{"id":6389,"date":"2024-11-19T17:06:12","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T23:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=6389"},"modified":"2024-11-25T09:53:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T15:53:23","slug":"crook-newsletter-november-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/crook-newsletter-november-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Crook Newsletter: November 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

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NOVEMBER -THANKSGIVING<\/strong>
\nThanksgiving Day continues to be one of the most traveled holidays. It\u2019s that time to gather in gratitude and take that pause to be thankful. The phrase \u201cto make a fuss over\u201d is to give someone or something an inordinate amount of attention, affection, or praise. This is my Thanksgiving pause, and my total intention is to \u201cfuss over\u201d you. You are that person, family, and church who continue to compassionately love what I love, and it is expressed in your faithful giving, prayers, and passion for missions.<\/p>\n

Your provisions help open doors for so many opportunities. Recently, I joined a TEAMs outreach, one of People to Peoples ministries, hosted by Motana Church in Thailand. They are located a few hours outside of Bangkok near Myanmar (Burma), a mountain range separating the two countries.<\/p>\n

\"Debra<\/a>

Debra Crook with Thai host pastor and wife, TEAMS group, and missionaries Albert & Jiep Gonzales.<\/p><\/div>\n

For several decades, Myanmar has faced civil wars, and this intensified again a few years ago. As in any conflict, desire for peace and a better life, etc. are incentives for many people to cross mountains into neighboring countries. The Thai government does monitor and limit the refugees\u2019 movements. Motana Church has planted churches in those areas to minister and meet the needs of those seeking escape. We were so thankful to contribute to their impact in this community through wellness clinics and children\u2019s outreach.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a>

Myanmar refugees at our clinic. Thnaka powder is a paste (pulverized wood from a tree mixed with water) used as sunblock or cosmetic purposes.<\/p><\/div>\n

We also had a couple of days at public schools and medical training for pastors. I must share a fun side story. At one grade school campus, I was so surprised to see a coffee shop. It piqued my interest, and I discovered it opened during lunch break. As a few kids began showing up, I joined the queue. It\u2019s a very small area and you enter just to order and pay. When my turn came to give my order, I saw these kids and, wow, they\u2019re the baristas. Long story short, a sixth-grade teacher had the idea for a coffee shop to support underprivileged students. Another twist in the story, this teacher, who doesn\u2019t like coffee, invested in a coffee machine, became self-taught through YouTube videos, and forced herself to develop the taste to like coffee because she knew it would be a blessing to the kids. The school accepted the idea, and this is the sixth year it has been operating.<\/p>\n

\"6th<\/a>

6th grade teacher with the baristas in action.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Debra<\/a>

Debra with some other satisfied customers.<\/p><\/div>\n

The pastor informed us we were not allowed to talk about Jesus at that school. So, I commended her on taking her profession to that level. With a hug I could only say, \u201cYou\u2019re a blessing in their lives. I\u2019ll be praying for you.\u201d As a team, we sowed seeds through every activity that day. I do know God will bless Motana Church\u2019s ministry and TEAMs for this opportunity of being Jesus\u2019 light.<\/p>\n

MAKING NATION CHANGERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

For decades, Malaysia has been another country with a constant influx of Myanmar refugees from those escaping the war. These persecuted minority groups are seeking humanitarian assistance in their relocation to other countries through the United Nations. This is a very long process, and some are faced with no schools for their children.<\/p>\n

Life Harvest Assembly in Kuala Lumper responded to this need and began the Myanmar Refugee Learning Centre (MRLC) with 15 students. 1,800 students have attended since they began in 2008. Currently, families have been relocated to USA, Australia, Norway, Canada, Japan, and France. I continue to see posts on the director\u2019s Facebook page of former student\u2019s returning and expressing their heartfelt gratitude for the school. MRLC instilled in them the understanding that, wherever they are, God can use them as nation changers.<\/p>\n

People to People partners with MRLC through our child sponsorship. Their enrollment has climbed to 170 this year, and they need sponsors for these kids. Please contact People to People at 405-792-7128 to find out more.<\/p>\n

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

In closing: Father, this Thanksgiving we pause in worship of You. We overflow in gratitude for your overwhelming love and provisions. I thank you for blessing my friends and global family, and may your goodness and mercy fill their days with joy. Amen.<\/p>\n

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!<\/p>\n

DEBRA CROOK<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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NOVEMBER -THANKSGIVING Thanksgiving Day continues to be one of the most traveled holidays. It\u2019s that time to gather in gratitude and take that pause to be thankful. The phrase \u201cto…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":6396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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":[173,174,31,253],"class_list":{"0":"post-6389","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-crook","11":"tag-debra-crook","12":"tag-missionary-newsletter","13":"tag-november","14":"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\/2024\/11\/TEAMS-Thai-pastor-and-wife-far-l-r.-Missionaries-Albert-kneeling-2nd-from-r-wife-Jiep-standing-2nd-from-l-e1732057549101.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-1F3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6389","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\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}