They are missionaries on deputation working their way to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Yesterday morning, they headed out to Knoxville, TN, from North Carolina where they spent their weekend sharing their burden for the Spanish-speaking people at a church there. Tragically, they hit some black ice and were thrown off the road into a support beam for a large highway sign.
Sadly, their daughter Azlynn died in the crash and is now with the Lord. What a blessed hope we have in that knowledge, but what a heart-breaking situation for this young family.
There are some personal ties to this family. I grew up in the church where Lana's grandfather, Dr. Larry Clayton, started his ministry. He is currently in the Philippines on a missions trip. Her father, Phil Clayton, is a pastor in Canada (previously pastored in Florida). In high school, I was very close to her aunt and the Clayton family has meant a lot to my family over the years. They are all Godly servants.
The latest update I have is that Lana had surgery on her knee this morning and is currently in surgery. She also suffered a broken rib and a lacerated liver. She was also unconscious for most of yesterday and was life-flighted from the scene. Matthew underwent some xrays, but I believe he sustained no real injuries. Maddison was also checked out and is doing well. Their parents immediately headed to NC. If there is anything substantial, I will update on my blog; otherwise, you may follow their missions website for upcoming newsletters. http://cretzmanstocuba.com/
*UPDATE from Facebook missions page: Matt says, "Lana was just released from surgery. Everything went well the doctor said. Thank you Lord. Now the hard part. How to plan a funeral for a 3yr old. Lord, we need your help. Thank you for the overwhelming support everyone. We can't say thank you enough."
Obviously, their needs extend beyond health needs. One of their recent newsletters stated they were very sick and had to cancel a few meeting. Meetings are often hard to come by and are scheduled up to a year in advance. Many times this is the only source of income for missionaries on deputation. They will most likely have to cancel possibly months of meetings until Lana's health allows her to travel. Please pray God meets their every need -- physical, emotional, spiritual and monetary.
Here are a couple links to new articles on the tragic accident:
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