An SOS for Back to School Blues

Well, we are all back to school. No more lazy summer days or trips from here to yonder.....It's time to hit the books, find time for practices, clubs, etc.....and, most importantly....It is time to PRIORITIZE GOD in the mix. Sunday we kick off S.O.S. or "Sold Out September". Be sure that you are IN THE MIX. It is the time to kick things off to the RIGHT start. My parents always told me, "You will only get out of something what you are willing to put IN." Another thing they said was, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." ...... So often we are guilty of saying things like "I'm just not being fed" when it comes to church. Maybe we should look closely at our lives and see if we are "SPIRITUALLY ANOREXIC". That is, the banquet table is laid in God's WORD, through devotionals, Bible studies, and quiet moments alone with Jesus, but we are CHOOSING Not to eat. Let's not be guilty of spiritual anorexia. Let's take that first "BITE" and begin to be nourished by being in God's WORD daily and taking hold of all He has for us. Join us for "Sold Out September" and start off the year RIGHT. You won't be sorry!

Join us for :
Mmmmm....Party on Wednesdays at 7:00 (Trinity Center - Youth Room)
Sunday school on Sunday at 9am v(TC- Youth Room)
S.O.S. (Sold out September) Sunday @ 6:00pm (TC - Youth Room)
CPR (Crestview Parental Recharge) Youth Parent Meeting - Sunday 5:00 pm (TC - Youth room)

Safe and Sound!

Everyone is home safe and sound! Let the stories begin.........!

On to Texas Soil!!!!

Just talked to Rob. The team is in line at the border right now - 4:55. They will probably be home at around 10pm.
We are all EXCITED to have DADDY HOME!!!!!!


Stay tuned in days to come. I will post pics to share!

Heading Home!

Sorry for the delay in blogging. We spent a couple of days at the lake with Eva and Coby. Fun times!
Before I start the blogging, I will put the plea out one more time:
Is there ANYONE who feels led to help take the vans back to El Paso???? Byron flies out to Atlanta upon his return and Rob was suppose to have kids at Rock the Desert on Friday- but he and I will have to forego RTD for the van return as it stands.. They are going to be exhausted ...Anyway....It is a need, please pray about it and see how the Lord leads.

The last couple of days I've only had only a few text messages.

Tuesday was a pretty rough day for them as they lost 5 to sickness. They were able to go into one of the villages, however and had a great day of ministry. Noone accepted Christ on Tuesday but they felt that the people were very receptive and the students did a beautiful job again in ministry.

Wednesday Text:
"Day was fun...everyone was feeling better. We toured Copper Canyon then went to the hot springs in another part of the canyon. Ate pizza in Creel tonight...then everyone finished shopping. Leaving at 6am for home!"

I asked what time they thought they'd be back and he said "9pm?????" With the road into Creel being crazy as they have been for them each day, I think that he was afraid to put an exact time on it. If I hear more, I will post!

Thank you for praying for the team this week and, parents, for entrusting your treasures to Rob and Byron (and mostly to the Lord) for the week. I know that, like me, you are anxious to have them all back on Midland soil! Isn't it such a blessing to hear the stories and know what a beautiful ministry that they have had this week!
God is SOOOOO GOOD!!!!

By the way...keep this blogspot on your favorites. We will begin to use this for details (time, place, etc) when we have an activity!

An Email from Daddy.....3 Accepted Christ today!!!!!

(Pics from Ryan)







We were so excited .....we just got an email from daddy! (Rob, of course) I thought I'd share it with you since it shows what is going on with the team. Sounds like things are going well! Salvations to report!!!!

From Rob to family: "

Hey Fam! Miss each of you sooooo much! We just finished our group time tonight and Josh led us in a great time of reflection. We were finally able to go into one of the Tarahumara villages today! Wow...God is good! Two women and one girl accepted Christ today after Miguel's wife, Azuzana, gave her testimony about spending time as a single mom. Several of the ladies in this village are single moms and it really hit them where they were. Our team did an awesome job playing with the children (basketball, catch, balloon animals, and just balloons...all of the balloons we had). Monty spent time cutting the boy's hair...like an expert as it is in the genes! Sage read the Bible story and Tara gave a word of testimony to about 45 Tarahumara. The roads were again crazy, but our "Little Mules" (aka-the vans) were up to the task. Tomorrow we are set to go into another village where we will prepare lunch for about 70 Tarahumara. Again we ask for your prayers for travel safety...health...and another receptive village to minister in! Can't wait to return home, but continue to have expectant hearts as God uses our team here in Creel. Well...about to run out of battery so...TTFN! I love each of you so much!

Rob (Daddy)

*As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people. Psalm 125 :2

I will keep you posted if I hear anything before we leave, but I probably won't have a computer to post tomorrow night. Eva is taking us all to the lake for some fun before daddy gets home. We should be back Wed night with a report. Feel free to comment on a blog if you get any new info. Everyone would love to hear what you hear!!!!
Blessings!
Donna

YEAH A PHONE CALL!!!!

YEAH A PHONE CALL!! I just thought I'd give it a try and it went through! We were both surprised! (although I don't know what international roaming may cost....I may be taking donations!) It was very encouraging to hear Rob's voice as he was having such a good time. I think I was most worried that they were discouraged - but that is not at all what I got. They had worked on building the bunk beds all day and interacted with some of the people. They were able to take a scenic drive up to see the waterfalls, then the owner of the encampment where they are staying had a really nice fajita dinner for them. Rob said that the hotel owner is going above and beyond to take care of them and make everything so nice. He even called some of his friends who play the guitar and some flute thingy to come in for entertainment during dinner. He said they were playing all of the oldies - Boston, etc. and the kids were diggin' it. Tiffany even requested "Hotel California" and they busted it out! He said that the kids had a GREAT time.
They had a sweet time of prayer last night, as well. Rob does something that we call "the chair" which he uses to minister to students. A chair is placed in the center of the room and anyone who needs prayer sits in the chair. The other students (as led) gather around and pray over that student. Rob was touched by the students willingness to minister to one another.
As for today, the plan was to go to two different villages, I believe.

NOTICE: The link on the right to "American Gringo Ryan's" website on Creel. Ryan has a ministry building water wells. There are some great Creel photos and it will give you an idea of where they are. http://www.downinmexico.org/creel.html

Prayer needs for the day/week:

• You may or may not have heard that Bradly Kuhn lost his grandmother over the weekend. Please be in prayer for the Kuhn family - esp. for Bradly. It was decided that Bradly remain on the trip - but we know that it is difficult to be away from family at a time like this.

Also pray for :

• good weather and safe passage today to the villages.
• the health of several of the students and Byron who are not feeling 100%.
• the team to have the opportunity to minister to many.
• spiritual growth and maturity as our group gives to the Lord.
• encouragement, endurance, patience and strength as they face challenges.

OUR GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!

Waterfalls!

Rob's update came at 4:55 today in the form of a text message:
"No village today due 2 possible heavy storms :( Went to church this morning .....Working on construction of beds today. (part of their planned ministry) Plan to go see waterfalls this evening....ready to minister to the T Indians."
Maybe God wants them to minister right where they are!

Tony sends a message....

Well, I have been anxious today wanting to hear. Rob sent a text to connect me with Tony's wife. "American Gringo Ryan" is the missionary who has been helping our team from the beginning. He builds water wells for the Tarahumara Indians. Tony is his friend from from Monroe,LA. Tony and his son, Charlton, went with our group. Also, Charlton speaks Spanish, THANKFULLY! Rob has a minor in Spanish, but hasn't used it in years - so they are quite thankful for the interpreters! Tony's wife, Patti, received this email from Tony and was gracious enough to share it. Maybe we will all sleep better knowing a little more! I have just included excerpts from his email to his wife:

Tony writes, "There was an incident on the highway that would have delayed us another 4 1/2 hours, and the police rerouted traffic through a long dirt route through the woods. Even some 4 wheel drive vehicles were getting stuck! It's amazing that God got us through with vans-- even pulling a trailer. We must have driven through half a dozen different creeks/rivers!

Ryan and his family are so nice! The people from Midland are great, too. The place we are staying is a nice set of cabins just outside Creel. The water isn't very hot, but this place is run by a wonderful Christian man, and all the hearts are warm. Charlton is loving all this.

I will keep trying to contact you by phone, but for now the owner here has loaned me the internet connection in his office. I am carrying my cell phone everywhere. As long as we're not in the villages I have analog signal. I think I could receive a call from you-- just keep trying. We are going to Ernesto's church today at noon. We'll be doing some touring by the lake this morning after breakfast. Charlton and I are separating from the group and working with Ryan tomorrow. So far, everything about this is such an adventure. Thank you for your prayers!!!

We can't help but notice God's hand in all this. We met some of the Tarahumaras yesterday. They were selling crafts by the lake-- children running everywhere. And we saw where some of them still live in caves in the rocks. We are taking so many pictures!! Don't worry about us--- we'll bring ya'll some gifts back with us. Let me know if you would like something in particular-- I'll try to find it.

Weather here... this is the rainy season. It rains every afternoon. They like us to wear jeans around the Tarahumara, because they think shorts are like underwear. Funny!

This is all that we really know for now. I am convinced that the Lord is desiring to do a work because the battle seems so difficult. We are reminded that our battle is the Lords and that Satan opposes us when we are doing God's will. Let's join together in prayer for our team to be spiritually prepared in the full armor of God so they can press on to complete God's call for them. By the way....we know the final score.....God WINS! =0)

Eph. 6:11-13
11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Comment if you have any new news! We can use this to share!

Crazy + Steroids!

I was a little worried tonight when I got my text message answer to "How was the day"...The answer from Rob, "Imagine the craziest possible scenario...and add steroids!" You can imagine how my mind raced (I don't think that he has realized that I get his text messages delayed.....so I spent a few hours wondering....) But the next response was this, "Someone had an accident on the mountain road into Creel...caused us 2 have 2 turn trailer around on narrow road...went cross-country (literally)...don't know how we made it through! God is so GOOD!"....So...We can celebrate that they are all okay and pray that tomorrow is a bit more settled and as routine as it can be in the circumstances so that they may focus on ministry. God has them there to fulfill HIS purposes and no one will be able to stand against HIM. He is ALWAYS victorious.
Joshua 1:5-9 (The Message)
"In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

Saturday: "We SHOP!"

Rob was able to get a text message off to me today at 12:18 and asked for me to forward it to you. He said, "Still in route 2 Creel...spent last high in Chihuahua at Hotel Houston. Finally got acrross the border yesterday around 5. We are going into a Tarahumara Village later today, but now...WE SHOP!!!!"
So...sounds like things are going well at this point. I don't know how long texting will work. He could not get a call out but could text...??... At this point, we're just glad to hear from them.
I will update you as I hear!

Mexico Bound

The Crestview Student Ministry Mexico mission team has made it in to Mexico. This is not without a few holdups from the Mexican government, however. Students sat at the border and waited as the government decided that it was okay for the VANS to be passed over the border. They allowed the students, adults, items on the trailer and the trailer itself...just not the vans. At one point I think that Rob and Byron were ready to be saddled up like mules and pull the trailer over by themselves! At around 5:30 - after about a 5 hour ordeal, they are in...(just in time to have to delay travels and have to enjoy a Mexican border hotel....hmmmmmm....wonder if anyone made any pesos off of that!??)
They will travel to Chihuahua and should reach there before dark. They plan to stay there tonight.
Remember that they will probably not have cell service after that, so stay posted. I will update this blog as I get information.
We will continue to pray for God to do a great work!