Joplin, MO

Prayer Supporters:  I'm in the US - recovering from gallbladder surgery.  Thanks for your prayers.  Ralph is holding down the fort in Bucharest - a very busy time for end-of-the-year activities at the Ruth School.

Please pray for the people of Joplin, MO.  It is the opposite side of the state from my family and the flooding recently in the news.  My dad, Guy Foster, serves with Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief on a feeding team.  They were mobilized this week and arrived in Joplin on Friday.  The devastation is overwhelming.  They are doing what the can to help.

Couple of Requests...

Prayer Supporters - A couple of requests - Yesterday was our son's birthday.  Join us in praising God for his 22 years and the wonderful young man he has grown into.  Josh graduates from law enforcement training in June.

Tammy is having surgery - today (Friday).  Nothing serious - gallbladder.  Pray for a quick recovery. 

Ralph is visiting Gypsy Smith students with Alex Ghita this weekend.  Pray for safe travels and good opportunities to offer encouragement.

Meeting of the Presidents

This week John Upton, president of the Baptist World Alliance, has been in Romania visiting Project Ruth, Providence Baptist Church, the Baptist Seminary, and meeting several dignitaries. The visit also included a trip to Timisoara for the Romanian Baptist Union meeting.


**Picture: Oti Bunaciu, president of Project Ruth and president of the Romanian Baptist Union, is seen here presenting a Bible and a book about Baptists to the Romanian president, Traian Basescu while John Upton, president of the Baptist World Alliance looks on.

Come & Visit!

Project Ruth has supporters in many different locations in the world.  Now we have a visual reminder with a big map in the office.  As our partners visit we ask them to mark where they are located.  It's an encouragement to see pins speckle the wall.  So come see us!

Floods In Missouri

I'm a Show-Me state girl.  My roots go deep in rural Missouri and most of my immediate family still live there.  If you watched the news lately you've heard of the massive flooding taking place along the Mississippi and the fight to save lives, homes, and businesses.  My family, though near the flooding, was spared damage to their own possessions but the economic impact will definitely be felt.  Thank you for your prayers and concern.

English Club

I often say, "We speak it but we don't teach it."   One of the ladies in our building stopped me recently and asked me if I'd tutor her teenage son in English.  This is a regular occurrence and comical to me - the one with the southern accent and dropped last syllables.  English is a very popular choice for students for their foreign language requirement and they want to practice with native English speakers.

Ralph and I wanted more contact with the Ruth School students and wanted to be a part of the new after-school programs Project Ruth is offering.  We started the English Club for 7th and 8th graders.  So far it has been a fun time of games and English practice.  The kids are usually wound up and ready to release some energy after being in class all day.  So we plan activities that keep them up and moving.  It's been a challenge but one we are enjoying. 

Lindsey, Our Niece

Excuse us, we are indulging in a personal moment on our blog.  Today is our niece, Lindsey Stocks' birthday.  She's the one in the blue dress pictured with her family above. (FYI - Her dad is Ralph's brother, Tom)  It seems like yesterday we visited the cute little newborn in the hospital in Raleigh - not 22 years ago!  Now she has grown into a lovely young woman who this coming weekend will graduate from Radford University with a bachelor's degree in social work.  We are so proud and want the world (or at least all our blog readers) to know.  Happy Birthday Lindsey and Congratulations on your Graduation!