Recruiting, Recruiting, Recruiting

We have involved in several facets of the ministry since the first of the year. We have already started visiting churches to talk about our ministry. Last week we started taking a semester long class called "Perspectives". It is really good and you can read more about it on our personal blog (http://www.thecrossers.com/blog/2008/01/perspectives.html). But the aspect of our ministry that is taking the most time right now is recruiting. As you can see on our team's website, we are still recruiting for youth ministry, children's ministry and music outreach/worship ministry. We are spending hours on the phone and writing emails. It is receiving applications and reading them. It is calling references and checking with others who are involved in the decision making process. I love it! I think we are almost at a point of having our initial team formed though and that is a good thing. It allows us to focus on all the other things that need to get done before the initial team is ready to go to the field.

Gifts and Giftings

Here we are entering into a new year. So naturally our thoughts turn to new beginnings, fresh adventures, but most of all...finishing our year end reports. Ugh. As you know, I have been struggling with getting our mission finance records in order since we arrived back in the States. I won't go into the details, but it has been a fiasco. (Is that an Italian word? If it's not, it should be!) Anyway, I finally told Ann I needed her help. As she sat down next to me and started to put the pieces of the jigsaw mess together, she said something to the effect of, "You know, I really like doing work like this." Good Lord! I *hate* doing work like this. Figures, numbers, paperwork. I'd rather slash my wrists! But, God in His infinite foresight -- and mercy -- gave me Ann. To each one, God has given various gifts and talents. Mine is definitely not figures and finance. But, praise God, Ann's is. She definitely compliments me in many ways, and believe me, that's a *big* job! I think we just might be on track by the 15th.

A World Heritage Sight

851 properties are included in the World Heritage List. These are cultural and natural sites that are considered "having outstanding universal value." The city of Verona was added to the list in 2000. That's the city as a whole!

A Lot to Look Forward To

I've been reading Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven. What a fantastic place to be! Oh the people we'll meet and the things we'll see! Best of all, we get to hug Jesus!

I was recently reminded of another great aspect of Heaven. One I'm truly looking forward to. Jessica was dusting and perusing my Grandmother's books that were on the shelf. She found this: It is Benjamin Franklin's Epitaph on Himself.

The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and gilding, lies here, food for worms. But the work shall not be lost; for it will, as he believed, appear once more in a new and more elegant edition, revised and corrected by the Author.

What a fantastic thought! It goes for all of us! Isn't the love, grace, and faithfulness of God something else!

Help My Unbelief

In Junior Worship, one of my co-workers told the story of how God provided for the Israelites as the wondered around for half of a lifetime: water, meat, sweet honey bread… even clothes and shoes. She closed by saying, “If God can take care of the Israelites with all these miracles, can He take care of you?” Their feet didn’t even swell or get blisters. Yes, I know He can take care of me… and the long list we think has to be done before this GoVerona mission gets started.

Preparation for Verona

Since arriving back in the states on October 30, 2007 we have been extremely busy. We have done much in the way of preparing for the ministry in Verona. We have been involved in recruiting and promoting the work at the National Missionary Convention and it went really well. Hopefully, soon we can announce some of the news regarding that. Angie and I went to the bi-annual Team Leader summit hosted by Team Expansion where we were trained and encouraged in leading a team. Now we are back in Tulsa and are moving into a new apartment tomorrow morning. In January, we will start giving formal presentations to many churches around the country. If you are interested in having us come and speak just email us and let us know, mcrosser@teamexpansion.org. Thanks for reading!

A Lesson Learned

by April

In my college English class, I have always been a tough grader. One tiniest mistake made the whole answer wrong. Perfect or nothing.

However, now that I myself am learning another language... I find myself relaxing on my grading. I'd like to think of it as "having a little more grace". Yet, I want to teach my students to strive for excellence.

Isn't that the balance all teachers - all people - face? To reach high and forgive wide.

Pumpkin Provision

We haven't been in the US for the past 5 falls. In Hainan, where we have been, there isn't much to recognize about autumn. There, the weather cools off a bit. The kids know the season has changed when Mama gets out her fall decorations. We have been enjoying the sight of the leaves turning and, while Colorado's blue and gold autumns don't draw the crowds that New England's do, we have been thrilled by the spectacle.

Bryan, who was 4 on our last American fall, has been thrilled about every aspect of the experience. He was eager for the chance to dress up and attend the Harvest Festival at our home church. But he was really excited about the prospect of carving a pumpkin. They have pumpkins and various relatives in Hainan, but they pick them quite green. We never saw one of those big, bright orange pumpkins the entire time we were there. So you can see why Bryan was excited about the prospect of his own designer pumpkin. The other kids were looking forward to it too, but not with nearly as much anticipation.

Having some experience as a Pumpkin Carver, and as a mother with a few falls under her belt, I determined that we needed to wait till the end of October to get the pumpkins so that they would not rot too quickly. So even though there were piles of lovely orange pumpkins from the beginning of September on I was waiting patiently. John suggested contacting the local pumpkin farm and letting the kids pick their own. We both tried to contact them, but were unsuccesssful. Meanwhile, I had in my head that we needed to take everyone and let them pick a pumpkin.

I imagine you can guess the next part. That final week arrived and so did a dozen extra things to do. The 31st came and we were hustling out the door when Bryan asked if we were going to get pumpkins then. There wasn't time. We figured we'd go the next day. The next day and the one after that I called all over trying to find even one pumpkin for my very disappointed little boy. I had really let him down.

But we serve a tremendous God who loves us in amazing and lavish ways. He provided the perfect payment for our sins so we could be with Him for eternity. He provides for our daily needs; a roof over our heads and food to eat. He has seen to it that we have a vehicle, a place for our big kids to take Chemistry and other things that interest them, and violin lessons for Avonlea. He also loves Bryan enough to make sure he got a pumpkin.

The big kids and I were at the store today. There in a small bin in the produce section were, not one but FOUR, pumpkins. That was all that was there. There weren't three or five, but four. You can't imagine the smile on Bryan's face or the relief in my heart. Not just one for Bryan, but for each of our kids. It was as if God had saved those pumpkins just for them.

God gives us what we need when we trust Him. He even gives us what we want sometimes. And He loves to find a way to say, "You are very special to me. I love you, see!"

On the Road Again

Well, Angie and I arrived in the USA last Tuesday night and we are busy packing our things in order to head out once more. Tomorrow morning (Monday), we take off for a fifteen day trip. First we will go to Louisville, Kentucky where every two years, Team Expansion hosts a Team Leader Summit. This is an opportunity to grow, prepare, be encouraged, etc.... in the role of Team Leader. After that we stay in Louisville for a few days of fellowship and meetings. Then on November 15th we leave for Cincinnati, Ohio for the National Missionary Convention. We will be there for three days before we return once more to home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thanks for your prayers as we travel!

Xs and Os

I love to-do lists. I'm the kind of person who writes down things I've already done today that are normal every day things (wake up, brush teeth) on my to-do list just so I can mark them off.

Matt has arranged for our team to use not one - but two - on line sites that help us list and mark off our to do lists! So, first I get to write it with my permanent marker on my paper and then I get to put it on line, twice if I want. So, it's double, even triple, the pleasure when I get to check it off. Fun, fun!

For the last few months, Italy has seemed so far away. I've been telling people that Italy will seem more real when my to-do list has more Italy things than Haiti things. And lately, I've been doing a lot of Italy things.

I have a giant tic-tac-toe board in my classroom. I think you're supposed to throw beanbags at it. I use it for math games. I put cards with math facts on the front. Answer the question right, and you're team gets to turn it to the X or O.

Last night I dreamed that the cards on the board were things from my to-do list. Then, the Xs were for Italy and the Os were for Haiti.

Hmmm... someone would have a field day interpreting this dream! I'll leave them to it. As for me, I'm going to mark off "post on blog" on every to-do list I have.

Go Verona Radio - October 2007

Check out our latest Go Verona Radio podcast. This month highlights an interview with Jason Casey. It runs about 10 minutes and 30 seconds and includes topics such as ministry, prayer and working in different cities for the first time since 1997. The podcast that features Jason Casey is found at
http://goveronapodcast.blogspot.com/2007/10/go-verona-radio-october-2007.html

Also, if you weren't aware of last month's podcast with our Field Coordinator, Wayne Meece, and his wife, check it out at
http://goveronapodcast.blogspot.com/2007/09/go-verona-radio-september-2007.html
Our Go Verona Radio archive is found at http://goveronapodcast.blogspot.com/ and you can subscribe to the podcast at http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoVeronaRadioPodcast.

It Will Be OK

A confession: I am an artistic couch potato. I haven’t ballroom danced in four years. I haven’t sung an aria in five or painted in three. So, how’s this art thing going to work? How will I get my feet, lungs, fingers, muscles, and mind to get back in shape? What if it’s been too long and neither my mind nor my body can do it?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this and wondering if it is really possible? Since our outreach is going to circle around the arts… and since we’re doing this for the Lord’s glory, shouldn’t my artistic skills be excellent? Yes.

So, this weekend, while I was watching a ballroom dancing school showoff at a hotel I stayed in, I watched with a mixture of curiosity and those haunting questions of inadequacy. And then, with the help of a very confident friend, I asked a teacher if he would dance the Cha-Cha with me. He raised his eyebrows and said, “Sure.”

And my feet remembered. My arms knew what to do. My mind read his mind so I’d know what move was next. And the teacher asked me if I knew the Salsa. Yes, I did.

A large, heavy peace settled on my shoulders. It would be OK. God will teach me the things I need to get His work done. He will lead. And I will follow one step at a time.

What's that Number?

This weekend, my friend and I went to the capital city. I was giving room service our room number, and the lady couldn't understand me. Finally I realized I was saying the Italian numbers instead of French. Then, for the life of me, I couldn't say them in French... or English, for that matter!

Yippee!!!

Catching Up and Falling, Too...

Our internet has been out-of-commission here in Haiti. So, I've just now been able to catch up on emails and blogs and websites from the last two months.

And what a fun day!

I've read about what is going on in GoAncona, our sister team. I've watched as the Crossers have packed up years of ministry in preparation to move North. I've chatted with Ann about Anne of Green Gables. Oh! It's been delightful.

And, I'm surprised at how homesick I've become. I browsed through photos, looked at maps, read information about it, checked today's temperature (50 F)... and I long to be there.

Isn't this exactly what God gave to us in Revelation 21? Something to long for... something to fall in love with... something to call home?

And isn't this the whole point of GoVerona? Should this project really be called GoHeaven?

Perbillini di Isola Rizza

Seasonal Cooks
Sometimes I read an Italian magazine called Oggi. It is similar to a People magazine in America. I was recently reading one and was very surprised to see an article about a chef from Verona! His name is Giancarlo Perbellini and he is the chef at a restaurant called Perbellini di Isola Rizza. The title of the article was “We in the North Never Cook Out of Season”. This chef talks about how you can come into his restaurant and order the same dish but it will be different depending on what foods are in season at that time. The article said that the pasta e fasiol is the dish to try. I think once we get to Verona we will have to find this restaurant and try it…in all four seasons!

Verona People Video

We have a new video online. This one is about the people of Verona. As you watch it, you can pray for the people you see and generally for the people of Verona.

You can view it online at http://goveronavideos.blogspot.com/2007/10/verona-people.html

Or you can download the 800x600 wmv version from here - http://www.goverona.org/video/verona_people.wmv

Prayer Idea - Map of Verona Downtown

Follow the twelve highlighted areas found on the "tourism walking map" at
(http://www.comune.verona.it/turismo/Passeggiando/inglese/itineraryA/index.htm). As you explore the city pray for each area of this downtown zone.

• Pray that the enemy would be leave the area.
• Pray that the people's hearts in those areas would be fertile soil for the message of Christ.
• Pray that our team will find out how to reach the people who live and work in these areas.

Verona Buildings Video

Follow this link to view online our latest video of Verona. http://goveronavideos.blogspot.com/2007/10/verona-buildings.html

This one features buildings of Verona. As you explore the city by looking at these buildings, pray over each inhabitant that they might come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You can download to your computer the 800x600 wmv version of this video here (http://www.goverona.org/video/verona_buildings.wmv).