Dear Friend,
It’s that time of year again…an update! Sometimes, forgive me for my honesty I wonder if anyone really reads this. Of course I know that at some point we have crossed paths and that is how I know you. But oftentimes these letters get tossed aside without even being read. We glance at them when we have time and then throw them away in the trash, not that we don’t value that person, but they aren’t there in the midst, affecting our everyday. I admit I am not innocent of this.
I want to write to you because you affect my everyday. I want to write to let you in on what God is doing because at some point you allowed God to use you to love me in a way that I could never pay you back for. Your impact on my life whether it was a hug, a smile, Bible study or youth group, a retreat, a day event, Cutco demonstrations, letters, phone calls, Dairy Queen runs, gifts, or a visit, has been irreplaceable. You are a reason I am following this narrow road that God has laid out for me. I hope this letter can be a dedication of thanks to you and to my Lord who loved me enough to send you in to my life, if even for a short time. Know that you are thought of much more than I update you and that I give thanks every time my mind is with you for the energies you have put in to my life. You will never be forgotten and I am ever grateful, though these words never seem to be enough.
I am always wishing these letters could be longer, that I could describe every detail of my last year so that you would know the road on which I have treaded. Yet it is not to be, and it would probably be much more than you bargained for! My last year here at Maranatha Bible Camp has been more than I could have asked for or anticipated. I have learned more than I could ever convey and felt the arms of my Lord around me once again. I have taken many walks around the lake, spent afternoons writing on my favorite bridge, watched the stars late at night, and shared precious moments with friends. I have been blessed and I add them to the resume of people I have been privileged to share my life with.
This last year I can boast of having up to 5 roommates and many more during a sleepover (ah life at camp!), attended at least 8 weddings, seen the joy of many new little ones (and more arriving!), visited all over Nebraska, been blessed by a trip to Maui with my twin sister, Laureen, enjoyed co-leading River Run once again and completed my 5th summer as Maranatha Staff. I have also experienced deep loss with both my uncle and a very dear mentor passing away in January, within a week of each other during the anniversary month of my Grandmother’s death two years ago. I have also had to say goodbye not only to our summer staff for the 5th year, to several solid families by whom I have been loved, mentored, and included, but also to a young wife whom God deemed worthy to take home this last July. I am sure you are familiar with loss, and so I am in good company. I am so grateful to God for how He orchestrates what He knows I need the most even and most often, when I am not able to understand the why’s or I am aware of the need.
But now, it is my turn to move on and for a chapter to end. I have recently put in my “two weeks” here at Maranatha Bible Camp after a 6 ½ year relationship of being heavily involved (2004 – Baker; 2005-06 – Conference Center Manager; 2008-present – Kitchen Manager). After several months of prayer and gaining of wise counsel, the decision was made to leave come December. I have chosen to head to Shasta Bible College in California to pursue a Bachelors degree in Christian Professional Studies, emphasis has yet to be determined. After many choices were laid out, prayed over, and discussed, SBC came out as the wisest decision for this point in my life. I admit that this process has been one of the most difficult to traverse. I never thought it would be this heart-wrenching, but I deeply look forward to the workings of the hand of God as I trust Him.
He is ever faithful and my wish is to be loyal in return. So my prayer is that if God has something else, as I walk through this door, He would close it and lead me elsewhere. I am so excited for the future, even though there are so many unanswered questions and unknowns. I look forward to those people and circumstances He will bless me with to continue forming my character to look more like His Son. I know this is just one more step in the journey and I am overjoyed. Though I wonder….if God gives more to those who have been faithful in the small things, what could be bigger than being a kitchen manager at Maranatha?! Just a thought =)
Yours Faithfully,
Crystal
P.s. I got my ears pierced! Sorry!!!
Prayer Requests:
1. Good visit with family as I head home for Christmas!!!
2. Safety in travels
3. That I would be a blessing to my family
4. Finances for school (Needs $6,000)
5. Outside Job to help with bills
6. More work for my sister Laureen who just moved to Oregon
7. Good transitioning not only as I move locations but change job descriptions
8. That I would, everyday, be more transformed in to the likeness of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
9. Maranatha would soon hire a new Kitchen Manager!
10. May God continue to bless you and show you His love!!!
New Address!!! If you need it, let me know!!!
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