giovanni married my husband’s niece Areli. It made us rejoice to see the Lord bringing up a new energetic generation to serve Him. We were able to enjoy seeing snow on the nearby inactive volcano the first few mornings we were there, and I actually had to dig out our coats and shoes for this trip. We’re back home now to warm Guerrero.
Sunday night Efra had the privilege of sharing the gospel with over 50 people at a funeral here in Tixtla. Most listened attentively. Only the Lord knows when the seed will sprout. Every Saturday we spend witnessing. Because our church has grown and we have been here for 21 years now, it’s hard to find a door we haven’t knocked on before. But I always pray, “Lord, lead us to those who WANT to hear about You today.” And He always answers.
The missions in the mountains and Acapulco continue every week as well. Little by little. I went with Efra a few weeks ago and had such a lovely opportunity to witness to a whole little group of kids who went off to find their friends so that I could witness to them too.
Today Efra is gone baptizing in Acapulco with a van-load of believers, including my older girls. I’m home, home-schooling the younger ones and catching up on this letter.
We are preparing for “Friend Day,” the last Sunday of this month which we are planning on celebrating out at the new property. Please pray that we can get the ladies’ restroom’s plumbing in on time.
The construction work is almost done in our home as well. Please pray that the Lord will provide for the doors and windows. When I look at the addition, I can’t help but remember when we first moved in to our home years ago. We moved in with much less than what is already done upstairs. The girls say that they don’t mind moving into their room with a curtain on the door. God has given us so much over these years!
Much love and prayers,
Laura Ruiz for Efrain, Samuel, Hannah, Grace, Lydia, Laura, Mark, Ruth, and Benji
(Missions Team)
