{"id":4490,"date":"2021-11-30T09:48:42","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T15:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=4490"},"modified":"2021-11-30T09:48:42","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T15:48:42","slug":"crook-newsletter-december-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/crook-newsletter-december-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Crook Newsletter: December 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t

The Last Shangri-La<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

God so loves the world that He continually places His love for this world in us, and those who hear the call are determined to bring this good news to the ends of the earth. If you\u2019re looking at your globe or a world map, some nations are easily overlooked. However, God\u2019s representatives determined to expand His kingdom find such places.<\/p>\n

Bhutan is often referred to as the last Shangri-La, a term used to refer to any earthly paradise. It is primarily a mythical land in the Himalayas, a perfectly happy place that is not affected by the woes and worries of the rest of the world. The philosophy of Gross National Happiness guides the Bhutanese government. It is an index that measures the well-being and happiness of the country\u2019s citizens. The nation\u2019s constitution also mentions the philosophy. Thus, the country aims to achieve happiness for all its citizens instead of just material wealth (World Atlas).<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Bhutan<\/a><\/p>\n

This philosophy doesn\u2019t invite intrusions into their established form of life. Just a few months ago, People to People Ministries was contacted to begin our child sponsorship in Bhutan. We are beyond excited to have this opportunity to sow into the lives of the children in one of the world\u2019s least-evangelized nations.<\/p>\n

Operation World describes Bhutan\u2019s response toward Christians<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Christians are denied religious freedom and are persecuted in various ways. Church buildings are forbidden in all but a few cases; most fellowships must meet in homes. Bhutanese people, who become Christian, face the loss of their citizenship and of other benefits \u2013 such as free education, health care, employment, and access to electricity and water. In some instances, harassment and beatings occur. Despite these, groups of believers are forming and increasingly spreading across the breadth of the country.<\/em><\/p>\n

Christians are only 2.1% of the population of 779,900. Pray these people will come to know the true source of their well-being and that they will see that true happiness is only found through Jesus. Pray for the representatives to be strengthened and encouraged as they face so many challenges.<\/p>\n

If you would be interested in sponsoring a Bhutanese child, please contact People to People Ministries. You may call (405)787-7110 or email ptpinfo@iphc.org.<\/p>\n

A New Year is Here<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

One of Jesus\u2019 most comforting names, Emmanuel, literally translated means \u201cwith us is God.\u201d This Christmas, as we celebrate, let us remember that this day continues to be the defining moment in history when God decided to walk among us. It was time for Him to be seen, heard, felt, witnessed, experienced, known, misunderstood, challenged, etc. His presence was a necessary element to His plan of redemption! My prayer for us in 2022 is the realization that regardless of where we live and whatever chapter of our lives we\u2019re in, we know our assignment is to bring His presence into this world.<\/p>\n

\"Poinsettia<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you for your prayers and support.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Debra Crook<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Last Shangri-La God so loves the world that He continually places His love for this world in us, and those who hear the call are determined to bring this…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":4491,"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":[407,173,174,265,31],"class_list":{"0":"post-4490","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-december","14":"tag-missionary-newsletter","15":"entry"},"title_es":"Crook Newsletter: junio de 2019","content_es":"

\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

\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
\r\n
<\/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\/2021\/11\/bhutan_pin_map-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-1aq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4490","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=4490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}