CRYSTAL HAS CLEAR GOALS FOR HER LIFE
I first met Crystal when I went to the Family Practice Clinic for an appointment with my doctor Brian Mateja. Crystal is his medical assistant, and she struck me immediately as being very personable and caring. She was also very proficient and mature in her work. However, I learned today that Crystal is only twenty- two years old. From things she had told me from time to time made me want to tell her story as I find her quite remarkable.
Here is Crystal sharing her life with us.
“I was born in Portland, Oregon and have a brother and three sisters. I grew up with my father, and siblings, as my mother later moved from the home. Life had become very dysfunctional due to the addictions that my parents had. I wound up falling into the same addictions as my parents by the young age of thirteen.
When I was sixteen, I was pregnant and alone. As soon as my baby was born, I made the decision to get my GED of which I worked hard for and completed. After that, I earned a degree in Medical Assisting at college. When I was finished with school, I moved to Southern Oregon on May 30, 2006 to be near my mother who had moved there twelve years earlier.
Because I had been blessed with wonderful Christian grandparents who took me to Sunday School as a child, I reflected on things I learned as a child and knew I needed God’s help. I gave my heart to the Lord and turned my life over to Him. From that moment on, my life changed. I found an apartment for myself and my daughter Jasmine in June near my mother. And, just blocks away, the Lord provided me with a job at the Family Practice Clinic.
I enjoy my work there very much and have Bible studies with the women working there. I really enjoy working for Dr. Mateja, as he is a very kind and caring person. I’ve had my own apartment since I was sixteen, and made getting my GED with a Tanf grant as one of my first goals. Now I have extended my college education and I’m studying to become a doctor.”
Crystal is definitely a very busy girl, working, going to college, and raising her daughter. She feels amazed each month how she makes it financially, and is thankful for the help from her grandparents and her church family at Grace Baptist Church. She said she was surprised one day to find a food basket that had been placed on her porch. She knows that the Lord is taking good care of her, and has a plan for her life.
“I haven’t dated very much, as I was very busy just working and raising my daughter, however, I met a wonderful man recently who is a Christian. We have a lot in common, and have Bible studies together. He ministers for a program called “U Turn for Christ” in Gold Hill, Oregon, and is a man that puts the Lord first in his life. This ministry is a blessing to our community, and provides discipleship for those who are into drugs and alcohol. I know that the Lord has sent him to me. I find it is so exciting to be free from my ‘old self,’ and not what I used to be. I am freed from all of my addictions and dependencies, and I am overjoyed for God’s mercy in my life. One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3:5
My Mom lives just a block away, and we keep in touch, and are best friends. My Dad has moved here now as well, and has Lee’s Olive House business on Rogue River Highway in Rogue River. So now I have my folks near me, and I have acquired many friends, and a very special friend in the man that is now in my life. I feel that Lord is taking good care of me and my daughter Jasmine, and I am living for Him.”
You can see why I was very impressed with the story of Crystal’s life. She is a beautiful young woman, and a mother of an adorable little girl. I feel very special to be her friend.
Helen L. Price
hlprice53@gmail.com
Tags: Helen L Price
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Wow, when I count my blessings I have no complaints! The Lord is so good to me and my family! I am so thankfull for his mercy, and for the gift if salvation! Thank you Lord for my testimony and my prayer is that you and I lord would get closer and closer through the years you give me! God bless you reader, my prayer is that you would surrender your life to the lord and let him show you what an awesome God he is! God bless you all!
I’ve watched crystal grow up and know that she is an overcomer! although I am Her Aunt she is a great inspiration to me and our whole family! Jesus shines through her and it’s very clear that he is working in her life today! It renews my faith and touches my heart to see lives being transformed by the power of our God!
Crystal the sky is the limit for you sweetheart! You can do all things through christ! I love you!
Helen, Sharon, I don’t have your email addresses and my temporary new one is gobarbara2010@gmail.com so please let me know when you get this. I have a eulogy that I wrote for Howard Pavlet, Ruthies’ Husband. Melonee was her care provider for six years. This was read at his military burial three years ago. He was a hero and I thought it might be good for your readers. You could count this as an article from me. I did write this and research it. Barbara
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE DO EXTRAORDINARY
THINGS!
We are here today to salute a real hero. Howard H. Pavlet, who was just one of those kind of guys that movies are being made about. He was Born in 1904, it was not long after that, that WWI was forming a threat to all peace loving Countries. Howard was not your ordinary young man; he was determined to serve his country and was not about to let his age stand in the way. Howard even went as far as to getting a tattoo of Maggie and Jigs a comic strip of the time to show he was in the know.
At the age of 14, with led weights which he had sown into the lining of his pants and in his pockets to help him meet and pass the weight requirements, Howard H. Pavlet joined the Navy in 1919. It wasn’t long after his enlistment he heard of the new flight school being proposed by the Navy so of course he would be among the first to sign up for this adventure. He was among the first volunteers to join the Navy’s new Flying Service.
Later on when he was stationed in San Diego while performing one of his many test flights of one of these airships over San Diego city it was then that a problem occurred. The plane’s cockpit caught on fire. Howard assessed the problem and weighed the danger of how soon to leave the plane. He determined that if he flew it over the Harbor over then bailing out would not cause as much damage.
He decided that no matter how much the flames where reaching him he could not let the plane go down on the people in the city. With presence of mind, Howard kept his control of his craft until it was over the harbor before bailing out, all the while taking the pain of flames lapping all about his legs. He had the courage to not give way to the pain of the flames, to see that this plan would not go down on the city streets.
Howard could not abandon the craft to cause possible death and major destruction to the unaware citizens of San Diego. He managed to take the pain until sure the plane had reached the harbor where minimal damage would be done, then and only then did he bail out. Howard received second-degree burns on his legs.
Howard was stationed in Pensacola, Florida in 1923 while learning his craft. Howard had refused 2 commissions in WWII and served his entire career as an enlisted Pilot.
During Howard’s career of thirty years of service he did everything; Navy Test Pilot, Carrier Pilot, Fighter Jock, he became multi-engine Certified. He flew everything the Navy had! Howard bailed out and walked away from more than one crash. He even ditched at sea once, but it was just all in a days work for Howard H. Pavlet. To him and all like him we really need to say a Loud and Long WELL DONE!
Howard H. Pavlet at age 88 died Monday, March 1, 1993 at his home in Grants Pass, Oregon. Howard was born on October 21, 1904 in Cedarville, Michigan. On June 18, 1943 at Oak Harbor, Washington, he married the former Ruth E. Davis. In 1967 he moved from Vista, CA to Grants Pass, OR. He is remembered with love and respect for the man he was, by his good friends, John and Linda Showalter.
It is rare to find this kind of thinking in our society today. It is sad that sacrifice is not often shown in our youth of today. They need to have more role models that show this kind of courage. Barbara L. Gonzalez