First Christian Church of Effingham, IL

This was the last team of busy season, and a first for this team to come to the Abraham Project.  It was the very end of busy team season and God sent us a team that really loved on us in all our imperfections and just being tired at the end of busy season--some great prayer and love!

We were so thankful to them and what they brought to the Abraham Project!

Check out their week!

When the team first arrived, we took them to good ol' Rosti Pollos for some typical Costa Rican food!

Enjoying the casados!

The TEAM! (and a dog or two)

Of course, we always do the tour for the teams and we also include the Phase 2 tour!

Explaining the entrance of Phase 2

Te obligatory Phase 2 picture (with a dog)

After the tours, the team got right to work in Children's ministry.  They did a great job with stories and activities and really interacted with the kids a lot! All the kids loved Pastor Martin (from Venezuela)....I can see why he is a youth pastor--kid at heart!

Working on bracelets

one n one time with the team!

The finished product!

Pastor Martin storytelling!

With the older kids, it was all about making bracelets

Working seriously hard!

The kids LOVE to play with Play-doh

Making animals for the Creation story!

Pastor Martin doing what he does best--engage the kids!

 We also did games in the afternoon with the older kids.  Of course, the popular 9-square is always a good time for the kids and for the teams!

9-square with the older kids

Every afternoon, we got to hear from the missionary families and hear how they got the Costa Rica and share some of their testimonies.

Always a fun time during missionary share time!

Steve and Georgiana sharing with the group

 There was a little bit of work for the team--nothing too major, but helped us out a lot with all the maintenance on the property! 

Loving the yard work!

Rainy season=lots of mowing!

 We also did some maintenance with re-painting the parking lot.

Rachel really is having a good time.....

My kind of work!

Leyton even got to help with some of the work!

We helped wash the children's home cars--always needed during rainy season!

We also took time to wash the tables and chairs of the daycare--this hardly ever gets done--but it was a holiday and the daycare was closed, so we took advantage!

 For the team's fun day, they went to Arenal and went ziplining and to Baldi Hot Springs.  It was a fun day for everyone!

Obligatory team photo in the cool gear!

They had a beautiful view of Arenal Volcano!

 On Sunday, the team went to church, had lunch and played with the children's homesand then later went to the cell group

They clean up real nice!

Playground time with the kids!

The snake song!

Cell group with Omry singing

 It was a great time with FCC of Effingham! We had a good week and lots of last minute changes, but everyone was flexible and rolled with the punches.  They did whatever we asked and we had some great connections and talks with the team!  So thankful for this new relationship!

In HIM,

the crawfords

Living Water, KY

At the end of July, we welcomed our first team from Living Water Church in Danville, KY.  This was a small team of special friends that came down to serve, to see our ministry and to love on us and spend time with us! WHAT A BLESSING!

Check out their week!


After getting in later than they planned, they missed church on Sunday but were able to sleep in since they had been up most the night with missed planes and rescheduled aircrafts and airlines!

But on Sunday night, they were able to have a cookout with the cell group at Eliel and Rode's house! It was a great time of worship and fellowship--along with some good food!!

Hanging out with Eliel and Rode

The TEAM from Living Water

 Then on Monday night after a day at the Project, the team cooked dinner and hung out with the Children's home kids! 

Dr Doty and Katherine playing with the kids in the home!

 On Tuesday, the guys did a work day at our house--they installed lights in our garage and rewired the lights in back of the house....something we have been wanting to do for 3 years!
The ladies were able to go and assist a missionary friend, Heather, and help with her Mommy and Me group.

Teaching the bible lesson

Lots of moms and kids and lots of games and fun!

The house where the group meets

The whole group!

 Then Tuesday night, we had dinner at our house! We invited a few friends and had a great night of fellowship!

Left my phone alone!

On Wednesday, we had a change in schedule (like everything else on this trip--poor team!) So we stayed at our house again and worked on a few things! One thing is the boys on the team helped Leyton re-do his bike. Sand it, dismantle it and then Bruce and Leyton repainted it!  He was so excited....it was only 3 years of waiting!

Alex, Tyler and Leyton working on the bike

The finished product!

For their fun day, the team went to La Paz Waterfall Gardens!  It is always a great trip!

Butterfly garden is always the best!

Like my poncho? First time ever to rain at La Paz for me!

Sara and I at the waterfalls!

End to a great day with friends

 Now, there is a whole other side to this story....this team was attacked the whole time--from schedule changes, flight changes, cancelled tickets, rescheduled flights with other airlines, refunded tickets, and driving WAY more than they planned just to get back home--we were still so blessed by them and they way they loved on us!
--not sure they will come back, based on all of the problems--but we do hope they will come back again! We love them and like I said, they are our special friends....not many would still talk about coming back after this experience!
Thanks LIVING WATER!


IN HIM,

the crawford

Christian Life Center, IL

At the end of July, we welcomed Christian Life Center from Chicago area again!  We were so excited to have them back--an unbelievable team!

Check out their week!

They arrived on Saturday and came straight to our house for dinner and fellowship! This was a family team, so there were kids everywhere!!

Some the the team kids playing with Legos

The adults took time to share after eating

It was a great night with this team!

 The on Sunday, it was church and cell group in the evening!

The team worshiping with the cell group

 The on Monday morning with was time to start the children's ministry!

The TEAM from CLC

 This team ALWAYS comes so prepared! Their Children's pastor is so fun and always brings great lessons and is SO interactive with the kids!

Parachute time!

Learning about LOVE

Learning how to set a table after the story of Jesus with Mary and Martha

Working hard!

 In the afternoons, we played games with the older kids!  Always a good time!

Playing games with the kids!

 They played a game of getting the cookie from your forehead into your mouth WITHOUT using your hands!  The kids LOVED this game and the team got to play too!

LOVE the faces!!

Loving the time with kids!

Dancing and happiness by all!

This team even walks with LOVE (that is a heart sticker on her shoe!)

 Although this team was GREAT! I unfortunately left half way through the week because my Uncle passed away and also one of my good friend's husband.  I was blessed enough by my husband and this team that TOTALLY understood that I needed to be back in the States for this time! 

All three of us (Kristin and our intern Alex) left at the same time

My uncle was a Marine and the flag flew high!

The team continued on and spent time in La Carpio at a feeding ministry.

The Snake dance

Then on their last day, was their fun day! They went to Tortuga Island and got to be beach bums all day!

Posing with their cool helmets!

Going off on the banana boat!

Since I couldn't go on the fun day, it was a Daddy and Emme date day!

We LOVE CLC and are so thankful for their partnership and how well they love on us and all the children in the daycare and La Carpio! It is always such a blessing to have them here serving with us!

IN HIM,

the crawfords