{"id":2848,"date":"2019-06-19T11:04:36","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T16:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=2848"},"modified":"2019-06-24T08:38:30","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T13:38:30","slug":"crook-newsletter-june-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/crook-newsletter-june-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Crook Newsletter: June 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Greetings!<\/span><\/h2>\n

We are halfway through 2019, and I am very grateful to be a part of what God is doing through Life in Jesus Church in Baguio City and Asia with People to People Ministries. Enjoy reading these testimonies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Life Signs<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Life Signs\" is the deaf ministry through Life in Jesus Church that began several years ago. On Sunday mornings, their chairs are arranged in a specific section of the church. As with any ministry, there are highs and lows; excitement peaks and dissipates and attendances drop. This has been the case with this ministry for the past few years. That section might have one or two deaf and, on several Sundays, the only ones there are the interpreters.<\/span><\/p>\n

The amazing part of this ministry is that the church has always had members willing to learn sign language even if no one was coming. After one of the Sunday services, in the first part of the year, I felt the Lord say \"gather the interpreters and pray.\" I asked them what they expected and why they were even there. Each shared that they believed God was doing, and would do, something in the deaf community. Our prayer was, \u201cGod, if you need to let this ministry die, if you need to do something totally different, we do not care, but we recognize this ministry is yours. SO, it is up to you to resurrect it and give it life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A few weeks later, one of the former attendees and her fianc\u00e9 showed up in our office asking for premarital counseling. Through that session, a former relationship we had with a deaf school was reestablished. Over the past two months, 15 have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are faithful to their midweek Bible study. God is breathing life into this ministry again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Life in Jesus baptism for the deaf at a local pool<\/p><\/div>\n

Myanmar \u2013 Making a Difference<\/span><\/h3>\n

During a trip to Myanmar in May, TEAMS, one of the ministries of People to People, was joined by a group of students from Emmanuel College. It is always fun to be a part of someone\u2019s first missions trip. A few are pursuing medical degrees, so being a part of a medical outreach had a significant impact on their lives. We encountered so many patients that, by the end of each day, we knew personal needs were met and lives were impacted by the love displayed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Churches host the clinics. This is a wonderful way to not only encourage them but to also impact and strengthen the community they serve. Of course, these events attract crowds and an abundance of curious children. Since kids are on summer vacation, they will hang around all day. Other EC students used this opportunity to minister and play games with them. I know these children had an experience they will never forget, and we pray the seeds sown into their lives will flourish and influence them daily.<\/span><\/p>\n

In one corner of the room was a very popular table, I nicknamed, \u201cThe Happy Table.\u201d Why was this table so different? As they would go through a series of questions and offered a solution to their problem, their faces would beam. What was this joy bringer? A simple pair of over-the-counter reading glasses!<\/span><\/p>\n

May is an extremely hot month in Myanmar and, on several days, the temperatures were around 105 degrees. In congested rooms, we would hope for fans but, with no electricity, we thought this could not happen. I have now discovered my favorite use of a car battery; tether a fan to it and gain relief. With the number of fans set up each day, I am thankful for the people I know who let us borrow their fans and batteries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

1) My favorite fan 2) Tropic of Cancer: maybe the reason it was so hot 3) Our patient patients<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>

1) The \"Happy Table\" 2) Kids learning songs while clinics are held<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>

1) TEAM Myanmar: the beginning of clinics 2) The sun setting over the bay of Bengal<\/p><\/div>\n

Be Involved<\/span><\/h3>\n

Testimonies not only encourage us, but they also ignite the Spirit of God in us to be involved. The privilege of serving People to People Ministries, the leaders in the countries of Asia, and being sent by you is a very humbling experience. I do need your partnership in support and prayer; below is the information you need to do so. Let us all continue to testify of His goodness!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greetings! We are halfway through 2019, and I am very grateful to be a part of what God is doing through Life in Jesus Church in Baguio City and Asia…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":2110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,1,4],"tags":[336,173,174,304,31],"class_list":{"0":"post-2848","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-missionary-newsletters","8":"category-uncategorized","9":"category-world-missions","10":"tag-336","11":"tag-crook","12":"tag-debra-crook","13":"tag-june","14":"tag-missionary-newsletter","15":"entry"},"title_es":"Bolet\u00edn Bamba: Junio 2019","content_es":"

Saludos desde Jap\u00f3n!<\/span> <\/h3>

\"\"<\/a> En Jap\u00f3n, tradicionalmente, cuentan sus a\u00f1os a partir del a\u00f1o y mes en que el Emperador comienza a reinar, por lo que no siempre se coordina con nuestros a\u00f1os. Despu\u00e9s de un reinado de treinta a\u00f1os, un nuevo Emperador tom\u00f3 el trono el 1 de mayo. La nueva era se llam\u00f3 Reiwa, que significa "hermosa armon\u00eda". Sabemos que solo la verdadera paz y la armon\u00eda provienen de conocer a Jesucristo, y cuando Cristo regrese, El mundo entero experimentar\u00e1 perfecta paz y armon\u00eda. Hasta ese momento, nos sentimos honrados y emocionados de que trabajen con nosotros para lograr esta paz y alegr\u00eda que solo Cristo puede brindar a los japoneses. <\/p>

Recientemente, las tiendas en Jap\u00f3n han comenzado a monopolizar la Semana Santa como una oportunidad para vender alimentos y decoraciones con el tema de la Semana Santa. Aunque pueden ver la palabra Pascua en las tiendas, los japoneses no tienen idea de lo que significa o por qu\u00e9 se celebra. Nos ha dado la oportunidad de compartir el significado de la Pascua y por qu\u00e9 lo celebramos con nuestros amigos y con nuestros estudiantes de ingl\u00e9s y sus familias. Siempre leemos un libro de ingl\u00e9s a los estudiantes en nuestras clases de conversaci\u00f3n en ingl\u00e9s. Leemos la historia de la Pascua durante el mes de abril. Varios de los ni\u00f1os quedaron impresionados por el sacrificio de Cristo por ellos. Oremos con nosotros para que estas semillas crezcan en sus corazones y en los corazones de sus familias cuando los ni\u00f1os vayan a casa y compartan las historias con sus familias y amigos. <\/p>

Tuvimos la suerte de que Clayton y Regina Kipps, del Puerto de la Esperanza en Christiansburg Virginia, vinieran a Jap\u00f3n y ministraran en nuestra iglesia. Las personas fueron bendecidas por su mensaje y compa\u00f1erismo y fueron tocadas por su amor por Dios y las personas. Disfrutamos mostr\u00e1ndolos en Jap\u00f3n y compartiendo las necesidades de los japoneses y los desaf\u00edos de alcanzarlos con el Evangelio debido a las fuertes tradiciones budistas y sinto\u00edstas que est\u00e1n incrustadas en su cultura. <\/p>

Familia<\/span> <\/h3>

\"\"<\/a> Justin ha estado tomando ex\u00e1menes CLEP en l\u00ednea para obtener cr\u00e9ditos universitarios. Ha completado casi dos a\u00f1os de estudios de esa manera y ingresar\u00e1 a Liberty University este oto\u00f1o. Por favor, oren por \u00e9l mientras se adapta a la vida universitaria, y a nosotros ya que estaremos muy lejos en Jap\u00f3n. Ax estar\u00e1 trabajando como consejera en tres campamentos de verano cristianos este verano. Los campamentos son para ni\u00f1os de 1er a 8vo grado. Oremos para que \u00e9l comparta efectivamente el amor de Dios con todos los campistas. Hunter ha estado compitiendo en muchos encuentros de nataci\u00f3n este a\u00f1o. Tambi\u00e9n calific\u00f3 para nadar en la competencia estatal este verano. Como el \u00fanico cristiano en su escuela de nataci\u00f3n, ore para que pueda ser la luz de Dios para sus compa\u00f1eros de equipo y para los entrenadores. Olivia tuvo un recital de ballet en mayo. Ella se divirti\u00f3 mucho, y todos sus compa\u00f1eros bailarines, as\u00ed como la audiencia, comentaron sobre la sonrisa de Olivia mientras ella baila. Ora con nosotros para que la gente se sienta atra\u00edda por la alegr\u00eda de Olivia y tenga un deseo de conocer la fuente de su alegr\u00eda. <\/p>

\u00a1Muchas gracias por sus fieles oraciones y apoyo! \u00a1Su amor por la gente de todo el mundo y su compromiso de cumplir con la Gran Comisi\u00f3n es un gran est\u00edmulo y una bendici\u00f3n! <\/p>

Tus misioneros en Jap\u00f3n,<\/strong><\/em><\/span> <\/p>

Hiro, Eryn, Justin, Axe, Hunter y Olivia Bamba<\/strong><\/em><\/span> <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>