By Dennis Hilman
Many of you know who Ryan Ruotsala is, have heard of him or even know him personally. For over a month now I have had the privilege of serving with him here in the mission in Guatemala, so even if you don't know who he is I think that it is time for me to share this experience with you.
Everywhere as we travel around in Ryan's truck or on his motorcycle people call out "Bryan, Bryan!" Bryan is a common name in Guatemala but Ryan is not so most people use the more familiar version. Whatever they call to him, though, it is most obvious that he is a beloved member of the communities that he serves here and it is quite touching to see that he has time for everyone.
Ryan came to Guatemala for the first time in 2003 as a 19-year-old totally through the leading and provision of the Lord. Read penniless!! He fell in love with the country and its people and experienced a deep calling to live and serve here full time, again as God opened doors. For over 5½ years Guatemala has been his home. He is supported by the ALCA Foreign Mission. His residence and home congregation is in the small city of Zacapa which is about 160 km (100 miles) east of the capital of Guatemala City. He also serves congregations in the outlying areas of Juan Ponce and Piedras Azules.There are churches in all three of these areas. In the congregation of Piedras Azules he has been leading the services and preaching regularly. In the other two churches he also coordinates the youth work, teaches, preaches occasionally and leads the singing as a powerful and talented musician. He serves together with Pastor Giovanni who is full time.
With young people and children Ryan is totally in his element. First with the warmth of his smile and hugs and then as he engages them in a spiritual song or more.
After that come the heart to heart lessons and talks about faith, the Bible and and God's plan for a "life more abundant".
But nothing goes up against Ryan's love for babies. He has an inimitably special rapport with each one of them he holds - and he holds many. This one is little Juan Francisco whose young mother we were visiting in preparation for his baptism.
We got into the Word to make sure that Juan's mother could more fully understand the sacrament of baptism. Infant baptism is not so self-evident here as it is in our churches back home since it is often considered a "Catholic" practice.
And so on Sunday morning Juan Francisco was duly baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Unfortunately in this somewhat unclear cell phone photo the baby's mother is hidden behind me and even Ryan is shadowed, but Pastor Giovanni can be seen assisting and the sponsors or godparents are looking on.
A true mission on wheels. Ryan's truck seems programmed to stop at the cry of every heart along the way. And like I said before, he has time, a smile and a comforting word for each one.
We often make home visits in the villages we serve. Here with a family in their hillside home in the village of Piedras Azules. (Yes, Ryan makes sure that I get my exercise up and down those hills!) The family's little Down's syndrome boy, safely tucked into Ryan's arms, is a real jewel - a veritable bundle of joy and friendliness. Of such is the kingdom of heaven!
Every Monday morning I have been meeting with the church leadership group (only partly present here). Ryan with his most fluent Spanish effortlessly makes sure that everyone is following. Also in this picture are Lynn Wirkkala, Salomón Archila and Pastor Giovanni (whose English is excellent). This time only Salomón was not versed in English but recently there have been others who need translation since about 8 of us have been meeting each week for evaluation of the mission, weekly planning, development of the congregations as well as a kind of Bible-based seminar session which I lead. Lynn is living here on a long-term basis and assists with the work of Sunday Schools, youth and with the power point during services among other things.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor!" Luke 4:18
In this and the next three photos you are welcome to visit the impoverished shack village of Pueblo Modelo with Ryan and I. This "camp" is not far at all from Paul Somero's home where I am staying and is notorious for its not infrequent shooting deaths. Here a little retarded girl finds a safe refuge in Ryan's welcoming arms before we pray for the whole family and their very difficult situation. Don't let the nice clean clothes fool you. These people can live without almost any material things or creature comforts, and even lack food, but they keep themselves washed and their clothes clean. Maybe that is why in their humility they seem to understand the cleansing power of the Gospel somehow more easily!
All smiles, but these are four of five siblings have definitely known pain and depravation. They live with their parents in that tiny one room (brown) tin shack behind the papaya tree in the background. By the age of 16 many - or even most - girls in villages like this have their first child, a child who is often not claimed by the father and so the cycle of hopelessness and despair continues. Do you wonder why Ryan is so often here to bring the message of hope?!
And then there's Alba. A 24-year-old girl who cannot stand alone, walk or talk. She lives her days scooting around in the dirt outside this shack, often left in neglect by her mother. But oh the unmistakable cries of joy when Ryan pulls up and she comes scooting through the yard, froglike, as fast as she can, covered by grime. Ryan helps her up as far as possible as she clings to him with joy and he hugs her close, seemingly oblivious to the grime. "For the joy of the Lord is your strength!" says Nehemiah (8:10)
Look Ma, no sanitary engineers!
In an entirely different village meet Ernesto - a 99-year-old who has had good friends like Carl Niemitalo, Richard Barney and many others who have served here. Ryan just dwarfs him but his stories of the old days are certainly not dwarfed.
Ernesto never really stopped talking, even though he didn't seem to hear much, and provided a rather fascinating interlude in our home visits in Piedras Azules that day - here with Ryan, Ashley Van Dyke (from New Hampshire) and Lynn.
Ryan is a gifted and Spirit-led speaker who is well-versed in the Word. He not only talks about but lives out his inspired ideas about bringing the Gospel to the people of Guatemala especially, as I mentioned before, since he is completely fluent in their language (and customs). Furthermore he can translate either way when necessary. Like Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift maketh room for him..."
And he is equally gifted when it comes to practical things - like organizing a soccer game, or fixing the lighting system at the church, or building a handsome wooden projector table...you name it, he can do it.
But his "mission on wheels" is still one of the most impressive aspects of his ministry.
An eye for the need, an ear for the pain!
With the picture above I will close this short focus on the life of Ryan Ruotsala which blesses so many here in Guatemala. Ley us pause with him and Salomón and Pastor Giovanni as the elements of Holy Communion are consecrated at our service last Sunday. Here is where we all can meet in the very presence of Jesus as we partake of the holy sacrament our Lord instituted. At this table I know that Ryan, too, finds himself as a humble and unworthy servant of the Living God.
Another unworthy servant in the vineyard of the Lord,
Dennis Hilman
Many of you know who Ryan Ruotsala is, have heard of him or even know him personally. For over a month now I have had the privilege of serving with him here in the mission in Guatemala, so even if you don't know who he is I think that it is time for me to share this experience with you.
Everywhere as we travel around in Ryan's truck or on his motorcycle people call out "Bryan, Bryan!" Bryan is a common name in Guatemala but Ryan is not so most people use the more familiar version. Whatever they call to him, though, it is most obvious that he is a beloved member of the communities that he serves here and it is quite touching to see that he has time for everyone.
Ryan came to Guatemala for the first time in 2003 as a 19-year-old totally through the leading and provision of the Lord. Read penniless!! He fell in love with the country and its people and experienced a deep calling to live and serve here full time, again as God opened doors. For over 5½ years Guatemala has been his home. He is supported by the ALCA Foreign Mission. His residence and home congregation is in the small city of Zacapa which is about 160 km (100 miles) east of the capital of Guatemala City. He also serves congregations in the outlying areas of Juan Ponce and Piedras Azules.There are churches in all three of these areas. In the congregation of Piedras Azules he has been leading the services and preaching regularly. In the other two churches he also coordinates the youth work, teaches, preaches occasionally and leads the singing as a powerful and talented musician. He serves together with Pastor Giovanni who is full time.
With young people and children Ryan is totally in his element. First with the warmth of his smile and hugs and then as he engages them in a spiritual song or more.
After that come the heart to heart lessons and talks about faith, the Bible and and God's plan for a "life more abundant".
But nothing goes up against Ryan's love for babies. He has an inimitably special rapport with each one of them he holds - and he holds many. This one is little Juan Francisco whose young mother we were visiting in preparation for his baptism.
We got into the Word to make sure that Juan's mother could more fully understand the sacrament of baptism. Infant baptism is not so self-evident here as it is in our churches back home since it is often considered a "Catholic" practice.
And so on Sunday morning Juan Francisco was duly baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Unfortunately in this somewhat unclear cell phone photo the baby's mother is hidden behind me and even Ryan is shadowed, but Pastor Giovanni can be seen assisting and the sponsors or godparents are looking on.
A true mission on wheels. Ryan's truck seems programmed to stop at the cry of every heart along the way. And like I said before, he has time, a smile and a comforting word for each one.
We often make home visits in the villages we serve. Here with a family in their hillside home in the village of Piedras Azules. (Yes, Ryan makes sure that I get my exercise up and down those hills!) The family's little Down's syndrome boy, safely tucked into Ryan's arms, is a real jewel - a veritable bundle of joy and friendliness. Of such is the kingdom of heaven!
Every Monday morning I have been meeting with the church leadership group (only partly present here). Ryan with his most fluent Spanish effortlessly makes sure that everyone is following. Also in this picture are Lynn Wirkkala, Salomón Archila and Pastor Giovanni (whose English is excellent). This time only Salomón was not versed in English but recently there have been others who need translation since about 8 of us have been meeting each week for evaluation of the mission, weekly planning, development of the congregations as well as a kind of Bible-based seminar session which I lead. Lynn is living here on a long-term basis and assists with the work of Sunday Schools, youth and with the power point during services among other things.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor!" Luke 4:18
In this and the next three photos you are welcome to visit the impoverished shack village of Pueblo Modelo with Ryan and I. This "camp" is not far at all from Paul Somero's home where I am staying and is notorious for its not infrequent shooting deaths. Here a little retarded girl finds a safe refuge in Ryan's welcoming arms before we pray for the whole family and their very difficult situation. Don't let the nice clean clothes fool you. These people can live without almost any material things or creature comforts, and even lack food, but they keep themselves washed and their clothes clean. Maybe that is why in their humility they seem to understand the cleansing power of the Gospel somehow more easily!
All smiles, but these are four of five siblings have definitely known pain and depravation. They live with their parents in that tiny one room (brown) tin shack behind the papaya tree in the background. By the age of 16 many - or even most - girls in villages like this have their first child, a child who is often not claimed by the father and so the cycle of hopelessness and despair continues. Do you wonder why Ryan is so often here to bring the message of hope?!
And then there's Alba. A 24-year-old girl who cannot stand alone, walk or talk. She lives her days scooting around in the dirt outside this shack, often left in neglect by her mother. But oh the unmistakable cries of joy when Ryan pulls up and she comes scooting through the yard, froglike, as fast as she can, covered by grime. Ryan helps her up as far as possible as she clings to him with joy and he hugs her close, seemingly oblivious to the grime. "For the joy of the Lord is your strength!" says Nehemiah (8:10)
Look Ma, no sanitary engineers!
In an entirely different village meet Ernesto - a 99-year-old who has had good friends like Carl Niemitalo, Richard Barney and many others who have served here. Ryan just dwarfs him but his stories of the old days are certainly not dwarfed.
Ernesto never really stopped talking, even though he didn't seem to hear much, and provided a rather fascinating interlude in our home visits in Piedras Azules that day - here with Ryan, Ashley Van Dyke (from New Hampshire) and Lynn.
Ryan is a gifted and Spirit-led speaker who is well-versed in the Word. He not only talks about but lives out his inspired ideas about bringing the Gospel to the people of Guatemala especially, as I mentioned before, since he is completely fluent in their language (and customs). Furthermore he can translate either way when necessary. Like Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift maketh room for him..."
And he is equally gifted when it comes to practical things - like organizing a soccer game, or fixing the lighting system at the church, or building a handsome wooden projector table...you name it, he can do it.
But his "mission on wheels" is still one of the most impressive aspects of his ministry.
An eye for the need, an ear for the pain!
With the picture above I will close this short focus on the life of Ryan Ruotsala which blesses so many here in Guatemala. Ley us pause with him and Salomón and Pastor Giovanni as the elements of Holy Communion are consecrated at our service last Sunday. Here is where we all can meet in the very presence of Jesus as we partake of the holy sacrament our Lord instituted. At this table I know that Ryan, too, finds himself as a humble and unworthy servant of the Living God.
Another unworthy servant in the vineyard of the Lord,
Dennis Hilman
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