Posts Tagged ‘goodbyes’

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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Email update…

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Friday, January 21st, 2011
The days are going by quickly!

The days are going by quickly!

I have been terrible about getting news posted to our website…this update was sent out before Christmas!  Lot’s of things have happened since then and it’s been great to see God answering prayer.

80 days!  In just 80 days we’ll load the family on a plane headed for Africa!  The days are speeding by!

I woke up from a dream the other night in a panic – I had been dreaming about our first hours in Guinea with crying children and feelings of being completely overwhelmed.  I know it was a dream, but I also know the reality will probably be pretty close to that.  Would you be praying that we would have peace in the midst of all that is going on?

Thank you to all of you who have been helping us put together all the supplies that we are in need of.  We have so appreciated all the gifts and financial support to see this goal accomplished.  We have purchased our vehicle and we continue to marvel at how God worked it out so well.  Steve will drive it to NC in January to put it on the boat with our belongings.

Here’s an updated needs list:

We must purchase our solar panel batteries in the next two weeks and are in need of $1500.00 to purchase them.

This is the type of power system that we use in Guinea

This is the type of power system that we use in Guinea

We have picked out specific items that we need to take with us and we are in need of $500.00 for those purchases.

We continue to pray for an increase in our support of $650.00 a month.

Thanks for continuing to pray for us and support us in so many ways!  If you would like information on how to give towards our needs, please just let us know…

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They came and went way too fast

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Enjoying a few relaxing days in the capital.

Enjoying a few relaxing days in the capital.

It came and went so fast that it seems like a blur.  One minute we were anxiously waiting to see if they could get into the country and the next minute we were saying goodbye.  My parents trip was what we had been waiting 16 months for and then like the blink of an eye – it was already over.  I’ve been wanting to write about their trip and give all the details of the fastest week we’ve ever had.  But, it sometimes I honestly think “were they ever really here?”.   It just went too fast!  How did I write about all their new experiences without writing a book?  I’ll try to keep this somewhat short, but you might want to sit down and take minute to read all this! (more…)

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How many goodbyes have we said this week

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

Crazy days of saying goodbye Our last week in Michigan was a crazy one. There was my brothers wedding, a trip to Lake Michigan for a few days, goodbyes at church, and our last days with family and friends. (more…)

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…Saying goodbye to Canada

Posted by Steve and Casey Cretsinger on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

Performing in church Well, the time came for us to say goodbye to life in Canada. Our last Sunday we had a Christmas party at church. The boys performed a special song with their Sunday school teachers. They were pretty nervous, but we were so proud of them to get up there and do their best. We had a nice lunch with our church there and were able to say our goodbyes to the people who have shared our lives this year. (more…)

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