Blog 19 - The first half of 2026

Hello family and friends,

I want to say a huge thank you to each one of you. If you are getting this email that means that you have been invested in HFL and in Ruben and I’s ministry in some way. As Ruben and I have been married for 8 months now it has been fun to think through what it looks like to be a married missionary couple and connect with all of the people that have been supporting each of us individually until now. As we have done that, we are overwhelmed by gratitude for all of the amazing people God has put in our lives to stand by us as we serve him. Moving forward, as we combine our support teams we will be sending updates through this website. There will be lots of information on the website that will provide context for what Ruben, and I do in both English and Dutch. You will also be able to go back to look at all the previous updates as they will show up as blog posts on the website. 

On that note, let me share a few stories to give you a picture of what my role in ministry with Fulwell Leadership has been looking like recently.

At the beginning of 2026, a non-profit called Communitas Care Society hired us to help their team grow in intercultural communication and leadership. Communitas is a BC based non-profit that facilitate home living and community support and personal development opportunities to people with disabilities. Our 8-week course on intercultural leadership begins with a personal assessment that gives each participant insight into their current skill level and comfort with intercultural communication. After each participant takes the assessment, one of my team members or I facilitate a one-on-one debrief to walk through their results with them.

For me, this meant many one-hour meetings with people who are doing amazing work to support their community, discussing how they can expand their leadership to better serve those who may be different from them. We explored how their own biases and past experiences shape the lens through which they lead. After each participant has their personal debrief, the 8-week course begins. The course includes assignments, small group discussions, course readings, and live online classes at the 4- and 8-week marks.

It was so amazing to see the transformation in the group from start to finish. As you can imagine, there are often lots of emotions and opinions that come into a topic like this. But when we take a dedicated season to learn about our own culture and the cultures of others, it draws out curiosity, compassion, and ideas that can catalyze great teamwork across cultures.

Coaching Foundations

Those of you who live near the Chilliwack area have probably heard of an organization called Ruth and Naomi’s (RAN). RAN is a charity that provides safe housing, structured addiction recovery programs, and compassionate support for those who are at risk of homelessness or are already living on the streets. They have an incredible impact in our community, and their organization continues to grow because the need for their services is so great. 

Over the past few years, RAN has hired Fullwell to support them in several areas, and this month I had the opportunity to lead a two-day training for all of their managers on something called the Coach Approach to Leadership. This training focuses on leading in a way that empowers team members to come up with their own ideas and solutions, rather than simply giving them tasks to complete. It’s about believing that the people they work with—and the people their organization serves—are capable of finding meaningful solutions to problems when they are asked thoughtful questions that draw out the best in them.

This concept felt especially powerful as the team reflected on how they interact with the people they serve. As they considered mentoring and walking alongside people who are experiencing addiction, mental health challenges, or homelessness, they began to see new possibilities for empowerment, ownership, and personal growth.

Ruben's work at HFL

In the meantime, Ruben has been busy transitioning into his new role as Manager of International Partnerships. In this position, he works closely with the International Partner Coordinators at the HFL office, who support relationships with HFL's 28 international partners. Together, they work alongside these partners as they serve their communities and pursue the better future those communities envision for themselves.

In mid-July, Ruben will travel to the Dominican Republic, where he will meet with partner organizations, visit project sites, and connect with community stakeholders who are directly impacted by the different projects and programs. He is looking forward to hearing from community leaders about how they have seen God at work and learning more about the better future they envision for their communities.

Through these conversations, Ruben hopes to identify initiatives in which HFL can come alongside these leaders. These initiatives should help alleviate poverty, share the love of Christ in practical ways, and address the social issues that contribute to brokenness and injustice within these communities.

We look forward to what this summer will bring, as we continue to serve in our ministry with HFL and Fullwell Leadership.  We thank you for your continued support and prayers.