From Ruth Salvador, long-time Grace Missionary

This is from dear Ruth Salvador, serving with husband Ricardo with Tecate Mission and a Grace Missionary for more than 50 years. News and good insights on parenting. Precious lady. Enjoy. P.T.

DEAR TIM,

I WAS SO THRILLED TO HEAR FROM YOU.  WELL, ABOUT THE FIRST MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.  MY FIRST REMEMBRANCE IS WHEN ARTHUR MOUW, FROM BORNEO SPOKE, WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.  BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER IF IT WAS A CONFERENCE, OR JUST A SPECIAL SERVICE AT THAT TIME.  THAT IS WHEN THE LORD FIRST TOUCHED MY HEART STRINGS, ABOUT MISSIONARY SERVICE.  I REMEMBER ALSO A COUPLE FROM SINGAPORE. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS ARTHUR GEE, BUT I COULD BE MISTAKEN ABOUT THAT.

SOUNDS AS IF THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES COMING UP, THAT WILL INCLUDE A LOT OF PEOPLE.  THAT IS REALLY GREAT  I WAS REALLY BLESSED TO HEAR THAT THE CHURCH WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN HELPING PEOPLE IN THE TSUNAMI IN ASIA.  HOW DID YOU CHANNEL IT?  WITH SOME GROUP WORKING THERE OR WHAT?

SEEMS LIKE THE GROWTH GROUPS ARE COMING ALONG GREAT.

I GUESS IT IS WONDERFUL NEWS KNOWING YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE ANOTHER LITTLE ONE.  I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM, FROM GOING THROUGH ALL THAT VAY-VEN OF ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BOTH IN THE MINISTRY AND AT THE SAME TIME THE CHILDREN TO ATTEND TO THEIR NEEDS.  WE HAD FOUR AS WELL, AND WE DECIDED IF WE WERE TO HAVE ANYMORE, WE MIGHT AS WELL, GET WITH IT.   BEFORE I GOT TOOOO OLD.  I KNOW WITH THE BAD 3 MONTHS AT FIRST IT IS MISERY, BUT THANK THE LORD IT ISN'T THE WHOLE 9 MONTHS.  I WILL BE REMEMBERING SUSIE.....I CAN TELL YOU THAT " THIS TOO WILL PASS"  BE HAPPY IN THE EXPERIENCE, AND WHEN THEY ARE GROWING UP, IT WILL GET BETTER FOR A WHILE, AND THEN YOU WILL GET THE WHAMMY YEARS WHEN THEY GET TO BE TEEN AGERS.  BUT TRAINING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD REALLY PAYS OFF, BECAUSE FROM THAT DEPEND THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT LIFE.  THE EARLIER YOU START WITH THEM, TEACHING THEM TO NOT MAKE NOISE DURING SERVICES.   RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE AND AUTHORITIES AND THEIR PARENTS.  CONSECRATE THEM TO THE LORD WHILE STILL FORMING, AND YOUR HEART CAN BE AT PEACE.  SOMETIMES THERE ARE HEART ACHES, BUT STILL IT IS ALL WORTH IT.  THE YEARS GO BY LIKE WATER, AND IF YOU CAN KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED THAT HELPS AS WELL.  WELL, ENOUGH ADVICE FROM GRANDMA.

WE KEEP REMEMBERING YOU FOLKS.  THE LORD BE WITH AND BLESS YOU CONTINUALLY.

I GUESS FROM THE PRAYER LETTER YOU HAVE SEEN THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR MISSION WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD ON JANUARY 18.  HIS WIFE WILL CONTINUE, WHILE THE BOARD LOOKS FOR A NEW DIRECTOR.  THIS COUPLE HAS BEEN SO LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, REAL PRAYER WARRIORS, ETC.  BUT I NOW THE LORD HAS HIS PURPOSE, SO IF CAN REMEMBER TO PRAYER ABOUT THAT, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.  THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR HIM, WAS SUCH A BLESSING.  A REAL CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE.

WE PRAY THAT THE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE WILL BE THE BEST EVER AND THAT MANY WILL BE TOUCHED BY GOD TO SERVE HIM.  THAT THE MESSAGES WILL BE CHALLENGING TO HEARTS, TO PRAY AND GET ACTIVE, INSTEAD OF JUST SPONGING UP WHILE THEY SIT ON THE PEW. 

LOVINGLY,    RUTH SALVADOR