Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.
Ps 23:6 (NLT)
Felix (the man in the picture on the left) said the following today after our Tuesday morning believers meeting, “Listening to how God cares for us this morning really stirred my heart and I just had to stand up and say something about it. When a man of prominent position comes here to our village, like the governor or prime minister does he come to our children and pick them up and say, ‘O what a nice child you are!’ Is that what he would do? No way! These leader men don’t even pay attention to our children, and these are really important people. However the one who is above them all, the one who is almighty comes to me and picks me up and assures me of his love. When I think of this I am amazed.”
As I listened to Felix saying this to everyone this morning tears welled up in my eyes. They are getting it! What so many of us struggle with they are getting. The fact that the God of the universe loves us unconditionally as His children because of what Christ did on our behalf is what they are standing on. Secure in His love. Resting in the knowledge that His goodness and unfailing love will pursue them. Where else would we rather exist?
So yes, overall things are going really well in here. God is raising up teachers already. In the picture is two of them. These two men, Felix and Basa have already started teaching with us. Others lead the singing and others lead us in prayer. It’s so encouraging to see them respond to God like this. This is why we came, to see them brought into God’s kingdom, to walk in loving relationship with Him, and to serve Him and see Him work in and through them. Of course it hasn’t come without it’s struggles and hardships. Frankly, there have been times of wanting to throw in the proverbial towel. However, to God be the glory we did not. God sustained us and it has been worth it all!
As a family we can’t help being a little excited about getting ready to go to the States for our home assignment. While leaving here will be hard we are very much looking forward to reconnecting with family and friends back home. We are still seeking the Lord’s will in schooling for our children. Currently it looks like they will attend public school, but if the Lord has other plans we are open to that. We’ve heard lots of good reports from other missionaries about public school. So we will see.
If you think about it please pray for us concerning:
1. Before we leave I’d like to complete an evangelism training course for the believers here, and get everything ready to go for an outreach to the main village.
2. That the believers here will continue to deepen their relationship with the Lord.
3. There are a few people who seem to have turned their backs on the Lord. Pray that they will come back!
4. For our planning and preparation to go on home assignment (aka furlough). So much needs to be done.
5. That God would provide a vehicle for us during home assignment.
Pursued by His Love,
Gary, Esther, Charis, Caleb, Nathan, and Zachary Smith
PS – Zachary (4 yrs old) just told us “I wish I was a village kid, then I could go on hikes whenever I wanted. But I’d have to eat that yucky beetlenut.” HA!