Deputation Notes

October - December 2005

Dear Praying Friends, December 31, 2005

Another year has moved into the past. As I write this, I think of the hundreds of thousands of people who will throng into New York’s Times Square tonight to watch the dropping of the ball. News reports usually show a riotous crowd hugging and kissing as they anticipate the arrival of the New Year. My mind turns to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” How many in that crowd gathered in New York anticipate this arrival? Oh that we would be even more diligent this year of telling others about our great Savior!

This past year has been a busy one for us, and also a year of much change. The Lord closed the door for us to go to Kenya, East Africa in late January, and has opened a door for us to go to Zambia, Central Africa. There has been much change of scenery pass by our van’s windows as we have traveled through ten different states along the deputation path God had prepared for us. In May we changed transportation modes to airplane as we had the opportunity to take a survey trip to Zambia and see the country to which God has led us. Another change is that of teammates: we and the Knipe family have been on deputation, but this year the Beaman family joined the GFA team for Zambia.

The last two months have brought two new churches to our support team! We are thankful for God’s blessing and bringing our support level to 58%. Our prayer is that more of the churches we have already visited will take us on for support. We would love to spend next New Year Eve in Zambia.

We anticipate another great year ahead. Our deputation schedule is slowly filling and has us in six states for meetings so far, but many more dates are open. Also, this summer we are praying about the possibility of taking a linguistics course, which should help prepare us to learn the local language in Zambia. Please pray with us, that if the Lord would be pleased in doing so, that our support would be met and we would be in Zambia this year!

This year, we will begin including various facts about Zambia in each prayer letter. Our desire is that you will learn a little about the country and be more burdened to pray with us for the many people there who need Christ. Zambia is now in the warm & wet season (Dec. – Apr.). Temperatures are usually in the seventies and most of the rainfall for the whole year comes during these months.

Prayer Requests:

- Co-workers: Hafler Family in Zambia; the Knipes and Beamans also on deputation.

- Meetings: Pray that more would be scheduled and the Lord’s blessing on those we will have.

- Support: Pray for that next church that will not only pray but also financially support our ministry.

- Outfit & Passage: Pray for the Lord’s provision, as we continue to look for items we will need to set up a household in Zambia (water purifier, refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc) and then ship them there.

- Health & Safety: Pray that we would remain healthy this next year and that our van would continue to run well.

Zealous for Zambia,

John, Sophie, Joshua, Caleb and Becky Smith