Campus Crusade for Christ Puebla, Mexico

collage of pregnancy pictures!

2008-12-03T15:36:00.003-07:00

Here is a fun collage of some of the pregnancy pictures that our sister-in-law took for us. What a gift she gave to us!!!

Thanksgiving in Puebla!

2008-12-03T15:28:00.003-07:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving with about 35 others here in Puebla! Robin and I made the mashed potatoes. It was a feast to say the least with all the "fixins".. turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, black olives and cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and apple cider! What a celebration.

We are thankful to be surrounded by so many dear friends here in Mexico and to be able to share in special celebrations like Thanksgiving. These are always the hardest times to be away from "home", away from family so it is nice to be surrounded by people we love and who love us.

This is one of the pictures that our sister-in-law took.. "our little turkey".. we are excited to meet him/her and are welcoming him/her to the family already!!

Family coming to visit us!

2008-12-03T15:14:00.003-07:00

We have been so thankful for family coming to visit. The end of October, Orion and his girlfriend, Jessica, came to visit for a few days! We had a great time hanging out and seeing a little bit of Puebla!

After that, Robin's brother's wife came to visit us right before Thanksgiving. She blessed us with a photo shoot of my pregnacy!

Connecting with Women

2008-12-03T15:09:00.003-07:00

I had the opportunity to connect with Heather (who lives in Queretaro), Colleen (who lives here in Puebla) and Emily (who lives in Mexico City) in October as we travelled to Taxco, Mexcio, the silver mining city of Mexico where I did a study abroad in 1997.

Heather, Colleen and I were at the cross-cultural training this summer and in a small group together.

We had a great time connecting and processing life and ministry together!

Student fall retreat! Oct 17th-19th

2008-12-03T15:05:00.002-07:00

Robin and I participated in this year's student fall retreat- Where we were challenged to "Follow God no matter what the cost"!

I especially enjoyed the women's time! and being able to encourage the student leaders in Xalapa where I served for 4 years!

Robin and I are in the very back at the top of the group picture.. can you find us??

Our baby shower in Mexico Nov 9

2008-12-03T15:01:00.003-07:00

Our dear friends here in Mexico had a baby shower for us on November 9th! It was a mixed shower with tons of laughter as we played games and hung out! There were about 35 of us as some people traveled from Xalapa, Cordoba, Mexico City and of course all our friends from Puebla!

Angie and Emily are convinced that we are having a little girl and bought "her" this "cutie" outfit.. so fun!

We had a blast!

Praying for the arrival of Baby Cranson!!

2008-12-03T12:21:00.002-07:00

Please be praying with us for the arrival of our first little one. We are so excited and can't wait to meet him/her!

I am due on Dec 20th and over the past few weeks I have elevated blood pressure and swelling which are signs of preeclampsia. The Dr's have been monitoring me closely to make sure that the baby and I are doing ok.

Our Dr. has us scheduled for a C-section for around the 8th unless my blood pressure levels out and even lowers a little. We are very hopeful to be able to still have a natural birth and would like to ask you to pray for that.

We were planning on having a water birth at home but at this point even if we have a natural birth it will be at the hospital in case of any emergency situation arises with my blood pressure.

Ultimately we desire what is best for both the baby and for me. We truly feel so blessed that God has entrusted us with this baby who HE is knitting in my womb and who HE knew before even I was born would be! So exciting to know that God is in control and that HE is our comfort and Peace.

thanks for praying!

Kim (and Robin)

Take a look at More Pictures!!!

2008-10-21T23:41:00.004-06:00

Take a look at more pictures by clicking on the "Pictures" tab above on our web site! It is located right under the heading "Robin and Kim Cranson"

We have more pictures and a few videos from:

Our third anniversary trip to Catemaco, Veracruz
The Student Fall Retret
Baby (pregnancy pictures)
Kim's Egypt trip

We celebrated our 3rd Anniversary- Sept 11, 08

2008-10-21T23:14:00.003-06:00

We traveled 5 hours to Catemaco, Veracruz to celebrate our 3rd Anniversary!!! The three days that we were there: we camped out in a tent the first night, went to a natural spring an hour up in the mountains where a few movies have been filmed, saw these amazing water falls, took a 30 minute boat ride to a small island nearby and celebrated the Mexican Independance Day with the locals at 11pm in the town square... VIVA MEXICO!

Our trip was full of adventures which was representative to the adventure we have been on over the past three years.... it was so amazing to think back on all that God has done in our lives over the past three years!

Marina- met us through our web page

2008-10-21T22:58:00.003-06:00

It has been really amazing to see how God used our web-page to connect Marina, from California, with us! She was involved with Campus Crusade at her university when she was studying. Recently she was looking on line through a google search for Campus Crusade in Puebla, Mexico.

She planned to come to Puebla to stay with some family friends and study Spanish for six months and wanted to volunteer her time in the ministry. As she was searching google our web site came up and she emailed me and was able to get involved in with the ministry two weeks after arriving to Mexico.

She personally has been such a blessing to me as a new friend and amazing help in Human Resources. She is volunteering two days a week to help me do administrative things in the office! She could not have come at a better time as I prepare to transition into being a "mom"!! She plans on being here until March! We can't get over the timing and blessing during one of the biggest transition times for me!

Friends old and new in Egypt

2008-10-21T22:36:00.004-06:00

While I was in Egypt I got to spend time with Tatiana who works with Crusade in Costa Rica, Paulette, who is in France and Ieda who is from Brazil!

I also met this Christian Egyptian man who I bought a soccer jersey from for Robin in the market place!

Human Resource Conference in Egypt

2008-10-21T22:12:00.002-06:00

I am thankful for the continual development that I have received in Human Resources. Each year there is a Global Human Resource and Operations Conference held in a different country bringing the leaders of each area of the world together to discuss and train us in these areas! Last year we were in Thailand and this year I got to kiss the sphinx! Robin was a little jealous!

At the end of the conference we were able to do a little sight seeing. We went to the pyramids, Egyptian art museum and ended the night cruising the Nile River! What an amazing experience!

Here I am pictured with Paul Cheesman and Karen & Pat Burroughs who are the Global HR and Operations leaders. Karen has been mentoring me over the past few months as I continue to learn this new role!

Student Fall Retreat Oct 2008

2008-10-21T22:00:00.003-06:00

October 17-19th was our regional student Fall Retreat in Tlaxala, an hour outside of Puebla. More than 50 students and staff were challenged with living "Extroardinary Lives" by God's standards!! We were reminded to do what is right in God's eyes no matter what the circumstances or cost! Robin led a men's time where they talked in an open forum about the struggles that guys face. Kim encouraged the student led leadership teams from Veracruz and Xalapa!

Beto, a student living in Puebla, shared with us that, "God made me see things that I am doing and what I should be doing from now on. Everything that I do I realize that I should do in the name of Jesus"

Kim spent time encouraging the five student leaders from Xalapa where she served on staff for four years (2001-2005). Alex, Nancy, Fernando, Mario and Cecy are now leading the ministry there!

A new ministry has been opened in Veracruz where Cesar and Columba are student leaders!

It was such a blessing to see how God is using them as students to reach other students and develop new leaders!

Edgar shared with us that at the Retreat, "Many of my doubts and questions were answered during the men's time. There were many things that I considered normal, but in God's eyes are not right. I want to look for someone to help me grow in the areas that I struggle with."

Baby Cranson 29 weeks

2008-10-16T17:49:00.003-06:00

Here is baby Cranson! In the video you can see
1) the spinal cord
2) a profile of the face and arm
3) the heart beating
4) its leg and foot pushing down
5) 3D image of his/her face

Smallest volcano in the world

2008-08-20T17:13:00.002-06:00

5 minutes from our apartment is the world's smallest volcano that is inactive. They have stairs going to the floor of it! What an exploration!

Growing Belly!

2008-08-20T16:49:00.002-06:00

This was a picture when we were in Orlando at the Cross Cultural Training. Do you think we are excited???

The other night when I was cooking I cut into this green pepper and saw that it had a "baby pepper" in it too. It made me laugh and we took a picture right away!

This is the most recent picture of my belly at 22 weeks! Almost at the end of 5 months (19-23 weeks) This was in front of the office where we work in Puebla!

Kim at beginning of 21 weeks

2008-08-12T22:48:00.003-06:00

Today while we were at work Robin took this video so you can see how much my belly has grown. I am at 21 weeks. Just a bit over half way there! The Dr. said that she thinks it would be around the 22nd of December. Everyone is guessing if it is a boy or girl. People have guessed both! The Dr. said it was a good thing we did not want to know since she could not see anything during the ultrasound!

Ultrasound at 20 weeks

2008-08-12T21:46:00.003-06:00

Friday we had our second Dr's appointment and had this ultrasound taken! You can see the baby's face, heart beat and hands, legs pretty well. It was so amazing to see. The Dr. said that the measurements were right at 19-20 weeks and that everything looked good! Here are the first pictures of our baby!!!

Happy Mother's Day-- soon to be

2008-05-11T19:25:00.002-06:00

Happy Mother's Day 2008!

We also are celebrating today as we just found out that we are expecting!!! It would have been so fun to sit down with each of you and tell you personally but I guess that's part of living in another country.

Last week I had my first doctor's appointment. I am 7-8 weeks pregnant and due on Christmas Day! We are so excited!

Thanks for sharing the joy in this very exciting time with us!

Building trip May 08

2008-05-11T18:54:00.003-06:00

Charles with Mayte's nephews who helped mix cement!

Digging the trench for the drainage.

The ground was really hard. Marco loosening up the ground!

Helping wash the many dishes after the amazing lunches that Mayte and Tina made each day for us!

The building team (David Hughes, Ed Shaffer, Roger and Emily Shafer, David Griffin and Charles and Jackie Kindle) with Mayte on left and her mom, Tina on right.

The guys taking a road trip in the back of a pick up to some water falls.

Job well done!! Walls that were built for the bathroom and Kitchen. A pretty good advance if you ask me!

Building Kitchen/ Bathroom for Tina- Xalapa

2008-05-11T18:23:00.003-06:00

The most challenging part of this trip was the projext in Xalapa, Veracruz. 3 hours from Puebla! I lived in Xalapa for 4 years doing campus minsitry. It was like going "home" for me. While I was in Xalapa, I lived with Mayte who is a very special friend of mine here in Mexico. Over the years I have come to feel like part of her family. I was there when her dad passed away a few years ago and have kept in touch with her family even after moving away from Xalapa.

Mayte's family is very hard working and humble. They have always been so generous to me and everyone that comes into their home. I have always tried to do what I could to help out their family in any way and when the building team wanted to come back, I just knew it would be such a blessing for them to have them come!

Tina has a two room home. One room for her kitchen, dining room and living room. The other room has three beds and a section partitioned off for the toilet and bathing area. They did not have running water in the bathroom and Tina would wash the dishes outside under a tin roof off from the house. Every morning she would get up to heat up water to bathe with.

As she is getting older, I have heard her express how nice it would be to have a working bathroom and a seperate kitchen. That is exactly what I presented to the building trip and what we began to work on.

Thanks to all the generous donations of people in Ohio, this project was able to be started! Look at what we were able to get done!!

Painting and Building Relationships- Puebla

2008-05-11T17:19:00.002-06:00

The team spent 5 days in Puebla continuing to build relationship with people at our church. Pastor Alberto was so glad to see Charles, Jackie and Dave again. He appreciated the hours of painting to have the kitchen redone and the outside walls that mark the property done. Dave also came up with several designs for the restoration of the mens and women's bathrooms that the church would like to see accomplished in the near future.

Charles shared the message for the second time Sunday Morning at Maranatha Church. (he shared last August too!) This time I, Kim, translated for him! After the service we headed over to the neighbor's house for a church picnic. It was a great time of fellowship!

Boys at Orphanage

2008-05-11T17:15:00.004-06:00

Before leaving the boys at the orphanage sang us a song and we got a group picture!

Ohio Building Trip May 08- Orphanage

2008-05-11T16:56:00.003-06:00

We had a great time preparing to go to the orphanage. Claudia and I went and visited a few weeks before the group arrived and the director shared that the most urgent needs for the 37 boys ranging from 3 or 4 to about 20 were basic hygiene products such as soap, deodarant, shampoo and toothbrushes and toothpasate. We were able to give each boy their own care package with each of these items with YOUR help!!! We were so amazed by the generous donations and gifts for the boys. We wish that you could have been there to see their excitement and to just meet them.

What was obvious to me was that these boys need love and attention. One boy, about 5 years old, hung on to whoever was around him. He would hug you and watch you and hold your hand. You could tell that he just wanted to be loved and appreciated.

Our next building Project

2008-03-29T21:04:00.003-06:00

April 18-30th, 7 men and women from Ohio will be returning for our 2nd Building Trip here in Mexico. We will be helping our church in Puebla with the remodeling of their bathrooms as well as one of my very good friend's family from Xalapa (4 hours from Puebla). We will be building a whole addition onto her house for a kitchen and bathroom.