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Summertime!
Dear Friends,
The summer season is upon us and like many of you, we will be staying close to home this year. With the exception of a week long communications seminar that I (Darren) am teaching in Venezuela, we will be in Bogota for the next few months. Part of this is because of the economy, but mostly because we have so much to do here.
In July we have a team of some 30 youth arriving from the US, we are helping with several outreaches and schools throughout Colombia and we are preparing projects that will be running over the course of the year. Whew! What we really need is more full time staff! Please pray that God will send us some committed, slightly crazy, Christian workers!
Invasion Usme 2009
Usme Outreach Team
God just does not make sense sometimes. Last month we held the first of two major Medical Outreaches this year; an outreach that was almost cancelled because of people’s fears of the Swine Flu. Although Colombia never had a major outbreak we lost dozens of volunteers to the hysteria.
Regardless, after much prayer and keeping tabs on the potential health situation, we went ahead with some 125 volunteers during the 3 day outreach. This is where God does not make sense.
One would think that with 275 volunteers less than our last Medical Outreach we would accomplish much less in our labour. We accomplished much more.
In three days we saw more than 600 people make a decision for Christ!
You can add to that more than 1500 people who received clothing, medicine and other kinds of assistance.
Extreme Make Over - Bogota Edition
"John" is one of the thousands of street people in Bogota who spends their days picking through the trash or stealing to feed themselves. To ward off hunger pains and numb them from the cold they always carry bottles of contact cement which they inhale deeply; slowly destroying their bodies and minds.
 
Day 1 above, Day 2 below.
 
While passing through the neighbourhood of Usme he found us and our army of volunteers. He found people who were willing to help him and love him in spite of his long matted hair and his "fragrant" body; infested with fleas and lice.
On Saturday he had a sit down with one of our hair stylists who cut away months of street life. I am not sure which flew further, his hair as the scissors worked frantically or the lice, looking for a warmer climate.
The next time I saw John was Sunday afternoon. Not only had he returned, but he had passed through the donation tent, bathed somewhere and was now sporting his "new duds."
The transformation was remarkable, but I think that Hugo was probably the person who touched him most. As part of our Evangelism Team, he offered John a father’s love for the first time in many years; Father God expressed through the loving arms of a willing surrogate.
Please pray with us.
Lindsey is a young lady who spent time with us as part of an outreach team in 2006. She is also the step daughter of one of Darren’s long time friends in Canada. We just found out that she was diagnosed with acute leukemia last month and our hearts go out to her and her family. Please pray for Lindsey and her full recovery. Pray for her parents Richard & Shirley as they face the financial challenges that come with taking time off to be with their daughter and for the pain of suffering alongside her.
View over the outreach site with the neighbourhood and mountains in the background.
 
Dentistry & Evangelism in Usme
Family Stuff
James turned 7 on May 30th, has just graduated from grade 1 and is moving up the ladder. We are so proud of him and his grades. With the exception of one 79 all of his marks are in the 80s and 90s.
Darien at 3 ½ already wants to be in school with his brother. He is fully bilingual and we think that he may be heading for a career in Law. Now anytime that he is not in agreement with mommy on how things should be done, he is quick to table his arguments as to why they should be done his way!
Patty can be found deeply involved with the boys, counselling others, helping me with translations, teaching and seeing just how many of our friends she can find on Facebook!
If you are a fellow addict you can look us up by searching for Patty McCrea.
Until next time.
Love in Christ,
Darren, Patty , James & Darien
As full time volunteers we receive no salary. If you wish to be a part our work with YWAM and the worldwide Christian community that we are called to serve, please consider supporting us with your prayers and donations.
To contribute, make your cheque out to: "Youth With A Mission" and mail it to the address below. Due to Income Tax Legislation our names cannot appear ANYWHERE on the cheque. Simply enclose a separate note specifying it for the support of Darren & Patricia McCrea. For gifts in Europe, please write to us for wire transfer information.
In Canada: In the USA:
YWAM - Project Funding YWAM - Attention Accounting
Box 57100 P.O. Box 3000
2480 E Hastings St Garden Valley, TX
Vancouver, BC USA 75771-3000
Canada V5K 5G6
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