[sepc] Fwd: New Year. New Hope. New Challenges.

[Alicia Crumley]

Please read below for information on the Crusey's current situation and
prayer requests.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Liz and Todd <hello at impossible-bird.org>
Date: Mon, Feb 8, 2021, 12:17 PM
Subject: New Year. New Hope. New Challenges.
To: Ali and Damon <dnacrumley at gmail.com>


*Happy New Year!*

After an exhausting and unexpected 2020, we enter a new year with hopeful
expectation. 2021 doesn't magically erase the pain and loss of the past
year, nor does it bring a sudden end to our uncertainty and waiting, but it
does remind us that God's story is always moving forward. We don't know
what God has planned for us in this new year, but we know that he has
brought us safe thus far and we know he will not leave us or forsake us.
Now and always, God is Able!

We ended 2020 by celebrating Finn's 4th birthday. It was a quiet birthday.
No party or big outings. It was a stark reminder of what we have and what
we are missing. We look forward to a time when we can freely gather
together with family and friends to celebrate life's moments, but we are
also deeply grateful for our little boy who has already survived so much.
He is a gift and a daily reminder of God's grace.

For now, we are continuing to stay in California, close to Liz's dad. We
are grateful to have this time to help with both the practical and
emotional aspects of carrying on after the incredible loss of Liz's mom.
Many days have been spent looking through old pictures, making meals from
Liz's mom's recipe box, and telling stories mixed with laughter and tears.
Since there wasn't a memorial service for Liz's mom, these times together
are providing us with vital opportunities to remember, grieve, and give
thanks for her life.

In the weeks ahead, we are praying that God will give us clear direction
for how long to stay in California, as well as when and where we should go
next. In the meantime, we've been taking leadership and training courses
online and we're pursuing opportunities to share our vision for Perth with
new friends and churches here on the Central Coast. God is continuing to
raise up new partnerships, even in the midst of the pandemic. We are deeply
humbled and grateful for these partnerships. Thank you for joining with us
in the strange season of waiting. Pray with us that God will keep moving us
forward!

*New Hope *

Around the first of the year, Qantas Airlines (Australia's Largest Carrier)
started allowing passengers to books flights from the US beginning in July
2021. While this is still far off, it came as an encouraging sign that
travel restrictions may soon be lifting. COVID case numbers are extremely
low in Australia. From April 2020 to January 2021, Perth had ZERO cases of
community transmission of COVID-19. Life there has nearly returned to
normal. However, precisely because the case numbers are so low, Australia
is also reluctant to break with the protocols that have kept the virus at
bay. Currently, we still cannot apply for an immigration visa.

*New Challenges*

On Sunday, January 31st Perth discovered a case of COVID in the community
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=0c8a265022&e=ab4a816000>.
This brought an end to 10 months of no community spread and triggered a
five day lockdown. On Friday, February 5th the lockdown was lifted on
schedule after no new local cases were found. These steep measures seem to
be effective at stopping the virus, but they also keep Australia in a
prolonged state of isolation. Regional travel and training are a regular
part of missionary work, but during the pandemic, these vital resources are
not available. While our team members in Perth are able to meet for church
services, the inability to travel to and from Australia also makes their
work considerably more difficult. Please join us in praying that God will
begin lifting travel restrictions, not only so we can submit our visa
application, but also so our team members can resume necessary and
important travel.

Also last week, a growing brush fire in Perth
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=d9e35d9af3&e=ab4a816000>
has destroyed 86 homes and displaced families in the midst of the lockdown.
Rainfall over the weekend and a change in the wind seems to be helping
firefighters to get the fire under control. Please pray for those affected
by these fires and for those who have lost their homes.
*MTW Virtual Missions Conference*
February 19-20, 2021

MTW is hosting a live virtual conference, complete with plenary sessions
and workshops. Learn how God is moving around the world in the midst of the
pandemic. Individuals, groups, and churches are welcome.

For more information and to register for free, click here
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=92412be91a&e=ab4a816000>
.
Donate Now!
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=4e085d345d&e=ab4a816000>
*"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of
you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel"
(Philippians 1:3-5)*

God is Able!
[image: Facebook]
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=e6eca5e6c0&e=ab4a816000>
[image: Twitter]
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=5c8b157ec6&e=ab4a816000>
[image: Link]
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=1fb7639591&e=ab4a816000>
[image: Website]
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=9ca2ea475b&e=ab4a816000>
*Copyright © 2021 Cruseys in Perth, All rights reserved.*
You are receiving this email because you signed up for our updates.

*Our mailing address is:*
Cruseys in Perth
28488 Rose Vervain Drive
Spring, TX 77386

Add us to your address book
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/vcard?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=1aaf2dec65>


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/profile?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=1aaf2dec65&e=ab4a816000&c=5f0b7b4a49>
or unsubscribe from this list
<https://impossible-bird.us20.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&id=1aaf2dec65&e=ab4a816000&c=5f0b7b4a49>.


[image: Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp]
<http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral_marketing&aid=8f8e37b8895e00c61d3e424d5&afl=1>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.st-elmo.org/pipermail/sepc/attachments/20210217/35d46b16/attachment.html>