Week One

We have now officially been in Globe, AZ for our first week. The three of us all grew up in California. We started our family in Lakewood and then moved to Orange County in 1992. Globe is just a little different, just a little.  Our first week found a tarantula in our backyard, a scorpion in one of our boxes of clothes, a covey of quail running across our driveway, a wild rabbit, a squirrel and a lot of birds. The most beautiful morning blue skies and thousands of stars at night. The house we are renting has lots of plumbing issues, and a washing machine that doesn't work.

Robert had to travel back to California to finish up some things at our house, lock up the items that we could not fit in the truck until we can go retrieve them and pick up, pay for and drive back my car that broke down 2 days before we moved.

This has not been an easy move, but it was and is the right move. Despite the obstacles, God brought us here. The day we unloaded the truck 3 young Apache men came to help. Our daughter Shelby had brought 2 boxes of Polly Pocket toys to give away. One of the young men, Boy-o had 3 young daughters and asked what we were doing with them. His face lit up when he got to take them home to his daughters. He calls regularly asking if there is any work because he is looking for work to support his family. With us here now, Robert can help Tory work on homes in between ministry teams with young men like this and spend quality time with them teaching them skills they can use, sharing, disciplining.
3:18 Ministries is going to be at ICOM (International Conference on Missions) this year, Tory and Robert will be spending time meeting with other Missionaries and visitors from around the world. A time to share about our ministry, raise awareness, etc.

Exciting and scary times!
Praising God for all He has done!


Liz

***Please note our support address change 3:18 Ministries PO Box 349 Globe, AZ 85502

We are here!!!

After so many years of prayers and plans and delays, we are officially in Arizona. God is amazing and we are immensely grateful to all of you for helping us get here. We are unpacking and settling in, but will keep you posted on here so check in. Here is our new home, more pics to come!


Please make all support checks now to 3:18 Ministries.  You can mail them to
3:18 Ministries
PO Box 349
Globe, AZ 85502

Please put CREWS FAMILY in the memo line!

Thank you all!!!

Liz

Mission Monsoon

The weather is unseasonably hot here in Southern California...one of the last times I will be able to say that :)

We are now on the countdown clock now, 3 days till we pack a truck, 5 days until we are in Globe. Now there is a strong dose of reality. Someday, when I look back on this journey, I will laugh (no doubt), shed some tears, recall the powerful and amazing things God did to reveal Himself and His will to us. Our testimony is a powerful thing, it is our story of God in our lives. I know it better than anyone else, and it's my job to share it.

So, when you ask God to show you the writing on the wall, be prepared for the answer. You see early in the year we were on a skype call with the Satters dreaming of plans, trying to figure out when we could be there. I quietly said to God, after 4 + years You are going to have to show me the writing on the wall as to when to go, because I truly do not know. No one knew I had asked this of Him. Later that night our daughter Kathryn came into our room and sat on the end of the bed talking to us. She looked beyond me at the wall behind our bed strangely. We asked what she was looking at. She replied, what is that writing? Well, I was terrified to turn around! Did God actually write on my wall?? When we looked, she was staring at a piece of art we had purchased many years ago. It is a painting on silk by a favorite artist of ours in Laguna Beach, Linda Pirri. It is entitled Mission in Monsoon. It says it in small print on the bottom of the piece and she was trying to read it. She had never noticed the title before, though it had hung there for years. Coincidence you say? I don't think so.  God provided me the answer I had been searching for. It still gives me chills to retell it. While some don't get it or understand, I do. So we planned our move for Monsoon season, July - September. While I know it is now October, I am 100% convinced that this is the time. No doubts, no questions. I wouldn't be surprised to find out monsoon season went a little longer than usual this year in AZ, would you?

So, here we GO! Hang on for the ride!!

Liz

Time flies

Time has a way of dragging and flying; this is one of those flying times!

As I look at our calendar this week we have plans for every day and evening. We have been meeting with friends, saying good byes, of course packing. We spent the weekend at Church where we were prayed for and had a table set up to talk with people about what we are doing.

We have had some amazing moments and memories. The generosity and kindness of people has been overwhelming. God has truly showered us with love and blessings through all of you! As we finish up our last few days at our jobs, packing and saying some emotional good byes, we really appreciate your prayers and support. God continues to provide us partners in this journey, serving side by side with us, but we are praying for more.

Thank you does not seem like enough to be said for how grateful we are.

Please continue to pray for:

 ~ Finishing up preparing our house to move
 ~ Roberts travel to Globe this Sunday to work on our house and for his stamina and energy during this time
 ~ Some emotional good byes for all of us with family and friends
 ~ for an extremely hectic and busy first month for us in Arizona

Liz

It's time to GO!

Next Friday the 12th of October is my last day at Knott Avenue Christian Church.
Liz, Shelby (our youngest) and I will be moving to Globe Arizona to work with 3:18 Ministries. We are starting a new season in our lives, ministering to the Apache people.
This got me to thinking about the last 14 years at Knott Ave.
I was setting up the Fellowship Hall for "Young @ Heart", our seniors ministry, when the World Trade centers came down on September, 11 2001.
I remember the weeks when Alan was on vacation and I worked almost 21 straight days, no fun there I can tell you.
I can remember the first week I started working as Mike's assistant. During our Community Assistance, I sat and spoke with a woman who needed a place to stay. She and her infant daughter were going to be on the street. I thought, how can I not help her? When I asked, I was told that we didn't have any money or way to help her. I had to tell her that we couldn't help. But all I heard running around my head was, "You have to sleep in the bushes tonight." I know that isn't what I told her or what I was saying, but that's what I heard in my head. Crying, I told Mike I can't do this. He said next time I wouldn't have to talk to any women with small children. The next week Mike wasn't there so I had to sit and talk to everyone. You guessed it I had to tell another woman we couldn't help her. When we were done talking and I told her how sorry I was she was reassuring me that things would be OK.
I have a ton of stories from the last 14 years and I think they could fill a book. So I want to leave you with one more story. A story that will always make me smile.
I met a man named David "Cowboy" Hervert way back in 2000. He was homeless and living behind a dumpster. As the years went by Mike was able to baptise him. Then he started to get sick. We didn't know what was wrong. A homeless man with no insurance has little chance of getting better. Plus he was pretty stubborn and didn't "need" any ones help. As you can see by the picture to the right he ended up losing both of his legs. And in 2009 he passed away.
You may be saying how on earth does that make you smile? Well...
Liz and I went to the convalescent home he was in right after the third of multiple amputations. Actually I think this picture is from that time. His right leg was cut off above the knee and his left was cut off below the knee. The doctors told him if they couldn't get the infection under control that he would have to amputate more. Dave said, "I hope they cut off the left one up higher, 'Cause this looks stupid!" Right then he lifted his body up with his arms and started to wiggle his legs. Liz, Cowboy and I laughed. That's why I smile.
So on Monday October 22 Liz, Shelby and I will drive a moving truck to Globe, Arizona.
We will have a bunch of new stories to tell.
I hope you will join us on this journey. You are all welcome.
In Him,
Robert

2 weeks!!

2 weeks to go! We will be loading up a truck and heading for AZ 10/22. We can hardly believe it is finally here!

House rental agreement signed - check
26 foot moving truck rented - check
Packed boxes all over the house - check
Empty boxes all over the house - check, check                       

Still to do:
Garage sale Oct 13th
Last days of work
pack like mad people
say good bye to family and friends...

Come by and see us this Saturday and Sunday @ Knott Ave Christian Church.  We will be at all 4 services (Saturday @ 5pm, Sunday @ 8:30, 10, 11:30am). We will be under the pepper tree after each service, we would love to see you!