The Ruiz Family
Serving the Lord in Tixtla de Guerrero, Mexico
September – October 2025 Update
Dear Praying Friends,
Today I write to you from the High Mountains of our state, where the steep mountains are covered with corn ready to be harvested for this coming year’s tortilla supply. My family has taken a few days to visit Efrain’s parents and encourage the few believers in this little village.
When I wrote my last update, we were still awaiting Efrain and Mark’s arrival with Brother Ron in the new truck. Praise the Lord they made it safely the Saturday before our big Mexican celebration evening at church in which we had MANY adult visitors and dedicated the “new” truck to the Lord. We were able to “test drive” the truck on our normal weekly mission trip to the Lower Mountains of our state where we saw what a precious treasure this vehicle will be for us. Brother Ron only stayed a short week with us before flying home to Oregon, but we remember him fondly every time we travel in this God-given truck.
Two weeks after Bro. Ron’s visit we took the truck to a village about 3-4 hours (bumpy mountain road trip) away from Tixtla where we had never entered before. We crossed 4 rivers and bounced our way up the steep mountain side to a much forgotten town. Brother Alejandro, as always, asked permission for us to give out the Word in the town’s basketball court. They graciously gave us permission, although looked on us most questioningly. We convinced a small group of curious boys at the town’s entrance (opening and closing the main gate to keep cows out) to go invite their friends, and we’d give them juice and cookies. They took off eagerly, abandoning their gate assignment.
(Above Brother Alejandro and his wife, faithful servants in the mission work)
About a half hour later, about 80-100 kids showed up with almost the same amount of curious adults. I was able to teach the kids the salvation story and give a regular kids’ class, while the adult brothers divided the rest of the adults and teens into smaller groups and witnessed to them. At the end of the day we rejoiced with being able to give the gospel for the first time to about 200 people. They eagerly want us to return. When we asked if any other people ever came in to teach them, they said that we were the first. They have a Catholic Church in their town, but not even the priest lives there. One man asked my husband if the priest had sent us. My husband just laughed. Then the man added that the “Padre” hadn’t even come for about a year. (Partial group of kids and adults below)
Two weeks after that we were able to enter another mountain village where a few years ago our brothers had been run out of town. This time we were received warmly by a few Christians who have been reading the Bible for themselves and have stepped away from the Catholic Church. Although it was almost dark, I was able to teach about 20 very attentive kids while the rest of our little team witnessed to the teens and adults. They too want us to return.
This leads us to a good dilemma. Do we keep returning on a regular basis where we have been received, or do we use the same time and money to take the gospel to new towns where we have never been before? Please help us pray that the Lord of the harvest will raise up more laborers for His harvest. The fields truly are white. Now that my youngest is 6, I’ve started accompanying the mountain mission team again, taking one of our older girls with me and leaving the other home as “Mom” for the day. Personally I LOVE going to towns for the first time and giving the gospel where it has never been shared before.
Last week my husband initiated the construction of our first adobe church building in the mountains where two small groups of believers have been meeting in their homes for the last few years. We are praying for a full-time pastor to come and continue this church. Here’s that mountain spot where the adobe bricks are being made right now.
The picture (below) was taken from the house where we have been meeting presently.
Meantime in Tixtla, God has really blessed our girls’ bus route. In our neighborhood they faithfully pick up 13 kids. Then add 4 more on the way to church. The group has been coming Sunday mornings and evenings as well. We are constantly looking for opportunities to bring their parents or older siblings to church and occasionally God gives us that joy. For those of you who were praying, Sophia’s mom DID get saved although she hasn’t accompanied her daughter to church yet.
The Lord has provided for us to get a tile floor and doors in our two children’s classrooms. Tomorrow the tile arrives, Lord willing. And slowly but surely the electricity is being installed. My husband’s brother Enedino, a pastor in the coast of Guerrero, is building our giant front door of the church out of a beautiful, long-lasting wood (parota) that we have here. Since he is also a Pastor, not just a carpenter, it may take him a while to finish the door, but we know what a good job he does so it’s worth the wait.
The church in Acapulco is growing as well with many faithful adults and children. They also need their own pastor, but in the meantime Bro. Alejandro travels every Friday and every other Tuesday to bring them the Word. They are prayerfully contemplating whether to buy a piece of property or buy the one they presently meet on (if the owner will lower her asking price). (Acapulco church kids below)
Lord willing, we will be hosting our second youth conference this December in Tixtla. Last year, we saw some beautiful results including some young people surrender to the Lord, and today they are serving Him! Pray with us that we will be able to hold the conference at our new property. We are working hard to make the facilities more comfortable. Pray that hearts will surrender to the Lord in full time service.
Another one of our young men Jesus who graduated last June from our Bible institute has started soul winning in Chilapa, a town of about 30,000 people approximately 45 minutes away from us. We are praying that the Lord willing allow him to raise up a church here in the future.
Thank you for investing in our ministry. Everyday my husband and I marvel at all that God is doing and rejoice to give Him all that we have. Please continue to pray for us, and THANK YOU so much for faithfully supporting us here in Tixtla.
May Christ be glorified through our lives,
The Ruiz Family
(Efrain, Laura, Samuel, Hannah, Grace, Lydia, Laura, Mark, Ruth, and Benji)
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