September 7, 2010

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Father and Niece in a Car Accident…Pray

August 1, 2010 By Murphy Crowson

Aug 1 – 8:00 PM Update

Dad is going to be in a neck brace for six weeks. He's super talkative and his old self. He doesn't remember anything about the accident at all though. Today had lots of waiting. It's the weekend so doctors where scarce. No cardiologist has seen him yet to check out his pacemaker, so we are hoping that will take place tomorrow morning.

My sister (Georgia) is pretty frustrated. They waited all day for the results of all of the xrays, etc. but no one ever came. They just wanted some information. Finally, a PA came and said that Anna had no broken bones. She does have some fractured vertebrae in the middle of her back and is going to have to wear a full upper body brace for awhile. The PA said that she didn't think there would be any need for surgery. Again, though, the specialist doctors won't come until tomorrow so we won't know anything for sure until then. Anna is nauseous and there was some blood in her vomit and they're not exactly sure why so they're keeping her in the PICU for another night to watch her plus she still needs to be on oxygen. It seems to be that she's going to be here awhile, but we're not sure how long. Again, waiting on the specialists to decide.

The reality of the tragedy is sinking in and thoughts of "what could've happened" are also frightening.

We've been blessed with family and friends coming by bringing encourage and food and offers of places to stay. Also, people are praying from literally all over the world and I know that the Lord is listening and answering.

I hope to have more detailed news tomorrow.

Aug 1 – 11:00 AM Update

After another scan, they found multiple fractures in/around dad's neck (nothing spinal). He'll be in a head brace for awhile as that heals, the doctors said.

They are doing more thorough scans on Anna to check for fractures as well as trying to find where she's bleeding internally.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Continue to pray also for my mother, Todd and Georgia, that God would give them strength.

Aug 1 – 9:45 AM Update

Dad does not need surgery on his arm. Still don't know if it's broken or just fractured, but no surgery needed. They moved his release back until tomorrow (Monday) afternoon at the soonest.

My mom is exhausted and basically running on adrenaline. Pray for strength, rest and peace of mind for her.

Nothing new about Anna.

The rest of us are now working through our shock of what happened.

Aug 1 – 7:30 AM Update

Dad is doing fine. They sewed his ear up and will do something about his arm. His heart, as far as they can tell, is normal. He was in the ER all night so this morning he needs to have his pacemaker checked out thoroughly. He may be released today. Except for cuts and bruises, he "seems" to be okay.

Anna had swelling in her abdomen so they did all of the scans. All of her organs are normal…she had a full stomach and gas:) So, they are pumping out her stomach slowly. Her right lung was bruised, but did not collapse. Blood pressure, breathing, etc. are fine. They did say that there is some minor internal bleeding "somewhere" but they don't know where so they are "watching" that. The doctors and nurses are impressed with her sweet smile and quiet strength. She has not complained of pain or asked for any pain meds for herself. She does have a fractured vertebrae in the middle of her back somewhere (Todd didn't know where). We have friends and family in Albuquerque who are taking good care of us. She's going to be in the hospital for several days for sure.

We praise God and are so thankful to Him for hearing all of your prayers. His mercy on our family is so evident and we are very hopeful of a full recovery for all. I'll keep you posted.

Aug 1 – 1:25 am Update

Thank you all for prayers…dad and anna are stable and the doctors are running tests to see if there is any internal damage to organs. It's a miracle they are alive. You will know what I mean when you see a picture of the accident. Dad can't remember anything…i think he has a concussion. i'll give more details tomorrow…

July 31 11pm News

My father Marvin Crowson and niece, Anna Wolfe ( Todd'n'Georgia Wolfe on Facebook) were just in a terrible accident in New Mexico on our way to Colorado. The truck flipped four plus times. Both are alive because of a miracle. We're in the University hospital in Albuquerque. Pray for healing….They are stable for now and they're doing tests and ex-rays to check on internal organs….Please Pray…Doctors are saying "They're going to be okay"

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

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

Marthe

January 16, 2010 By Christine

I don't usually write blog posts but Murphy asked if I would write about Marthe.  We moved into our house in Kicukiro, Kigali in February last year and soon after moving in a young woman came to ask if we wanted to have our house sprayed for mosquitos.  I said yes and gave the young woman our information.  She told me her name was Marthe and pointed out where she lived, just up the street from our house.  She told me she had a five year old daughter and that was the end of our conversation.  Almost as soon as she left our house I felt burdened for her.  I started praying for her every time I passed her house.  On two occasions I tried to visit her but she was never home.  I added her name to my prayer list and started lifting her name before the throne every morning.  

A year ago we moved to Rwanda from Togo, West Africa.  It was the most difficult move I have ever made.  Saying good-bye to my Togolese sisters and brothers felt like ripping my heart into pieces.  My first six months in Rwanda were challenging.  I cried a lot mourning the loss of friends and life and  in Togo.  I was unsure of the reason God called us away from Togo to Rwanda.  I did feel certain of the calling so I dove into language learning and began asking God to show me His purpose for me here.  Right away I felt a resounding sense, deep in my heart, to be patient and to trust God.  God led us here and he would show us his purpose in His perfect time.  

At the beginning of this month,  I was having a heart to heart with God about the up-coming year.   I was telling God, "I have been patient, I have been learning language, now what?" The words Jesus spoke to Peter in John 21 came rushing at me like a freight train.  "Simon son of John, do you love me", …"then feed my sheep".  I immediately went to those scriptures and read that dialogue.  I felt like Jesus was saying the same thing to me.  Jesus was challenging Peter, he was challenging me.  At that point in his life, Peter was broken and at the end of himself, now Jesus could use him.  Will I be broken and come to the end of myself?  I hope so!  Yes Jesus, I love you!  I will trust you and feed your sheep, please show me how!

Just a few days later Marthe came to our house.  It had been almost a year since I last saw her.  I had been praying for this woman daily for nearly a year without ever knowing why.  She was at our house conducting a survey for our neighborhood.  I asked if I could come and visit her at her home.  She seemed eager and happy for me to come.  This past Thursday I went to Marthe's house.  It was only my third time to speak to her but I felt like I had known her for so long.  We sat awkwardly for a moment and then she sprang up and announced that she had some photos to show me.  She left and came back with an album and a sack full of snap shots.  For an hour I sat in her small cinder block house, on her gold colored velour sofa sipping warm Fanta and listening as she shared her life with me.  I saw pictures of her as a teenager, pictures with her friends at the lake, pictures of her family.  I saw pictures of her wedding and learned that her husband lives in a town three hours away.  She didn't tell me the reason.  I saw pictures of her siblings and their weddings.  I saw pictures of her teachers and classmates at a technical school and later pictures of her students at that same school.  I saw pictures of her daughter and listened as she explained that four months ago her husband came with civil authorities and took her daughter away, she hasn't seen her since.  In the moment she told me that her loneliness felt palpable.  

I left Marthe's house amazed at the God we serve.  I may never know exactly why he burdened my heart to pray for her but perhaps it was because of the difficult journey that lay ahead of her.  I was overwhelmed by the the love God has for her and for all of us. He knows Marthe intimately and allowed me the opportunity to take just a glimpse into her heart.  I now have a specific prayer to pray for Marthe.  I don't know my future but I hope Marthe is in it.  I praise God for his patience with me!  I feel encouraged to keep pressing forward with my language learning and keep trusting God and feeding his sheep.  That may take many forms and shapes and I pray that everyday my eyes and my heart will be open so that I don't miss the opportunities He lays in my path.

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

17 Years!

December 19, 2009 By Murphy Crowson

On December 19, 1992, I was wed to the most beautiful woman in the world. 17 years have passed and she's more beautiful every day!

Thank you Lord for the blessing of my wife.

I can't imagine life without her.

She loves Jesus with all of her heart. She serves others with all of her energy. She takes care of her family with all of her love. She spoils me every waking moment.

I love you honey!

One thing I love about Rwanda is the abundance of roses. This year I bought Christine 98 roses for our anniversary! Here are a few pictures of my lovely bride with her roses… :)

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

Filed Under: Christine, Murphy Tagged With: Christine, Marriage, Murphy, Prayer

Headed to Togo

November 28, 2009 By Murphy Crowson

This afternoon Marty and I are traveling to Togo to visit our Watchi brothers and sisters in the Lord. We'll be gone around 10 days.

Please pray that the Lord would bless our trip and use us to encourage the Watchi Christians and Churches.

As well, please pray that the Lord will watch over my family while I'm gone, keeping them safe and in good health.

I'll let you know how things went when I get back!

Blessings and peace…

Murphy

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Needs, Watchi Tagged With: Prayer, Togo

Adoption Paperwork Renewal

October 22, 2009 By Murphy Crowson

In answer to much prayer we received word today from the USCIS office in Ghana that our application to extend our I-600A was granted! Below is their official email. PTL! Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement and support!

Dear Murphy Crowson:

This is to inform you that your request for an extension of your previously approved I-600A has been granted.  The Form I-171H and original updated home study has been forwarded to you at your address in Kigali.

All other needed information has been forwarded to the Consular Section in Guangzhou by diplomatic pouch…

Embassy Guangzhou has also been copied on this mail.

Thank you,
USCIS, Accra

Filed Under: China Adoption, Prayer Answers Tagged With: China Adoption, Prayer

China Adoption Update: Fingerprints Cleared!!!

October 15, 2009 By Murphy Crowson

We received this email message from the USCIS in Accra, Ghana today:

Dear Murphy Crowson:

Your fingerprints have been cleared.  Your application is being reviewed and we expect to provide you with the determination by the end of next week (i.e.10/23/2009)

Thank you,
USCIS, Accra

PTL! Pray that as they review our application for the second renewal that they will approve us again to adopt a precious little girl from China!

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

Family Update

October 8, 2009 By Murphy Crowson

Hey everyone, here's a quick update on our family…

So much has happened it's hard to even think about everything to tell you so I'll just begin by saying random things and hopefully it will give you an idea of what's going on here.

We had a huge Church Planting Movements conference this past August. Participants from 18 nations came and were deeply impacted. It was my second time through the training and was still just as impacted.

It set off a series of events that has had a big impact on our work and ministry in Rwanda. One of the focuses of the workshop was having a vision for the nation and not just sub-parts of a nation. After much thought, prayer and weeks of discussion the two teams currently in Rwanda have decided to form one strategy team for the entire nation of Rwanda rather than just specific individual areas of Rwanda. We still have our smaller teams for emotional, social and spiritual support but strategy-wise we are working together to formulate a strategy for reaching all of Rwanda.

We've had two strategy meetings all together as one big group to begin developing our vision and mission statements. They've gone really well and we are making exciting progress. They asked me to lead the discussion of the meetings which is fun but also challenging. It's really important that we all agree to go in the direction that God wants us to go in! Lord please anoint us! Something to pray about!

The kids have been in school now for three weeks and are loving it! We thank God everyday for the opportunity that He opened up for us to go to ISK!

About five weeks ago Marley (our Golden Lab) had three precious puppies. Everyday they're getting bigger and bigger and are, OH SO CUTE!

Language learning is still a struggle but we are making progress, a little everyday. We are at a point now where we've learned enough grammar that conversations are starting to make sense and we can communicate more.

Christine and I are beginning to spend more time with our neighbors. This was a struggle because they go to work at 7am and return at 7pm and we never see them! So, we had a brilliant idea, go to their work place and spend the day with them. So, we've done that several times now and it's been awesome! They operate an office supply shop downtown. So we went and sat in their shop and talked in Kinyarwanda for hours with them. They asked us questions and we asked them questions. (We went separately by the way). It's been encouraging. They're educated business people and committed Christians. This week Christine and the lady talked about visiting all of our other neighbors. So, relationships are getting deeper as our language abilities development and that encouraging. Boy is it hard! We are praying for Christ's perseverance in all things.

Still no news on our adoption paperwork. We're waiting for our fingerprint cards to get to the FBI center in Nebraska and be cleared….waiting….waiting….

Marty and I are planning to take a trip to visit Christians in Togo the last week of November. Pray that this trip will be a great blessing and encouragement to our brothers and sisters there!

Ok, was that enough rambling to give you an idea of what's going on here?

We love you and appreciate all of your prayers!

Murphy (and family)

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs, Rwanda Tagged With: China Adoption, Kinyarwanda, Prayer, Rwanda, Togo
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