September, 2005

Dear Faithful Supporters,

Wow!  It's hard to believe that the summer is about over.  We trust that you are all doing well.  Time has flown by here for us and we have so much to share with you all. 

Last month we returned for three weeks to the U.S. for two family weddings.  It was a joy to see so many of our family members again, some of whom we haven't seen for many years.  Bryan 's brother was married in Pennsylvania and Susan's brother was married a week later in Wisconsin .  So we got to do a lot of driving (3,000+ miles)!  As we were preparing to land in Charlotte, we had an MK moment.  Josh saw a stadium and got really excited.  He said, "Look!  That's where they have bullfights!"  Both of the boys were very impressed with the U.S. this trip (libraries, drinking fountains, elevators, escalators, sprinklers, pretend deer hunting with Grandpa, etc.!)  Josh has picked up some Mexican habits too, such as kissing everyone on the cheek when you say good bye.  As we got off the plane he had to give the flight attendant kisses, which she loved, and which also gained him six extra bags of cookies!  Caleb is growing so fast.  He is talking up a storm now, in English, with some Spanish coming out too, and he understands more and more each day.  He just turned three this past week.  He was excited to get his Spider-Man birthday cake (every time he ate a leftover piece he had to sing "Happy Birthday" to himself again) and birthday presents.

While in the States we also were able to visit a new supporting church for the first time.  We really enjoyed getting to know the people there. We also enjoyed visiting another one of our supporting churches again. 

The summer was very busy for us.  We had visitors at our house for six out of the seven weeks following our move into our new house.  We had Susan's parents, three college students, and three Mexican summer missionaries.  It was a profitable time and we received a blessing and hope many of them did as well. 

VBS this summer was better than anticipated.  We held two clubs, one in the morning at a church family member's house, and one in the afternoon at the church.  Three Mexican teenagers came to our church for the week to put on the VBS along with a college student from the U.S.  In the morning we averaged 40 kids, and in the evening we averaged 20 kids.  When asked if she needed any extra chairs for the club, Lourdes, the lady who hosted the morning club, responded, "No, I have 10 chairs.  That'll be plenty."  She was amazed when 40 kids came to the club!  Several kids made professions that week.  Since then, that family has continued to do a Bible club for the kids on Saturday mornings. 

We also praise the Lord for the salvation of Sofia, Marisela, and Paz.  The best part about it is that they were saved through a Bible study that Lourdes started on her own!  Lourdes said just the other night, "I can't believe someone actually trusted in Christ because I shared the gospel with them!"  We have seen Lourdes and her family grow, and they are very excited about serving the Lord! 

Two weeks ago, Lourdes's 16 year old nephew who lives with them, Eulises, was in a bad bike accident.  The front of his bike broke off and tore away part of his face when he fell forward.  He needed plastic surgery to fix his nose, lip, and cheek.  He is getting better now, but he is going to have some bad scarring.  We can see God working in him and his family to help them grow through this situation.  We also learned a little more about the Mexican Catholic culture here in Texcoco through this experience.  Lourdes thought that this accident happened because God was punishing her for sharing the gospel since just the day before she led the three ladies mentioned above to the Lord.  When we first heard that, we thought we misunderstood her Spanish, but after talking to the Smith's, we found out that it was true!  She really believed that God was punishing her for helping lead these ladies out of Catholicism and into a saving relationship with Him!  Others in the church have made comments like, "Why did this happen to Eulises?  He is a good Christian.  It should have happened to me instead."  Even though they have been saved for a few years, it is still difficult for them to leave the beliefs of the Catholic church behind.  They still see God as a big bully, and that you will be punished if you go against the Catholic church.  Please pray for Eulises's recovery, as well as growth through this trial for the whole family.

Continue to pray for Arturo, the man whose wife left him.  His wife has returned to live with a man across the street from him.  She doesn't want anything to do with him or the church.  He has allowed all of the hardships he's endured to draw him away from the Lord instead of bringing him closer.

The couple that we have been doing marriage counseling with has come a long way.  Just a few months ago, they were ready to give up as I mentioned in the last update.  Now, their marriage is better than it has been in a long time.  They are faithfully attending church, and are continually talking about the amazing change in their lives.  We praise the Lord for what He's done in their lives.

Last week, we returned to Puebla to do a marriage seminar at a church there.  There was a good turnout with about 20 couples in attendance.  We had a good time and hope that God uses the seminar to strengthen the marriages in that church.

We will be starting several new ministries this next month.  Bryan will be starting a new ministry in one of the local universities.  He will be tutoring English with the goal of making new contacts and starting Bible studies.  We will also be starting two more evangelism classes - an advanced class for those who took the first class last spring, and the first class will be given again for those who missed it the last time.  Finally we will be starting a new small groups ministry.  At this time, we will have two groups, but we hope to add more as the church grows.

Thanks so much for your prayers and financial support.  You are a vital part to our ministry!  Thank you.

Praises:

1.  Safety in travel to and from and in the U.S.

2.  Salvation of Marisela, Sofia, and Paz

3.  VBS - salvations and new contacts

4.  Growth of some families in the church

Prayer Requests:

1.  The health of the marriages in the church

2.  Arturo

3. New ministries that will be starting

In Christ's Service,