Travels July 2025

 Dear Friends,

July 27, 2025

We left Ellensburg on Tuesday, July 15, and spent a couple of wonderful days in Cannon Beach, OR, with Ben, Grace, and the boys. From there, we headed to Redding, CA, to visit the Moores. I first met Danny Moore in Bolivia during a short-term missions trip back in 1983, and their friendship has been a constant encouragement ever since!

The next day, we enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship with Pedro and Lucy Dillon in Cupertino, CA. Afterward, we traveled to Bethel Chapel in Riverside, where I had the opportunity to share from 2 Corinthians 12 about Paul’s thorn in the flesh—and how our “weakness” can become a canvas for displaying God’s power and grace at work in and through us.

While in Riverside, we were blessed to spend time with our kids—Omar, Ana—and our precious grandchildren, Eliza and Reuben, as we finalized preparations before our red-eye flight.

On Friday evening, July 25, our dear friends John and Catherine Bourbonnais graciously drove us to the airport in L.A. There were a few areas we had asked for prayer over—and we are so grateful for all of you who lifted us up!

We asked for prayer for Linda’s health and the ongoing reduction of her pain. We’re thankful to report that she did very well overall. She experienced some discomfort only during the last couple of hours of our final flight (which totaled 10.5 hours of flight time, with a 5-hour layover in Panama). Thankfully, the pain medication helped, and she was feeling better even before we landed in Bolivia.

We were also fully loaded with extra luggage and had several items to declare at Bolivian Customs. From past experience, we knew this process could be difficult, so we asked many to pray specifically for this part of the trip. We’re so grateful to report that this was the smoothest, most pleasant immigration and customs process we’ve ever experienced! It was so evident that the Lord was going before us and orchestrating every detail. Thank you for your prayers—truly, God moves behind the scenes when we ask for His help and trust Him to do what is best.

Today, Sunday the 27th, we are safe, well, and resting with friends in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Oddly enough, we’re thankful for our 5-hour layover in Panama! We used about half that time to walk the length of the airport (more than once!) and drink plenty of water—helping us to shake off that sluggish feeling after so many hours in those not-so-comfortable airline seats.

Walking & Resting in Panama!

Tonight, we’re looking forward to enjoying a delicious Cruzeño-style meal and catching up with Jesse and Janel Mattix.

Thank you again for your prayers, love, and support—it means so much to us.

In Christ,
Leon & Linda Crawford