May 19, 2012

China Adoption Update – Getting Closer!

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Thank you for your faithful prayers for our adoption and the renewal of our USCIS paperwork. We have good news to report!

  • The US Embassy in Kigali was very gracious to us and allowed us to be fingerprinted here without having to travel to Kenya! Furthermore, they did the service for FREE and even mailed the fingerprint cards off to the FBI Nebraska Processing center for us!
  • All of police reports and various paperwork were successfully renewed and we sent off a “Renewal Application” to the USCIS office in Accra, Ghana a few weeks ago.
  • Our Home Study was successfully updated and has been FedExed to the USCIS office in Accra, Ghana.

Now, the wait, while they look at our 4th, yes 4th, application to bring a foreign born child into the US as our adopted daughter.

Our current USCIS paperwork expires April 20th so we are praying that the reviewing process will be successful and that we will be re-approved (hopefully for the last time!) by then.

Furthermore, and most exciting, is that today (April 1st) there is word that the latest batch of referrals from China cover the dates from June 9th through the 15th! That’s six days closer to our LID which is July 12! Meaning, if they continue on at this pace, we could possibly have a referral in 4-5 months…….. meaning we might get to bring our daughter home this year! Oh, the excitement….!!!

So, let us continue on in prayer, asking the Lord to continue to shorten those days until we can bring our precious daughter home!

If you like “rumors”, http://chinaadopttalk.com/ is where we keep up with the latest China Adoption News…

 

China Adoption Update – March 2011

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“Mom, don’t tell me that we’re going to get precious ‘next year,’ I don’t want to hear that any more,” Matthew commented as Christine was discussing our adoption with the boys. Not that Matthew doesn’t what to finally get his baby sister, but rather, stop saying “Maybe next year.” When it happens, it will happen!

Indeed, it has been a long wait and the wait isn’t over! However, we are getting closer to the day when we can bring our Chinese daughter home. Read our China Adoption Page for an overview of our Chinese Adoption Process

In February the CCAA (China’s Adoption Authority) sent referrals for dossiers logged in their system through June 9th, 2006. Our LID (Log In Date) is July 12, 2006.

In essence, we are waiting in a super duper long line. Every 25-40 days the CCAA sends adoption referrals to agencies around the world covering a specific number of days. For example, this last batch of referrals covered six days (June 3 – June 9). Most batches in the past few years only covered 2-4 days. On average, to get through one month’s LIDs it took five to seven months of referral batches?

There are 32 days of LIDs that will receive adoption referrals left ahead of us. We are day 33. So, how much longer do we have to wait? It’s anybodies guess really. If CCAA continues at the pace they maintained over the past three years (average of 4 LIDs per batch in one month’s time) then we just have to do the math and we come up with around eight more months to wait before we get a referral. Of course, this past month the CCAA surprised everyone and sent seven days of LID referrals! If you do the math on that average then it drops our waiting time down to possibly 4-5 months!

Our USCIS paperwork is set to expire for the third time on April 20, 2011. So, we are currently in the process of renewing our police reports, updating our home study and resubmitting FBI fingerprints. Pray that we will be approved again, for the 4th and hopefully last time!

The most stressful part of renewing our paper work has always been submitting our fingerprints for the FBI background check. So, as we ask for prayers that our USCIS paperwork will be re-approved for the fourth time, we specifically ask that you pray that our fingerprints will be successfully resubmitted to the FBI.

We received an email today from the USCIS office in Nairobi saying that they would resubmit our fingerprint cards from two years ago (assuming that they are still on file). This is wonderful news, if it can work out! Let us pray that their efforts will be successful! Otherwise, Christine and I may have to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, make an appointment with the USCIS office and have our fingerprints retaken.

We appreciate so much your patience with our family in this long wait. We truly hope that we will truthfully be able to say to Matthew, “Next year buddy…”

To Give or Not to Give? by Bob Lupton

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I was challenged by this blog entry from Bob Lupton and wanted to pass his thoughts on to you…

To Give or Not to Give?

Should Christians always give money to street people who ask for it? That’s what Christianity Today recently asked three veteran ministry leaders known for their commitment to the poor.

“Yes, freely!” answers Gary Hoag, known as the Generosity Monk whose passionate mission is to encourage Christian generosity. To him it is very clear in scripture: “Freely you have received; freely give.” It is not our place to judge others, to evaluate them as worthy or unworthy of our assistance. God is the judge, not us. What they do with our aid is between them and God. We are to love and give unconditionally. Gary’s theology of generosity is summed up in his quote from contemplative priest Brennan Manning: “God’s call for each of us to live a life of unlimited generosity is rooted in his limitless love and care for us.” Through our free and generous giving “the postmodern world will see Jesus in our generosity.”

Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, sees it quite differently. “Giving cash to someone in need is the least helpful and most temporary solution and should only be a last resort,” he says. His years of experience with street people has taught him that most panhandlers are not really homeless at all. Most are scammers who may collect $300 a day from kind-hearted passers-by and at the end of the day walk a block or two to their cars and drive home. When someone approaches Andy for money for food or a place to stay, he gives them his card and invites them to his mission where they can get not only food and shelter but other support as well. Very seldom does he give money, and then only when there are no other alternatives. Like Hoag, he too has scripture to back his position. His biblical example is the lame man who asked Peter and John for some money. They offered no money but rather something better – healing! “People experiencing homelessness and poverty need a community,” Andy says. “People need permanent help in becoming strong. They need a connection with Jesus Christ and a faith community.”

Absolutely not! So says Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action and author of best selling Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. A quick donation is cheap love. There is simply no way to tell whether a story is legitimate, or if a person will spend the money on drugs or alcohol. Supporting immorality, laziness or destructive behavior is simply irresponsible and clearly not a loving act. Scripture demands that we stand on the side of the poor but it certainly does not tell us to give irresponsibly. Rather than give money, Sider suggests taking the homeless person to lunch and listening to his story. “People almost always need love even more than money,” he says. Generous giving should be directed toward effective, holistic programs equipped to deal with the deeper socio-economic issues, ministries that share the love of Christ and “truly empower, liberate and transform.”

Three respected Christian leaders, all committed to helping the poor, all relying on the scriptures to guide them, each with distinctly different convictions on how to rightly serve – opposing convictions. They take their stand at opposite ends of the charity continuum, from “always give money” to “never give money.” Who’s right? Whose counsel do we listen to?

Andy Bales certainly has the most direct experience with the homeless, living and serving among them for decades. His “last resort” giving position is shaped by years of personal involvement, watching con games on the street, seeing first-hand the long, up-and-down battles of those trying to break free from addictions. Pragmatic experience has taught him that healing is far more likely in a supportive community environment than struggling alone on the street. Of course he believes it is better to steer street people toward a program like he runs. He has committed his life to it.

Gary the Generosity Monk, on the other hand, views scripture (and the world) from the ivory tower of religious academia. Not that he’s removed from humanity – he’s certainly not. He’s very engaged with the Christian community, particularly as it relates to generosity. But he doesn’t live among the broken. In one sense, his reading of scripture is purer, uncontaminated by the troubling realities of life on the street. His “yes, freely” theology of giving is fashioned around a compelling body of scriptures such as “Give to anyone who asks” and “Freely you have received; freely give” and “If you have two coats, give one.” And his examples of the extravagant giving of historic heroes of the faith are inspiring. His message is clearly directed toward an affluent church that needs for its own salvation to be freed from its bondage to material things. Giving freely is a prime way to break the strangle-hold of materialism. But is his “unconditional giving” doctrine informed by the real-life down-stream impacts of unexamined charity?

Ron Sider understands poverty from a systems perspective. He pores over statistics, scrutinizes legislative motivation and decision-making, holds up a biblical standard of justice by which to evaluate public policy and practice. He is a prophet to a nation that has subsidized poverty, eroded a work ethic through dependency-producing entitlements and decimated the family structure of the poor – all in the name of doing good. He knows better than most theologians the vast number of scriptures that deal with God’s concern for the poor. And the responsibility of God’s people to care for the widows and orphans and strangers. His plea, like the prophet Amos, is to “let justice roll down like a river.” The quick donation, whether for expediency, sentimentality or guilt-relieving, is cheap love that is neither merciful nor just. Prophets are not pragmatists. They speak in absolutes. Understandably, to Sider, irresponsible giving is just plain wrong!

Always. Sometimes. Never. Who’s got it right? I guess it all depends on the level of the platform you are viewing the poor from – ground-level practicality or elevated theological theory. Your altitude will determine your attitude.

-Bob Lupton, February 2011

Matthew Turns 10!

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Last Saturday we celebrated Matthew’s 10th Birthday with a “Sport’s Party”. We had 18 kids here for a super fun time of games and fun!

Nubwambere Nyoye Ubushera

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Since our return to Rwanda a month ago, I have started visiting Jane every Tuesday.  Jane is an orphan and a widow and a mother of two.  She lives in a small village in the Bugasera district made up of homes built for genocide orphans and other needy people.  Half the houses were built with supplies provided by the Rwandan government.  The other houses were built by the Red Cross.  The houses built by the Red Cross are brand new little concrete homes with tin roofs and wooden doors and windows.  They all look identical and really nice.  They are currently empty, awaiting their needy occupants.  Even though the appearance of this little village is so organized and even pleasant, I sense a hollow, empty feeling while I am there.

While on furlough I was convicted to pursue a friendship with Jane and let God lead that friendship where ever He wants.  When one visits a village where everyone living there qualifies as “vulnerable”, it is easy to see countless opportunities to provide aid, to DO something to help.  However right now, I feel a nudging to listen and learn, not DO, not yet.

Last week I was reading something written by Oswald Chambers.  He was using the passage from 2 Corinthians 10 that says,

“We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods.  We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds.  With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God.  With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.”

Chambers says, “How much Christian work there is today which has never been disciplined, but has simply sprung into being by impulse!  In Our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father.”  Chambers goes on to say, “This is the day when practical work is overemphasized, and the saints who are bringing every project into captivity are criticized and told that they are not in earnest for God or for souls.”

I had never before thought about good Christian development projects while reading Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 10.  I believe Oswald Chambers is saying we need to take our ideas of good and helpful projects and make even those obedient to Christ.  I do, however, pray daily for spiritual discernment to know when God is giving the green light to begin something of a physical nature.  For now I am listening, observing and hopefully learning in Bugasera.

Now to explain the title of this post.  “Nubwambere nyoye ubushera” means ‘The first time I drank ubushera’.  Last Tuesday, while I was helping Jane prepare ubugari and sauce, she brought me a glass filled to the top with a murky, brown beverage (there’s a picture in the slideshow below).  It didn’t really have much of a smell.  She handed me the glass and told me it was ‘ubushera’, a very popular drink among Rwandans living in the village.

Ubushera is made from sorghum.  The week before we had had a discussion about this drink.  She had told me it was non-alcoholic and I supposed now she wanted me to try it for myself.  Ancille, the 21 year old genocide orphan who accompanies me to Bugasera each week, assured me that it is very delicious. Ancille took a big gulp, smiled and said, “It’s delicious!”  Jane poured herself a glass and they both looked at me expectantly.  I took a sip and I am sorry to say that I thought I might throw-up.  By the look on Jane’s and Ancille’s faces, I realized I needed to drink my whole glass and somehow enjoy it!

We were sitting behind Jane’s house which has an outstanding view of the beautiful valley across from her small village.  I looked out across the valley and pleaded with God to help me drink my ubushera in a way that honored my hostess.  I took another swallow, a little bigger this time, and tried not to make an ugly face.  Jane went back to work on our meal so I put my drink down to help some more.  Three more times I picked up my glass and before taking a swallow, I looked across the valley and pleaded with God to help me.  After my fourth prayer and my fourth swallow, one of Jane’s neighbors joined us and Ancille’s glass was refilled.  Jane joined us and we sat in a tight circle near the cooking fire chatting and drinking ubushera.  It was then that I realized the ubushera didn’t taste so bad after all.  I wasn’t going to throw-up and I would  finish my whole glass!  Not only that but I was being included by these Rwandan women in what was probably a very normal activity for them.  I wanted to dance a little jig in praise to God for helping me drink my ubushera and giving me the honor and gift of being among these beautiful women.

I look forward to many more cultural lessons and shared experiences with Rwandans like this one.  I pray that during my visits to Jane’s, God can use me to be hands and feet and arms (and sometimes a stomach) to share tangibly His love for these people.  May my heart always be open to His will and His timing in all things.  May the hollowness and emptiness in Jane’s village be exchanged for fulfillment and joy because of their obedience to Christ.

50th Wedding Anniversary & A Favor

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On Thursday, August 26, 2010, my parents (Marvin and Judith Crowson) will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary!

What an amazing couple my parents are, not only because they have great kids:), but also because of their love, devotion and service to our Father in Heaven as well as their lifelong commitment to each other. Their life, faith and marriage are truly an inspiration to multitudes of people all over the world!

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!!!!!! May this day be filled with joyous memories and gladness in your hearts for the blessed life that the Lord has given you!

For all of our friends and prayer warriors out there, I have a special request. Would you join our family in honoring our parents by sending an anniversary card and/or flowers to my parents this week? Even though their anniversary is only two days away (sorry for the late notice) I know that they would be honored and blessed no matter when your card/flowers arrive.

Please send flowers/cards to:

Marvin and Judith Crowson
108 Water Oak
Searcy, AR 72145
501-305-3084

Or, give them a call on their anniversary and wish them a wonderful day! Here are their phone numbers:

Home: 501-305-3084
Marvin’s Cell: 501-230-4871
Judith’s Cell: 501-230-4870

Here’s an idea, post something on their facebook pages…@Marvin Crowson and @Judith Crowson…

Or, send them an ecard to their inbox. Email mom @ judithcrowson@awareanddev.com and dad @ mcrowson@harding.edu .

In light of the past four weeks, your cards/flowers/facebook messages/ecards/phone calls would be sooooo encouraging! Let us give honor where honor is due.

Thanks again for your faithful and powerful prayers for our family this past month! The Lord is listening and He is answering!

On The Mend – Accident Update

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Our family is so thankful for your prayers for our family and specifically for Dad and Anna’s healing. I have good news to report, both are on the mend and getting better everyday!

Update on Dad (Marvin Crowson)

Last week we saw Dr. Justus, dad’s primary physician. He tested his oxygen levels and found that they were good. So, dad was able to get off the 24/7 oxygen machine. He also strongly encouraged my dad to rest and let time heal. Good advise which my dad is taking. Dr. Justice sent dad’s paperwork to a spinal specialist in Little Rock and told us that they would contact dad to make an appointment. Sure enough, that afternoon the office called and scheduled an appointment with dad for this coming Thursday (August 26th). I imagine that he will take more x-rays to see the healing progress in his neck and then make a plan from there. This Thursday dad will have worn his neck brace for almost four weeks! Wow, how time has flown by. He is so ready to have that brace off!

We also saw the “bone” doctor who x-rayed dad’s hand and found that the fracture had healed so much that he didn’t need to wear a cast! So, they removed the splint and put him in a small arm/wrist brace and told him to begin moving and exercising his wrist. One week later we went back for a follow-up visit and yesterday (Tuesday) the Dr. told dad that he only needs to wear his brace when he’s lifting something or walking around (in case he falls). We are so thankful for how well he is doing!

His wounds are healing slowly but surely. Everyday they seem to be getting smaller and smaller. The majority of his pain right now is coming from his left elbow which had the majority of cuts and the deepest wound. His energy levels are getting higher, though he gets worn out pretty quickly.

Update on Anna (Anna Wolfe)

Last week the spinal specialist in Colorado Springs did a full body scan on Anna’s back and today (Tuesday) the office called with the results. Anna still has “severe compound fractures” in her spinal column and needs to continue to wear the brace until the month of October where they will do another set of scans to see how well she is healing. This doctor did not see the original scans from the day after the accident so there’s really no way to tell how much her bones have already healed. Let us continue on in prayer asking the Lord of all the Universe to lay His Hand upon her body to heal her completely!

The Dr. did say that she can now sleep at night without the brace on…Exciting news to Anna:)

As you can see from the picture above, she is her sweet, beautiful and happy self. A few times when I’ve called Georgia, she will pause and say, “Anna, stop running:)”!

She’s not in any pain and except for the brace that she’s wearing for her back, doesn’t even know that anything is different than before. And the cut on her leg is healing nicely.

Tomorrow morning I (Murphy) will get on a plane headed for Rwanda (the first of three planes actually) and am super excited to be reunited with Christine and the boys. It was good for me to stay a few extra days to help mom and dad get home, get settled and go to all of these doctor appointments. I know it was the right decision, but I miss my family so much. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to getting back to Rwanda!

You can find out more from Todd and Georgia’s facebook wall @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/todd.wolfe?ref=ts

Specific prayer needs:

  • Continue to pray for complete healing of body, mind, emotion and soul for Anna and Dad as well as the rest of our family.
  • Pray that the bones in Dad’s neck will heal completely and that the Dr.’s appointment on Thursday goes well.
  • Pray that Anna’s back will heal quickly in the next month so that when they retake the x-rays in October the Dr. will see the evident healing power of our Creator! (As well as the rest of us).
  • Pray for an “Accident-Free” Season of life for our families. We need to rest and renew without distractions and further stress:)
  • Pray that the Lord would bless my flights to Rwanda over the next two days with safety, ease, efficient travel agents and health.
  • Thank the Lord for the multitudes of people who have prayed, feed, housed, clothed and encouraged our family these past four weeks. The outpouring of love and prayers has just been awesome, and we are so blessed and thankful!

Anna is walking again!

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Today Anna took her first steps since the accident, went off her IV and oxygen and is doing so well. Let us continue on in prayer until every bone is healed and every heartache healed!!! Thank you for you prayers, God is listening and He is answering!!!

Good News Update: Dad and Anna

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Aug. 2, 1:14 PM – Update

They say, “There’s a silver lining behind every cloud.” The picture above is what we saw as we drove over the hill after the accident on the way to the hospital on Saturday. It was as if the Lord wanted to reassure us that “I know what’s happening. I am here.” It was so moving to mom and I that I just had to take a picture (safely, of course).

Today (Monday), I have lots of good news to report. We’ve seen lots of doctors today. In fact, so many that I haven’t had a chance until now to post an update! God is listening and answering so many prayers. Below are more details for dad and Anna.

Update on Anna Wolfe

Last night they have her a full bath, washed her hair and cleaned all of the cuts and scrapes on her arms. The nurses all gave her a “beauty treatment” and even braided her hair.

Today they removed the suction tube from her stomach so she can begin eating again. For two days she really hasn’t said much but ever since they pulled out the tube she’s been a little chatter box! All of those words stored up for two days just had to get out!

She has 7 fractures in her vertebrae (T1 through T7). There is no compression, pressure or any problem with her spinal cord. She’s going to have to wear a mid-body support brace for awhile. Doctors came and measured her to make one that will fit just perfectly. It’s even going to be pink. She’ll be able to walk, run, move around and act normal. Once they told her she could move she’s been hugging her bear and horse.

Doctors said that she’s going to be in the hospital for a week or so. The brace and physical therapy will determine her time line.

No other broken bones or major injuries. God is answering so many prayers and blessing her little body with life and healing.

Update on Dad (Marvin Crowson)

Even as I type this the nurses and doctors are doing the paper work to discharge dad from the hospital. They said that he can either go later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

As I mentioned yesterday, dad will have to wear a neck brace for 4-6 weeks while his bones heal. He is having a problem with getting enough oxygen in his blood so they’re going to send him “home” with an oxygen bottle. Next week he can get a ‘short cast’ for his arm and have his stitches taken out. He has lots of bruises which will heal with time. The physical therapist was here and he’s been walking and they’ve put him on oral pain medication.

Like Anna, no surgeries needed!

We can not praise God enough for keeping them alive and protecting their bodies during the accident, providing quick and expert medical doctors, for the wonderful of people in Albuquerque who have brought us food, offered us places to stay and visited us. I cannot express enough gratitude for the hundreds if not thousands of people who have been praying intensely for Dad and Anna.

God listens to prayers, gives life and heals broken bones and open wounds.

Thank you sooooo much for your passionate and faithful prayers. That they are doing so well just 48 hours after the accident is a miracle. In the E.R. room in Santa Ana just before they took Anna and Dad away to fly them to Albuquerque we prayed for healing and for God to glorify his name and that is exactly what He is doing.

Bones are being healed, internal bleeding is disappearing and a sliver that they first saw on Anna’s lung in a scan was gone with they did a second xray!!! Lord God, glorify your name! He is and will continue.

I will give you updates as I know.

Hello Rwanda – 2009/2010 Crowson Family Photo Album

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Our furlough is less than one week away and we are busy getting our presentations ready for  supporters, family and prayer warriors. We have so much to tell all of you!

I finished our “Hello Rwanda” Crowson Family Photo Album which will give you a glimpse into our new life and ministry in Rwanda. There are several biographical stories of some of our new Rwandan friends which we believe you will enjoy as well as updates on our vision and mission in Rwanda.

We are so grateful for so many of you who bless, support and pray for us! God is shining his light in the darkness and transforming a hurting nation. Praise be to His Name!

You can click this link to download the “Hello Rwanda – 2009/2010 Crowson Family Photo Album” in pdf format. It’s almost 14mb, so make sure you have a good internet connection. Also, it’s best displayed in Adobe Acrobat 8 or higher viewing two pages at a time side by side. Enjoy:)

Here’s an excerpt from the first page of the Photo Album…

Our family transitioned from Togo, West Africa to Rwanda, Central Africa in January, 2009 to begin a new life and ministry.

Rwanda, a country affectionately known as ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’, is a land filled with wonderful people living in an unparalleled story of recovery. The culture is colorful and the people are warm and receptive. In spite of their tragic history, Rwandans are filled with a hope and excitement about their future that will inspire every visitor.

We are thankful to God to be apart of His Transforming Work in Rwanda.

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