Ruby's YWAM Support Letter

  

Ruby Denham - YWAM Support/Newsletter 

Hey Friends and Family!

I am thrilled to share that I am enrolled in Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM Ships in Kona, Hawaii, this January! I am really looking forward to this next special season full of studying God's word and following the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) of spreading the Gospel in all nations. Over the last couple of years, God has put a very strong calling on my heart to go and to share the love of Jesus, especially in unreached places around the world. I am really excited to take this next step in faith that the Lord will use me in small and big ways to further His kingdom.

WHAT AM I DOING?

Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a 6-month program broken into a lecture phase and outreach. YWAM’s (Youth With A Mission) mission statement is “to know God, and make Him known.” They are very intentional about equipping the students with a solid and in-depth knowledge of the Gospel in preparation for being sent out into the nations. For the first 3 months, I will be taking classes, learning about who God is, the covenants in the Bible, spiritual warfare, God's promises, and so much more. During this time, my school will have a one-week local outreach where we will be able to give back to the land and bless the community of Hawaii. We will then spend a few weeks in New Zealand, continuing to study and prepare for outreach. And then we will go!!

The school that I am going to is called Ring of Fire. It has a deep connection to the Pacific Islands and the nations along the Ring of Fire. Its goal is to see revival across the Pacific and to bring the gift of the Gospel to the furthest reaches of the earth and to some of the most isolated people. I will spend about 3 months on outreach, and then head back home!

WHY AM I GOING?

I am going because I know the Lord calls us to go and make disciples of all nations, and I truly just want to obey Him! I have always had a heart for missions, but I have only ever done short-term trips. Those trips changed my life! Serving people and visiting churches, and spreading the Gospel is the most fulfilling thing I have ever done, so being able to do it for a longer time is something that I know will be so impactful in my life, and is something that God is calling me to do! I am really praying that through this school, I will grow in many ways. To be able to see more clearly a picture of the character of God, to grow in my ability to trust God, and to grow in discernment when it comes to my fears and doubts are all things that I need to work on, and that I am looking forward to having dedicated time to grow in. Overall, I know that this school will impact my life and my faith in a lot of ways, and I am so excited to see how God is going to work and move in me!

HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?

I would love for you to partner with me in two ways:

Prayer: Your prayers are so important to me! Please pray that I would be able to be strong through this season, and that I would be able to fully surrender my fears to the Lord. Pray for safety as I travel into unfamiliar places, where spiritual warfare is very heavy and loud. Pray that God would use me in big ways, and that I would be able to show His love to whoever I meet.

Financially: If you feel led, I would really appreciate your partnering with me in this mission. Your donation would help cover the costs of the program, flights, and outreach. Every little bit makes a difference and really matters to me!

If you would like to support me in either of those ways, please don't hesitate to reach out to me! Use the contact form to the right ==> And if you would like to follow along with my journey, I will also be posting updates and photos on my Instagram @rubyedenham

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”   

Romans 10:14-15

Thank you so much for reading! I love and appreciate you all! - Ruby :)

CONTACT INFO

Instagram: @rubyedenham

Venmo Link (for financial contributors): @denhamfamilymissions

I've returned from PNG

   

Lucy update

    It’s been a few months, but I wanted to give a recap on my time in Papua New Guinea. It was such a special time filled with so much - it’s hard to wrap my mind around it even months after returning home. My team travelled all over Papua New Guinea, from the coast to the highlands, getting around in the back of a truck bed or sailing on the ship. Two of my team members were nurses, so we took every opportunity to use their medical experience for our ministry. PNG has barely any access to quality medical care, with many villages completely isolated with no concept of basic hygiene or medicine. With the crew on the YWAM Liberty ship, we sailed to many different isolated islands, setting up medical clinics daily to care for the people. Caring for these communities was no small task. Hundreds of patients would flood in each morning with all different needs. From children with malaria to women with broken backs from their husbands beating them, to old people struggling with the hardship that comes with their culture and lifestyle, we saw it all. We had a special eye glass clinic where we were able to help people see clearly for the first time in their lives. The medical clinic went way beyond just passing out bandaids, each provider took time to pray with each and every person that came through the line and truly listen to their story. Some days were very heavy and sometimes felt hopeless when the line would seem never ending with so many people hurting, but each day we saw the Lord move and miracles happened!     My role was to engage the community, have meaningful gospel conversations, and love the people well. I ended up being a big fan of the “pikininis” all the kids running around with so much energy. When I wasn’t helping in the clinic or putting on a skit or teaching with my team, I was running up and down the beach or climbing trees with dozens of kids. Spending time with these kids, learning their names and their language allowed me to pour into them on a much deeper level than just running around with a soccer ball. I saw hearts soften and fall in love with Jesus.

    We worked along side the Oral Bible Translation (OBT) team to help them with their goal of translating a book of the Bible into 33 languages in 3 years. It is truly so special to see eyes widen as people hear the word of God in their native language for the first time. PNG has thousands of languages scattered throughout the nation, some dialects only take a short 20 minute walk to completely change. The OBT team takes time to honor these languages, going after the one, so every soul can be saved and hear God’s word in their own tongue. They take time to train leaders to be able to translate themselves to further the mission without being hands on involved.

    There are so many crazy stories I have to tell and amazing testimonies of God’s goodness, but writing it all out would take days. I am eternally grateful for the three months I spent in PNG and for how the Lord worked in me and through me. I have a deeper understanding of the Father’s love for His children. I walked away with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my American life, but also with such heartbreak to leave the nation I grew to love. No part of this trip was easy, but I grew in so many ways and saw the Lord moving with my own eyes. He is so GOOD!

    I dealt with many challenges heading into new territory of living in a foreign country with completely different lifestyles and people, but I found that through all of the sickness and cultural hiccups, leaving and coming back home was the hardest part of all. I spent my summer at home in Boise so grateful to be reunited with loved ones and yummy food, but my heart ached to be in the villages, playing with kids, sharing the gospel, living on a boat in open ocean, so far away from “real life”. I didn’t expect to be so sad to leave, and I spent most of my summer trying to figure out how I fit back in to my life in Boise. It’s been hard but I’ve seen how the Lord has used this season to draw me closer to Him and be open to what His plans are for me. With that said, I am seeking out further mission opportunities with YWAM while working full time here. I am excited for this upcoming year, and will hopefully have answers soon about what exactly I’ll be up to!

    Please reach out to me if you’re at all curious or have questions about my outreach. I have a huge heart for the nation of Papua New Guinea and love sharing whatever I can to whoever will listen. Thank you all for your continual support!

With love, Lucy Denham :)

LINKS: INSTAGRAM @lucyjdenham VENMO LINK - for financial contributions @denhamfamilymissions

 

Outreach to Papua New Guinea!

   

Hello friends and family!
I have an exciting update to share with you all!  

At the end of March, I’ll be heading to Papua New Guinea for 3 months with my amazing team of 7 people. The first 6 weeks will be spent in the town of Madang, living on the YWAM base there. We’ll be traveling around doing kids’ ministry, visiting villages, preaching at the markets, praying with locals, providing prison ministry, leading worship, and engaging with the community to share the love of Jesus! The following 6 weeks, we’ll board the “Liberty,” a medical ship, where we’ll live and work as we travel to remote places that are only accessible by foot or boat. We’ll set up medical clinics and teach children basic hygiene to prevent diseases that are often life-threatening but can be easily avoided with education. I’m beyond excited for this adventure and know it will be one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life!

A little bit about PNG: Papua New Guinea is an incredibly diverse and beautiful country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, just north of Australia. It's made up of over 600 islands and has one of the highest levels of linguistic diversity in the world, with more than 850 languages spoken! The people are warm, welcoming, and have a rich cultural heritage that’s deeply connected to their land and traditions. However, a lot of that culture is also tied to darkness. Witchcraft and spiritual warfare are very real, and in many areas, traditional beliefs are mixed with practices that bring fear and oppression. It's a place where the gospel is desperately needed to break through the spiritual strongholds and bring light into the darkness. I'm excited to be part of that, even though it's going to be challenging, and I can't wait to see how God moves there.

Prayer and Support: Please pray for me and my team as we prepare for this incredible journey! Pray for safety as we travel, for protection against sickness, and for strength in the face of any challenges we may encounter. Ask God to open doors for meaningful ministry opportunities and that we would be able to serve the people of Papua New Guinea with hearts full of love and compassion. Pray that we would be sensitive to the needs of the communities we visit and that our actions would reflect the love of Jesus in a tangible way. Pray that our hearts would grow in deep love for the people and the nation of Papua New Guinea, and that God would unite us as a team. May we be a reflection of God’s grace, bringing hope and healing to those we meet. Above all, please ask for God’s guidance and wisdom throughout this journey, that we would follow His lead every step of the way and be a light in dark places. I’m still working to raise $4,000 for the outreach costs, and if you feel led to support me financially, I would be so grateful. Any amount helps, and your partnership means a lot to me as I prepare for this amazing opportunity. Thank you for your prayers and support—it truly means the world to me! With love, Lucy Denham :)

LINKS: INSTAGRAM @lucyjdenham VENMO LINK - for financial contributions @denhamfamilymissions

Lucy's mission with YWAM ships

  

Our dear Lucy has joined YWAM ships in Hawaii!
Please follow along with her journey here. 

Dear Friends and Family-

As many of you already know, I’m currently in Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM Ships in Kona, Hawaii! This is such an exciting new chapter in my life, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to step into this season of growth, learning, and sharing the love of Jesus. It’s been so amazing so far, and I’ve already learned what it means to have a heart for missions and unreached nations, and understanding the work and person of Jesus. In the first two weeks, I’ve built strong friendships and spent hours of intentional time with Jesus!

What I'm Doing

YWAM Ships DTS is a program designed to equip and launch young people into global missions, fulfilling the great commission. While all DTS programs share a common purpose, each has its unique flavor. My DTS is called “Multiply” where the goal is to multiply missionaries who will go out into the nations and share the hope of the gospel. The ships base has an emphasis on going to completely isolated nations, specifically islands, with no roads or airstrips. It’s been encouraging to be surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ all on fire for the Lord. 

The scripture that is most highlighted through this DTS is Matthew 9:37-38

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

This verse reflects the heart of what DTS is all about—raising up laborers who are ready to go wherever God leads.

Why I’m Excited

I am excited to step into this opportunity because I believe God is calling me to grow deeper in my relationship with Him and to step into the plans He has for my life! During this program, I’ll have the chance to deepen my understanding of God's word and grow in discipleship. I’m excited to be equipped for ministry, not just for this season but for a lifetime of serving Jesus.

The outreach phase is something I’m especially looking forward to. This phase allows us to practice what we’ve learned during training by traveling to different countries, meeting tangible needs, and sharing the love and power of the gospel. The locations aren’t officially revealed yet, but some rumoured spots that I could possibly end up at are Papau New Guinea, Panama, Cambodia, England, and Italy! Each places brings unique opportunities to serve and unique challenges, but I’m trying to stay open to what the Lord has for me. Whether it’s ministering to youth, planting church’s and ministries, leading worship, participating in children’s ministry, or partnering with medical missions teams, I’m eager to see how the Lord will work through me to bring hope and transformation to others.

I believe this journey will not only change the lives of those we encounter but will also transform me in ways I can’t yet imagine. I’m so eager to see how the Lord will move and how He will use this experience to shape my future!

How You Can Partner with Me

As I prepare for this journey, I would love to invite you to partner with me in two ways:

Prayer – Your prayers mean the world to me. Please pray for strength, boldness, and wisdom as I step into this new season. Pray that God will use me in powerful ways and that the people we encounter will experience His love in a life-changing way.

Financial Support – If you feel led, I’d be so grateful for your support in helping cover the costs of this program, including travel, training, and outreach. Every little bit helps, and I would be so thankful for any contribution you can make.

If you’d like to support me in prayer or giving, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Also, if you’d like, you can follow my journey through social media. I plan to keep updates flowing on Instagram @lucyjdenham. I’d love to share more about this journey and keep you updated on all that God is doing.

Thank you so much for being part of my life and for believing in me as I take this leap of faith. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing community cheering me on, and I can’t wait to share all the incredible stories and testimonies from this season!

With so much love and gratitude,

Lucy :)

INSTAGRAM

@lucyjdenham

VENMO LINK - for financial contributions

@denhamfamilymissions

Pray with us

  

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15

The time has come, and our team is doing some last minute packing, while others have begun the journey.   The Lord has poured out His blessing over each member, giving us joy and excitement as we anticipate the work and ministry that is ahead of us.  

As we begin we ask you to continue to join us in prayer over the following things: 

• We desire to be especially in tune with the will of God for all He has designated for us, for the building of HIS kingdom.  Pray that each of us would have a special sensitivity to His leading, and that we would not move a single second ahead or a single step in front of Him.  
• Pray for physical protection, health, and safety for every member of the team as we venture ahead.  We pray each member of the team would remain healthy, rested, hydrated, and safe so that we could be ready for any work in front of us.  
• We pray for the Spirit of God to break any areas of stronghold in Guatemala, and for spiritual protection and the full armor of God for every member of our team and the ministry at large. 
• Pray that the message of salvation in Jesus would break through to all who may hear, for tender hearts to be open to the redemption found in Christ.  We pray that we would faithfully plant, water, or harvest where the Lord leads us. 
• We pray especially for the children and families we will encounter, that they would experience the love of God and relief from suffering from poverty of any kind - whether spiritual, social, educational, health, environmental, or economic in nature.  

We thank you and praise the Lord for His great faithfulness in bringing us to the starting line.  He has provided for all our needs, and brought the team together in unity and preparation.  We look to Him for His leading, and to nothing else.  

Praise the Lord! 
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!

Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 

to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.

He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 113:1-9

In Christ, 

The Denham family

Mission update!

 

For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’  
Romans 10:13-15

Dear friends & family - 

We are writing with joy and excitement to share that we will be returning to Guatemala this July to partner with Impact Ministries in serving the people in and around Tactic, Guatemala.   Last Summer our family was given the opportunity to serve there for two weeks along with a team from a church in Indiana, providing medical care and sharing the message of salvation in Jesus.  Each member of our family was deeply impacted by the experience of being used by God there, and we returned home with a clear sense of His calling to return and continue to serve.  

This Summer we have had the doors open for us to now lead a team from our church family.  The Lord has answered prayer and clearly guided the hearts of each person in the formation of the team.  As we continue to lead this team forward in planning and preparation, we want to invite you to partner with us in a couple ways.  

Scripture tells us that our battle is not against flesh & blood, but against the powers of this dark world and that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus would be granted for the building of the Kingdom of God.  Would you join us in praying that the Lord would guide every aspect of the work of this ministry?  

• Pray for strength and wisdom as we seek to walk in obedience with every step that He has planned in advance for us to do 
• Pray for opportunities to show love & mercy as we provide healthcare to those that are in great need
• Pray for freedom from strife, suffering, and all forms of oppression for the people of Guatemala
• Pray for the gospel of Jesus to be spread throughout the country, and for opportunities for our team to share this good news with those we encounter

As we plan & prepare, we would also ask for you to pray and consider providing financial support for us in this mission.  We have placed our trust in the Lord that He will provide all that is needed for the work ahead.  In this way, we invite you to partner with us in this work.  We are seeking to raise funds to meet the expenses of our travel and needs while in Guatemala.  

If you are interested in learning more about the details of this mission or would like to join with us in prayer or in giving, you can do so in several ways.  Please continue to visit this blog for updates on the mission, and also get in touch.  If you’d like to partner with us financially, you can contribute via Venmo by using the link or QR code on the right side or get in touch with us for details on sending funds via check. 

May His name endure forever, His fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in Him, all nations call Him blessed! 

Psalm 72:17

In Christ, 

The Denham family (JP, Heidi, Jake, Lucy, Ruby, and Zoe)

Returning to Guatemala this Summer

Tactic, Guatemala               

“Each of you should use whatever gift
you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards
of God’s grace in its various forms.” 
1 Peter 4:10

Last Summer our family took a step of faith and went to Tactic, Guatemala to serve with Impact Ministries.  We were all touched, inspired, and changed by we experienced there and we sensed a clear calling that the Lord was leading us to return with a new group of servants for His kingdom.  

This Summer (July, 2023) we are planning on returning on another journey back to Guatemala with a team from our church family at Faith Community Bible Church.  We are praying for the ones God has chosen to join us and we are anticipating with great joy what He is going to do through us and in us.  

Would you consider joining us in prayer as we prayer to lead this team? Pray the the Lord would bring together this team, and for Him to guide the work of this ministry to serve the people of Guatemala according to His will. 

As we prepare financially, would you also pray and consider becoming a financial supporter for us?  We are trusting the Lord as He directs our steps and we believe that He provides all we need for every aspect of life & ministry. 

If you are interested in hearing more about the trip or would like to partner with us in this ministry in one of these ways, please get in touch by filling out the contact form on the right hand side of this page.

In Christ,
The Denham family