COVID-19 "Quarantine" During April

The weeks of COVID-19 "quarantine" have continued on longer than we imagined. And maybe especially for those of us in the "vulnerable" age category. 

A lot of unusual things have taken place for all of us, and just for fun, we thought we'd share a few photos with you. 

The digital scrapbook page (above) captures a birthday parade for our two grandsons who live nearby. Their April 2nd birthday will hold very unique memories for them! 

We sure miss spending time with our two daughters (and their families) who live nearby, but it's been such a treat to see them when they bring us groceries or garden plants. And communication can happen even while social distancing!

It was a different Easter for everyone, but being able to be part of our Citylight family through live-streaming of services (photo above) sure helps. And being at home more has brought various blessings, as well ... such as bread-making, making masks, and learning a new creative hobby of embroidery. 

Zoom meetings have saved the day, allowing us to meet with Cru students, with Cru staff, and also with our CityGroup (small group within Citylight). Photo above shows a special time "together" as nine CityGroup gals. Our husbands have met by Zoom, as well.

Another added blessing is that spring has come. Such a joy to be able to enjoy our yard, and to plant our veggie and herb gardens, as well as flower spots.

These three digital scrapbook pages give a glimpse of our lives during the month of April; the whole month spent "at home" except for a few brief errands and short drives. We're thankful for God's care, and for sweet connections with Cru staff, with students, and also with our dear family.

From a Very Quiet Place

Citylight Omaha, now live-streaming 

How things change in just a matter of a few short weeks. Even just a month ago we would have never imagined what our new norm is now. And the new name that we have given to this blog space (renamed as we approach our retirement very soon) is more appropriate than ever ... this has become a very quiet place.

How are we doing in these days where we are staying at home due to COVID-19?

On the Cru front ...

Our days continue to be very full, but this is not quite how we expected our last months as full-time staff with Cru would look! This unexpected turn of events means that we no longer can meet with students on campus, or even meet with them anywhere. It has been quite an adjustment to switch to online Zoom gatherings instead of face-to-face meetings.

It is especially difficult for us to keep in touch with many of our inner city students, who may not have adequate resources to connect online very well. It has been a joy to watch some of the students take leadership themselves, reaching out to encourage their fellow students in creative ways.

On the home front ...

Our six grown kids are watching over us closely during these days, and are pretty much keeping us on lock-down here in our home. Because of being in the most susceptible age category for this virus, they are wanting us to be extra careful. We feel so loved and cared for, and are grateful. They have even been bringing us our groceries and other needs! 

Our family text group is active all through the day, each day, as we hear directly from NYC (two sons), Wylie TX (a daughter), McCook and Plattsmouth NE (two more daughters), and from close by us in Allen Hills (another daughter). We are loving this constant daily, continual connection, and also receiving first-hand updates on affects of COVID-19 in these areas. We also love hearing from our oldest granddaughter Abigail & her husband Addison, as they moved to Japan on March 1st as long-term missionaries with World Venture.

Please pray especially for our two sons (Seth, Lance) living in the epicenter of the coronavirus in the US now, and also our daughter (Sara) serving on the 'front lines' as a social worker in a hospital in Omaha.

And in our hearts ...

We are encouraged, sustained, and at peace as we continually adjust and lay our expectations before our faithful, never-changing, loving God. Even though we miss our physical connections with those we love and serve, we never have to miss His close presence with us. We are so very blessed to know Him, and pray for many all over the world to be drawn to Him during these days of challenge. 

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken.

My victory and honor come from God alone.

He is my refuge, a rock

where no enemy can reach me.

O my people, trust in Him at all times.

Pour out your heart to Him,

for God is our refuge.

(Psalm 62:5-8 NLT)

How are you doing?

We trust that you are each doing well as you care for and love your families and friends during this time. We really would love to hear from you! Thanks for your friendship, your prayers, and for reading this ... and please share any prayer needs that you would like for us to pray for during these challenging times.

For more reading, you're invited (especially the gals), to read Cherry's posts this past month on her Pursuing Heart blog:

Two devotional posts:

What to Do in Hard Times, and in Every Time

Our Daily Joy

Two recipe posts:

In the Kitchen: Cupcakes, a few Main Dish Recipes, and More

Chicken Katsudon (Memories from Japan)

A New Year 2020

This online space, "From a Quiet Place",

has definitely been quiet.

But not necessarily because it's 

been quiet here in our lives,

but because life has been so full!

We started this space up again last fall with a new title, sharing about our 75/70 year, and our plans for retirement from Cru (coming soon on July 1, 2020). We put up two more posts in the fall, and now, here we are at the beginning of 2020. And it's past time for an update!

What has life been like for us on the Cru front?

The first semester of the 2019-2020 school year went by in a blur! Our main focus with Cru has been encouraging Jake (now the director of Cru Omaha, as we will be retiring soon). He is doing a great job, and we are so grateful for how God has brought him to this place, at just the right time! He is perfect for this position!

Our next focus has been (and continues to be) to encourage our volunteers at the three campuses that we have been primarily in charge of ... Omaha North High School, Omaha Central High School, and Accelere Alternative School. They are doing an amazing job! Our focus is to build them up, and help them feel equipped to lead as they continue on in the coming years. We thank God for Syndi, Seven, Bill, Vicki, Danette, and Ron. They'll continue to receive leadership from Jake in the future, and will play a significant part in Cru Omaha as capable and passionate volunteers.

Volunteer, Syndi (left in back row) with some of her Cru North students!

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

* Syndi (in photo above) and our other volunteers as they give of their time to love and disciple students in the midst of already-full lives. That they would be encouraged during this time of transition as we step away from the campuses.

* A part-time Cru staff guy, Daniel, who may be placed in Omaha this next fall - he would be an amazing addition to the team here, and a great help and encouragement for Jake!

* Jake as he has many responsibilities, including leading a Cru High summer mission team to Columbia this coming summer.

* Students from our area to join Jake on this summer mission to Columbia. This mission is one of seventeen groups from Cru High going overseas on mission this summer.

Click here for more info as you pray.

And what has life been like for us on the home front?

Though God has clearly led us to plan for retirement in the middle of 2020, this change also clearly holds a wide variety of emotions for us. Change is exciting, and also can be difficult. It means slowly releasing God's calling to serve full-time through Cru, while at the same time continuing to embrace the heart of ministry that He has for us as long as we are on this earth. 

What will life look like for us on retirement? We are curious to see ourselves how this will look! We do know that our lives as followers of Jesus will continue to be an everyday listening to Him, and following His direction. Abiding in Him day-by-day, and having His love and grace flow through our lives to others.

We are anticipating spending quality time with our dear children and grandchildren ... four daughters, two sons, and their families. This is of high priority for us. We also anticipate continuing to encourage those in leadership here with Cru Omaha, being available to mentor and build into the lives of others in ministry. 

Another pull on our hearts is to have time to write and record our stories of how God has been faithful in the midst of great joys and also great trials. Desiring to pass on these stories of God's grace. And, of course, we are anticipating some slower days, more times of quiet, and time to pursue various projects we both have.

__________

PLEASE PRAY for us as we "let go" in the next few months, and as we embrace the new season ahead. Also, for all the tangible matters that need to be cared for ... changing from Cru's BCBS insurance to Medicare (which can be quite confusing as we search for the right plan), and also as we make adjustments to live with a smaller income upon retirement.

__________

Some special highlights with family recently ...

* A visit to see daughter Cristy & Mark & family in TX this past September. It was our first time there after they moved into a beautiful brand new home last summer.

* Several day trips to see daughter Amy & Joe & family at their new home by Beaver Lake (a 45-minute drive from here), including spending a very special Christmas Day with them there.

* Time with daughter Sara & Sean & family (just a 7-minute drive from us), including a delightful Thanksgiving Meal at their home. And also attending multiple events their boys are in.

* Two trips in December to see daughter Carrie & Tyler & family in McCook (5-hour drive) - the latter one to be with them at the time of the memorial service for Tyler's grandpa. We're so glad we could be there at that time.

* And though we miss seeing our two sons, Seth (& girlfriend Fer), and also Lance, all in NYC, we love every phone call, text, and connection that we have with them. We are hoping to make a trip to NY to visit them on one of our first trips after retirement!

And, sharing our most recent highlight ...

Our Family Christmas

with 23 family members here in our home! 

Schedules were too full to make it happen in December, so we celebrated a January Christmas! It was wonderful, and extra special as we also got to experience a "White Christmas". We were missing three family members who would have loved to be with us, but couldn't make it work this time. 

We also had a special evening together honoring our oldest granddaughter & her husband (Abigail & Addison), as they will be moving very soon to Japan to serve long-term with World Venture! It was a joy to honor them, and also emotional to say good-bye, as this was their last trip up from Texas before they fly to Japan on March 1st.

Just look at these wonderful grandkids of ours ... all home for our January Christmas!

We are cherishing the memories of our January Christmas, and thank God for His gift of family.

And thanks for reading this long update ... we value your friendship, and your prayers! 

Thanks also for your generous gifts/donations to our account in recent months (meeting our end-of-year need!), and thank you in advance for your prayers and support this New Year!

Cru Communique Newsletter / Oct. 2019

Sharing a copy of our recent newsletter, which we sent out by MailChimp email. Featuring Cru Omaha's new Team Leader: Jake Loftis! _____________________________ October 29, 2019 Newsletter View this email in your browser Gary & Cherry Warrick / Cru Communique

Our Big Autumn News! Many of you have heard our big news already, but we want to highlight it again for those who have not!  We are so very excited to announce that Cru Omaha has a new Team Leader!!  After 29 years of directing the Cru High ministry here in the Omaha area, we are passing the torch on to Jake Loftis! Jake is so qualified.  He was with us as he came to know Christ back in 8th grade, and then as he transitioned to student leader, then to volunteer, then to part-time staff, then to full-time staff ... and is now at the helm of Cru Omaha! He has proven himself through all these years and has been a tremendous source of support, strength, inspiration and encouragement.  So, this is an awesome milestone for all that God is doing in the lives of high school and middle school students in this area.  THANK YOU, JAKE!  And also, a big THANK YOU to Chelsea, Eleanor, and Audrey for supporting Jake in this big change, and for serving alongside him in this big endeavor! Jake completed his 4-week Team Leader Training in Colorado this past summer, and the photo above was taken a few weeks after that as we were all at Cru's Biennual Staff Conference in Fort Collins, CO. A few photos capturing Jake (clockwise from upper left) ... 1) While discipling students or having fun with them - Jake loves being with students 2) Jake in action at a volunteer training session - a  very gifted leader & developer 3) A great visit from our Cru regional leader, Scott, pictured with Gary and Jake 4) Jake leading our Summer Kick-Off event with students from multiple campuses

And you may ask - where do we fit in now? We are so excited and thankful to continue serving with Cru for another school year in our new capacity of working under Jake!  We couldn't be more thankful for his leadership, and for how God has called a new Team Leader, with younger energy and new vision for Cru Omaha! We will be on staff through this current school year, and will then be following God's clear direction to transition into retirement at that point.  This is a significant time in our lives as we have just celebrated our 75/70 birthdays this past summer and fall, and we are thankful for God's provision for Cru Omaha to continue on and flourish under Jake's leadership!  You can read more details about this transition on our blog ... click here. Thank you! You are an integral part of what God is doing through Cru Omaha!  Thank you for your continued prayers, and financial support that make this ministry to middle school and high school students in the Omaha area reality!  Please let us know if you have any questions, and also prayer needs ... your responses will come directly to our inbox. Gary & Cherry

September Memories

September is always such a beautiful month with a mix of summer and autumn. With patio planters filled with the bountiful pink begonias of summer, mixed in with pots of the rustic colors of fall mums. It really is the best of both seasons. Some days the weather reached into the 90's, and other days we felt the crispness of the coming autumn season.

It was also a month of a mixture of blessings, of work and of rest. A mix of busy Cru days, of times spent with family and friends, of quiet days at home. It was a good time of year, and I always want to hang on to September a little longer. But it goes by quickly, as each month does.

Sharing some glimpses from a few of our September days ...

Student meetings have started up for a new school year on six of our eight area campuses. It is an incredible joy to meet with students, often right on their campuses!  The photo above shows students at Omaha Central High School, meeting as an after-school club on Thursdays each week.  In the center foreground you see Seven, our amazing college student volunteer who helps lead, and also coaches the student leaders as they lead.  He works closely with Gary, who took the photo.  Please pray for these students, representing a variety of countries of origin, as they grow in their faith.    

And it's always a blessing when some of our national Cru leaders come to our area.  Here you see Bill Kollar, serving on the national leadership team with Cru High in Orlando. He also had served with the Cru collegiate ministry in Lincoln NE in the past. He took us out for breakfast at Paradise Bakery & Cafe on the 20th of September before driving to Lincoln to speak at the Fall Retreat for the Cru students there.  It's always an encouragement when we spend time with him.

What would life be like without grandchildren? These two live just a seven minute drive from us. Jake & Cole seem to always have a football, baseball, or soccer ball in their hands! This year they are playing tackle football as fifth graders, and are loving it. We are thankful to have these two close by, along with our daughter Sara and son-in-law Sean. 

The rest of our family lives a distance away, though two more daughters and their families are in our same state. Our two sons are in New York City, and our other daughter and family live near Dallas, TX. 

And Texas is where we went for a sweet visit the beginning of September! You can see some of our fun in the digital scrapbook page above. It was an absolute joy to spend time with Cristy & Mark, Abigail & Addison (married in May of 2018), Crystal and her boyfriend Braden, Luke (a senior in high school!), and 13 year-old Brianna!

September was a beautiful month, and now here we are already in the middle of October!

Our 75/70 Year!

This has been a significant year for us!

Did you notice the numbers in the title for this post - "75/70"? Sometimes we wonder how these numbers can actually apply to us. And then at other times we are very aware that yes, it's true, the numbers 75/70 do belong to us now!

Our family put on a very special birthday party for us the end of July ... in between our June and September birthdays! And we have been celebrating in various ways all year long as a couple.

It is quite significant to turn these ages. And quite unexpectedly we have also been led to make a significant decision in the midst of our 75/70 year!

Just as God clearly led us over 28 years ago to this amazing adventure of sharing His love to middle school and high school students through Cru, He has now clearly led us this past summer to set the date for our retirement.

Our retirement date is set for July 1, 2020! 

This 2019-2020 school year is our "transition year", as we are transitioning things over to Jake Loftis (our amazing staff guy who is now the director here in the Omaha area), and also to our wonderful 20+ volunteers. It is already proving to be a busy, and also an emotional year for us, for though it is an exciting transition for us, it is also an emotional time for us as we make this big change.

We will continue receiving our salary checks from Cru until the end of September 2020, and are asking our financial supporters to continue on until the end of September 2020 if possible. Cru will give us a three-month additional period of pay after our retirement date, but only if the funds are in our account.

A New Name: From a Quiet Place

In anticipation of this significant change in our lives, we are making a change to the name of this online blog space. Just as the previous title - Our Cru Communique - reflected our calling as staff, our new title - From a Quiet Place - is a reflection of this transition time in our lives. Our lives are far from quiet, as this year at times seems busier than ever! But yet, in the midst of it all, we are seeking to still our hearts and listen closely to God as He leads us into next steps of following Him.

We'll be sharing more in the months to come about this transition time - sharing prayer needs for Cru Omaha, and for ourselves, and sharing the things that are on our hearts as we will be stepping into retirement next summer.

You are invited to come back here to read a variety of posts during this "transition year", and beyond. Thanks so much for your friendship, love, and prayers for us. 

Our Cru Communique: February 2019

Sharing a copy of our Cru Communique newsletter that we emailed in February to friends and financial supporters! We hope you enjoy reading this, as well as other posts here!  ________________________________________________________ February 2019 Newsletter Gary & Cherry Warrick / Cru Communique

Hello, friends, during this cold, snowy winter month! We are using a variety of different means to keep in touch with you. Last month we mailed you a newsy letter with a fun family update, and this month we are using a MailChimp format again. No matter the format, we desire to keep in touch! An exciting opportunity!

We love this photo!  You may recognize two faces in the photo: Jake (in the middle on the left) and Gary (front right). Let us tell you about the others! Our Cru High staff team here in the Omaha area consists of three of us: Jake, Gary, and Cherry (taking the photo). We're always looking for opportunities to connect with the Cru Collegiate staff in our state and also in our region. And that opportunity happened earlier this month! Seven staff leaders in our Cru Collegiate six state region (Cohort 15) came to Omaha for a connection time as collegiate staff in this cohort. We were surprised and pleased when they requested an opportunity to meet and serve our Cru High team while here! Cru's college campus ministry is so huge compared to the high school and middle school ministry that we don't normally interact that much unless we are located in the same city. This request meant a lot to us because when we have connections with collegiate staff it potentially results in more interaction with college students who often make great volunteers in reaching high school and middle school students! In addition, Cru college students are excellent prospects for recruiting much needed Cru high school and middle school career staff here on our Cru Omaha team. Those present at our lunch together (with five of the seven regional leaders) were from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. After lunch together, they assisted Jake as he led our Cru Marrs Middle students for their weekly meeting. It was a great opportunity to share with them, and then have them experience what high school and middle school ministry looks like. They caught our passion, and our time together has the potential of opening the door for some of their college students to pursue reaching high school and middle school students in their own college locations or even here with us! And in turn, we can help their college ministries by feeding our high school students into their college groups upon graduation from high school. Please join us in prayer for great things to happen and for more opportunities to work together as Cru Collegiate staff and Cru High School staff!  And, PLEASE PRAY for our team of three staff, and about 20 volunteers! Specifically, would you pray for more staff and volunteers to join us? To know His heart  is to know compassion. "When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36 CSB) To know Him, to follow Him is to seek to have His heart, to ask Him to open our eyes to those who need His love. "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38 CSB) This year, this week, and today ... Lord, give me Your heart of compassion for Your harvest. (from Cherry's blog / http://pursuingheart.blogspot.com)

Thank you for being a valuable part of our Cru Omaha team through your prayers, encouragement, and financial support! Please let us know how we can be praying for you, as well! Your replies will come directly to our email inbox.  Gary & Cherry Warrick / Cru Omaha Home/Office 402 468-5345 / Cell 402 659-3340 PO Box 184, Fort Calhoun, NE  68023 gary.warrick@cru.org  cherry.warrick@cru.org cruomaha.com / garyandcherry.com pursuingheart.blogspot.com Click here to donate to our staff account.