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On The Mend – Accident Update

August 25, 2010 By Murphy Crowson Leave a Comment

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!
Filed Under: Featured, Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs Tagged With: New Mexico Accident

Rwanda Election Day – Pray for Peace

August 9, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

Today is Election Day in Rwanda and we ask that you say a special prayer asking the Lord of all Creation to bless this nation with peace today and in the coming weeks as the results of the election pan out. Below are a few articles on the elections for further reading…

http://newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14347&article=32324

Over 12, 000 dedicate prayers to elections – By Bosco R. Asiimwe

GASABO – Over 12,000 believers from various religious denominations in Kigali City yesterday thronged Amahoro National Stadium to pray for today’s Presidential elections to be peaceful.

The crusade which kicked off in the afternoon till sunset was dubbed “Rwanda is in your hands Lord.”

The event was mostly characterized by prayers by several pastors, testimonies and entertainment from local church choirs such as the renowned Rehoboth Ministries, Catholic Choir, Amahoro and Hosiana of ADEPR and Adventist church, and a special entertainment from The Sisters.

Pastor Antoine Rutayisire, the senior pastor of St. Etienne who observed that bad politics plunged the country into Genocide, urged all churches to wake up and play their role in changing the mindset of Rwandans.

“It’s now our (churches) time to pave the way for a better Rwanda. Rwanda is ours always. If we sleep, it will crumble down,” Rutayisire noted, calling on all Rwandans to love and always pray for their country.

He recalled the day of April 17, 1994 when he was among those who survived in the Stadium and said “Rwanda was destroyed by Rwandans who should join hands to rebuild it.”

Bishop Faustin Bashaka observed that Rwanda has made a tremendous step in development, especially in the last seven years. Economy, good governance, education, healthcare and decentralization are among the sectors, Bashaka said have developed.

“All these and the peace and security Rwandans are enjoying was a result of good leadership and such leaders need to be rewarded…but only the lord can,” he said.

Various clergymen and women prayed that Rwanda continues to be peaceful.

Charles Murigande, the Minister of Education, who presided over the event, commended the religions’ efforts to change Rwandans.

He commended them for their partnership with the government in creating a peaceful country and to partner in having a seven year term of peace and development.

The crusade organised in partnership with Kigali City was also attended by the city Mayor, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira and the Anglican church Archbishop, Emmanuel Kolini, among others.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-10908087

Polls open in Rwanda's presidential election

The BBC's Will Ross: "They're voting for President Kagame largely because of the security he has brought to the country"

Rwandans are voting to elect their president, with incumbent Paul Kagame expected to win by a landslide.

Mr Kagame's supporters say he has brought both stability and steady economic growth since the country's genocide in 1994.

His critics accuse him of suppressing opposition and undermining democracy.

This is only the second presidential election since 1994, and five million Rwandans are registered to vote.

Mr Kagame won the election in 2003 with 95% of the vote.

'No apologies'

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Will Ross East Africa correspondent

President Kagame's posters are plastered right across the capital Kigali and also deep in the villages. You have to hunt very hard for any posters of the challengers.

It is clear that, for now, Mr Kagame is only willing to allow a certain degree of democracy. This he sees as the only way to keep the country stable after the horrors of 1994. He may have helped foster stability and steady economic growth but Mr Kagame's critics say a clampdown on the opposition and a general climate of oppression serve to keep him in power.

Mr Kagame faces three rivals in the election, all with links to the president's all-powerful Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

This has led some opponents to denounce the election as a charade.

But as he completed campaigning, Mr Kagame told critics among rights groups and the international community they should "not tell us how to shape our country".

He said of his RPF: "It is strong, it is organised, it has planned over a long time, historically it has been with the people to resolve challenging issues and therefore that results in a kind of overwhelming support. I have no regrets about it, I make no apologies."

Mr Kagame has held massive election rallies attended by tens of thousands of supporters.

His supporters say he has strengthened agricultural output, rebuilt the country's institutions, tackled corruption effectively and promoted women's rights and an environmentally friendly agenda.

His rivals have only managed much smaller rallies.

Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, of the PSD, told supporters at one: "We see our policies as a continuation of those of the RPF."

Some more vocal opponents of Mr Kagame were prevented from fielding candidates and have complained of intimidation.

However, Electoral Commission spokesman Pacifique Nduwimana said that "everything went smoothly" during the campaign, with no incidents of violence.

Voting began promptly at 0600 local time (0400 GMT) and the polls will close at 1500 (1300 GMT).

The Electoral Commission has accredited 1,394 observers, 214 of them from abroad, including from the African Union and Commonwealth.

Filed Under: Prayer Needs, Rwanda

Protected: New Mexico Accident Pictures

August 8, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


Filed Under: Murphy, Pictures, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs Tagged With: New Mexico Accident

Accident Recovery Update

August 8, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

We praise God for the past eight days of healing and for the multitude of prayers that have been lifted up to heaven on our behalf. Countless numbers of people have written from all over the world sending their love and letting us know that they are praying. To all who have sent love, prayers and encouragement, THANK YOU!

This week has not been without challenges and a wide variety of emotions.

Dad was on some pretty heavy pain medication for six days which had all kinds of effects on his body and mental state. This was my first experience with heavy medication and until doctors told me that "it's the meds" I thought that my dad was loosing his mind:) One doctor advised us to go completely off the pain meds to let it get out of his system to clear his mind up. Sure enough, he didn't have any pain for 36 hours, that's how long it took to clear up! My dad "is back" now and we are so thankful!

Anna checked out of the hospital on Thursday and Georgia and Todd joined us here in Pagosa Springs (CO) later that evening. It was so exciting to see Anna get out of their van and walk so excitedly into the house! Anna was her old self, excited, fun and cheerful. With the exception of her brace, she's the same little girl that we love!

Yesterday, before Todd and Georgia took their family home to Colorado Springs, we had a good family worship and prayer time together. God was so merciful to us. The accident could have been so much worse. Why it wasn't, I don't know. But we receive His mercy as a gift. A gift that blesses and changes who we are. A gift that He wants us to receive and then give to others.

Tomorrow Christine, the boys and I along with my parents will begin a two day trip to Ft. Worth. We'll spend a few days there getting Christine and the boys packed and ready for their return trip to Rwanda on Friday. Saturday, I'll drive my parents home to Searcy, AR were I'll spend two weeks helping them make and get to doctor's appointments as well as provide any help they need with care and logistics. Then, I'll return to Rwanda towards the end of August.

Here are some specific prayer requests for Anna and Dad:

  • Pray that every cut, scrape, bruise, fractured and broken bone will heal completely…
    • Dad has a double break on his left arm, a broken rib and sternum as well as two fractured vertebrae in his neck. Also, he has serious black and blue bruising on his left shoulder and legs as well as cuts and scrapes on his shins. His ear, with 32 stitches, is looking good and we have an appointment Monday morning with a doctor in Pagosa Springs to get the stitches taken out.
    • Anna has 6 fractured vertebrae in her back. We are praying specifically for T5, that it would slip back in place and heal properly. T1, T2, T3, T4, and T7 are also fractured but are still in place. Her brace keeps her back straight so that the bones can heal but still gives her tons of mobility. She has some minor cuts and scrapes on her left arm and leg and a pretty serious cut on her right leg that are healing day by day.
  • Pray for emotional healing…
    • For several days after the accident Dad had dreams (generic in nature) but still about the accident. He still doesn't remember anything from the beginning of the accident until the time they put him on the plane. Another thing that is heavy on his mind is the question "What happened?" We still do not know the cause of the accident and although we have reassured him time and again, he can't help but feel responsibility because he was the one driving. He would like to have "some answers" to the whys and hows of the accident but I don't think that we will ever know for sure. Pray for peace in his heart about that.
    • One comment that Anna made in the hospital was that "they say that I'm being brave but inside I'm screaming". She's been nervous about being in a car, especially when making "turns"… she just wants to go straight:) I can't imagine the trauma that she's gone through. She will probably go in and out of anxiety about a whole list of things. The two days that I was able to spend with her though were wonderful and she seemed to be doing great!
    • Mom, Georgia, Christine, Todd, myself are going through all kinds of emotional swings as we process the accident as well as do our best to take care of Dad and Anna. It was especially scary when dad was having some reactions to his pain medication (but we didn't know that it was the medicine). Now that the meds have worked their way out of his system and he's doing better, our stress levels have gone way down.
    • There is still some fear in my heart about the "unknowns". Did the doctors discover everything? Are there any more internal injuries that we don't know about that haven't manifested themselves yet? How is this going to change my parent's "care" needs. This may seems trivial, but who's going to take care of their lawn now? It's like $120/month to have someone mow their grass every two weeks and I don't think they can afford that and I'm not anywhere close to take care of it for them. Do they need to move? Downsize in house? What other changes need to be made, etc??? There's a whole list of things on my mind like that.
  • Pray for strength…
    • Strength for us to provide Anna and Dad the care that they need to heal and recover.
    • Strength to sort through all of the emotions from the accident.
    • Strength to encourage each other when times are difficult.
  • Pray for safe travel…
    • Monday and Tuesday we will drive to Ft. Worth, Texas
    • Friday, Christine and the boys will make the return trip to Rwanda.
    • Saturday I will drive my parents back to Searcy, AR.

Thank you so much for your prayers! God is listening and He is answering!

I have a password-protected post with pictures of the accident. If you'd like to see them, let me know by email:  murphy @ audienceofone . cc and I'll give you the password. When you see them, you will again know that God's angels kept them alive…

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs Tagged With: New Mexico Accident

Anna is walking again!

August 5, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

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!!!

Filed Under: Featured, Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs Tagged With: New Mexico Accident

Good News Update: Dad and Anna

August 3, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

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.

Filed Under: Featured, Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs Tagged With: New Mexico Accident

Rwanda’s Children of Rape

July 1, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

I came across this BBC article today and wanted to share it with you. Powerful and moving…O Lord, let your healing hand rest upon the nation of Rwanda.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8768943.stm

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Needs, Rwanda Tagged With: Rwanda

Prayers for Togo and Latay

March 7, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

We ask your prayers for Togo this week. There's a lot of "unrest" due to last week's election. Things are "calm" but tensions are "high" in the southern part of the country. So we ask that the Lord would bless Togo with peace so that the work of the Kingdom can continue. You can read more about the elections here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm.

Latay, our Ag Missionary among the Watchi, and his wife Minen live in Lome, the capital, where things aren't quite "safe" yet in terms of activity and travel. He had planned to plant a new crop of pineapples last week on the mission farm but decided to put it off until things are back to normal. Pray that God will protect he and his wife. They are safe and we are asking God to keep them safe.

Latay's bag was also stolen last week which had $1000 that had been given to plant teak on the mission farm, his laptop, id, keys, documents, etc. We are thankful that he is safe and pray that God would resupply everything that was lost.

I talked to him on the phone last night and was thrilled to find him super excited about the things that God is doing among the Christians and churches. This "church is growing." That "leader repented." This "family was reconciled." These "churches want to begin three new churches." He said this was testimony that it was God's Spirit moving and not by the power and effort of any man because the spiritual growth was happening long after the missionaries had left. Praise God!

It's such a joy for us to hear of how the Lord is working among our brothers and sisters in Watchiland.

God is listening and answering our prayers, so, let's keep on praying!

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs, Watchi Tagged With: Agricultural Ministry, Church Planting, Prayer, Togo

Luke10:2b Rwanda

February 24, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

Thank you for praying that the Lord would bless our 5 Year Planning retreat. It was awesome and we are excited about the direction laid out before us. We are still working on finalizing our objectives and goals but the weekend got us off to a great start! Once again, the Lord listened and answered our prayers.

One thing that I am super excited about is the vision that God gave us for a Global Prayer Network for Rwanda focusing on the prayer that Jesus told his disciples to pray as he sent them out into the harvest fields in Luke 10:2.

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus didn't tell them to pray for a ripe harvest. The harvest of people is already prepared. The challenge is that there are not enough workers to bring in the harvest!

As I was preparing for the retreat and thinking about all that is needed to launch a massive disciple-making revival in Rwanda I came across several articles that all emphasized the same point: a prayer movement precedes a disciple-making movement. The same articles used the example of two men in Colorado who were convicted by this passage and led to begin a Luke 10:2b movement of prayer teams to pray this prayer together everyday asking the Lord to send out more workers into the harvest fields. The Lord listened and is still answering their prayer and people are calling them from all across the United States saying "I want to make disciples in my area, can you help me."

Imagine our excitement as we read these stories and were convicted that this is what we need to do!

Thus, the Global Luke 10:2b Rwandan Prayer Network was born.

Here's how it works. We are asking our prayer warriors to find one other person and commit to praying the Luke 10:2b prayer for Rwanda together either on the phone, on skype or in person daily. That's right, everyday. It will take about 5 minutes but impact millions of people! As an example, our task force has committed to praying this prayer together every morning at 6:30am on Skype. For the past two weeks we have all prayed together either on Skype, text messages, on the phone or in person.

Our 5 year plan is to build a global prayer network of teams of two praying this prayer together everyday for the Rwandan harvest in:

  • Every Time Zone
  • Every State in the USA
  • Every Sector in Rwanda

Imagine the impact that round the clock, daily, prayers asking the Lord to send out more workers into the harvest fields of Rwanda would have! We're calling it the Luke 10:2b Rwandan Prayer Virus and we want to infect as many as possible! Already teams of two have committed and begun to pray this prayer for Rwanda.

I'm excited to tell you that the Lord has already begun to answer our prayers! Read this from Felix, our Kinyarwanda language teacher…

"The last weekend, a friend of mine living in … (Southern province) that I had introduced to the DBS (Discovery Bible Study) asked me to come and help him start it there because he felt God was calling him to serve there but didn't know how to start. So I went there and the DBS started with 6 people; 5 of them are non-believers. So let's pray that it will grow and have an impact on the communities there. Thanks!"

Who are these workers? Are they more expats from overseas? More short-term visitors? NO! They're Rwandans reaching Rwandans!

What to join? You will be most welcome! Its easy. Find someone and commit together to pray this prayer for Rwanda everyday. It doesn't matter how, just as long as you pray together. Then, each month, recruit two more people to commit to the same prayer. As you join in and recruit others, please let us know so that we can keep track of how and where the virus is spreading…

Right after the Lord Jesus told His disciples to pray this prayer He told them to GO! So, we are planning to go to every part of Rwanda, from border to border, town to town, sector to sector to begin a Discovery Bible Study. Our goal is to begin a DBS in every sector in Rwanda (450+) in the next five years. Imagine families and communities gathering together to listen to God's Word, discuss it's meaning and then working out what obedience will look like in their lives and then commit to obeying every week! It will transform Rwanda bringing healing and grace to the hurting and imprisoned!

Thank you again for your prayers for our family and for Rwanda. Come Lord Jesus Come! Rain down your Mercy and Grace upon this beautiful nation. Heal the hurting and revive the people!

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Needs, Rwanda Tagged With: Luke10:2b, Prayer

DMM Rwanda – 5 Year Planning Retreat

February 5, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

This weekend the Rwanda Team will be having a 5 Year Planning retreat together. We've worked hard to develop the vision, mission and core values for the Disciple Making Movement in Rwanda that we are praying for. Now it's time to set objectives and goals that we can work towards to accomplish the Vision that God has given us. Please join us in prayer for the weekend…

  • Please pray that the Lord would open our hearts and minds to see Rwanda, it's people and their needs, as He sees them.
  • Please pray that the Lord would give us eyes to see clearly what He wants us to do in the next five years.
  • Please pray that the Lord would bless each of us with insight into the specific areas that He has equipped us to work in.
  • Please pray that God's hand would be upon all those leading and facilitating the weekend's activities.

Thank you for your faithful prayers for our family and ministry in Rwanda!

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Needs, Rwanda Tagged With: Prayer, Rwanda
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