{"id":3623,"date":"2020-04-03T15:20:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T20:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=3623"},"modified":"2020-04-03T15:20:15","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T20:20:15","slug":"crook-newsletter-april-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/crook-newsletter-april-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Crook Newsletter: April 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2020 OFF TO A GREAT START<\/strong><\/span>
\nWe had set a date for Bangladesh during the first part of 2019 and, what seemed like something very distant, suddenly arrived. The team would consist of three people from the U.S., three from Japan, and three from the Philippines. This is one of the smallest groups we had ever had. As time moved closer, I felt God saying to anticipate something different. \u201cDon\u2019t think it\u2019s just another trip.\u201d Just a few weeks before we were to leave, the doctor going with us suffered a heart attack and couldn\u2019t make it. We were quite concerned as we know this is an important component, but our host missionaries, Vijay and Apa Balla, were confident we could find help locally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon arrival, we reviewed our schedule for the seven days of clinics. With an experienced team, we could rise to the occasion. We soon realized why Vijay was so confident. The landlord of the building, housing the ministry\u2019s guest apartment, was a retired army surgeon and gladly said he would help out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our first location was the Holiness Academy for two days of clinics. On a previous trip, a building team had joined us and worked on the second floor as we conducted clinics. It\u2019s now a beautiful three-story building that stands as a beacon of hope. Located on the outskirts of Dhaka, it hosts a school that is open to Muslim children in the area and boarding for Christian families living in remote areas. Around 180 children attend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Holiness<\/a>

Holiness Academy courtyard, waiting area for clinics<\/p><\/div>\n

Our next stop was a two-day clinic at a garment factory. Bangladesh is the second-largest garment exporter after China and employs 4.5 million people. The social landscape has changed so much in this nation. During my first visit, a decade ago, I was shopping at a four-story bazaar with small individual stalls selling one specific item. What grabbed my attention was that I didn\u2019t encounter one woman working at any stall and didn\u2019t see one woman shopping. You seldom saw women in the streets, and if so, they were with their husbands. The women who came to our clinics were brought by their husbands. On this trip, as we drove to the clinics daily, I was astounded by the large numbers of women commuting to work, mostly in factories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Left:<\/a>

Left: Prayer area for garment workers Right: Workers enjoying a break from work as they wait for their turn in the clinic<\/p><\/div>\n

This factory is owned by a Christian Indian and a close friend of our missionaries. He told us the clinics serve as a wonderful opportunity to bless his employees and for them to receive compassionate responses to their physical needs. They also added another area called the \u201cPrayer room,\u201d and after their health check, they were asked to go there. One of our teams from the Philippines made this observation, \u201cI was assigned to help pray for those who were willing to be prayed for. Though most of them could not understand English, there were a few who could. I observed that the Muslims have the concept of prayer in their religion, but Hindus only know about appeasement through offerings to specific idols for a need. Many of the women would have tears in their eyes as the prayer concluded. I felt led to pray Eph. 2:12-13 for them. \u2018At that time, you were apart from Christ. But now, in union with Christ Jesus, you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\u2019\u201d Pray with us that those prayers will open their understanding of their need for a Savior.<\/span><\/p>\n

We were blessed to attend the dedication of a new building, encourage another church by blessing their community, and attend a new church plant ministering to rice mill workers. They were the poorest of the various groups we encountered, living in substandard housing, and many were malnourished. I\u2019m so thankful for this pastor\u2019s heart to reach this community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rice<\/a>

Rice mill: In the background you can see their housing<\/p><\/div>\n

SOWING INTO A NATION<\/span><\/strong>
\nThe work in Bangladesh began in 2002. At that time, Bangladesh was one of the poorest nations in the world and is now considered one of the world\u2019s fastest-growing economies. I\u2019m grateful there are Christian businessmen there, and God is using them to bless their workers. The new church building dedication was through the donations of another Christian Indian businessman. The Ballas\u2019 18 years of labor is bearing fruit as a network of churches are being established. The fruit of the Holiness Academy is evident in the lives of the children living there, as well as in those who have graduated, pursuing careers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Church<\/a>

Church dedication<\/p><\/div>\n

As our time ended, team members shared their thoughts on how wonderful it was to see God\u2019s provision of health, peace, and order in all that we did. God chose a Muslim doctor to step in and fill a need, and by the way, he also hosted us for an afternoon tea in his home. God again reminded us that His agenda accomplishes His purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you for sowing into my life and calling. It\u2019s wonderful to serve a God who provides opportunities to sow into nations and have the assurance a harvest will be reaped.
\nthe Gospel in Asia<\/span><\/p>\n

DEBRA CROOK<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2020 OFF TO A GREAT START We had set a date for Bangladesh during the first part of 2019 and, what seemed like something very distant, suddenly arrived. The team…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":3505,"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":[367,295,173,174,31],"class_list":{"0":"post-3623","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-367","11":"tag-april","12":"tag-crook","13":"tag-debra-crook","14":"tag-missionary-newsletter","15":"entry"},"title_es":"Crook Newsletter: junio de 2019","content_es":"

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\u00a1Saludos!<\/span><\/h2>\r\nEstamos a mediados de 2019, y estoy muy agradecido de ser parte de lo que Dios est\u00e1 haciendo a trav\u00e9s de la Iglesia Vida en Jes\u00fas en la ciudad de Baguio y Asia con los Ministerios People to People. Disfruta leyendo estos testimonios.<\/span>\r\n

Signos de vida<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\"Se\u00f1ales de vida\" es el ministerio sordo a trav\u00e9s de la Iglesia Vida en Jes\u00fas que comenz\u00f3 hace varios a\u00f1os. Los domingos por la ma\u00f1ana, sus sillas est\u00e1n dispuestas en una secci\u00f3n espec\u00edfica de la iglesia. Como con cualquier ministerio, hay altibajos; la excitaci\u00f3n alcanza su punto m\u00e1ximo y se disipa y la asistencia disminuye. Este ha sido el caso con este ministerio durante los \u00faltimos a\u00f1os. Esa secci\u00f3n puede tener uno o dos sordos y, los domingos, los \u00fanicos son los int\u00e9rpretes.<\/span>\r\n\r\nLa parte sorprendente de este ministerio es que la iglesia siempre ha tenido miembros dispuestos a aprender el lenguaje de se\u00f1as, incluso si no ven\u00eda nadie. Despu\u00e9s de uno de los servicios dominicales, en la primera parte del a\u00f1o, sent\u00ed que el Se\u00f1or dec\u00eda \"re\u00fana a los int\u00e9rpretes y ore\". Les pregunt\u00e9 qu\u00e9 esperaban y por qu\u00e9 estaban all\u00ed. Cada uno comparti\u00f3 que cre\u00edan que Dios estaba haciendo y har\u00eda algo en la comunidad sorda. Nuestra oraci\u00f3n fue: \"Dios, si necesitas dejar morir este ministerio, si necesitas hacer algo totalmente diferente, no nos importa, pero reconocemos que este ministerio es tuyo. Entonces, depende de usted resucitarlo y darle vida \".<\/span>\r\n\r\nUnas semanas despu\u00e9s, una de las ex asistentes y su prometido se presentaron en nuestra oficina pidiendo asesoramiento prematrimonial. A trav\u00e9s de esa sesi\u00f3n, se restableci\u00f3 una relaci\u00f3n anterior que tuvimos con una escuela para sordos. En los \u00faltimos dos meses, 15 han aceptado a Jes\u00fas como su Salvador y son fieles a su estudio b\u00edblico a mitad de semana. Dios est\u00e1 dando vida nuevamente a este ministerio.<\/span>\r\n

Myanmar: marcando la diferencia<\/span><\/h3>\r\nDurante un viaje a Myanmar en mayo, TEAMS, uno de los ministerios de People to People, se uni\u00f3 a un grupo de estudiantes de Emmanuel College. Siempre es divertido ser parte del primer viaje misionero de alguien. Algunos est\u00e1n buscando t\u00edtulos m\u00e9dicos, por lo que ser parte de una extensi\u00f3n m\u00e9dica tuvo un impacto significativo en sus vidas. Nos encontramos con tantos pacientes que, al final de cada d\u00eda, sab\u00edamos que se satisfac\u00edan las necesidades personales y que la vida se ve\u00eda afectada por el amor mostrado.<\/span>\r\n\r\nLas iglesias albergan las cl\u00ednicas. Esta es una manera maravillosa no solo de alentarlos, sino tambi\u00e9n de impactar y fortalecer la comunidad a la que sirven. Por supuesto, estos eventos atraen multitudes y una gran cantidad de ni\u00f1os curiosos. Como los ni\u00f1os est\u00e1n de vacaciones de verano, se quedar\u00e1n todo el d\u00eda. Otros estudiantes de EC aprovecharon esta oportunidad para ministrar y jugar con ellos. S\u00e9 que estos ni\u00f1os tuvieron una experiencia que nunca olvidar\u00e1n, y rezamos para que las semillas sembradas en sus vidas florezcan e influyan en ellos a diario.<\/span>\r\n\r\nEn una esquina de la habitaci\u00f3n hab\u00eda una mesa muy popular, apodada \"La mesa feliz\". \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 esta mesa era tan diferente? Mientras revisaban una serie de preguntas y ofrec\u00edan una soluci\u00f3n a su problema, sus rostros brillaban. \u00bfQu\u00e9 era este portador de alegr\u00eda? \u00a1Un simple par de anteojos para leer sin receta!<\/span>\r\n\r\nMayo es un mes extremadamente caluroso en Myanmar y, en varios d\u00edas, las temperaturas rondaron los 105 grados. En habitaciones congestionadas, esperar\u00edamos fan\u00e1ticos pero, sin electricidad, pensamos que esto no podr\u00eda suceder. Ahora he descubierto mi uso favorito de la bater\u00eda de un autom\u00f3vil; atar un ventilador y obtener alivio. Con la cantidad de ventiladores configurados cada d\u00eda, estoy agradecido por las personas que conozco que nos prestaron sus ventiladores y bater\u00edas.<\/span>\r\n

Estar involucrado<\/span><\/h3>\r\nLos testimonios no solo nos animan, sino que tambi\u00e9n encienden el Esp\u00edritu de Dios en nosotros para que participemos. El privilegio de servir a los Ministerios People to People, los l\u00edderes de los pa\u00edses de Asia y ser enviado por usted es una experiencia muy humillante. Necesito su colaboraci\u00f3n en apoyo y oraci\u00f3n; a continuaci\u00f3n se muestra la informaci\u00f3n que necesita para hacerlo. \u00a1Sigamos dando testimonio de su bondad!<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","author_name":"Debra Crook","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/Missionary-NL-Featured-Image.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-Wr","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}