LETTERS FROM BEN FRUSHER
May 19, 2011
Greetings from rainy Columbia ; wish I could send some to Western Kansas !
First off, things are going well here. I am still doing maintenance, mostly painting. It has given me the opportunity to work almost three weeks at two other facilities besides
the farm and see the other ministries of Open Arms Foundation. Right now the foundation is trying to get licenses for all three facilities and for that to happen the facilities
need some work. The other two facilities is Casa Helana which is for troubled single teens and Downtown which houses the pregnant teens. It has really been a good
experience to interact with others and to assist in other programs.
I do have some news. After prayer and counsel I will stay here a little longer probably though the month of July. The months of June and July are pretty busy for Open Arms
Foundation and they would like some help with the mission teams that come in the summer. I am looking forward to it. The first team comes around the 8th of June. I will be
working with another missionary assisting and directing the teams. I have been encouraged with my Spanish. My boss says my Spanish has been getting better every week,
so that is definitely a praise.
Working in missions is a privilege, I really enjoy it. Some days have been rough, but the Lord has given me grace to be able to bear it. Sometimes the learning curve seems
a little steep. At times the tasks seem daunting. Often people walk through projects with me and it is not until they leave and I get started that I realize the project is more
complicated that I thought.
Prayer requests:
For the license process to finish smoothly with two year license granted to each facility.
For the kids, that they receive the Lord and learn how to follow Him and that the staff and adults would be able to have opportunities and wisdom in leading them to the Lord
and discipling them.
For myself, that my visa extension would go though and that the Lord would continue to provide and use me here in Columbia .
That I will be able to handle the pressure and the challenge of helping supervise teams from the states.
Praises:
I have survived thus far. I am growing and learning as I am helping out the foundation and interact with the people specifically the boys and the staff at the Boys Farm.
I am thankful for the opportunity to work hear a little longer and work with the teams as they come from the states.
So far I have been healthy and been able to handle the challenges of living here.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
In Christ --Ben Frusher
June 23, 2011
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God.
Greetings from Columbia,
My first mission team just left Friday and a new one just came in. It is going well. Right now I am the construction coordinator; I supervise and coach teams on work
projects. These first two teams are from West Virginia churches. This week the team worked at the farm on painting projects. There were usually five people working
with me for three days. They painted in 3 days what would have taken me 3 weeks to paint. For the first team, it went better than I thought possible, and they were
really pleased as well. We worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday was fun day at the water park with the team and the boys from the farm. Then they left
Friday and an evangelistic team came in that day and they stayed for five days and left this Wednesday.
Prayer requests
• Staff and missionaries would continue to be refreshed and healthy as we go though these two busy months.
• God would continue to bless the work of Open Arms Foundation.
Praises:
• The first team went well. The hard work and the preparation since March are paying off now.
• I have help. Jeremiah is a college student at Liberty University; he has been helping me with construction projects for the past week and will continue for a month.
• I am getting along well with the kids at the boys farm and getting many opportunities to build relationships with them one on one.
I have heard harvest has started up. I wish a safe and fruitful harvest season to all. Here in Columbia we are seeing a spiritual harvest as with the evangelistic team
some of the kids saved. It is great to see the Lord touching lives.
In Christ, Ben Frusher