New Year, New Opportunities!

Dear Praying Partners,

Another year has come to an end and another year has begun.  As we look to the Lord in 2011 we are both excited and curious about what the future holds.  A new year with new opportunities.  A preliminary look at National Culture & Language Acquisition says I should be finished by the end of June.  Please keep the following in prayer for 2011:

1.         Pray that I could finish well and continue to make the necessary progress in language over these next six months.  It’s been exciting to learn as much as I have already and to have opportunities to get out and use it.  It still feels though like I have a long way to go.

2.        We have plans to visit three N. Luzon tribal works in need of partners in early March.  Please pray that our Helicopter Flight Program will be up and running by then so as to limit travel time and increase time in the villages with the people.  We will need approx. 2hrs of flight service.

3.        Please pray for a continued increase of our support in 2011.  We are grateful for all that already give faithfully and for the new financial partners we have added just recently.  Our current support level is near 53% with other expenses supplemented from savings & other benefits.

4.       Please keep in mind Sheila Marie’s homeschooling.  She has done well in all subject areas except for Math and so we have recently made the decision to hire a private tutor for her.  Praise God for a wonderful yourng Christian gal from church willing to work with her. 

5.        Pray for our time at Manda. Bible Christian Church.  The pastor there for the past 7yrs. has recently resigned his position for a period of rest and to seek other opportunities from the Lord.  We are trusting God to bring the right man to continue leading the church.

6.       Please pray for patience as we wait on the Lord for His timing and for wise counsel in helping us to discern future ministry options.  We continue to prepare ourselves for tribal ministry but we also realize that we have gifts that may be better suited for filling support roles.

Thanks so much for standing with us as we wish you all a joyous New Year with new opportunities, as we continue to serve the Lord together, and for His blessings on all He has in mind for each one of us.

 

Robert, Cirena & Sheila Marie Smith
Making Disciples in the Philippines
New Tribes Mission