{"id":4036,"date":"2021-02-10T13:38:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T19:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=4036"},"modified":"2021-02-10T13:38:43","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T19:38:43","slug":"crook-newsletter-february-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/crook-newsletter-february-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Crook Newsletter: February 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Greetings from the Other Boat!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

My last trip was in February of 2020 to meet TEAMs for a medical outreach in Bangladesh. As I entered the immigration area, health workers in hazmat suits were collecting our health declaration forms. Honestly, I was so amused and laughing about it as I left the area. My return flight to Manila wasn\u2019t anything unusual; immigration\u2019s only concern was my contact number. But two weeks later, the news feeds were bombarding us with the announcement of a global pandemic, and nations began closing their borders.<\/p>\n

Philippine cities and towns are divided into districts with local officials who assist mayors in the dissemination of information. We had heard over the national news of a nationwide lockdown, and the next update was from a vehicle with a loud speaker going around our neighborhood telling us we couldn\u2019t leave our homes. They informed us that they would bring passes that indicated the day we would be assigned to go out for essentials. To make a long story short, a year later, we go in and out of various restrictions, but everyone has made the necessary adjustments.<\/p>\n

For the first time in history, everyone worldwide has a shared experience. Never in any of our lives did we think we would face something of this magnitude. As I speak to friends in various nations, I leave the conversation with the same thought each time, \u201cWe\u2019re all in the same boat.\u201d I have a lot of funny thoughts of Noah\u2019s family\u2019s day to day activities. I\u2019m sure it took a few days to get into the swing of things during meals, sharing about their crazy encounters with their level of the ark. However, after a month, it\u2019s not so amusing. A few months later, they don\u2019t want to hear about it anymore. Your elephant encounter, well... been there, done that.<\/p>\n

TODAY<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

As I\u2019m writing this, it is our Sunday. I attended my 48th online service; as it concluded, I decided to take communion. I love the Lord\u2019s Supper and especially His request, \u201cDo this to remember me.\u201d Today was a wonderful day to thank Him for every provision in Jesus, while also thanking Him for all He has done in the previous months. I praised Him for sustaining our church, our members, and their extended families. I thanked Him for the many households protected from covid and those in the marketplace throughout this time.<\/p>\n

I am so thankful that the Child Sponsorship of People to People continues to be a great blessing. Our leaders, through challenging restrictions, did their best to touch base with the parents. It\u2019s the common remarks of so many parents around the world; kids want to see their classmates and church friends; home schooling is difficult when many don\u2019t have smart phones, etc. As I touched base with the coordinators in each country, I was so thankful to hear everyone was remaining healthy. I see that as a miracle.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m thankful for contributions to the PTP Covid-19 International Relief Fund. There are multiple testimonies of churches having access to previously closed communities because they assisted in this relief effort. Hearts are being prepared for the harvest because of the love demonstrated to these communities.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m thankful for you! As you have been through an unbelievable year, your faithful prayers, concern, and support have been such an encouragement. Today, Let our roots grow down into Him and let our lives be built on Him. Then our faith will grow strong in the truth we were taught, and we will overflow with thankfulness. (Col.2:7 NLT paraphrased).<\/p>\n

May God sustain you wherever your boat is. Some are moored. Maybe a tug boat is getting you closer to where you can disembark. Others are waiting for the dove with the olive leaf. Together, let us thank Him and allow our hearts to overflow in gratitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cGratitude turns what we have into enough\u201d \u2013 anonymous--<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

DEBRA CROOK<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pastor<\/a>

Pastor May, PTP In Malaysia, presenting the Christmas Spirit gift to students of the Myanmar Refugee Learning Center<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Merlen<\/a>

Merlen Lamanilao, Cambodia Country Director, (second from the left) was able to share Christmas Spirit gifts with local churches in January<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Local<\/a>

Local church children with their Christmas Spirit gifts<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greetings from the Other Boat! My last trip was in February of 2020 to meet TEAMs for a medical outreach in Bangladesh. As I entered the immigration area, health workers…<\/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":[407,173,174,280,31],"class_list":{"0":"post-4036","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-407","11":"tag-crook","12":"tag-debra-crook","13":"tag-february","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-136","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4036","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=4036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4036\/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=4036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}