Time for a little R&R with the Smith’s

We realize that all our updates are read thoroughly by everyone so it goes without saying that you need to read this update, but I’m going to say it anyway. The reason for this is that this update includes an important ministry shift that we want to communicate. The main points are as follows, but especially take note of the last one.

• Re-teaching Phase One
• Rain and power
• Reaching more tribes

Christmas holidays are well over, and we had a wonderful time having Caleb home for almost 4 weeks. We remember what it is like during the holidays in the States, and it can easily got very busy; so we thought it was time for some R&R. Well, not literally I just wanted to make an awesome alliteration (ha there’s another one). However it may be really relaxing reading this retelling…

Re-teaching Phase One.  
In 2008, the Lord broke through the bonds of lies with His gospel and claimed for Himself the majority of the village here. Since that time they have implemented a Sunday school class that teaches the “Creation to Christ” story evangelistically to children. However, there is a group young people that do not fit in that category. So we have started teaching them. Sunday was the first lesson and it went great! There was also a handful of people who missed the first 2008 teaching that desire to hear it and others who have heard it before that just want to go through it again. And there are some youth-aged kids that go to school in this area who are from village M that you all are diligently praying for every Monday. Very Rewarding!

Rain and Power
Many of you have been praying for rain in our area and we wanted to let you know that God has been saying yes, a lot! As a result the people have more veggies than they can eat and their gardens are beginning to look better. Also our hydro system is up and running!
Funny story about our hydro. It had been raining a little here and there, but we had little faith that it was making much difference for our hydro system so we left it off and hobbled along with our couple solar panels and generator. So God had to get our attention. He did so by setting fire to our 4” water pipe! A man was burning off the grass from his old roof and didn’t think that our pipe would be affected. However in the middle of his fire water shot up and put the fire out. So he melted a small hole in the pipe! We had no way to fix it so we thought, since water was just shooting up we might as well open up the hydro turbines and let the water run through there. The next morning we woke up to fully charged batteries! God’s sense of humor is Radical.

Reaching more Tribes
We’ve always stressed that without the many people who support us we would not be able to be here and serve in this wonderful ministry. This especially includes all the missionaries that serve here in Papua New Guinea. These humble sacrificial giants serve us in so many ways that they have truly had a part in reaching the Dinangat for the Lord. They do this for all the tribal missionaries across the country, and thus have the distinct privilege of reaching many tribes! Well, now it is our turn. We’ve been asked to serve as the Dorm Parents for the field next school year. After many months of prayer and counsel we believe the Lord does indeed have this Dorm Parenting ministry for us.

We will do this for the 2016-2017 school year and then re-evaluate the needs of the field, the Dinangat church, and our family for the next year before we commit to anything else. We are excited to be at a place in the Dinangat church that we can take this step and be a part of reaching many more tribes! For we will serve in the place of parents who need to remain in their tribes and yet have schooling for their older children. Most tribal missionaries home-school, but for various reasons others want their children at the mission Academy.
We will move out to the mission center in June/July and then begin the discipleship ministry there –  Responsibly.