Psalm 146:2 "I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Praising God for His goodness in the midst of challenges!

Here is a song that I wrote today. It might still need some revision on my part, but it reflects some thoughts that I have had these past few days. I am so thankful for God's faithfulness in the midst of some recent challenges. It is often in those times that we feel the closest to Him, although sometimes we want to initially run from the trial or pain or whatever the case may be.
Thank You Lord for your constant and perfect love, for never allowing anything to touch us without it first passing through Your hand.

Closer to You
December 13, 2008
1) How easy it is for me Lord to want to escape
Times of trials, suffering, and moments of pain.
But in these moments I now come to see something more
Because You want my life to be changed and transformed
And so, Lord, I know you will do whatever it takes.
Yes, I trust you, dear Father, to lead the way

Chorus
Lord I know that whatever comes to me, first passes through Your permissive hand
And that in all things You have a perfect plan
It doesn't matter what You have to take me through
As long as in the end I am drawn closer to You

2) How precious it is Lord for me to sense Your great peace
For in the midst of it all, Your hand covers me!
For in these times, I now come to know You more
Through precious ways that I have not known You before!
I would not trade a thing for the closeness I feel
Yes, I trust You, dear Father, Your love is real!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

English class with Lucia

hi Everyone,
I was able to have my first English class with Lucia last night. It was a lot of fun i think we both enjoyed it. Plesae pray that the Lord would give me wisdom as I plan for next friday's class. We also might be getting together to hang out a little bit after church on Sunday.
This week I am taking a class on Cultural adaptation at El Monte. Plesae pray that the Lord would use it to help me learn things that I can apply as I adjust here.
Thank you for your prayers! Love to you all!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

A blue morning glory at El Monte---beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

posted below is also my sunset picture that I took at Acapulco! I know it doesn't have anything to do with ministry but I just thought it would be neat to share with you all.


Thursday, October 30, 2008

photos


This is a picture of the students at the school that I am helping with. I am in the back. We were missing a few students today when we took the photo.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

hi Everyone
We had a meeting with Amigos sin frontera last night-the group that gives medical care and shares the Lord with pople and they are going on a medical trip from November the 14th thru the 20 or so, but I will not be able to go partially due to the fact that the village is asking for 25 people only and there for 41 of us signed up to go. Also the village has asked that there be no sharing about Jesus so it will be purely medical services. There are many factors that have made the situation complicated. Please pray that the Lord's love would be communicated through the actions of those that go, and for safety of all involved.
Pray that the Lord would give me an opportunity to go in February on the following trip if it is his will.
This friday I am going for a week to Acapulco because I got invited by my team mates. I wasn't planning to go, and was praying about it, and then the family that I am staying with mentioned they needed my room to house a few guests that are coming during the time of the trip---so I took that as the Lord lovingly telling me to go. There are 20 of us (including the children) going. Plesae pray that this would be a further time for me to get to know members of my team and invest in one anothers lives.
Pray that the Lord would give me wisdom about my upcoming border trip in January. I am thinking of going to see a dear friend but need the Lord to iron out and clarify all the details.
I was able to help at El Monte to day for a few hours and it was a blessing. The cook and I were singing worship songs in spanish as we worked together in the kitchen. It was a blessing.
Now I am heading off to womn's prayer group. Love to you all! Thanks for your prayers! I am going to try to get some pictures up soon!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Hi everyone!!!! It has been quite awhile since I've updated my blog--sorry about that to those of you that check it on a regular basis! I filmed a little video to greet you all, but after waiting almost two hours for it to upload, I gave up. Maybe I can try again some other day. I must admit I am a little disappointed.
I am now going to be helping at El Monte-on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Today at church a woman asked about me teaching her English and I said "yes" so that will be an adventure since I have never taught english before. I am hoping to spend an hour teaching her on Friday afternoons. The interesting thing is that she is involved in discipleship with some others so that will be neat to discover what all she does that way-may give me some valuable insights for the future.
I am still helping with the school that my family helps administrate on Tuesdays and attending women's church prayer meeting on Wednesdays. I have prayer with a few families of our team on Mondays and am taking some training in the evenings which I am also hoping to use in ministry. I am also continuing to work on language and culture. Thank you for sending me here and for your prayers. There have been some challenging moments, but the Lord has been so faithful.
You are all a blessing to me and I wouldn't be here without you!!! :) --Crystal

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

today I got to help at El Monte-where workers are having opportunities to be trained to serve in other cross-cultural situations. I am planning to work out there one day a week-most likeky looks like fridays at the moment to help out iwth whatever is needed. I am having my discipleship class next week as well. Thank you for your much needed prayers. Blessings to all of you. P.S. I tried to change my blog so anyone can post replies-some of you asked me about that.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

updates from Mexico

Hi everyone!
It has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I went to a WEC conference this past weekend iwth my team and it went well. It was a blessing to be with the team and get to knw people better. October 4-9th I am taking a class on discipleship being offered and am looking forwad to that.
About two weeks ago I had a really neat experience on the bus. I got on the bus and to my surprise the driver was playing chrstian music in spanish (it's the firts time that has happened) So I started to sing along as did two others that were sitting near the front of the bus. It was really neat-I got off the bus so encouraged.
I am continuing to help with the school that Fernando and Flor help administrate. I am thankful to be able to help them.
I am also looking forward to going to Durango with Amigos sin Frontera in November for a medical trip in the mountains.
Thank you for your prayers! More details later!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Seeing God in the little things

hi everyone,
I've just been amazed since I've been here seeing God work and answer prayers about the little things like tonight for example-I walked to the Zocalo in Juitepec becuase the youth at the church that I have been atending were doing some open air evangelism and I wanted to check it out. I was able to pray for some situations that I saw, but didn't have a chance to share with anyone directly. However, on the way back, my feet were hurting and I was getting tired. "Lord, I'd really like a ride" I prayed, and five minutes later, one of my fellow team mates and her husband were driving down the street. "Need a ride?" they asked. Of course my answer was "yes!" God is so caring and loving towards us-He cares about EVERY detail of our lives.
This past week I was able to help with a school that the family I am staying with helps run. I am starting to enjoy the students-they are so much fun. Hopefully I can get some pictures up soon. I am helping with the worship time in the mornings. They sing a song in spanish and English and have a devotional to start the school day. Blessings to you all! Thank you for your prayers.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

My Dentist Story

For about a week and a half, I had been getting some sores in my mouth that hadn't been healing properly, and would just keep getting infected no matter how I tried to clean them. So while I was at the amigos sin frontera (ASF) day clinic a week ago, I was going to try to have the president of ASF (also a dentist) Dr Antonio Moreno take a look at my mouth, but I didn't have a chance to mention it. So on Monday this week I started getting to the point that I couldn't stand the pain from the sores anymore and began to earnestlyand specifically praying that God would put me in contact with Dr. Antonio Moreno because I know that he understands things like things being sterile and sanitary, and does an excellent job because I had observed his work on the previous medical mountain trips. I knew that receiving some dental attetion was a must. I didn't have his phone number or anything.
I spent quite a bit of timeworking on a project that one of my fellow team members gave me this week of organizing books for the new workers orientation on our field, and to finish this project I needed some of those laminated sheet protectors and decided to go to the office depot that is about half an hour away on Wednesday to se if I could fine some. Afterwards I planned to walk to Jackie and Javier's house (a couple that helped me with spanish during my short term experence.) They have become friends of mine. They also had mentioned to me in a previous visit a week earlier about recently going to a dentist and I was curious who they went with. I thought maybe they would have a connection...to someone at least that was good.
While I was in office depot to my surprise Jackie's kids came up to me-they "happened" to be in the store at the same time as me. (We know it was truly God) They invited me over to their house. After we were done shopping. I casually asked Jackie where they went to the dentist and they said Dr. Antonio Moreno---my eyeballs just about popped out of my head! I told them I had been earnestly praying that God would put me into contact with Dr. Moreno!!!
So when I got to their house, Jackie's mom, Frances, told me this fascinating long story about how they got to know Dr. Antonio Moreno as their dentist becuase he attended their church. And Frances drew me a good map.The only thing that I remembered about Dr.Morenos's office is that it was a blue building-because Antonio and Sylvia (his wife) had taken me there once on their way to pick something up during my short term on the way to an amigos sin frontera meeting one time.
The next day I got to their office by bus (a different one that I hadn't taken before) without any problems, and Dr. Moreno said that it was a good thing that I had come...I definitely needed his assistamce. Hopefully I am on the mend now and if I am not better in four days, he said to come back. The amazing thing is that because I am a missionary he will give me dental care for free or almost free.
Through amigos sin frontera I have a network of doctors and dentists that are Christians who care about me. As I walked out of his office, Dr. Moreno told me (refering to the whole group of amigos sin frontera, "We all love you very much." I told Dr. Moreno the story about how I had ended up in his office-He thought it was so neat! The timing of this need was so perfect-because we had just had the amigos sin frontera day clinic last weekend.
It all reminds me of the verses in Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! I guess this whole thing was just a reminder of how much God cares for me and reminded me in a very tangible way of the depth sof the love that he has for me...that He listens and hears my every prayer....and knows my need before I ask.

Friday, August 15, 2008

It is hard to believe that I have been here in Mexico for a month already. I've spent a lot of time learning more language and culture. I have seen the Lord's faithfulness in so many ways...I know that He is the one that provides and cares for me. I can see that I am growing a lot on my walk with the Lord-praying a lot as I walk to catch the bus to different places--I tell him EVERYTHING-He is the only one to walk with me all of the way. It is amazing what happens when you get out of your comfort zone.
I deeeply miss you all, but am thankful for the connections that God is starting to give me here.

Sunday, August 10, 2008


Hi everyone!

Yesterday I was able to work with Amigos Sin Frontera-a group of believers that give free medical and dental care, and share the gospel as well! I worked with them when I was here on short-term assignment. Included is a picture of me drying dental instruments after they had been sanitized. Hopefuly I'll be able to work more with the group in the future. Thank you for your prayers! I appreciate all of you!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The other day I went to the Cathedral in Cuernavaca and had an opportunity to share Christ with a woman named Vanessa. I felt like the Lord wanted me to go and pray with her. She welcomed my invitation to pray for her and stared crying as I prayed. she later told me that it was the first time that she had been at the cathedral. I am not sure if I will see her again at this point, but we can all pray for her.
I am thankful for Fernando and Flor--- the couple that I have been living with these last weeks. They have been very good to me.
Thank you for your prayers. I deeply miss all of you.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Greetings from Mexico

Greetings to everyone from Mexico. I have been here a week now. One of my main goals right now is to get orientated to things. I am starting to learn some new cultural things slowly. My two biggest prayer requests right now are for learning the transportation system which is going to take awhile, and I also ask prayer for my friend Elizabeth (who I met during my short-term experience in 2005) and her family for the Lord's comfort and strength as they have had a death in the family this week. Thank you for your prayers.

Monday, June 30, 2008

leaving soon

Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Soon I will be in Mexico-two weeks away. Just a few prayer points that you could remember....

Please pray that my team in Mexico will be able to find a family for me to stay with
Please pray for a good transition to the field
Pray for meaningful times with friends and family here and for wisdom how to use my remaining days in the states.
Thank you for praying for me! :)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

departure details

I will be flying to Mexico on July 16th to begin my field assignment!! I praise the Lord for his faithful leading to serve as a missionary step by step over the last 13 years of my life!

Prayer Requests
  • Please pray for good times with friends and family these next weeks
  • Please pray for various details that need to come together yet prior to departure
  • Please pray that the Lord would provide a good living situation for my first year of service (I'll most likely be living with a Mexican Believing family for the first year)

Upon arival on the Mexico field I will be working with the WEC Mexico team that is already serving there. I will begin a one year orientation to the field spending about three months in each of the ministry departments. My field orientation also includes continual learning of the Spanish language and esspecially Mexican culture. At the end of my field orientation I wil be placed into a specific area of ministry with the team. The field has a history of people knowing that they are called to serve in Mexico, but not always knowing the exact details of how that is going to work out beforehand. God makes it clear as they get involved. I am excited to be going as a helper to my team and be available for whatever God has for me! His plan is the best!

Monday, June 9, 2008

songs

Refuge Of Trust based from Psalm 62:5-8
Written February 8, 2006 in Mexico

How I thank You, my Father, for taking me down a road
In which many troubles and trials are known
Because in those things you have taught me to trust
And to rest in the arms of your sovereign love
You alone know my days from beginning to end
And the plans and purposes You have in them
So, no matter what, Lord, in You I will confide
And in the peace of Your presence, my heart will abide.

Chorus
You are my God-the only refuge I turn to
And My soul finds rest in You alone.
I trust in You and pour out my heart to You
Because from you comes the source of my hope.

How I thank You my Father for having complete control
For to You there’s nothing hidden and nothing unknown
I choose to bless You and magnify Your name
And trust in Your Word for You never will change.
You alone see the picture of what I don’t see
In You I rest with perfect security.
So no matter what the situation may be
My Refuge of Trust and dwelling place You’ll always be!

It’s Totally God!
Written on October 16, 1995

Psalm 29:2 Psalm 115:1

I have seen You here every moment working in my life.
If I saw a million miracles they would not take that place,
For I never do a single thing without You by my side!
Lord, Your love runs deep and Your accomplishments are great!
You consider me more precious than a jewel or stone,
And with each day You give a new chance to start.
I choose with all I am to follow You alone!
Everything that I am is because of who You are!

Chorus
Oh, whatever I do, it’s totally God,
For without His strength I can’t do anything at all!
Lord, come and always be the center of my life,
Daily I will make myself a living sacrifice!
For whatever You made me to be,
It is you who are working through me!
There is nothing of my own worthy to be called
Because, Lord, I look at You, and it’s totally God!

You have been faithful to me and I pray I’ll do the same!
With this life I might do great things-not one will I take credit for!
I’m just going to serve Jesus and bring to His Name!
Heart of devotion to Him ‘til I reach heaven’s door.
I consider it a gift, how You give so graciously,
I’d be missing so much on my life without You
For You have taken all I am, each part of me
And done more than I had dreamed You would ever do!

The Gift You Gave
written 1999

God has a treasure for children of the King
That the riches of earth cannot replace
He walks with us and always meets our needs
And gives us strength for every day.
Though storms and troubles come
And loved ones are called Home
We have true hope in what Christ has done
It’s the greatest hope I know!

Chorus
Your only Son You did not spare
It was for us He gave His life
No other love can compare
To His perfect sacrifice!
So my heart is filled with thankfulness
The highest words cannot express
I stand alive in Your grace
Because of the gift that You gave!

We think of heaven where we will live one day
This world is not home for you and me
So we live each moment walking by faith
Trusting in what we cannot see!
We will praise You alone
For all eternity
If You had not paid the debt we owed
Not one of these things would be!

Coda
The things by faith I have believed
Will one day by my eyes be seen
And I will see You on that day
Because of the gift that You gave!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Greetings to everyone! Welcome to my blog! Thank you for stopping by! I am excited to use this in the future as a way to update some of you on my life and ministry. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! May the Lord bless you! --Crystal V