Posts Tagged ‘adjustments’

Thankfulness

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Sunday, March 27th, 2011
Our family in the village

Our family in the village

The other day a friend came over bringing her brother with her.  He was covered in these huge hives and had been scratching like crazy for two days because there wasn’t any money to go to the clinic or get any medicine.  They wondered if we could help.  His bill ended up being about $1.50.  Another friend has had an infection in her mouth for a few days but didn’t see any one about it because she doesn’t have the money to feed her four children let alone go to the doctor.  Her bill will be less than $8.00.

These are just a couple of the requests that we received in the last couple of weeks for help with medical care.  Then there are the requests for help with food, tin for roofing, payments for school…it just goes on and on.  It gives Steve and I a chance for deep discussions on how to help.  I’m not saying that by any means we have this figured out.  Basically, we’re trying to do the best we can and seeking God’s guidance.

Pray with us.  Pray that we will take each request and seek God’s answers on how best to help.  Pray that we can be generous without everyone becoming dependent on us.

But, mostly, these last few weeks I have been thinking about thankfulness.  Thankfulness that I don’t have to decide between feeding my kids and giving them medicine.  Thankfulness that I have a cement floor and furniture in my house instead of sleeping on a dirt floor.  Thankfulness that I have cupboard of food and don’t have to see my kids go hungry.  Every day is a lesson in thankfulness here in Guinea.

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3 weeks…

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Saturday, March 26th, 2011
We seem to always attract a following - they absolutely love the camera

We seem to always attract a following - they absolutely love the camera

I feel like we’ve been in Guinea a lot longer than just three weeks.  3 weeks seems like not near enough for all the things that we’ve experienced so far.  3 weeks of over 100 degree days doesn’t seem like much – until you are in the middle of them!

We spent a few days doing some repairs to our house and thankfully were all moved in within a week.  It has been such a blessing to be in our home and have water and power.  We remember very clearly what it was like when we arrived in Guinea the first time and to have these things has definitely made the transition easier.  One of the guys helping us moving in was in awe of ready to assemble furniture like the shelves we brought back with us.

We’ve settled right back into ministry and life here in Guinea.  I guess this is why it seems like we never left…we’ve basically just gone back to life being just the way it was before we left.  Lots of projects to be done – especially in Construction for Steve.  He’s taken inventory of his shop and he’s ready to get out there and get to work!

The village seems very glad to have us back.  They gave us a few days of just coming to greet and say hello, but now many are coming because of sickness and hunger.  We’d appreciate your prayers for wisdom as we seek the best answers for each individual.  We want to be generous, but also do what is best for them in the long term.  We want to build relationships in such a way that we are not simply “the answer”, but that we are the friends who lead them to the true answer, Jesus Christ.

We have a lot going on in the next few weeks…building projects, meeting up with other missionary teams in other villages to seek how we can be a blessing to them, a youth outreach in the village, a church dedication in another village, and the constant requests for help in the village – we are trying to do more than just listen to the request.  One of us tries to get them something to eat and sits and talks for as long as the person needs to stay.   This is not easy!  Especially to our American mindsets that have an agenda for the day – and with three kids that need a consistent routine.

Pray for us!  Pray that we would work as a team to see our goals accomplished.  Pray that we would look to God to meet our needs and give us joy.

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We made it here!

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Monday, March 14th, 2011
A little hotter than we're used to

A little hotter than we're used to

We have really felt all your prayers in the past few days.  Thanks for the emails and comments on facebook that have truly encouraged our hearts.  How incredible it is to feel such support behind us.

It’s been quite the journey so far!  We made it from Detroit to DC to Senegal with no problems.  The long flight actually seemed to go by really quickly.  We were greeted in Senegal by friends and were looking forward to a day of just resting up before the next flight down to Guinea.  That’s when we learned that our flight to Guinea had been cancelled!  Talk about a little panic!  It turns out that Senegal set up their own airline and has banned all other airlines from flying throughout Africa from their airport.  Long story short – we got tickets on their new airline the next day.  It was an unexpected layover, but we enjoyed a good nights sleep in a hotel and everything worked out in the end.

We spent the last couple of days in the capital city picking up a few supplies and enjoying a pool.  Our friends, the Bryants, had come down to greet us and spend those days with us.  It was a nice chance to get used to the heat again!  It’s so hot here!!!  Quite the change from the Michigan winter we left behind.

Yesterday we traveled up to the Mission Center – a very hot, dusty six hour ride!  We are settled into the guesthouse for the time being as we make a few repairs to our house.  We are very eager to not live out of suitcases indefinitely.  Our co-workers have been very gracious with us and we’ve begun greeting friends from the village.

In some ways, it seems like we never left.  Which is a good thing I guess.  We feel like the transitions are going well and we’re just trying to ease into things slowly.

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Update from our newsletter

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Monday, February 14th, 2011

Looking forward to getting back

Looking forward to getting back

We are eager to get back to Guinea and plunge back into our lives there.  So much has happened while we’ve been gone and we don’t want to miss out on anymore!  It’s a bittersweet time for our family.  On one hand we are ready to be back with Guinean friends and be a part of their daily lives, but to do that means to say goodbye to everyone here in the States.  Our hearts it seems are always planted in both places.  This time in the States has been a treat with all the comforts of home, but our prayer is that we’ll be able to let go of it all with content hearts knowing that what God has asked us to do is far more rewarding than what life here has to offer.  We pray that we’ll look back with special memories and look ahead to the great things that God wants to do in Guinea.  God’s desires are always so much better than what the world has to offer! We just have to remind ourselves of this when the days are filled with blistering heat and the never ending needs of those around us. We will very much need your prayers in the days, months and years ahead – that we would keep our eyes fixed on Him and His desires for us.

• Please be praying for the transitions our family will face in the weeks ahead. Be praying especially for the boys as they say goodbye to everyone and try to adjust to life back in Guinea.

• Please be praying that we would be loving and give to each other an extra amount of grace as spouses and as parents

• Please be praying that God would continue to teach us, change us and show us how He wants us to spend our every moment

• Please be praying for our last one-time expenses of $2800.00 – for our shipping, passports, and visa entry applications

• Please be praying for the $300.00 we still need every month in financial support

• Prayer for our last few weeks… February 3rd – 10th: Driving to Florida and speaking with one of our churches there.

February 18th – 20th: Missions Conference with our sending church in Ohio.  February 23rd and 27th – last Wednesday and Sunday with our sending church in Jackson.

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We’re home

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
So glad to be together again!

So glad to be together again!

Our first weekend home was a whirlwind of activity, but it was great to feel so loved and missed!  We were picked up at the airport by my brother, Matt, and parents who were driving our new minivan!  How awesome to hug our family and see the vehicle we’ve been blessed with.  We spent the afternoon relaxing, catching up on things and very importantly – I had my hair done!  We had a family dinner with more family that night.  We spent Saturday picking up things we needed at the store and had a great welcome home party that night.  So good to see friends after two years!  It was a bit overwhelming to step into our huge church after such a long absence.  It couldn’t get much more different from our church in Guinea and it was really wonderful to be surrounded so many other believers all worshipping together.  It actually brought tears to my eyes.  Our boys loved every minute of church and asked afterwards if we could go church everyday!

That first weekend home, we were able to meet with the Doerksen’s and Dueck’s who served in Guinea with us.  Pete, Lesley and kids were just passing through Jackson and the Dueck’s have moved there to be on staff at the Bible School.  It was so great to see each other again and catch up on how things are going with everyone.  There is something very special about being with people who totally understand your experiences and can relate to the adjustments and challenges of missionary life!

Cretsinger, Dueck and Doerksen kids hanging out together

Cretsinger, Dueck and Doerksen kids hanging out together

Lesley, Sue and I - so good see these friends again!

Lesley, Sue and I - so good see these friends again!

Malachi has been thrilled to be back with Uncle Matt!

Malachi has been thrilled to be back with Uncle Matt!

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Leaving Guinea

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The Cretsinger and Bryant kids at the hotel

The Cretsinger and Bryant kids at the hotel

God has blessed us with some wonderful friends – and sadly we had to leave some of them behind in Guinea!  Our boys were pretty upset to be leaving behind the friends who had occupied their days over the past two years.  The life of a missionary kid is one of constant changes and we continue to pray for the boys adjustment.

Before we left Guinea, we spent a few days in the capital shopping for treasures to take home and making memories with the Bryant family.  Our kids loved being in the pool, we had great snacks and dined out at yummy restaurants.  It was a nice relaxing time and we’re thankful for their friendship in our lives.

Please be praying for the Bryants as they continue on in their village and face the next year alone in their church planting ministry.  They definitely need your prayers for strength and grace in the days ahead.

Micah with Elijah and Corbin at the Riviera pool

Micah with Elijah and Corbin at the Riviera pool

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Hot season is here!

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Malachi and Micah with their friends, Elijah and Corbin Bryant

Malachi and Micah with their friends, Elijah and Corbin Bryant

We’re getting into that wonderful time of the year where we sit soaked in sweat and have no desire to move more than six inches from a fan.  Yes, hot season is here.  The afternoon temperatures are reaching over 105 degrees and my motivation to keep cooking homemade meals for my family is pretty much non-existant.  We drink water all day and still feel thirsty.  We look forward to any day that we can get a little cooled off in the water.
Once a month we try to go to the beach for the day.  If you read our other posts, you know how much our boys love going to the beach.  It’s about a two hour drive, but totally worth the day of relaxation.  If we’re not going to the beach, we can drive about an hour and visit a great pool.  The pool is getting to be our favorite spot – we don’t even get out of the water for hours.  Unfortunately, even several applications of sunscreen is no match for the African sun, and so we still end up red at the end of the day (some of us more than others).  But, it’s a great chance to have a day where we don’t feel so disgustingly sweaty.  We’ve also found a great spot at the river about a five minute drive from our house.  It can be tricky to find a time when the ladies aren’t bathing or washing their clothes, but usually we’re okay.  Our boys love pretending they are being swept downstream in the rapids.  These have all been great ways for us to get a brief break from the heat.  It can really be overwhelming at times and can make you want to pack your bags for cooler weather.  So, a break every once in a while can be the encouragement we need to endure all the days of sweat and grime!

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Week 2 is coming to an end

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Monday, July 7th, 2008
We'll do anything to keep cool

We'll do anything to keep cool

Okay, right now my neighbor is cooking up some MONKEY in the back of our houses! I came outside and Steve said you should go over and see what she’s cooking – there is just this pile of brown bones covered in flies and she’s pulling apart the meat – she seemed surprised that I’ve never seen anyone cooking a monkey before! I told her we only see our monkeys at the zoo. (more…)

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A summary of the first week

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Friday, July 4th, 2008

It`s pretty hot hereI’m combining the first few emails that we sent out during our first week…

15 hours of flying, 5 hours of driving, 5 hours of waiting in airports – and we’re here in Guinea! (more…)

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