January Update

January 2012

5 months and counting!  We are now 5 months away from our projected move to Liberia.  We feel led to approach the next 5 months as missionaries on furlow.  We want to be intentional about prioritizing time with our families and making ourselves available to speak to Sunday school classes, churches, house churches, small groups, and anyone else who will give us an ear.  If you know of any opportunities for us to share, let us know.  

Praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives.  Matt 13:44 says, “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”   The Lord has had our family on a sweet journey of surrender during this past month.  Things we have held dear have had to find new homes.  All of our earthly possessions will eventually need to fit within a handful of suitcases within the next 5 months.  The Lord has been showing Mel and I that we need to allow each member of our family go through the journey of surrender at their own pace.  We don’t believe it would be healthy to force our children to give away all they own, rather, we have felt led to model surrender to them and allow them to surrender at their own pace.  The fruit of surrender has been beautiful in our family.  Praise the Lord!  Mel and I bought totes for each child so they can surrender at their own pace.  We were thinking that over a period of time, our children could fill their totes.  When we gave our children their totes, it felt like the excitement of Christmas was in the air.  Our children asked if they could fill their totes immediately.  We said yes and then watched our children joyfully surrender prized nurf guns, cars, trucks, train sets, dolls, etc.  They brought their possessions down to African standards in a matter of one hour.  I praise the Lord for the wonderful family God has given me and for the beautiful hearts that he has placed in my children.  

 

As you know our home needs to sell before we can move to Africa.  Last month we completely repainted and touched up every room of our house.  Our home looks the best it has ever looked.  Please pray that our home will sell.  As many of you know, we also own a second house that we purchased to fix up and sell.  At this point in time we are considering renting this house rather than selling it.  The rental money could help offset our expenses in Liberia.  

God opened the doors for me to share in two churches last month.  I find great joy in this.  Please pray that more doors will open for me to speak about Liberia.  If you would like me to speak at your church, please contact me at 937-451-9809.

Last month we completed a webpage for the Liberia ministry.  It’s address is wordsowerliberia.com.  This month we will start posting Christine’s monthly reports on this website as well.  Christine is the missionary from France who joined our team in Liberia.  

I have attached an updated timeline which shows all that need to be completed before our move.  This tasks in red are tasks that have already been completed, the tasks in yellow are the tasks we are currently working on.  Please pray that the Lord would enable us to complete all that needs to be done this month.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray that we would walk in step with God as we move forward.
2. Please pray for more opportunities to speak in Bible studies and churches.
3. Please pray that God would give us wisdom for the budget we are setting for Africa.
4. Please pray that our house would sell.

Africa Timeline

Hi Family and Friends, 

We enjoyed our time with Kim while he was with us in the USA.  After praying and seeking the Lord himself, Kim has given our family a warm invitation to join him in Liberia.  Now, Melanie and I are in the process of planning our big move to Africa.  We have been working on creating a list of things that need to be done and the timeframe in which they should be done.  Please check the following list and make suggestions.  This document is a work in process.  Obviously some things are out of our control like the sale of our houses.    Note:  The tasks in Black are tasks that still need to be done.  The tasks in Green are the tasks that we are currently working on.  The tasks in Red are the tasks that have been completed.  

January	February	March	April	May	June	July
Medical -  Prabhat’s blood type known -  Fava Beans Studied Schooling Family -  Family Time Prioritized -  House Fixed Up Travel -  Prabhat’s SS Number - Adoption Finalization Started Ministry -  Blog Established	Medical -   All Doctors consulted -  Immunizations started -  Hearing aids bought -  Duplicate hearing aid accessaries bought Schooling -  Speech Therapist Consulted Family -   Family Time Prioritized -  Budget Established -  Simplification of possessions completed -  House Sold Travel -  Adoption Finalized Ministry - New Testament Class Started - Prayer Partners recruitment started	Medical -  Nutritionalist Consulted Schooling Family -  Family Time Prioritized -  Packing List Completed -  Investment House Completed Travel -  Passports Purchased Ministry -  Support Team Selected - Music CD Duplicated - New Worship Director Selected for GP - New Mailing Address selected	Medical -  Selected Medical Insurance -  Malaria management plan for family -  List of meds to take completed Schooling -  Home School Convention attended -  Curriculum Ordered (Math, Handwriting, Language Arts, Reading, History, Science, Art, Bible, Typing) Family -  Family Time Prioritized -  Living and eating at African Standards Travel -  Visas purchased Ministry -  Prayer Partners Recruited - New Testament Class Completed - Replacement Elder appointed GP	Medical -  Emergency Medical evacuation plan established -  Prabhat’s last appointment with Dr Choo Schooling -   Supply List Finalized -  Missionary Books Read Family -  Family Time Prioritized -  Clothing Purchased -  Flashlights purchased -  Investment House Sold -  Family Communication Plan established Travel -  Immunizations completed - Emergency evacuation plan established - Wills updated - Airfare bought Ministry - Supplies bought	Medical -   All eyes examined, new glasses purchased -  All teeth cleaned and healthy -  Hearing aid batteries purchased for trip. -  Last yearly checkups -  Fava Bean plan completed Schooling -   Supplies packed Family -   Family Time Prioritized -  House Built in Africa -  Clothing purchased -  Personal Hygiene purchased Travel -  Family Packed Ministry - Webpage Updated	Travel to Home in Liberia

Africa Update

Kim Smith

Dear Family and Friends,

Mel and I sit on a board that oversees God’s mission in Liberia that we are partnered with.  Since Kim (our partner in Liberia) has been home, we have been meeting almost on a weekly basis planning and praying for Liberia.  During these meetings, God has been stirring our family’s heart regarding our part in the Liberian ministry.  We believe God is opening the doors for us to move our family to Liberia.  Here is a summary of what has been taking place lately.

1. We have met with all of Prabhat’s doctors / therapists and have asked them if a move to Liberia would have an adverse effect on Prabhat’s development.  All of the doctors and therapist have told us that Liberia would not have an adverse effect on Prabhat.  Praise the Lord!  
2. We have felt the Lord telling us that it is now time for us to get rid of all our non-essential possessions.  Lately, we have been radically unloading our possessions.  For example, I currently don’t own any drums, just yesterday I got rid of my favorite guitar, etc.  We are finding wonderful freedom in simplicity.  We have a friend who has a garage sale every year.  All the proceeds from the garage sale go to support the ministry in Liberia.  Most of what we own will be sold at this garage sale.  We are now in the process of moving our non-essential possessions to his barn to sale by the trailer load.  We have asked our family members to let us know if we own anything they want.  We don’t want to sell things that are precious to our families.  Please let us know if there is anything we own that you want.  

1. I have temporarily turned my attention from completing the house we bought to flip to touching up our personal house to sell.  We believe God is calling us to drop the price of our personal house by another $10,000.  
2. We are beginning to look at health insurances that will match our calling.  We have looked into our current insurance and it will not work for us while we are away.

Our hearts are to make a 2 year commitment to Liberia.  We would like to sell both of the houses we own and use some of the equity to support us during these 2 years.  After serving 2 years we will come home and evaluate everything.  At that point we could make longterm plans or conclude that our mission is complete.  

How can you pray for us?  

1. Pray for unity between our family and Kim.  Our family believes God is calling us to Liberia soon.  We believe God must confirm this in Kim’s heart before we can go.  We will not move our family to Liberia unless Kim also believes now is the time.  At this point in time, Kim has not had the opportunity to seek the Lord regarding the Lord’s timing.  We are being very careful not to try to force a door open.  We deeply want to walk in step with the Spirit.
2. Please pray that our house would sell in God’s timing.  We know that sometimes God’s timing is not ours.  We deeply desire to walk in God’s timing.
3. Please pray for wisdom as we prepare our children for Liberia.  

Thank you for your prayers and support!  We love you!

Don and Mel

Grace's Prayer

Each of our children have their own prayer journals.  From time to time we will sit down and write out their prayers for them.  Here is a beautiful prayer from my daughter.

God, 

Please help us. We really need to give our stuff away.  We want to show You how much we love You by doing what You say.  We want to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.  We want to show You that we will do what You say.  We really, really want to give Snickers and the cat to someone who will love them.  I pray that the fish and cats will find a good home.  Thank You that You are not done with us because when You are done with us You will be the nicest God, but You are not done with us.  We really need to give away our house.  We want You to help us with that.  When can we go to Africa?  Lord, I really want a sister.  Please help me to get a sister.  We really want to show You that we are strong but You are stronger.  If You want us to go to India we will go there.  If You want our family to go all over the world, we will go there.  We want to show You how much we like You and celebrate Your birthday.  We will like You in Heaven.  Lord, I want to know if there will be light in heaven?  Will we bow down to You in heaven?  Amen.