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MISSION ARTICLES
This is a collection of articles that our missionary wishes to make available to you. If you find that our efforts are important and worthwhile, perhaps you would consider supporting us financially. If so, Please Click Here and in Preference, please enter "Elizabeth Ratliff"
Or, perhaps you would like to come to our mission and participate with us in this very fulfilling work. To find out more about how you can organize your own team, Please Click Here. Or if you would like to find out about how to join a team that may be looking for additional members, Please Click Here.
Tom has been in Guatemala for 11 days and will return to the U.S. on November 23. Tom is in a small Pokomchi village named Nisnic near San Cristobal. He is there for cross-cultural training where he will learn ways to be more effective in ministry as we seek to grow God’s kingdom globally. He is also working on learning and practicing a lot of Spanish. He has called a few times to talk to the kids and I and has relayed that he is learning a lot and that he misses hot showers. I am truly excited that he has this undivided time to focus on learning how to serve the Latin community more effectively. The kids and I are doing well without him. We are truly blessed to have my parents who have stepped up to host our family and help. I have been enjoying reading God’s Word more since I have a little more free time after the kids go to bed. I came across Isaiah 12 and have been working on committing it to memory. It says:
Isaiah 12: “You will say in that day; ‘I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel’.”
I find these words from the Lord to be incredibly encouraging for a couple different reasons. First of all, on a personal level, I find that verse 2 where Isaiah writes “…God is MY salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is MY strength and MY song, and he has become MY salvation.” (emphasis on my added in) The repetitious use of the personal pronoun “my” is unique. I love that God is my God. He has become my salvation. He is my strength and my song. Not only is my God for me, but He is also for you. He loves each child of His equally and unconditionally. Is He your God? Do you know Him personally and intimately? I am fascinated and in awe of the way that God knows me as described by King David in Psalm 139. If you do not know what I am talking about; it would be a tremendous gift to talk about Jesus, my God, with you. Message me on Facebook or email me. The best email address is the one tied to this website.
Another reason why I find Isaiah’s words in chapter 12 encouraging is the emphasis on sharing God’s Word with the whole world. Verses 4 and 5 command us to make known what the Lord has done with everyone! Verse 5 emphasizes the importance of making known in all the earth that our God has done miraculous things. As Tom and I prepare to move to Nicaragua, I am confident that God has called us to do this. Not only is our situation exciting for Tom and I, but our team members know this joy too. Every single person who joins with us in this adventure to tell the world about God and make disciples, shares in the excitement of growing God’s kingdom. Praise the Lord for His Word that can encourage and guide us in this life!
An update on support raising… We are at 94% on our monthly support team; that gives regular donations every month. This enables us to thrive as a family in ministry internationally. We still need you to pray about joining our team and growing God’s kingdom together. If you are a part of our team, thank you so much! We have seen God provide through the body of Christ and we are in awe. God is good!
Que Dios les bendiga! God bless you!
