September 2026
Hello, friends, wherever this finds you!
Here’s a long overdue update from the Clarks in Oaxaca. Since there’s no way to cover all that has happened since our last official update, we’ll just share some of our more recent pictures and family news. We’ve been planning, hosting, and ministering with short-term teams, to the tune of an average of 25 teams a year – with most of the summers off! So we’ll do our best to give you a little sample of what we’ve been up to.
Thank you for praying for us, and for your support. These outreaches, events, work projects, new believers, and more would not happen without you!
Family News
This most recent season has been a transition time for our family. Working hard, doing our best to keep up, and the kids just won’t stop growing! We just kicked off a new school year and while the kids aren’t exactly thrilled (ha!), it’s good to have the structure again after a full summer. Two major changes this year… Cooper moved out in the spring, worked the summer in Minnesota, and is now settled in to Elim Bible College in Lima, NY. One out of the nest – just a strange feeling! We’re proud of him. Finney also started pre-schooler at the Roca Multigrade School on the base, after turning 4 last month! He wasn’t so sure at first, but it’s a wonderful environment for him, and he’s enjoying the learning, and being around kids his age! We’re really grateful for God’s faithfulness to all the kids. We love them, and we like them too.
Here are just a few recent pictures.
Whenever someone in town needs their cement roof poured, they call on the community. It’s done in the night because in the day would be too hot! The men mix the cement and carry it up in buckets over shaky scaffolding. It’s hard work!
Mom and some Clark kids resting on the beach not far from us.
Wes and Finn at home for breakfast between classes. Love these two!!
We had the coolest opportunity this summer – to celebrate our shared anniversary with our dear friends Sam and Sarah Snyder. We went to Huatulco a few hours away, and got to enjoy this amazing sushi tower. Amazing!!
Praying for Cooper on his last Sunday before moving back to the States. Bittersweet for sure.
Our house! Getting more and more finished. SO thankful for everybody who gave toward this project for our family. Stay tuned for more!
Ministry Update
Ministry has continued at a good pace, with teams getting involved in every area of what Roca Blanca is doing here. Thanks to visiting short-term ministers, we’ve been able to complete on-base projects, support our churches with building construction, do all sorts of kids’ ministry, join our clinic for medical community care, distribute food packs, and the list goes on.
We consider it such a privilege to partner with those who are willing to come and often work very hard to get here and serve!
The New Day Children’s Home here at the base has been in need of a bigger outdoor kitchen for some time. This amazing team of youth from Canada got to work and made it happen!
A sports outreach was a great way to share the Gospel in a public school nearby.
A combined visiting and base team meeting before starting a few days of outreach in Cerro Iglesia.
Working on a building project to support a mission church that would not be able to afford the materials or labor.
Visiting the sick and needy with food, prayer, and the Gospel
A puppet show and some simple songs and crafts convey the love of the Father.
Pastors Phil McNeil and Jonathan Bowden of Elim Fellowship came to visit! Our worlds collided and connected… we used to serve in Pastor’s Phil’s church in New York, and Hannah was roommates with Jonatha’s wife Dani at Elim! Our dear friends Stephen and Barbara came too.
Ministering in practical ways and spiritual support.
We were able to attend the grand opening of a sewing workshop and store of Tanya, a trade school grad, who is using her skills to make a living and reach her community in Juquila.
Our friends from Bethel Assembly in Fosston, MN came and ministered in a church about 15 minutes from us. This is a prayer and altar ministry time after the sermon.
Ben’s view from his tent on the Cerro Iglesia outreach. A new day to help advance the Gospel and the Kingdom in Oaxaca.
The school these students come from has a long-standing relationship with our children’s home, and they made an incredible difference during the week they were here.
This is Pastor Bertín, the leader of one of our mission churches in the mountains. He needs and really appreciates the support!
The ladies at churches we’re ministering in often prepare food for our group. This is a typical kitchen.
A team on their way to home visits to visit the sick, distribute food, etc.
These young men put in a huge effort in the Oaxacan heat! Amazing attitudes of service.
Home visits are always a privilege! The Lord moves powerfully during these times.
This gentleman is in his mid-40s and has been in a wheelchair for most of his life. Even though he has a hard time expressing himself, his joy at our visit was evident.
A simple smile makes for a wonderful connection, even crossing language and cultural barriers.
This is such a beautiful picture of how fun missions can be! Christy is enjoying this puppet show.
Pastor Seth of Fosston preached in our base’s Monday night student and staff devotional service. This is the kickoff to a brand new week, and the students were encouraged!
Opportunities to Join
We can’t say how grateful we are to you and glad that you are on our team! You are always, always welcome to reach out, hear more about what we’re doing, and share what you’re doing too. And you are always welcome to come visit and experience the ministry here firstand. And here is some more exciting news:
We have been pledged a matching offering of up to $5,000 to help purchase and install a solar system for our house! Electric service here can be very spotty, but there is almost always sunshine! We’ve been hoping to put in a solar panel and battery system ever since we started building the house. This will save us money, but also (and importantly!) allow us to have power when there are outages. This will help us not lose food, continue to be in contact, and see beyond candlelight in the evenings. The whole system will cost just about $15,000. Would you consider being part of getting us to that goal by giving toward this project before November 30th? That is the deadline for the matching offering, and it will enable your dollars to double!
If you are interested in giving toward the solar panel system or with general ministry support, here’s how you can do that:
- Sending a check made out to “Roca Blanca Missions” at Roca Blanca Missions, PO Box 1101, Hutchinson, KS 67504-1101. Simply memo it “Ben and Hannah Clark”.
- Scanning the QR code and completing the online giving form. If you’d like to make your donation be a monthly support, please make sure you mark it as such.
THANK YOU for your support, and most importantly, please keep praying for Oaxaca, for Mexico, and for the Clarks!
In love and gratitude,
Ben, Hannah, Cooper, Sage, Wesley, Norah and Finney
Wow!! Thanks so much for this update!! We will be gathering together to pray on Tuesday, September 22. I will share this update with them!!
Blessings forever,
Ken and Sharon
Thank you Sharon! God bless you!!
So great to hear from you! It is wonderful to see how God is using you two and the entire family. I can hardly believe Cooper is at Elim…amazing and so good. GCMM continues to move forward and expand under Jerry Lewin’s guidance as the US Missions Director. He was a great hire and I am very pleased to be back assisting him on a part-time basis. So proud of you both Ben and Hannah. God’s very best to you. Thank you Hannah for so graciously serving GCMM for 5 years.
Wonderful to hear your news too! Always loved being a part of GCMM and what the Lord is doing with them. Would love to connect next time we’re in the States!
Thanks for sending this newsy update and all the great pictures! So good to read what’s going on in your lives and how we can be praying .
Wow – your oldest off to college and your youngest off to preschool. God is so faithful! May He continue to bless you and keep you, be gracious to you, turn his face towards you and give you peace. With love, Dan and Maura
Thank you Maura! Yes, a weird and wonderful season! The Lord is good for sure!
what a wonderful ministry I love what the Lord is doing through you all thank you for sharing!! Sheryl nash
Thank you Sheryl! We appreciate your prayers!
Clark Family – We greatly enjoyed getting the chance to catch up with Ben (and Sage : ) as they visited BCF recently. I would think all of that work to maintain relationships could feel like getting pulled in many directions – and with so much to do on site and beyond in Roca Blanca. My hope is that instead of feeling like you are being pulled in many directions, that you feel the support of many hands in prayer lifting the work the Lord is doing through you each day. The Missions Catalyst Team read and prayed through your post as a group last night, and were encouraged by the flavors of the feast – sabores del banquete – that the Lord is doing in and through you and the team at Roca Blanca. Gustad y ved que el Señor es bueno.
Thank you David! It really is so encouraging to hear that you are all praying for us and lifting up the needs here. And yes, Ben and Sage were really happy to spend time with you too. Only wish I could have been there! 🙂
Thanks for the great update. We pray for you so news is wonderful to hear. God is Faithful.
Thank you Kathy! Yes He is!