This summer has been a whirlwind of ministry opportunities for our family. We spent the month of May in the Philippines, participating in two different music camps, one in Nueva Ecija, and the other in Amadeo, Cavite. The camps were well attended, with over forty-five local churches sending delegates. The ministry team was composed of Filipinos, Aussies, Americans, and even a family from Singapore. Our goal is to help educate and instruct the next generation of church musicians, not only in proper technique, but also in instilling Biblical principles of music. The Lord gave us a very fruitful time there, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way. Please pray as our ministry there continues. If you would like to see more of what we did while there, please click on the following link to watch a short video of our ministry in the Philippines. https://youtu.be/POkv5bvi4qQ
After returning home in the first week of June, we had a few days to recover from jetlag before taking off again – this time for camp in New Mexico. We were nearly 100 miles east of El Paso when the axle on our trailer broke, and the wheel went wandering off on its own. We pulled over on the side of the interstate, and began to assess the situation. It was not good. The wheel actually came to rest about ten feet behind the trailer, much better than the last time we lost a wheel (it bounded away and probably ended up in the Ohio River). Our immediate thought was thankfulness that no one was hurt or endangered in any way, either our family, or the motorists all around us. I would like to insert here that your prayers for an evangelist as he travels are much needed, and very appreciated.
Paul strapped up the axle and we limped along the interstate until we could get onto a service road, going about 15 miles per hour the whole way. The closest thing to civilization was the town of Sierra Blanca, Texas. It looks more like a ghost town than a thriving municipality, but beggars can’t be choosers, as they say. We found an RV park and set up there, while trying to get in touch with mechanics, insurance companies, and other people who needed to be notified of our unexpected delay. To make a long story short, we ended up packing up our belongings and leaving the trailer to the tender mercies of a very unusual, colorful, tin-hat wearing man who oversaw the RV park. In return, he solicited our votes for the 2020 presidential election… that is, if he hadn’t already left on the Mother Ship for the next closest inhabitable planet. Seriously.
The remainder of the trip to Silver City, NM was made without incident. Camp was, as usual, very busy. There were about forty campers this year, and of those we saw five saved, as well as other life decisions made. It is so gratifying to battle adversity and discouragement and watch God win the victory in young hearts and lives. The trailer axle was being repaired while we were up the mountain at camp, and Paul was able to drive and pick up the trailer with a friend and bring it to Silver City, where additional repairs were made in town. I was really glad to have my little home on wheels in the same general area again.
After camp, we had a few days to breathe, and spent them with friends in Arizona over the weekend. We were able to attend the world’s oldest rodeo in Prescott, AZ, and it was a great show the night we went! We traveled most of the day on July 4th, heading to West Virginia for our last scheduled week of camp. We managed to cover 2300 miles in about four days, with a Sunday thrown in as well. It was quite the journey.
We arrived at Wildwood Christian Retreat on Monday and jumped into another busy schedule. Since it is a junior camp week, only our two younger children are campers, while the older two look on with a mixture of amusement and envy at the good time their siblings are having. As I write this, we are anticipating the final service of camp tonight. One never knows the impact that the Word of God has on the hearts of those who hear it. We are praying that this week will be a turning point for young people. Please continue to keep us in prayer as we serve the Lord in the ministry of evangelism.
Sarah Crow
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