Day in and day out we look at the plight of the Apache people. Why are things so desperate on the Reservation? Why is unemployment so high? Why is there so much gang activity and violence? Why are children going hungry? What can we do?
I think the first thing we must do, OK the second thing, because the first thing is pray, and pray and pray some more. The second thing we must do is ask ourselves, why we are doing anything at all? Does what we do make any difference?
I mean, what is our ultimate goal? Are we trying to make sure everyone has a place to live? Are we trying to make sure that everyone eats? That everyone has a job? Because if that’s our goal, we are destined to fail. We will never build enough houses. We will never supply enough food, paint enough playgrounds. We will look at the task and just crumble, burn out, with no light at the end of the tunnel.
So what is the purpose? Our goal must be to declare the Glory of the LORD to all the nations. Our “job” is to share Jesus with every fiber of our being. Everything we do MUST be done to spread the Glory of the Lord. We can do that by building houses or feeding people. But that isn’t the goal.
Let me paraphrase P.T. Forsythe. We think the things we need to fix are greater than what Christ has already done. The greatest “need” on the reservation is less than Christ’s great victory.
Let’s work together so the Glory of the Lord will shine on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
Robert Crews
Three things. Saturday, December 18, 2010
Early on Saturday, December 18, 2010 Wayne was still asleep it was 6:00 a.m. He was supposed to be at work at 6:15, he was going to be late. After I woke him up he got ready and left by 6:15. (Don't worry, he called work.)
Liz, Shelby and I headed out to Knott Avenue to distribute Christmas gifts to kids from the local schools. As we drove we noticed that the street was blocked off so we had to take the long way. At the Church we started to set up for Operation Christmas Love. It's our opportunity to reach out to the people in our neighborhood. We handed out gifts to almost 100 kids who weren't going to much of a Christmas. It was an amazing time. We sang Christmas Carols, watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas", Mike and Jerry spoke to everyone. It was awesome.
When we were done we went to lunch. On the way to Hoff's we drove by the corner that was blocked off earlier. There was evidence of an accident, but for the most part is was all cleaned up.
Around 5:00 a.m. Steven Uselton is talking to his 17 year old so
n Douglas, you see Doug was going to a speech and debate tournament and his dad didn't want him driving in the rain. So He decided to drive him to the debate. As he was crossing Crescent at Knott Ave. an 18 year old kid was drunk and ran a red light hitting and killing both Steven and Doug.
n Douglas, you see Doug was going to a speech and debate tournament and his dad didn't want him driving in the rain. So He decided to drive him to the debate. As he was crossing Crescent at Knott Ave. an 18 year old kid was drunk and ran a red light hitting and killing both Steven and Doug.A few days later we drove to the spot where Steven and Doug were killed. We place a bouquet of flowers on the sidewalk. When we got back to the house Liz told me Wayne was pretty upset. He said that that should have been him that morning. He had overslept, his alarm never went off.
It got me to thinking. I know God loves us and protects us each and every day. I truly believe that God protected my son on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 5:30 a.m. I believe he made sure Wayne was nowhere near that corner.
It was a great day, a terrible day and a miraculous day.
But any way you look at it God is in control.
In Him,
Robert
Is 2010 really coming to an end? Seems like yesterday I was writing our year end newsletter and now, here it is again. I looked back on our letter for reference and again realize this is not where we had hoped to be at this time, but the comforting thought is that this is where our heavenly Father knew we would be.
It’s funny while most people loathe change, we are craving it. But still we are here, waiting patiently for His perfect timing for us. Yet, this year did have a lot of change, perhaps not what we had wanted, but change none the less.
Shelby is now a junior in High School and has taken on some leadership roles including working with and leading a life group of Jr High girls at our church. She has been debating her future which looks like it may include some culinary arts skills.
Kathryn is still working part time at Kohl’s department store and attending Goldenwest College. She keeps herself quite busy with work, school, and teaching in Children’s Ministry, dating a nice young man,
serving on the worship team, etc.
Wayne has probably gone through the most changes this year. He started a new job with his favorite place in the world, Disneyland. He is driving the submarines helping families looking for Nemo. He has always loved Disney and now that he works there he sees a future for himself. So much so, he asked his girlfriend, Jamie, to marry him with all of our family’s blessings. They have set their date for November 5 next year and we could not be happier to officially have another daughter in our family.
Liz continues working at CDF and loving being able to work with the people there and the churches they serve. She completed her Certificate program in Christian Counseling after 2 ½ years as well. Her shoulder had been causing her a lot of pain and after a manipulation that didn’t last long; she finally had surgery in May to relieve some of the pain. After almost 2 years of hurting, physical therapy, 2 surgeries, she has total motion and is 95% pain free.
Robert has kept quite busy working at Knott Ave with our missionaries all over the world and benevolence needs right here in our town, refereeing hockey on weekends, working on his T-Shirt design/screening business, coordinating the annual Operation Christmas Love event where our church provides gifts for families at Christmas who otherwise would have none.
This year did have some special highlights for our family besides the impending nuptials. Some very good friends of ours started a new ministry at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. We have been honored to walk alongside them, praying weekly with them, supporting their new God inspired venture. We joined them in August to help with a team from Long Beach, California that was there to work with them. It is exciting to see them working so hard at following God’s desires for them, and in return experiencing the blessings that come with it. Please take a moment and check out what they are doing http://www.3-18ministries.com/ or on Facebook (search for 3:18 Ministries).
But our highlight of the year had to be our 25th wedding anniversary. July 3, 2010 marked a quarter century of marriage for us. We were given an amazing timeshare condo in Las Vegas for a week by Robert’s generous parents, and the whole family was able to be there at least part of the time. We swam, went sightseeing, ate some amazing food and saw some extraordinary hotels. We saw Phantom of the Opera while there; drove through Red Rock ate at the Bellagio and overall had an incredible time together with our family.
We have been truly blessed with each other, our families, friends, all of you…we are so grateful for your prayers and support. God’s plan for us is coming together; we can all see it and
feel it. God is preparing each of us for our futures in very different ways. Our kids are finding their places on what they want to do and where they want to be. As for us, pieces of our puzzle are coming together as well. Knott Ave is offering a class in the New Year which will get us one step closer to Arizona. It is Perspectives in World Missions, a 14 week class that can be taken for college credits. We are praying about attending and the finances to be able to do it.
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10a)
We are holding on, preparing and waiting. Thank you for making the journey with us. We are praying God’s must abundant blessings for each of you in this New Year!
The Crews Family
It’s funny while most people loathe change, we are craving it. But still we are here, waiting patiently for His perfect timing for us. Yet, this year did have a lot of change, perhaps not what we had wanted, but change none the less.
Shelby is now a junior in High School and has taken on some leadership roles including working with and leading a life group of Jr High girls at our church. She has been debating her future which looks like it may include some culinary arts skills.
Kathryn is still working part time at Kohl’s department store and attending Goldenwest College. She keeps herself quite busy with work, school, and teaching in Children’s Ministry, dating a nice young man,
serving on the worship team, etc.Wayne has probably gone through the most changes this year. He started a new job with his favorite place in the world, Disneyland. He is driving the submarines helping families looking for Nemo. He has always loved Disney and now that he works there he sees a future for himself. So much so, he asked his girlfriend, Jamie, to marry him with all of our family’s blessings. They have set their date for November 5 next year and we could not be happier to officially have another daughter in our family.
Liz continues working at CDF and loving being able to work with the people there and the churches they serve. She completed her Certificate program in Christian Counseling after 2 ½ years as well. Her shoulder had been causing her a lot of pain and after a manipulation that didn’t last long; she finally had surgery in May to relieve some of the pain. After almost 2 years of hurting, physical therapy, 2 surgeries, she has total motion and is 95% pain free.
Robert has kept quite busy working at Knott Ave with our missionaries all over the world and benevolence needs right here in our town, refereeing hockey on weekends, working on his T-Shirt design/screening business, coordinating the annual Operation Christmas Love event where our church provides gifts for families at Christmas who otherwise would have none.
This year did have some special highlights for our family besides the impending nuptials. Some very good friends of ours started a new ministry at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. We have been honored to walk alongside them, praying weekly with them, supporting their new God inspired venture. We joined them in August to help with a team from Long Beach, California that was there to work with them. It is exciting to see them working so hard at following God’s desires for them, and in return experiencing the blessings that come with it. Please take a moment and check out what they are doing http://www.3-18ministries.com/ or on Facebook (search for 3:18 Ministries).
But our highlight of the year had to be our 25th wedding anniversary. July 3, 2010 marked a quarter century of marriage for us. We were given an amazing timeshare condo in Las Vegas for a week by Robert’s generous parents, and the whole family was able to be there at least part of the time. We swam, went sightseeing, ate some amazing food and saw some extraordinary hotels. We saw Phantom of the Opera while there; drove through Red Rock ate at the Bellagio and overall had an incredible time together with our family.
We have been truly blessed with each other, our families, friends, all of you…we are so grateful for your prayers and support. God’s plan for us is coming together; we can all see it and
feel it. God is preparing each of us for our futures in very different ways. Our kids are finding their places on what they want to do and where they want to be. As for us, pieces of our puzzle are coming together as well. Knott Ave is offering a class in the New Year which will get us one step closer to Arizona. It is Perspectives in World Missions, a 14 week class that can be taken for college credits. We are praying about attending and the finances to be able to do it.You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10a)
We are holding on, preparing and waiting. Thank you for making the journey with us. We are praying God’s must abundant blessings for each of you in this New Year!
The Crews Family
Point of view.
As I sit here wondering what to get everyone for Christmas. I mean there just isn't the money there was the last few years. The economy is bad we know. But I mean we don't make nearly as much as three years ago. We are struggling. Just the whole thought of money sometimes consumes me. It really stresses me.
Then I get a call from a woman who just got over a case of scabies, she has hives; she needs to get to Hemet, because in Orange County you can only live in a motel for 28 days (straight) then you must move out. So she's going to Hemet to stay with her sister but needs $10 for the bus trip. When she gets back she is going to be one day short for her rent as she will not get her check until the 3rd.
CRAP!!!
I think I'll let Christmas take care of itself.
Robert
Then I get a call from a woman who just got over a case of scabies, she has hives; she needs to get to Hemet, because in Orange County you can only live in a motel for 28 days (straight) then you must move out. So she's going to Hemet to stay with her sister but needs $10 for the bus trip. When she gets back she is going to be one day short for her rent as she will not get her check until the 3rd.
CRAP!!!
I think I'll let Christmas take care of itself.
Robert
Sisyphus
Yesterday the word Sisyphus kept running through my head. That's all I could think of...Sisyphus...Sisyphus. What does it mean?...Sisyphus...I know I heard it before...Sisyphus...Was it in High School?...Sisyphus...No matter what I was working on...Sisyphus...A woman called to ask me to send her some CDs of the weekend services...Sisyphus...
So I looked it up. According to Wikipedia, Sisyphus was a king punished in Tartarus by being cursed to roll a huge boulder up a hill in Greek mythology.
I thought that is exactly how I feel. Everyday I come into work and push this huge boulder up a huge hill only to come back to work the next day and do it all over again. I'm tired every day. I don't sleep well and I'm emotionally drained. Every single day.
Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy my job. It's just I don't feel this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I feel God's call to be in Arizona.
I told Liz I have this feeling of wanting to be out on the Reservation doing What God wants me to do.
But for now I will keep pushing the boulder up that stinking hill...Sisyphus...I just wish it didn't roll over the top of me each day.
Robert
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