Pray for Shane Ruiz Family

Late in the afternoon of March 19, 2008, Freed-Hardeman University student Shane Ruiz lost his life while traveling with fellow students on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

          Ruiz, a freshman mass media major at FHU, drowned as the group spent the last day of the trip on the beach. According to Cory Lamb, an FHU alumnus and missionary in the Dominican, at about 4 p.m. several of the students were standing in no more than three feet of water, but the waves that were coming into the shore were violent. Apparently, the waves knocked Ruiz down and the undertow took him out to sea. Before fellow team members could reach him, Ruiz was beyond their range and could not be saved. Lamb, other team members and several Dominicans and members of the missions team tried to save Ruiz for nearly three hours. Because of the nature of the ocean, it was impossible for swimmers or boats to reach Ruiz. As of the time of this release, his body had not yet been recovered. Shortly after the incident, the beach was cleared due to the turbulent surf.

Ruiz was in the Dominican with the Sigma Rho social club. The group, which spent spring break teaching children through a Vacation Bible School program, traditionally spent the afternoon of their last day at the beach after a long week of work at a childrens’ home located in Bobida, Dominican Republic.

          Lamb, along with his wife Laura Beth, is a full-time missionary in the Dominican. Their work began as a result of the numerous mission trips they had made to the country. Prior to leaving for mission work, the Lambs served as sponsors of the campus organization. They have been missionaries in the country for about one year.

          The Lambs spent the afternoon with the U.S. Embassy arranging for the recovery of Ruiz’s body. At first light, members of the rescue team will take helicopter flights to try to locate Ruiz’s body.