Blog 17 - What Keeps You Busy?

What keeps you busy? It’s a question we ask when we want a conversation to last a little longer than the standard “How are you?” Usually, the answer is something someone is currently busy with.But recently, someone asked me this question with a deeper meaning: What’s really keeping you busy? What are the things that drive you to do what you do? What motivates you to get up each day and get to work?

Honestly—it was a good question. Amidst the busyness of work, wedding planning, frequent travel, and taking a coaching course, it was a perfect moment to pause and reflect.

On my support team website, I explain in various places what I do. On the homepage, for instance, it says:

“Driven by my passion for Christian development work, I have been working since 2022 with the organization Hungry For Life in Chilliwack, Canada.”

On the “About Me” page, I shared more about my motivation back in the summer of 2022. I wrote:

“In 2016, while overlooking the ravine from a cemetery in Guatemala City and watching people search for valuable trash that had been dumped there, my heart was touched by injustice for the first time. I felt a strong desire to dedicate my time and energy to confronting this injustice.”

Looking back, I clearly see what has been driving me all these years. And what’s special is that next Friday, I’ll be traveling to Guatemala again—for a monitoring trip to visit our partners and projects. One of those partners is AMG Guatemala—the very same partner we worked with during a trip with World Servants in 2016.

To me, it feels like coming full circle: returning to the place that had such an impact and ultimately shaped the course of my life.

And to see how much has changed, here are some pictures from that 2016 trip:

So what keeps me busy these days?

In the past few months, Abby and I have been very busy. Of course, we’re preparing for our wedding—we’re planning to get married on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Canada. We’re looking forward to celebrating this time with those who are coming over and hopefully having a party in the Netherlands shortly afterward too.

Dominican Republic

In April, we also traveled to the Dominican Republic for a conference with our partners. During this conference, we provided training to leaders from various organizations about the character of a leader.

This week marked the launch of a new program that Hungry For Life will be working on intensively in the coming years. We believe that training the leaders we work with is essential for the quality and sustainability of the development projects we support.We are aware that without a good, servant-hearted leader, we won’t see lasting Christian transformation in the churches and communities we work in. That’s why we’re launching this two-year program: in the first year, we focus on the character of the Christian leader, and in the second year, we provide training in leadership competencies.

In the video below, Abby shares about her experience during this week:

24-7 Prayer Week of Unbroken Prayer

Hungry For Life was founded with inspiration from the Bible verse 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In recent months, we’ve felt a desire to focus more on prayer. With that in mind, we partnered with the organization 24-7 Prayer Canada to organize a Week of Unbroken Prayer.

The week began and ended with a worship service. Throughout the week, people from various churches and organizations came together in the prayer room at our office to pray. Abby and I were part of the core team that organized the week. It was special to meet so many different people, pray together, and seek God’s presence.

What will keep me busy?

As mentioned earlier, next Friday I’ll leave for Guatemala. Just before that, I’ll spend a few days in Calgary for the Rotary International Convention. Together with Carlos from the Dominican Republic and a Canadian partner, I’ll be promoting the Days For Girls project.

After my trip to Guatemala, Abby and I hope to land in the Netherlands on July 25. We’re looking forward to spending a few weeks with family and friends.

On July 31, I’m organizing a Supporters Event. You’re warmly invited! During the evening, Abby and I will share stories about our travels and work and explain how we continue to serve with Hungry For Life. An official invitation will follow soon.

Thanks for your support and until the next blog! — Ruben

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