Truly an instrument of God’s wonderful peace was Anthony Shane Ruiz. Today was the group’s last day here and after a VBS, Photo Scavenger Hunt, Easter Egg Hunt and pinata with the kids, we made a trip to the beach for the afternoon for dinner and a devo. Around 4, Cory and I went down the beach to let some guys know that dinner would be ready in a minute. What we witnessed after has been replaying in our minds over and over. The red flag at the beach gave caution to being careful in the water. A few guys had really just been walking in the water when a wave took them into the ocean and kept them there. 2 of the 3 boys made it back in. Cory and Joe Askew tried to swim to help Shane and kept being beat back by horrendous waves. For 3 hours, this team, Dominicans from all over the island tried to get to him but couldn’t.

Cory and I were in school with Shane’s brother, Michael, at FHU and know what an incredible mission family they come from. Talking to their parents tonight was absolutely the hardest thing I have ever done but I wanted them to know how hard their son had worked this week to affect the lives of everyone he touched here in the Dominican.

Please keep the Ruiz family in your prayers. Please also pray for the group as they travel home today and Shane’s parents fly in. The next few days here will be an emotional roller-coaster. Please keep the missionaries here in mind as we do what we can to find Shane and minister to his parents as they are here!