Hi!  My name is Ruthanne.

This is a site about changes.  The kind of changes that happen when you follow God and he leads you away from all you know and love and into something completely new.

I worked in the medical field for 22 (almost 23!) years, and in the fall of 2013 I found myself a part of extensive cutbacks in response to heath insurance changes.

What do you do when all you have known for your entire career is taken away?

I panicked, and prayed- in that order!

God answered in the most unlikely way by directing me away from medicine entirely.  He sent me to the Navajo Nation, to equip and disciple the people of a small church in a tiny place called Rough Rock, AZ . I spent 8 months there and learned so much about the Navajo, so much about myself, and so much about the God who paved the way for the incredible time I spent there.

As my time on the Navajo reservation drew to a close, I prayed fervently that God would show me what direction to go next. He graciously opened up a new opportunity with an organization called Josiah Venture as their summer intern coordinator, and I love it!

I live stateside with my sweet puppy, Casper.  As intern coordinator, I connect North American college-age students with local ministries in Eastern and Central Europe. Josiah Venture offers 3 to 6 month internships for anyone who feels a call to serve God overseas with the youth of these post communist countries. These internships are the first step for many of these students toward serving God full-time both here and overseas.

In Eastern and Central European countries there are about 32.5 million young people, and less than 1% of them have a personal relationship with Jesus. The need for workers to partner with churches and youth ministries in these countries is HUGE!  Truly, the “harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”. My role is mobilize new workers from North America into this harvest.

This little blog began when I first was called by God to leave behind the known and step into ministry with the Navajo, so if you go back to the beginning you will be able to read about the beautiful things He has done (and is continuing to do!) with a little Navajo church in Rough Rock, AZ. These stories are a part of God’s work in me and in His kingdom, so I wanted them to stay here as the beginning of my story.

I’m so thankful for all of you who are supporting this ministry with your finances and in prayer, and I’m so glad you are walking this journey with me!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21