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Mama No Leave

May 9, 2013 By 6 Comments

RaeAn

The last three weeks have been very challenging with RaeAn. We think it started when RaeAn’s “baby baba” finally went bad and we stopped her bottle three times a day. For the first week after she “quit” she just wasn’t her sweet, normal self. She started to have more temper tantrums, more anger and exhibit extreme frustration with an increasing separation anxiety. Her latest phrase is:

Mama No Leave!

She found the story in her children’s Bible where Moses’ mother had to put her baby in the river and got very upset saying, “Mama sad, Mama sad.”

While watching a Winnie the Pooh video where the Mama Elephant lost her baby, RaeAn got so upset at the story that she had to turn it off.

Yesterday she brought in a big stuffed rabbit and a little stuffed rabbit and said, “Mama Rabbit, Baby Rabbit. Mama no leave.”

Since the day RaeAn went to live with her foster mother after she was found at the orphanage until recently she’s been on a bottle three times a day. We wonder if the loss of this comfort that she’s had these past few years has triggered this increased sense of anxiety and fear that Christine is going to leave.

This week is much better than the first but she still cries and asks for her “baby baba” sometimes. Even toddlers mourn and experience the feelings of loss. And RaeAn has experienced more lost than most at her age.

Join us as we pray for RaeAn, that God will comfort her heart and let her know that truly, Mama No Leave. Even more so, God No Leave. Pray also for Christine, she’s exhausted…

Thank you again for your prayers for our family, life and ministry this week in Rwanda. God is listening and He is answering!

Filed Under: Christine, Murphy, Pictures, Prayer Needs, RaeAn Li

God is Kind

May 8, 2013 By 1 Comment

ESL/DBS w/Cyabagarura School Teachers

Tuesday afternoons are turning into one of the highlights of my week as I work with 12-16 School teachers from the Cyabagarura Secondary School. We are using a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) process as we help them improve their English. It’s exciting to see their English improve each week. But more importantly, I love watching the Holy Spirit bring the Word to life.

In a DBS we always ask these three questions:

  • What does this teach us about God?
  • What does this teach us about mankind?
  • What does this teach you about you?

Here are some of the “takeaways” that the teachers shared yesterday from Genesis 3:14-24 (in their words):

  • God is powerful.
  • Respecting my husband comes from God.
  • Pain in birth is normal.
  • I must work.
  • Sin is the reason we have pain.
  • God makes judgements.
  • We came from dust. We will return to dust.
  • We must be humble and live simple lives.
  • We must choose between good and bad things.
  • We must pray for women when they give birth.
  • Nothing in life is free.
  • God is kind. Even though Adam and Eve sinned, he still made and gave them clothes to wear.
  • There are many obstacles against men.
  • It teaches me to obey.
  • As a teacher I must work hard.
  • One person’s sin can bring suffering to others.
  • I need to increase love for others.
  • We must fight bad actions.
  • We must judge whether something is good or bad.

When we let the Holy Spirit do the teaching look what amazing truths come forth from the Word of God! There’s no way that I could have covered all of those topics had I been “teaching” them. Rather, I was the facilitator, the Holy Spirit was the teacher, and the source was the Word. We also had fun learning English as well!

Thank you for praying for this ESL/DBS each Tuesday. Pray that out of this group of teachers God will open our eyes to see the people of peace He’s raising up to transform their families and communities.

Filed Under: Crowsons, Murphy, Pictures, Prayer, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs, Rwanda

Still the Light

December 21, 2012 By

Crowson Xmas in Rwanda 2012

Merry Christmas from Rwanda! We’re enjoying having my mother, Judith, and my Aunt Rosanne with us this Holiday Season. This year, we have a special guest as you can see in the picture above:) As we celebrate the birth of Jesus in Rwanda, we are reminded that He is the Light and the great Healer. There is evil and darkness in this world which seeks to destroy the beauty of all that God created. But Jesus’ birth opened the door for healing, re-creation and victory over the darkness. We celebrate the hope of new creation this season as we remember the love that God lavished upon us in Christ.

We were encouraged by the following story and thought we would share. Blessings to all this Christmas Season!

In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT

T’was eleven days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day. ”where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“this is heaven.” declared a small boy. “we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“come now my children, let me show you around.”
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, Pennsylvania

Filed Under: Christine, Crowsons, Murphy, Pictures, RaeAn Li, Stephen & Matthew

20 Years of Marital Bliss!

December 19, 2012 By

19DEC1992-Murphy-Christine-Wedding

On December 19th, 1992, I married a wonderful and beautiful woman and the last twenty years have been filled with all kinds of adventures and blissful happiness! I can’t imagine my life without her or the family that God has given us. I thank God for my soul-mate and am so thankful to share my life with her.

I’m also thankful for the heritage of faith that both sets of our parents passed on to us. A spiritual heritage that we are passing on to our children as well. Thank you mom and dad, and Milton and Judy for your faithful obedience to Jesus! We are reaping the blessings of your faith and service!

My only regret from this day……….those glasses! Hey, what can I say? That was the style back then and she married me anyway:)

 

Filed Under: Christine, Crowsons, Murphy

Filled with Gratitude

December 16, 2012 By

Happy Holidays from Rwanda! Our family is so thankful for your continued prayers for us these past few months as we settled into our new home and life in Musanze. We prayed for years that God would prepare us to live and serve in this valley and these past few months we’ve experienced evidence of his going before us to prepare the way. Be sure to see the slideshow below with lots of pictures!

This SlideShowPro photo gallery requires the Flash Player plugin and a web browser with JavaScript enabled.

 

Packing up in Kigali...

On August 3, we finished packing our things in Kigali in the morning, traveled to Musanze and then unloaded the truck in the afternoon. We’re only two hours north of where we were in Kigali, but moving a family was just as challenging! I forgot about all of the physical and emotional stress that this kind of transition brings on. Now, months later, we are “recovered” and getting used to our new life here.

Crowsons in Musanze - Fall 2012We’re thankful for our new landlord, Jean Baptist Twahirwa, who went far beyond the call of duty to prepare a special place for our family to live. He’s not just a landlord, but a new friend. We’ve already been blessed with a meal at his home and were introduced to many of his family members.

We’re thankful for Eliezer and Seraphine and their 9 kids! (pictured in the middle below to the right of Nsenga and his family) Eliezer is my language helper and Seraphine helps Christine in our home. They quickly began introducing us to their friends and neighbors and have been a “key” that is helping us open many doors of opportunity for friendships in our community.

Crowsons in Musanze - Fall 2012We’re thankful for Nsenga who watches out for our home, spends a lot of time teaching RaeAn Kinyarwanda and introducing her to the kids in our community (pictured far left). He lives 2 hours away by bicycle on the side of Muhabura volcano (extinct :-) ). We were blessed last month to visit his family “on the mountain” and meet his mother, brother and grandparents.

We’re thankful to be with the Miller family (pictured below right) whom we’ve known for almost 12 years now. The Millers worked among the Kabiye people of northern Togo while we worked with the Watchi people in the south. Over the years our paths crossed many times as country teammates. Now we’re excited to be working with them together in the same place! They have four children, Abby, Aiden, Asher and Anna Marie.

Crowsons in Musanze - Fall 2012We’re thankful to have Julie Reagan and Meredith Gravatte here as teammates and teachers. Together, with the Millers, we created the Virunga Valley Christian Academy where the kids from our two families are going to school. Julie and Meredith are doing a great job providing a challenging and supportive learning environment. Our school is already growing as we are planning to add two more students and another teacher in January. At that time the school will have seven grade levels! A special thank you to the churches and friends that support our families in this way!

crowsons-in-musanze-fall-2012-20We’re thankful for new partnerships between ATN-Rwanda and two schools in our community, Regina Pacis and Group Scholare Cyabagarura. Christine is pictured left with Claudette teaching English to preschoolers at Regina Pacis. We prayed for open doors where we could serve the communities here and God led us to these two schools. Not only are we finding opportunities to serve, we are getting to know and are becoming a part of the communities and families that the schools serve.

As we visit and become friends with more and more families here in Musanze, we continue to pray that God will lead us to “families of peace” who are hungry for spiritual transformation in their homes, communities and nation. To find these families, we are serving in every opportunity the Lord gives us, investing in new friendships in our community, prayer walking through Musanze’s neighborhoods and doing our best to be salt and light everywhere we go and with everyone we meet.

Thank you for praying so faithfully for us. God is listening and He is answering. May our Holiday Season be filled with joy and thanksgiving as we remember the abundant love our Creator has lavished upon us!

Filed Under: Christine, Crowsons, Missions, Murphy, Pictures, Prayer, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs, RaeAn Li, Rwanda, Stephen & Matthew

A Place Where God’s Name is Honored

October 16, 2012 By

Greetings from Ruhengeri, Musanze, Rwanda! This past August our family successfully transitioned from Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali to Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri) in the north west part of the country. As we settle into our life and home here we are working hard to become a part of our new community through language learning and relationship building. Our prayer is that God will use us to be catalysts for community transformation.

Reflections from Nehemiah 1

When people talk about community building, community development or community transformation, they often turn to Nehemiah to gain insight and inspiration. Recently, as I was reflecting on Nehemiah Chapter 1, several things stood out to me.

Jeremiah was curious to know how those in Jerusalem were doing. He was concerned about their welfare and sought out information. He wasn’t a citizen of Jerusalem and we don’t think that he’d even been there before, yet he was concerned. Transformational leaders don’t just care about their own well-being. They are also concerned about the well-being of outside communities, cities and nations. Our love for Rwandans will push us to consider not our own needs and struggles but also those in the community in which we are living.

I also asked myself why he wept and mourned for a people he didn’t know and a place he hadn’t seen? Perhaps, his heart was broken simply because of the suffering of God’s people. It seems that this news from Jerusalem came as a total shock to him, having not been aware of the desolate state of Jerusalem and it’s people. But once he was aware, his heart was led to compassion. The more we get to know our community, it’s brokenness, suffering and need, the more our hearts long for transformation and renewal.

It was also interesting to me that following his mourning his heart turned to confession, not only of the sins of the nation, but his own sins and even the sins of his own family. “I confess that I have sinned against you.” I’ve heard it said many times that transformation begins with self. So does confession. Why should he feel guilty for the sins of others? He realized that he too was also unrighteous.

As I reflect on the suffering in Rwanda, my heart too is sick. Why was I spared the horror that Rwandans experienced? I have never suffered as they have suffered. Perhaps part of Nehemiah’s pain was the realization that it could have just as easily been himself and his family who experienced the destruction of their home and nation. Yet, he was spared as I and my family have been spared.

Finally, Nehemiah reminds us that Jerusalem was the place God had chosen for His name to be honored. Yet, it’s current state was no longer bringing honor to God. When people hear the name “Rwanda,” almost without question they think of the 1994 genocide. An event that reminds them of darkness and brings no honor to God.

Today though, Rwandans are writing a new, future story for their nation. We are praying that this new story will overshadow and even replace the dark history so that when people think of Rwanda, God will be honored. We are praying for a spiritual revival that recaptures the hearts and minds of the nation. A discipleship movement that wipes away the tears, heals the wounds and unites the people.

RaeAn is pictured above during a visit to  Emmanueli Nsengimana’s home, one of our new friend’s in Musanze. You can see RaeAn holding the hand of his newborn son, Aimé (French name for “Beloved” or “To Love”). Perhaps the new story we are praying for will be written by the new generations represented in this picture as God raises them up. New generations who will write love, joy, unity, righteousness, truth and peace into the future story of Rwanda.

God had chosen Jerusalem to be a place where His name would be honored. Join us as we pray asking God to choose the city of Ruhengeri, the valley of Musanze and the nation of Rwanda as places where His name will be honored.

Filed Under: Growing Spiritually, Leadership, Murphy, Prayer Needs, Rwanda

China Schedule

September 14, 2011 By

Below is our schedule while we’re in China. We would greatly appreciate it if you could pray for us specifically on each day. As well, please continue to pray that the USCIS will process our daughter’s Certificate of Citizenship in three days as they have done in the past before new changes take place!

We leave Kigali tomorrow afternoon at 3:45pm and arrive in Beijing Friday afternoon around 3:30pm.

We are so thankful for how your prayers have carried us this far!

We are supposed to have internet at different hotels in China and will be updating our blog as often as we can…

Oh…. So excited!

Crowson China Itinerary

China Women Travel Service Head Office
HAO RUN Building 50 Deng Shi Kou Da Jie, Beijing 100006
Tel: 86-10-65254272   Fax: 86-10-85113514   E-mail:ad@cwts.com.cn

Itinerary for the Crowson family / Lu Rui Wen?2010/12/27?

Sept. 16: Arriving in Beijing by the flight ET 604 at 15:30
Staying at Jian Guo Hotel
Sept. 17: Free day
Sept. 18: Local sightseeing: the Forbidden City and the Great Wall
Sept. 19: Flying from Beijing to Nanchang by CA1573 (0750/1015)
Staying at Jin Feng Hotel
Meeting the child and doing registration in the afternoon
Sept. 20: Doing notarization
Doing shopping for the baby stuff
Sept. 21: Local sightseeing: the Teng Wang Pavilion and the People’s park
Sept. 22: Local sightseeing: the You Min Temple and the Elephant Lake Park
Sept. 23: Getting the passport
Flying from Nanchang to Guangzhou by MU 5231(1925/2100)
Staying at Garden Hotel
Sept. 24: Taking visa photo and Physical check
Sept. 25: Local sightseeing: the Yun Tai Garden
Sept. 26: Visa appointment at 10:00, and swearing ceremony at the Consulate
Sept. 27: Getting the visa
Local sightseeing: doing shopping in the local market
Sept. 28: Local sightseeing: the Six Banyan Temple
Sept. 29: Leaving for home by the flight KE 866 at 12:40

Hotel information:
1. Jianguo hotel in Beijing
Tel: +86-10-65002233
Fax: +86-10-65002871
Address: 5, Jian Guo Men Wai Da Jie, Beijing?100020

2. Jin Feng Hotel in Nanchang
Tel: 86-0791-8867777
Fax:86-0791-8868888
Address: Zhan Qian Xi Lu 281, Xihu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, 330002

3. Garden Hotel
Tel?+86-20-61136156
Fax: +86-20-38471992
Address: 368, Huan Shi Dong Lu, Yuexiu Qu, Guangzhou,510064

Filed Under: China Adoption, Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs

China Adoption Update: Headed to China!

September 5, 2011 By

In our last post we said,

There are two possible dates for when we would be able to travel to pick up our baby girl: September 15 or October 28. Obviously, we prefer the date in September!

In order for that to happen though we need two small miracles:) First, we need to receive travel approval from China by the end of August. Second, there needs to be an available appointment for us at the US Embassy in Guangzhou the last week in September. To get to travel that quickly would be “icing on the cake!” So, LET’S PRAY FOR ICING!

If you pray for icing, go ahead and get your cake ready! Both miracles happened and we are excited to announce that we are headed to China on September 15th and our US Embassy appointment is September 26th! AWESOME!!!!!!

If our understanding of our schedule is correct then we will get to meet our daughter on Monday, September 19, two weeks from today. This is also Matthew’s 11th Birthday! What an awesome birthday present:)

We thank you for praying for us, for miracles, for paperwork, for logistics. God is listening and answering. We waited and prayed for so long and now the answers are flooding in!

Our tickets are purchased, hotel reservations made and China visas stamped in our passports! It’s true! It’s real! We’re headed to China!

You can imagine the range of emotions we are experiencing… Rush, rush, rush to get ready to leave. Long “to-do” lists that never seem to finish. Excitement that we are actually getting a daughter. Nervousness about the trip, logistics, and change in our family. Uncertainty as to how to file certain kinds of paperwork. Dazed by the reality that we are leaving in less than two weeks! Prayerful that everything will go just as planned!

Last Friday was a difficult day as we found out about more “unknown and uncertain” USCIS paperwork. It’s confusing even to us! Since we live overseas, the US does not recognize us as “US Residents”. In a normal adoption case, when the US family returned home, the USCIS would automatically process a Certificate of Citizenship (CoC) for their adopted child.

No so for us! We have to file a special USCIS form called a N600K to apply for our daughter’s Certificate of Citizenship.

There is great confusion as to whether or not we can get a US Passport for our daughter without this certificate. Some say we must have it. Some say we don’t need it. The USCIS and State Department seem to disagree on this matter. The State Department will issue a US Passport without the CoC, but the USCIS doesn’t like that and wants the child to have a CoC before they apply and receive a US Passport. This whole process, it is rumored, can take from 2-6 months to complete. We need to have a US Passport for our daughter before we return to Rwanda. If we get the passport before the CoC then the USCIS may (as they have done in the past) deny her a CoC. Confused yet! Obviously, we don’t want to hang out in the States of six months!

The solution that many Americans adopting while living abroad have taken is to first enter the US via Honolulu. The USCIS office in Honolulu has, as a service and courtesy to US Citizens adopting while living abroad, processed the adopted child’s CoC in just three days under these conditions:

  • Honolulu is their first port of entry into the US
  • Appropriate appointments are made ahead of time
  • Necessary forms are filed and paid for
  • Proof of citizenship is provided
  • Proof if provided that the parent has lived in the US for at least five years, two years after the age of 14.

As well, in Honolulu, once the CoC is granted, the State Department office there can issue her a passport in just two days.

Thus, our plan fly from China directly to Honolulu to get our daughter’s CoC and US Passport in a matter of days. This is the easiest and best option for our family which will enable us to return to Rwanda quickly.

Friday though, we received a shock!

The USCIS office in Honolulu wrote us (after we had written them of our plans to arrive on September 29th) and told us that their office will be closed and no appointments will be available until October 11th. FURTHERMORE, during this time their office will be conducting an audit AND the procedure for CoC applications may change.

The office was very gracious to us and said that they hoped we would not be affected by the changes! Can you imagine the panic! Christine just happened to look at me as I was reading the email and asked, “What are you doing?” The shock was evident on my face!

So, here is our next prayer request for you:

Pray that our daughter’s Certificate of Citizenship and US Passport can both be processed in Honolulu at the USCIS and State Department Offices as planned. Pray that any possible changes in the USCIS CoC processing WILL NOT EFFECT US and that our dauther’s CoC  and US Passport can be processed under the current system!

We prayed for icing before and God listened and answered. Now we are praying for whipped cream and a cherry on top! May all glory and honor go to Him for He is a Good God who listens to the prayers of His people and answers them in His faithfulness out of His abundance!

 

Filed Under: China Adoption, Featured, Murphy, Prayer, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs

Specific Adoption Paperwork Prayer

July 7, 2011 By

Friends, family and prayer warriors,

Thank you so much for your intercession today. The information, ideas and solutions are flowing… It was a good day.

With the help of our Social Worker, Randy Barlow, we were able to submit the information that we believe is sufficient to answer the USCIS Nairobi’s request!

Please pray specifically that the USCIS Nairobi office would accept and approve our updated home study “AS IS” just like the USCIS Accra office accepted and approved our previous three home studies.

The previous three home studies and this new update are all virtually the same. For some reason, the first three were not questioned but a specific item in this fourth one is being questioned.

Encouraged and full of positive expectations! Glory be to the One who is above all powers, thrones, rulers and red tape! Let us hold steadfast in prayer!!!

Filed Under: China Adoption, Crowsons, Murphy, Prayer Needs Tagged With:

Overcoming Discouragement

June 4, 2011 By

Very encouraging to me… Thought I’d share will all of you!

The original post can be found here.

22 Powerful ways to Overcome Discouragement

By Dan Rockwell

Why are we bombarded with – be positive, think positive – messages? Leaders get discouraged. Ignore anyone that says otherwise.

22 suggestions for overcoming discouragement:

    1. Ask someone you respect if they ever feel discouraged.
    2. Accept people for who they are. Trying to change people is futile and frustrating.
    3. When you feel discouraged acknowledge it to yourself. People who never feel discouraged are out of touch with themselves and the world.
    4. Anger frequently grows into discouragement. Let go of anger.
    5. Learn to do something new.
    6. Hold your head up. Good posture helps.
    7. Encourage someone. Your needs reveal what others may need.
    8. Stop trying to control things you can’t control. Let something go.
    9. Exercise.
    10. Persistent ambiguity is discouraging. Establish milestones; seeing progress encourages.
    11. Solve a small challenge or complete a projecting. Checking something off your list lifts a weight from your shoulders.
    12. Do your best to focus on things you do best. It feels great to do something well.
    13. Feeling alone can be discouraging. Let someone in. Find a friend by being a friend.
    14. Reward yourself or someone else.
    15. Journal.
    16. Reinterpret your setbacks as learning experiences and stepping stones.
    17. Enjoy fresh ideas from a book or lecture.
    18. Do something fun.
    19. If you don’t get some rest you’ll end up discouraged.
    20. The up side of discouragement is it may motivate you to evaluate yourself.
    21. Change a routine.
    22. Drain the drama. Respond objectively.

Writing a list of things that encourage is encouraging. Maybe #23 is writing a list of things you can do that encourage you.

Filed Under: Favorite Quotes, Leadership, Murphy Tagged With:
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