Running away...

As I stand still during a busy day of work and trying to make the world a better place, I realize I have been running away. 

2 months ago the Lord asked me to surrender missions. 

I have fought.

I have cried.

I've been confused?

Through all the emotions and not understanding "why" I have taken my own measures. I tried every possible way to get out or follow missions in every direction. 

Every door has closed. 

I felt like Jonah. 

Just like him I've been running away. 

Running from what God was calling me to...

For the past 10 years I have been a missionary overseas and that is all I have known.

I did not understand why God will be calling to something different. 

However, coming back from my last venture in the field God gave me this verse:

Isaiah 43:19

God kept telling me He is doing a new thing. 

Not the same,

NEW.  

This past year of reflecting and re-evaluating my life I realized that my most fruitful season has been here in the USA. 

Lifting up this generation 

to RUN after God

with a PASSION.

Looking back, I realized 95% of the women I have discipled have gone to the missions field 

or have been raised up as leaders...

Many churches have been planted. 

Lives have been impacted. 

Generations are still being changed.  

Leaders are rising! 

 As I continued to plan my life, God redirected me. As a loving father He lead me to His best. 

I am not saying I am completely leaving missions.   

Missions is an everyday life choice. 

It is everywhere we go. 

It is having a mindset that we are made to share His love with every person we meet. 

We need to change our perspective 

missions is here

His KINGDOM.

I also know that God will use me to lead trips short term, so that others will know their calling. So that others will step out in faith and know who they are in Him. God has used the missions field overseas in my life to mold me into who I am. 

To show me His heart for every nation. 

But I know that this season is to serve Him wholeheartedly here. 

My life is surrendered to His will and not my own. 

  

It's about His KINGDOM!

...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…

Hebrews 12:1-2

When people ask me for advice about going out into the missions field or serving in ministry. I always respond with this:

It's about His KINGDOM! 

Now this is the part where I become transparent with you. 

I have been hurt by many ministries I have served in. 

I have been told you are not worthy enough. 

You are not good enough. 

I have been asked to do things that are outside of what I belief and I have stood up to say "no."

It caused problems for me. 

God has asked me to speak truth

because He was not pleased. That got me into a deeper hole. 

Ministry is MESSY. People are MESSY. 

PERIOD. 

BUT. 

It's about His kingdom. 

Not what people say or do.

But what He says. 

What He has called

you to. 

His TRUTH.

Our validation should be in HIM. 

Not people. 

And

there is GRACE. 

Forgiveness. 

Reconciliation. 

Don't miss this important factor

if we call ourselves "Christians."

We must walk daily in grace. 

But through the messiness

our eyes must be on JESUS. 

Not People. 

Our validation should not be from people, but from JESUS. 

We must run this race with endurance. Not look back 

but forward to what is ahead. 

Eternity. 

to Him

the

King of KINGS

and

Our great reward.  

Like I said it's about His kingdom. 

Its about:

The souls that never heard the name JESUS. 

The poor,

orphans,

widows.

the hurting. 

the brokenhearted... 

If we focus on our circumstances then we miss God.

We miss the opportunities

to

be 

LOVE

&

HOPE.

If you have been hurt or burned by the church "forgive." God wants to restore and heal those relationships. He wants to heal your wounds so that He can finish the work He has started in you. You are worthy. 

You are precious.

You have value. 

Keep running this race

with 

endurance. 

He will

Be 

your 

STRENGTH.

Wait

For the past 8 years I have moved from country to country. 

From mission to mission that the Lord has spoken to me. 

Now for the first time ever in my life He has said "wait be Still." 

It will be a year since I returned from the mission field and it has been a year of not hearing what is next? One of the hardest things for me if you know my personality.

 However, he has taught me that being Still is an act of obedience and worship to Him. 

That when we are still He unfolds His plan for our lives. 

He is building us up for greater things... 

As it says in Psalms 1: "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." 

He builds us like trees planted by streams of water, so when that day comes you will not be shaken but planted in TRUTH and in Him alone. 

Everything you do shall prosper!

 God has placed a calling in our lives. 

A calling that is specific to each person and that is part of the body of Christ. 

We all have a unique role to play in this story that God has written for us. 

Even if you are in a season of "waiting" know that He is writing your story even in the waiting.

 He has a purpose for your life. 

But it is all in His perfect timing... 

And when that day comes it will be sweeter then when we try to do things is our own strength which brings destruction. 

Wait and taste the GOODNESS of who He is.

In the Wilderness

In the wilderness? 

Don't tell me your life has always been perfect and you have never been through season of just nothing happening. Where you feel stuck and God is having you wait. Of course not we all have been there. So this is why I share this to 

ENCOURAGE 

YOU!

I have been in a season of waiting. A season of being still. There is those feelings where you ask "God where are you?" and yes I know His word says He is always with us. 

But He is SILENT...

But He is there

because

His

Word

says.

Silence...

Something as humans we don't like

Especially as American's we have become 

a culture of self gratification

We want it now culture.

In this season I have learned 

to WORSHIP

Him. 

To not give up.

More then ever

hold onto 

His promises.

Being a Christian is not an easy road. There is always those season that we go through. Some of those really test our faith. But in those times is when God is growing us the most to TRUST Him. 

You are LOVED by the King of Kings 

He loves you

too much

to let 

your 

life 

go 

to

waste.

<3 p="">

I will Follow

Luke 18:22 tells us when Jesus was speaking and said sell everything and follow me. 

Matthew 28:19 talks about going and making disciples of all nations. 

I have a question did Jesus come in a BMW? No in fact in a donkey which was one of the lowest and humbling things for a king like him. When Jesus asked His disciples to leave their lives behind Jesus did not have anything. I am sure he must looked like a man that was completely dirty and did not have the latest clothes. 

How can we as Westerners go out into the world and expect others to leave everything behind when we don't leave our own comforts, but we bring them with us. 

We live way better then the locals. It has become a western culture to go out and so easily find luxury. Then we ask the people there to leave everything behind (when they have nothing) and follow Jesus. 

We need to be an example. As the old saying says "Actions speak louder then words." 

Are you living by example or just words? 

They will know His LOVE

“You are the light in this dark world and sometimes you are the only light there is.” “As I heard the Lord whisper theses words into my soul, I was looking out at the mountains of Nilgiris, India where I could see hundreds of tea workers from the Badaga villages.  At that moment my heart was full of sorrow and all I could do was cry out for these people who do not know the love of God.  Ever since that day my heart has been burdened for the Badaga people, who are from the mountain villages that I see around our home.

One day while we went to visit my friend Archna, we decided to take a different route to the top of the hill. As we walked, we had no idea where we were going.  All around us were hundreds of trees and dirt paths.  We stopped to ask each other which path we should take. I stopped and said, “Lets ask the Lord where he wants to take us.” At that moment, I heard, “Straight.”  As we started walking straight, we saw about two hundred Badaga women laboring in the tea fields. I stopped and asked the Lord, “Do you really want us to walk through all of these women?”  I heard a solid “yes” from the Holy Spirit.  Step by step, I started shaking their hands and hugging them.  A few of the ladies started dancing with us in their traditional dances. I felt the LOVE of God dive down into that place.

As we kept going, we found ourselves hiking up steep hills and before we realized it, we ended up at a school.  Through the windows of the school building, I heard children saying “hello” with excitement in their voices. As I started giving the kids high fives, one of the teachers approached us.  For a moment, I thought I must be a nuisance to him because I was the source of the children’s distraction. Then he asked me, “Where are you from?” As we started a conversation with him, I asked where the kids were from. He pointed to the village at the top of the hill. I felt eagerness in my heart because this was the Badaga village that we’ve been praying for. He asked if we would like to come and teach at the school. As we left the school all I could do was cry and rejoice that God is so GOOD to us. 

As we walked to my friend Archna’s place to love on her, I realized that there are many doors being opened for some of us to reach the Badaga people. We may have the opportunity to reach the children from the Badaga villages, and as we approached the shop where Archna works, I remembered that she is also Badaga.  I have been visiting her and her family every week to show her the love of Christ.  The Lord has given me a heart for her and her family. Although I know that only He has opened this door, God has been impressing in my heart that it will not be easy for her to come to know Him.  It is only by the power of His Holy Spirit that she will be saved, so I must regularly be on my knees praying for her and her family. As I’ve prayed for her, she has become more open with me when I talk about God. As I once told her that I pray for her every day, she replied in gratitude, “Thank you, I really need that.” God is softening her heart. I know that He is going to do something amazing through this relationship. Please keep praying for her and her family.

(Archna and Family)

One day, I know that no longer will a temple stand at the top of the hill where the Badaga village rests, but a cross and a reflection of God’s grace and love. I also know that Archna will also know who her true God is and will finally know the grace and love of God.

Please continue to pray for the ministry here in India and that God will continue to soften hearts. Also pray for funds to continue to come in for this ministry. I am in need of $1000 for living costs. I also need to raise an additional $4000 in order to purchase transportation to reach the people of the Nilgiris.

 If you would like to give to this ministry and support me in this go to: www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/ruthcontreras

This is India

India so far has been interesting. Learning to be in a new culture and learning the language. When we first arrived there was so much excitement in my heart to be here that all I could do is smile, but then I was told that if you smile at men that means you are interested. Well I guess I was interested in many men... hahaha... Sad but true. It's the little things that we grow up doing and mean no harm but are looked at differently in India.

Here is a list of the culture differences that I keep learning:

* do not hug men in public (guys on our team)
*don't hold hands while praying
*must eat with ONLY right hand...
* when they say 30min it means 2hrs
*everything is slower
*must wear head covering during church and prayer

Well those are the ones I have so far. I am sure there will be many more to come.

So it will be hitting the month mark tomorrow since we arrived in India and it has gone by so fast. I feel like I just left yesterday. This month has been getting adjusted to being here and learning more about the culture and how things run here. It really has been an adventure and a different pace of life here. Now we have to start learning the language which seems very difficult to pronounce things. I have picked up on some things here and there. But my hearts desire is to be fluent so that I can speak to the people here and build more relationships.

Lately we have been working with a pastor that is in the next town from us. We have done testimonies at his church, lead worship, and we do Sunday kids school. I have been in charge of putting children's ministry together and it has been such a blessing to be with the little ones that bring so much joy to my heart. Especially when the call me "aunty" that is what children call their elders. For men it would be "uncle." I am in LOVE with the beautiful children here. We also got an opportunity to go to an orphanage for the past 2 days that is 4hrs from where we live. It was such an exciting two days with the kids as we, played games, bible stories, sang songs, and loved on them. As we left the kids were hugging us so tight crying asking us not to go. I knew in that moment that they experienced the love of Jesus. That was the reason why we were there so that they may experience His love through us. It brought tears to my eyes that God could use us that way.

What is next? Well we will be starting a English service with the church we are working with. I am also building relationships with some of the young girls in church that God put on my heart to diciple. I have invited one of them to our house to spend time with her. The only thing is that she lives far from where we live, so I am praying that God will provide for us to meet every week to build that relationship. Please keep that in your prayers. One option I have is to get a scooter to get around the town which will cost me $1000 in order to start discipleship with theses girls.

If you would like to partner with me in that please go to: https://www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/ruthmendoza/

I am in love with the people of India and I could not ask to be anywhere else but here serving them. Thank you to those that make this happen every month.

Thank you for your support and love. I miss you so much!