April 2018

Dear Praying friends,

We praise the Lord for blessings upon blessings. The past few months have been filled with many blessings as we have seen God do great things!

In November we were able to return to Ukraine. Russell had begun helping Slavic Baptist Institute a year ago to record their classes for online use. This time God provided so the whole family was able to go and see the Bible Institute. The young men whom Russell trained last year have done a wonderful job continuing to record each course that the institute offers. They currently have 10 courses recorded! The purpose of this trip was to help them move to the next step of preparing the online portion of the system, work on the ministry website and record a promotional video for the Bible Institute. In spite of some difficulties we were able to accomplish a lot of training and work while we were there. They are now just about ready to begin offering classes online in Russian. We have faith that God will use this ministry In the Russian-speaking world as He has done in the Spanish-speaking world!

Over Christmas we were able to get together with Debbie’s family as her sister Karen and family were able to go to Mission, Texas from Hilo, Hawaii where they minister. It was a special time for the family to be together. This was the first time in about 6 years that we were together.

Russell enjoyed teaching the theology students at the university a class on the Relationship of the Church and the State. This is always a special time as he teaches them many administrative lessons for the church, as well as, teaches them personal and church finances. We pray that the lessons will help these young people in their future lives and ministries.

Debbie’s discipleship group continues to grow and learn many new things from God’s Word. Over the past couple of weeks, we have been able to watch two of the young women move on to accept new roles through marriage. The first was married here in Monterrey and the next was married this week in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. We were able to be at both weddings and are excited to see what God will do here in Monterrey through these two families. Please pray for Debbie as she continues to work with these and other young women.

Please be in prayer for one of the ladies who was in Debbie’s discipleship group for many years until she was married this past October and moved to the west coast of Mexico. Her husband just a few weeks after marriage began having issues with his blood cell count being in very dangerous levels. He has been in and out of the hospital for transfusions over the past few months. This week we were able to spend a little time with her as we were in Culiacan, but upon returning to Monterrey we received a message that he was back in the hospital as his counts we extremely low again, and they were once again looking for donors. Please pray for Erika and German as they face this struggle.

Our church has started up some new ladies’ groups and Debbie has been able to get involved in this new discipleship opportunity. Please pray for these groups as the ladies are learning from God’s Word.

In March, we had the privilege of organizing and hosting a Pastor’s Retreat. The purpose of the retreat was to be an encouragement to pastors and to challenge them to be active in the process of discipleship. We were excited as we saw over 70 pastors from many parts of Mexico come for the retreat. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and training. The pastors returned home with a new passion for the ministry and training others. We are thankful that two pastors from Ohio and two pastors from Texas came to help and teach at the retreat. Please pray for us as we continue to work with the pastors in this endeavor. We are working on providing a resource page where the churches can obtain Bible studies and other ministry helps at no cost. Please be in prayer for us as we endeavor in this area.

Carena continues to do very well at school. It is exciting to watch her grow into a lovely young lady who wants to serve God. This week she is working as a translator at the church with the Wheels to the World ministry. This ministry brings wheel chairs into different countries to distribute to those who have needs and then not only meet the physical needs of the wheel chair or walker, but then meets the spiritual need by sharing God’s love and sacrifice to those receiving the help and to their families.

Thank you for your love and prayers. We are looking forward to many activities over the next few months and covet your prayers.

Your co-laborers in Mexico,

Russell, Debbie and Carena Raymer

Russell, Debbie & Carena Raymer

Slavic Baptist Institute

Hernandez Family

Discipleship Groups/Weddings

Erika & German Church Ladies’ Group Raquel & David Yumey & Ignacio

Pastor’s Retreat

Wheels to the World