Almost homeward bound

They have safely made it to Dhaka.  They are staying in a house that has cold A/C.  Before heading back to Dhaka they visited the village that the elephants had ran through.  They said it looked like a tornado had touched down.  But luckily, no one was killed. They also hosted a conference for 200 people. They traveled 10 hours by car to Dhaka.  The roads were horrible since it was the rainy season.  They saw an overturned bus on one of the roads.  And the locals said it was very common that that happened.   They are treated like royalty which Jessica says is  embarrassing for them.  They have to be at the airport at 1am Monday their time; 2pm Sunday our time.  They miss ice, razors, and running water.  All the little things that are taken for granted in our daily lives. 

Ponds and Bathing

Yes.....unfortunately that is their way of bathing.  Clean? No  Better than nothing? Yes
Jessica did have a fish jump over her head while she was bathing the other day.  They trekked 7 miles; app. 2 hours to a hospital where they were able to see babies born and people dying. It  is not any different from what you would experience at a hospital in the states.  The circle of life is truelly universal. 
The bugs are much worse this year.  So they are all hoping for no malaria. 
Jessica and Mike sponsor a child at a camp in Bangladesh and where able to visit that camp and actually met the child they sponsor.  They were able to give her a gift and they said it was a nice experience. 
Tomorrow they are to visit and "elephant" village.  A herd of elephants demolished five houses in the village.  They say this is quite common.  The stars there are amazing!!!  While walking through the woods they were able to turn off their flashlights and they saw thousands of fireflies.  They said it was beautiful.  They leave next Monday and return to DFW next Tuesday night around 11. I know this blog does not do all their experiences there justice.  But atleast we know that they are safe and having a great time. Until we hear from them again....have a blessed day!!

Rain.........

It is officially the rainy season in Bangladesh.  The good news is that it is cool.  The roads are flooded and they saw a dead cow floating in the river.  They visited Compassion Intl and a village of Hindu converts.  She said it was a wonderful experience.  They have met the kindess most giving people you could imagine. The ants love to snack on their hands and arms and they planted some plants at a hospital in ant beds.  Very painful.....they are missing anti-itch medicine.  Someone on their team picked up a poisonous frog and their hand itched horribly the rest of the day.  Mike has a bad cold but they luckily have amoxicilln.  Due to the constant rain they are staying wet.  Jessica washed their clothes but they have not dried yet.  So they are on day three of wearing the same clothes.  They saw a Hindu temple in a village where they were sacrificing goats, cows and ducks.  And prayed for many in that village.  Tomorrow they will make 5 mile walk to a hospital and stay there over night.  Happy Father's Day from Bangladesh!!!

Tiger Attack!!!!

Just kidding no tiger attack.  But Jessica did say that she was bit by a tiger..... but she followed it up with just kidding.  So really all is well.  They did see a 3 inch cricket, which is bad enough!!!!   They are enduring the heat and the chicken curry diet.  A lady at their house had a bug crawl in her ear in the night and Jessica was able to extract it with tweezers and alcohol.  I think Jessica decided to start sleeping with ear plugs. Yesterday, they hosted a youth conference for over 150 kids! Mike played soccer with all the kids.  He was the only one wearing tennis shoes and he kept stepping on all the kids feet.  So he decided to even the playing field and took off his shoes.  I thnk he wound up doing more damage to his own toes then the kids in the end.  Tomorrow they will go and visit other villages.  Continue to keep them in thier prayers as the Lord uses them for His work.

MADE IT!!!

Jessica and Mike arrived safely in Bagladesh Friday.  They said they had a great flight.  Jessica was able to have a gluten free meal and ironically Mike sat next to a man from Spain who plays the tuba.  On their first "official" day in Bangladesh, exhaustion was overwhelming.  But many good things happened as well,  Mike baptisized 18 people and they led a conference for over 100 people.  The Lord is already putting them to use!! They are already on their curry and rice diet and the heat is in full force.  But as they said- welcome to Bangladesh.  I will post things as often as Jessica and Mike send us updates.  Thank you for your continuing prayers for them.

Ready and Willing!

We leave in less than 48 hours and instead of packing, I am updating my iTunes, checking Bangladesh news and emailing! I know we have A LOT to do in the next 24 hours but I'm not too worried! The lawn, the bills, the packing, the mail...it is so easy to get caught up in the last minute preparation. But I came across an article tonight of a rickshaw driver in Bangladesh that is building a hospital with $4,000 savings. He is changing his village using every resource he has! I am so encouraged by his perseverance and dedication to his dream.(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18195227)

I am excited to know that in the next 72 hours I will be half a world away answering to a call much larger than I am! Mike and I are so excited to see friends from last year, visit children we met and continue to spread the Gospel. We are so eager to see what God has in store for us this year. Why did he ask us to go AGAIN? I know my mom is asking that question! It is so clear that he is calling us there this year. I don't know why, but I know we are ready (or will be...) and willing!


God Bless you all for supporting us! Mike and I are blessed with a wonderful family and supportive friends. For now, my sister Amanda will be updating the blog. Until then, we LOVE you all!

Back to Bangladesh!

It is hard to believe that it has been one year since our last trip to Bangladesh! We are leaving Thursday for round 2!This year we have a team of 9 (including me and Mike). We will be in Bangladesh for 20 days! We have an incredible opportunity this year to host a conference for the leaders of the churches in northern Bangladesh. The guys on our trip are focusing the conference on the five purposes of the church. The ladies will have an opportunity to break off into small groups with other women. In "lady-like" fashion, we will also focus on the church but include get to know you games, jewelry making and ooey gooey talks. We are really looking forward to it!

If you would like to help us along the trip, we ask that you pray! Pray that the Holy Spirit will speak through all of us as we witness to nonbelievers and speak at the conferences. We are NOT qualified to do this, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can! Also ask that our team will be protected while we travel. Health, rest, good water and unity are all important! We will experience interesting foods and less than perfect water. Pray that our guts are receptive!

Below is a picture of our team. Top (Left to Right): Christy, Jeff, Mike, Kevin, Ryan  Bottom (Left to Right): Malabika, Jarrie, Jessica, Amanda

The Lord is faithful and He will provide for us every step of the way. Our team has prepared for 5 months for this trip. We can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us!

Moving On

Jessica and Mike are now headed to Askipara, where they will use their pack daily and lose the luxury on electricity. From all the text messages we have been receiving they are truly having a memorable experience. She said that at every village they have visited they have experienced nothing but overwhelming gratitude and generosity. Their main food supply has been rice and eel, but yesterday Jessica actually saw the "eel" and she described it as more of a large worm/snake creature than anything. I think it may have ruined her appetite a bit.

In one of the villages they visited, they came in contact with a girl that was believed to be possessed by demons. Once they began praying she started to go crazy and as soon as they prayed for a few minutes she was at peace. God certainly was at work with them for that girl.

They have been overwhelmed by the heat and sweat. I think Jessica has began to develop a heat rash that will unfortunately not subside until she is away from the heat. They have encountered a few large spiders and an elephant, that we know of. Please continue to pray God will be at work as they travel.

Safe Landing

Jessica and Mike landed safely in Dahka today. From all the texts that we have received everything seemed to have gone as planned. The only minor hitch was that Jessica and Mike forgot their shot records. The only problem with that is when they try to get back in the US. But they said they would deal with that when the time came.
The flight to London was very cold she said, so they were able to only sleep a few hours. But that the flight from London to Abu Dahbi was the Cadillac of planes. Yet the connecting flight from Abu Dahbi to Dahka was packed with Arabic men. Hopefully we will hear from them soon. Until then continue to pray for them and those that God has sent for them to touch.

And we're OFF!

We leave in seven hours to the land of Bengal Tigers! We are super excited and can't wait to see whats in store for us. So far the local headlines are gawking over Bangladesh's heat wave, bringing temperatures of 104 and a humidity of 80%. At night, we can expect 95 degree temperatures. One things for sure, we will ALL lose our water weight!

We will be able to call our family when the lines are open. My sister will update the blog when they hear from us. We promise these next few weeks will be full of adventure and the power of Christ! We can't wait to see what the Lord will reveal to us.

Please pray for all of the members of the team: Mike and Jessica Crain, Tim and Jenifer Newton, Malabika Chisim, Tina Anderson and Shawn Thomas.

Thanks again to everyone for your support in prayer and financially. We can't wait to return with amazing stories!

Love to you all!

The Crains

Almost Time!

We leave in about a month for Dhaka, Bangladesh. Our flight is booked and our visas are on their way! As time approaches, each member of our team needs more and more prayer. Please pray for travel security, arrangements in Bangladesh, hearts to be opened and health for our team.

Thank you for your prayers and we will keep everyone updated!

A New Adventure!

On June 8th, Mike and I are traveling to Bangladesh with six other men and women. We will be in Bangladesh for the entire month of June working in villages located in the north. Each day, we will travel to a different village and work in schools, hospitals and hostels.

Please begin to pray that the Lord will open hearts in Bangladesh and begin to move in the villages that we will be visiting. Please also pray that he will suppress our fears and provide for us financially!

To see more pictures and a few videos you can go to this link.

http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1868307027/a=3445132027_3445132027/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

We're Back!

We touched US soil on Monday afternoon. As soon as we arrived, my family was waiting with a Swahili welcome sign and then took Mike and I to Mi Cocina. I have never tasted such satisfying food and sweet tea! Mike and I came home and crashed immediately! And now it seems that we are back to normalcy. Mike is back at work, the laundry is done, the refrigerator is stocked, and the yard is mowed. But it isn't the same. Mike and I both miss Africa like crazy.

Our trip was better than we expected. It was almost as if Mike and I fit in Morgoro. Mike spent most of his time working with some of the members of the church digging the foundation for a high school dorm. Alex Mwagalale (the pastor of Morogoro Baptist) has established a special high school about 20 miles outside of Morogoro for students that need to leave the village for their safety. There are 35 boys and girls that range from the ages of 15 to 21. They live at the high school and attend classes from 8 to 2. Mike and the Tanzanians worked to build a new dorm for some of the students. The labor wouldn't have been so intense if they had a backhoe- but they didn't. They had a tool similar to a large ice pick. They successfully removed stumps (I think the Americans removed 1/2 a stump and the Africans 7) and built the trenches to pour the foundation for the dorm. Building the dorm and working with the Africans really strengthened the friendship between the men. By the time we left, Mike had new African brothers. As a departing gift, Mike gave each one an African bracelet (a manly one) to remind them of the time they spent together. Mike received an email yesterday from his friend Minja, expressing his appreciation for their new friendship. Minja told Mike that it was very hard to say good bye, but every time he looks at his bracelet he thinks of the blessings from the Lord.


I spent most of my time at Paduka (the high school) teaching English and Geography. It was very interesting to see the look on the kids faces when I showed them pictures of the ocean, the moutains, and New York City. Although they live only one hour from the ocean, they have never seen it. Most of them have never been outside of Morogoro. Spending time with the kids was such a blessing. They have so much joy, with so little worldly possessions. Food is scarce and water has to be fetched twice a day from a hole 3/4 of a mile away (in the mountains). They wash their clothes in buckets on Saturday, and iron all of their clothes with metal and hot coals. They have maybe two shirts and one skirt- and maybe one pair of shoes. Their water is contaminated and they get typhoid and malaria often. They cook on coals, and wash their pots with sand (a scrubbing agent) and precious water. They work every afternoon and Saturday to "trim the environment" or clear fields. They hope to someday plant some crops and have a place to play soccer. They know that their conditions are poor, but they know that their reward is in Heaven. They love the Lord with a passion that I have never experienced. I wish you could witness their worship for just one minute- because it would change your life. They cry out to the Lord in thanksgiving! As an American, I don't know if I could cry out to the Lord in thanks, given those circumstances. But as we see it as a lack of clean water, and lacking a kitchen, and lacking this or that- they see it as a blessing to even have water, or even have a place to live! Their perspective is far above mine.

Mike and I went to Africa hoping to teach them something. But we found that they taught us more than we will ever understand. We learned about hard work, perseverance, patience, thanksgiving, worship, praise, fellowship- and most of all, JOY. The relationships that we built over there are everlasting. Of course, we would love to return to Morogoro next year, but on the Lord knows what is in store. Everything can change in a years time. But we do take comfort that even if we don't see any of our friends again on earth, we will spend eternity with them. And I guarantee you that the people of Morogor will be blessed in eternity. Kay Shelton shared this verse with me on the trip, and I think it is a perfect illustration of the people of Morogoro.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether live in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me stength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. "
Phillipians 4:11-14

I have never gone more than 24 hours without eating, and I have never woken up wondering if there will be food available to me. But this is a concern for the people of Morogoro daily. There concerns are truly life threatening. They worry about food and water, we worry about saving extra money or buying a new gadget. Maybe we can't pay our satellite bill or can't buy extra clothes, but the Lord has always blessed us with food, clean water, shelter and clothes.

Yesterday, I found myself viewing people in a new light. I want to see people the way that the Lord sees them. All too often I look at people's things, and not their heart. Imagine what our life would be like if we looked at everyone's heart? I don't know...

I really wish I could summarize for you the kind of love that exists in Morogoro. Pictures can't explain it. Mike and I were very blessed to have spent the time that we did with the people. But I beleive that we were so blessed because the Lord called us, and we responded. The Lord does not call everyone to Africa. He calls people to China, Mexico, Dallas, Colorado, your neighborhood...the list goes on. But I have learned that when the Lord calls you, and you respond, he will bless you. Don't ge me wrong, parts of the trip were difficult. I felt fear like I had never felt before. I seriously thought I was going to die twice (I'm very imaginative...I doubt I was ever in TRUE danger). But I am so so so thankful that I went. My relationship with the people of Morogoro, our mission team, my husband and the Lord has all been strengthened. Thank you all for your loev and support. We felt your prayers while we were gone and could not have completed this trip without you.

We love you all and pray that God will bless you! Mungu awabarik!

Words from Jessica

Jessica sent me this email today...so I will let her do the talkimg

We made it to germany. I dont have a phone to call but the guy let me use his internet to email. We are in a really nice house, it is 3 stories and a basement....which is HUGE for germany. we are on the top floor in our own apartment. the flight was really good. no turbulance. tomorrow we will be tourists in the town. I am STARVING constantly. When we got to the house, the mother had pizza and bread for us to eat. I am so sick of my bars and i havent had meat since i left the U.S. except for the chicken with the feathers and lungs. I am hoping tomorrow to get some sausage or something with substance. We have a wedding on saturday, church Sunday and coming home Monday. We are ready to be home, but its nice to visit with the Germans. We picked up on swahili so much in Tanzania, now we have to pick up on German. We have found ourselves using swahili words and people just staring at us.

Homeward Bound

Jessica and Mike have made it safely to the airport in Dar Es Salaam. Their plane left at 3am their time. But they got to the airport about 9:30 pm their time. It is very unsafe to travel by night there and it takes 3 hours to travel by car to the airport so they left Morogoro early to avoid traveling at night. So as I type this they should be airborne to Etiopia were they will land at 6:45 am. They will then have a layover in Etiopia until 10am where they will board another flight to Franfurt, that will land at 435pm. They will then have until Monday the 26th in Germany where they will leave and arrive back at DFW at 225pm. Lots of traveling and lots of layovers. I am sure they will be exhausted by the time they arrive at their house Monday.

Safari Success

Well their safari adventure today was a success. Jessica said while they were out exploring they saw elephants, zebras, hippos, baboons, giraffes, and lions. Yes and all of these were in the wild!!! She said they got about 30 feet away from everything. Luckily they weren't chased by anything and I don't think that they got lost. But what a cool experience!!! The only time they got a little nervous was when they were near the lions, which would scare me too.

The cook at their hotel approached Jessica and told her how much she really enjoyed her being there and she gave her a dress. Of course these people make so little money so to give a dress was a HUGE gift. Jessica gave her a gift in return...so sweet!!

I wish there was more to report, but that's it folks...until next time.

DIY Safari

It's hard to believe that Jessica and Mike will be leaving Thursday morning to start heading home from Africa. They still won't get back to Dallas until Monday. But when I talked to her today she really wasn't ready to leave. It's hard to believe that this village has no access to the outside world. The people there don't have computers or phones in their homes and there is no mail service. So once they leave, there will be no more communication. She says that they have all gotten very attached to the girls they have been working with. The girls don't want Jessica and the other ladies to leave. Today they gave them the book that they had received from a teacher at Lesa's school and the girls went crazy when they got them. Jessica said you would have thought that it was Christmas. Everyone there is so over the top with their emotions.

Church yesterday was three hours of shoulder to shoulder sitting. Two hours of the service was in Swahili, but that it was not a dull moment there was singing and dancing and praising God. How great it is to know that you can still worship the Lord even if you are half way away the world, in a culture that is so far removed from what you know. Our God can work His wonders anywhere he sees fit.

Now to clarify the safari that Jessica will be going on. All of the men our going into the jungle to visit with some tribes. So the women in the group, Jessica included, and their bodyguard are going to drive around in their jeep and try to find animals in their native habitat....basically this is a DIY safari.

I know that they have had a great time spreading the word in Africa and I can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories.

Missing Clean Water

Sorry the blog has not been updated in a while. But to be honest nothing has been too exciting. Jessica has said that they are REALLY missing clean, clear tap water. What a common necessity that we take for granted? During the day Mike works outside and Jessica teaches a group of girls. They love her and never want her to leave. The village has given them some African clothing but they are pants and Jessica is not for sure if she can wear them to church, since they don't allow women to wear pants in church. Monday there are going to go on a safari to see some animals in the wild. I think that would be so cool. It will surely be an unforgetabke experience.

Today was their day off so she walked with some girls to their water hole to get water and the girls told her that you couldn't come at dark or the gorillas would get you. YIKES!!! To get to the water hole they had to walk 3/4 a mile and through the jungle.

She has been eating a lot of rice and oranges. The other day she noticed that she had noodles in her rice. Sure enough she got sick, luckily she was able to make it back to the hotel before she got too bad.

It is a very poverty stricken area the houses that are more modern don't even have windows or doors. The people there don't feel that it is a necessity. I know that they are really enjoying their time there and God is really using them to spread HIS word.

Doing Well

Jessica called today and spoke to my mom. She said things are still going well. They went today to visit some girls that had hid up in the mountains because they had been used for prostitution. The girls had not eaten in 4 days so the group Jessica is with bought them 200 pounds of rice and beans which was $100. That should be able to last them for a while. Everywhere they go they have a body guard with them and even when she steps out of the hotel to make a call a security guard follows behind her.

On a good note they have not seen any snakes, spiders or scorpions. They are able to take a shower every night, since there is running water in their hotel. It's brown but it's better than nothing.

They have finally found a safe food- rice, beans and some type of plantain. We should all feel so blessed to live in a country where we have clean water, schools for our children, chicken without lungs and feathers and we are safe to walk down most streets.