Thanksgiving is almost upon us! Crazy to think of how fast this year has gone by. I want to wish you & your family a Happy Thanksgiving. 🙂
I’m sure you’re wondering what has happened to me since I haven’t communicated with you in the last two months. Unfortunately, I have some not-so-terrific news. I made it safely to Baja and joined the team that is already working among the Mixteco people. However, on my fourth day there, my coworker, Arehmi, had bad news. She told me that she was pregnant. And as a result of that she was off the Mixteco team and also out of New Tribes Mission Mexico. It was very hard for me to hear that. Because she is out of the mission and off of the team, that means that I didn’t have a coworker. It sent all of my plans of working there for the next 20 years into limbo. And that was has been hard for me.
We had numerous visits to our tribal team in less than six weeks. Our field chairman and his wife came out for a few days along with the pastor from Arehmi’s sending church. We had another missionary couple come out to visit us too. The last week I was there the two couples from our consulting team came out. One of those couples is the Grangers (Dorr & Nancy), I worked with them for the last two years at the Ranch.
NTM Mexico leadership, my Mixteco team, as well as the consultants all agreed that it wasn’t good for me to stay without a coworker. Their recommendation was that I head back to work at the Ranch (Mexican Missionary Training Center), and start looking again for a coworker. And in agreement with my home church, I left Baja and the Mixteco team two weeks ago. I returned to the Ranch a week ago.
Start over again? That’s so difficult. But during the entire six weeks I was there, I constantly prayed for God’s will to be done. Sometimes I still can’t figure out why He would have had me go to Baja for just 6 weeks. Not even two months! But then I remember that none of this was a shock to Him. He knew this would happen before He even created the world! And He still has a plan for me. So I continually chose to rest in knowing that He is in control, even when I don’t understand the why’s.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Prayer Requests
:: for Arehmi – she has a lot of decisions to make. Pray for her relationship with God first and foremost.
:: for me – I’m realizing that I’m going through a grieving process:: the postponement of my desires to work in a tribe. And also for me emotionally.
:: for my mama – her mom (my grandma) died the day before I left Baja.
:: for me – as I re-enter life in Chihuahua, with my friends, the missionaries here, and my church.
:: for a coworker for me so I can head to an Indian tribe in Mexico.
Praises
:: safety in traveling by myself from Northern Baja to Los Angeles to El Paso.
:: my Ford Escape was perfect for Baja, including all the dirt roads, and it will be wonderful for the Ranch too.
:: for my time in Baja. While I was only there for 6 weeks, I’m thankful for that time including the hardships, difficult decisions I had to make, and I’m thankful for what God has taught me.
:: I was able to get free roundtrip tickets to go to Oregon for my Grandma’s memorial service (on Dec. 14) and I can stay for Christmas.
My future plans
I have begun the process of looking for a new co-worker to be able to return and serve in one of the tribal works. And the same time, NTM Mexico Leadership has asked me to help with translation of different documents for the Mexican missionaries that are heading to work in tribal groups in other countries. I will be working in different capacities with all the graduates who have completed the missionary training program, helping and supporting them as they head into new works.
Presently, together with the training staff, we are revamping and reconstructing part of the training curriculum. I look forward to being able to help out with that process, along with working more on the classes that I will teach. My desire is to serve, even in these challenging days. I hold steadfast to this conviction to serve God and be a blessing to others. My prayer is that I may be a blessing here at the Siloe Ranch serving with the Mexican missionaries.
Currently at the Ranch there is another staff couple (the Lloyds) and myself, plus three families including Hector, Amy, & Judah. So I am not alone at the Ranch.
If you have any questions or encouragement, please email me. 🙂
Blessings to you and your family.
Crystal
This is the beautiful house God provided for me! It was recently finished and had everything on my wishlist. While I was only there five weeks, I saw how God was able to provide for me in just that short amount of time. 🙂
Sunset in Baja. The view from my house was fantastic each day. My house was at the top of a hill, and I had wonderful sunrises and breathtaking sunsets.
The Ford Escape. My car was a wonderful blessing in Baja. It handled the dirt roads wonderfully and was a blessing for the adults that had to sit the back seat. I’m still amazed at how wonderful this rig has been for me. It was a blessing in Baja, and I’m sure it will be a blessing here in Chihuahua at the Ranch. 🙂
Meeting Judah:While I saw Hector and Amy this summer, I didn’t expect to meet their son, Judah, for about two years. But God brought me back to Chihuahua, and I have been able to spend a lot of time with him. I even get to be his auntie! 🙂