Newest Grandson Praise be to Him!

Very Handsome Zeke

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y J E R R Y

H A P P Y     B I R T H D A Y       J E R R Y

Sorry to be late in wishing you a Happy Birthday !!!

Suzanne - Greetings from Africa

Suzanne says:
Sunday, October 27, 2013 6:03 AM

Subject: Greetings from Africa
Another busy week...The senior girls continue to work on their sewing and crocheting and the grade school children are working on crafts after school. Both the boys and girls like to make beaded items in addition to billfolds and purses. One of the boys asked what a billfold was. The child care director asked me to start a discussion with the senior girls on wild versus wise girls that she will continue after I am gone. The girls have had little exposure to the world outside the village gates and it will be a real awakening when they leave. I am nervous about this and hope it goes well on Wednesday night.
We celebrated a birthday this week .....Francis was 6 years old. The "mother" talks about her "son" and then the children sing Happy Birthday and ask how old he is. After the birthday child sings, the children do a rousing version of To God Be the Glory. Francis was new to Rafiki on one of my visits and all he did was cry. It was so wonderful to see the happy, smiling boy. Each child receives a book and a new outfit on his/her birthday. At Rafiki, birthdays are celebrated on the child's 6,10, 16 and 20th birthday.
Each visit to the village, I am struck by how little the Ghanian people have compared to us. Their possessions are few and their lives will not improve materially. We have been so blessed.
I am still struggling with the food. Before I came, I decided I would eat my noon and night meal in the dining hall but it has been a challenge.

Every meal is a red sauce over rice or spaghetti. This week the cooks served Palava sauce which is made with cocoyam leaves, red oil, tomatoes and onions. Every dish is very hot with pepper. I guess it is all a matter of taste. One night this week the children were given worm pills before dinner. As you would imagine, I asked the nurse if I should take some also.
And for all of you that told me my hearing aids were not visible.....Every child in the village has asked about them. They had never seen one before. I must look very old because one of the senior boys asked what war I fought in. Out of the mouths of babes.

Happy Birthday Linda !!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Linda !!!!!!!!!

Linda & Jim --- --- -- Happy 50th Anniversary !!!!

Happy Birthday Suzanne Patton !!!

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y                 Suzanne  !!!!!!!!!!!!

Sherry Smith Birthday

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y  SHERRY !!!! 

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y Jim Smith !!!!!!!!!

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y Jim Smith !!!!!!!!!

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!! DAN

Prayer please

This is from Jason Duncan who works at the church but is also an RA at Hidden Creek. 

calling for prayer! I am in a camp w 60 Chinese exchange students. Those who have not already crossed the line of faith are right on the edge of it. I've never seen the Holy Spirit move like this in so many people at once! But we, His ministers, desperately need your intercession for His empowerment, and these students desperately need Him ...period. Let the saints pray! John 4:35 Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.  

Glory to His Name.... please pray.

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!! Susan

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y !!! Susan

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNA !!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNA !!!!!

 

Dorothy

Praise God, Dorothy went through the surgery well.  The doctor said that he removed a number of bone spurs successfully and that she should be in better shape as far as the pain is concerned in about 5-6 weeks.  She does have a lot of arthritis and her bones are brittle, so that will still cause her to have to be very careful.  She slept well pretty well last night so there is much to be thankful for.

Let's continue to keep them in prayer. 

Dorothy's surgery

Good morning!!!!  Just wanted to remind you that Dorothy will have surgery tomorrow, April.  Please pray for her and for the surgeons and, of course, for Dan. 

Also thankful for this blog that makes it easy for us to communicate.  Thanks, Ernie!!!!

He is Risen!!!!

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men.

“He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered His words.”

 

 

The tomb is empty..... death and the grave could not hold Him.

 

HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

He is the Resurrection and the Life!!!!!!!!!!

Info on Dorothy's surgery

Here is an email from Dan.....

Well, it has been a wild month.   As you know mother’s first surgery date, 03/05/13, was cancelled when she came down with a UTI infection.  The next surgery date, 03/22/13, was cancelled when mother came down with pneumonia on Thursday, 03/07/13, and landed in the hospital for a long weekend, 03/07/13 – 03/12/13.   Thankfully and praise the Lord. It was caught in the early stages.  She was back to church on the 17^th.   As of today, the new surgery date is 04/05/13.  Please, pray she will stay healthy.  I told her she would be in big trouble if she doesn’t. J

Also Susan had her test on her lung this past Wednesday and will keep us posted on the results.  Please keep her in prayer.

Can't leave without saying that I was thinking this AM about Phil 2:5-8....  that although He existed in the form of God He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself... taking the form of a bond servant and being made in the likeness of men.. being found in appearance as a man... He  (the Son of God... our Savior and King) humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross.  And He calls us to Have this attitude in ourselves.  
Which brings to mind... "deny yourself and take up your cross daily" and "humbles yourselves under the mighty hand of God" and on and on.     He gave His all... coming in humility... dying in humility... Our King!    As a friend of Erin's said...  "If He rode in low on a donkey, we should go ahead and get down off of our high horse.."   and I will add and worship Him with our lives in humility.

This is the week!!!!

Something I read this morning.... 

This is the week that we contemplate and celebrate that Jesus rose to His task and split history in two. This is the week he rode on a donkey, cried in the garden, suffered on the cross, rose into glory. This is the week that sinful, broken humans were granted a pardon, justified and set free. It is too miraculous for words. Songs and sermons fail us; we huddle at the cross, overwhelmed by the punishment that brought us peace.

Let's the earth rejoice, for the Lamb is our King and grace beat beat back the darkness!!!! 

Dorothy

I am so sorry that I didn't get this to you earlier.... but Dan's mom is having surgery on her back this AM.  She has to be there at 7AM, I believe.  And her surgery will require her to stay the night.   She has experienced pain in her back caused by some stenosis, I think, and they are going to try to relieve that pain.  Please pray for her and her quick recovery, and for Dan as he ministers to her. 

Updates

Sorry that I haven't updated the situation here at the City Smith house.  Jim's brother died on Jan 25th, and Jim and I went to the funeral the following week...... long story to tell there, but not for now.  God was definitely good to us in the trip and the time that we were there... although it was a very sad time also. 
We returned and I went to Erin's to help her and immediately came down with a stomach bug or food poisoning which kept me up all night in a not very pleasant way.  I left early the next day to keep away from her and the children... that turned out to be very interesting, too.  The streets were icy but the overpasses were even more icy... cars in ditches, or over turned or stuck or.... well, you get the idea....  I made it home by His grace.   Several days later, I lost my voice and am still a little croaky, although I have felt good and Jim has probably liked my lack of voice. It has probably been allergies.  So that is why I have not been in touch with you all.... love you.... Blessings...
Linda 

Happy Valentine's Day