(Prior to November 2003)
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1999 NOVEMBER
2000 FEBRUARY MAY SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER
November, 1999
Dear Partners,
I praise the Lord that Sarah and I are safely in Alduba, but our trip is one each of us will probably never forget! We arrived safely in Addis on schedule, and the whole process of immigration and customs went smoothly. Thanks for praying. We had hoped to be on our way to Alduba in a week, but were delayed because the car needed repair. Then, another missionary got sick and needed hospitalization, so Ruth (who had come to Addis to pick us up) and I took turns helping with her care.
By, Thursday, Oct. 14th, we were on our way to Alduba. We were heavily loaded with everything Sarah and I had brought with us plus groceries and Ruth’s things. It was a long day on the road, but uneventful. We spent the night in Sodo with SIM missionaries. (I enjoyed seeing everyone and introducing Sarah.) We left early Friday AM, stopped for breakfast in town and were on our way—the final leg of our journey—or so we thought! At about 9:30 AM we got to a river crossing on the newly-paved road which should have been about 20 or 30 minutes from Arba Minch. Since the bridge across isn’t finished, the only way was through the water. It looked rough but Ruth assured me she had crossed on her way up without problem, so I tried it. Suddenly the car was covered to the hood with muddy, churning river water! I tried to back out, but the tires were caught on rocks and the motor stalled. We were sitting in water by then, so I opened the window and climbed out, but the current was too strong to walk or swim against, so I got back in. Ruth then crawled over me and out the window to the roof. We handed her a few things we wanted to keep dry and then followed her on to the roof. Ruth is more agile than either Sarah or I, so she went back down into the car to rescue my computer and camera. Then, the 3 of us settled down on the roof rack to wait for the floodwater to decrease. There were 3 young men on the shore. We called to them to help us. One came into the river and climbed on to the car with us. We wanted the extra weight because we could feel the floodwater shaking our heavily loaded car. The other 2 men must have sent a message to the highway camp on the other side of the river because a bulldozer eventually came. He crossed the river to the side we had entered and then slowly approached the car, shovel raised to the height of the roof. When he was next to the car, we all stepped on to the shovel, carrying everything we had on the roof rack with us. We were gently lowered to the ground.
We were all grateful to be on solid ground! But, as we watched the current shake the car, we were praying about what to do to get the car out of the river. The dozer driver tried to pull it, but his cable broke. Then, another highway pick-up truck came. When we asked, they agreed to take me with them to their camp (on our side of the river) to get a stronger cable. They also agreed to take me to the town close to their camp so I could call Addis and let SIM know what had happened to us. The telephone office was locked so we just went to the highway camp. It seemed to take forever for the men to get the cable. By the time we got back, a chain had been found and the dozer driver had pulled our car out of the river. Water was running out of it from everywhere, but at least it was upright! We thanked the Lord again as the dozer pulled the car to an incline so the water inside would drain out better. Then, since the same men were willing to keep helping us, I went with them to Arba Minch, where I was finally able to get a call through to SIM. (There is an old, unpaved road which is longer, but avoids the river crossing.) SIM people talked with our mechanic and called back with instructions about what we should have a mechanic do to the river-soaked motor.
By the time I got back to Sarah and Ruth, it was 4 PM. We were all shaken and tired, but grateful for the Lord’s continuing protection and guidance. The men were still helpful, so Sarah and I went to the church compound in Arba Minch. Ruth stayed with the car until I could return with a guard for the night. (I should add that each trip to town took an hour because the road around was long, but also the springs on the highway truck were shot, so the driver had to drive very slowly and we still felt every bump on the unpaved road.) At the church, the people were very sympathetic and helpful. The only car they had was a pick-up (also with poor suspension) so I went back to the river with the church driver and a guard while Sarah stayed with English-speaking Ethiopians who took her to the home of missionaries. (They were away, but had left their key with trusted friends in the church in case anyone needed a place to stay.)
At the river, we loaded everything we could from the soaked car to the church pick-up. (The Lord provided Ethiopian youths to help us.) We headed back to Arba Minch—my third time to bounce round-trip on this road. By the time we arrived, Sarah was settled in the house and we started to think about something to eat for supper and how to get things cried out. We were all exhausted! The church people, who work with our friends who left their house key, took very good care of us. We spent Saturday and Sunday trying to dry out the things that had been soaked in the river for 4 hours. (Most of what I packed is useable. Books and papers dry, and clothes wash.) The church helped us tow the car to a garage, and John Chan sent one of our Bunna workers from Alduba to help with getting the mechanical work done. He actually stayed with the car until it was finished. We drove the car he brought to Arba Minch back to Alduba on Monday, the 18th. It has been more work here to unpack and get settled because so much still needed to be dried or washed, but that is all finished now.
We are all very thankful for the Lord’s protection and grace to cope with all this. I am thankful to have Sarah here and for the help she is already. Ruth believes the Lord is leading her to help out other places, so I’m busy trying to catch up with all that has happened while I’ve been gone, and learn from the changes she has made before she leaves.
Praise The Lord With Me For:
1. The Lord’s protection and enabling in very unusual situations
2. Ruth’s good work while I was away
3. Sarah’s help and fellowship
4. I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please Pray With Me For:
1. The Lord’s enabling and vision of priorities as I take over from Ruth
2. Safety in travel—every time we go out, there are rivers to cross
3. The team in Alduba: Because of drought, people here will be hungry until the next harvest, Lord willing the end of June 2000. We are also in transition with VanGorkoms going on furlough Jan. 2000 and Chans possibly also leaving for a few months.
4. The Lord protect Sarah and be glorified through her 2 months of service for Him here
5. The Lord enable me to be a help and encouragement to Sarah, and enable both of us to encourage the others in Alduba
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
February, 2000
Dear Partners,
Since we depend on the sun for light, and we don’t need heat(!) in Alduba, I wasn’t expecting any glitches with Y2K, and we didn’t have any. I understand from the radio that the rest of the world also entered into the year 2000 without major problems. I hope the Lord’s joy and peace in each of you will dominate this New Year. You have sent so many Christmas cards and New Year greetings! Each one has been an encouragement to me. Thank you for writing! I will answer each one, but I can’t promise how quickly I will be able to do that.
Sarah’s 2 months here were a blessing to me and to many others as well. I miss her, but am thankful for the time we could have together. I am thankful for myself but sorry for you who read my letters that I don’t have any exciting stories to write about this time. However, I am anticipating with interest what the Lord will do in the next 10 months.
In my November Sketches, I mentioned that VanGorkoms would be leaving in January for a 10-month home assignment. They have left. I also mentioned that Chans might have to leave for a few months. They will be in the USA by the time you receive this letter. So, I am the only foreigner here. (Chans hope to be back in May, but no one can be sure yet how long they will have to be away.) It is the Lord Who protects me, not another white face. But, SIM has policies about a single woman not being on a station by herself for an extended period of time. For a while it looked like I would have to move out of Alduba until Chans or VanGorkoms get back. But the Lord has opened up another way. Tilay, a Bunna who has worked with Fred for years, has taken over as station leader. All problems and questions except for health ones are directed to him. Sharing the load like this really helps. It will soon be 13 years since I first came to Alduba, so I have lots of friends here. I don’t anticipate a problem with loneliness. But, in order to comply with SIM policy, I have agreed to leave Alduba for one week every month. In a way, this is exhausting because it means I will live out of a suitcase one week a month, and because these roads are tiring to travel. If the Lord sends rain, the roads could also be challenging. (I don’t want more to write exciting stories about, thank you!) But, if someone comes to visit, I don’t have to go anywhere. I can offer lots of bed space, solar power for lights and hot water, and a warm, sunny climate. You are welcome!
Praise The Lord With Me For:
1. The team He has given me to work with here, both Ethiopian and foreign
2. That I don’t have to move out of Alduba
3. The Lord’s provision. We are in the midst of drought and famine, but no one has died of starvation and we are seeing very little malnutrition. One believer said to me recently, “I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve never seen such a bad year for food, but I’ve also never experienced being able to get food from other places so no one is starving. God is faithful.”
4. I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please Pray With Me For:
1. The Lord’s enabling and vision of priorities as Tilay and I “hold down the fort” here
2. For Tilay to have wisdom and patience with the many problems and questions he has to deal with, and for us to work well together
3. Safety in travel and energy to travel every month
4. It is still very dry here and everyone is struggling to bring food from other places. Pray that the rains will start on time (late February or early March) and last long enough for people to harvest a good crop in June.
5. The Lord’s choice of people willing to visit here so I won’t have to be away from the work one week every month
6. Solomon decided the Lord was leading him to work elsewhere. Pray for the Lord to provide the person of His choice for His work here in the Alduba Health Project.
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
It is April as I write, but it will be May by the time you receive this.
Dear Partners,
She sat quietly in the shade waiting for me. A little gray showed through the red mud that held her hair in ringlets. “She’s always been slender,” I thought, “but now her skin hangs on her bones.” “Do you have any work for me to do,” she asked hopefully—almost pleading. I know she is a widow, and she has no one to help her. I did manage to find her work, but she couldn’t do much, weakened as she is from lack of food. She’s not the only one. NO ONE has food. Some more fortunate than she have animals they can sell in hope of buying something to eat, but animals sell for less than ¼ of what they are worth. And, the price of grain in the market is increasing as much as 25% in one week. The animals look like walking skeletons, especially the cattle. It is no wonder—there is nothing green for them to eat. The few sprinkles of rain we’ve had might be enough to make the grass grow if the cattle, in desperation, had not pulled it up by the roots trying to find enough to fill their stomachs. Our rainy season normally starts late in February. But, we had no rain in February, very little in March and less than one inch so far in April. People are loosing hope of having enough rain to plant their fields this year, though most are trying to plow and buy seed in case the rain comes. (They have long since eaten what would normally have been put aside for seed.) No one is saying much about a harvest, but expectations are not high with the rain so delayed.
As I write this, however, it has started to rain! That is a wonderful sound! In a book I am reading, the author mentioned Elijah. The Lord led him to a brook for water during a drought and commanded ravens to feed him. Then, the brook dried up. Elijah may have wondered what the Lord was doing, or if He had forgotten him. We tend to look to the rain for the supply of the food we need. God promises to provide for our needs, but He doesn’t promise how He will provide. The writer, in his comments on Elijah, pointed out that the Lord might allow extreme circumstances in order to turn our faith from the rain to Him alone. I have no way of knowing what the Lord’s plan is for our area, or for Ethiopia. (Most of Ethiopia is experiencing drought and famine. Some areas are worse than others are.) But, I know He is in control, so I pray for Him to do whatever He knows is best for His Kingdom and for His people.
Praise The Lord With Me For:
1. The team He has given me to work with here, both Ethiopian and foreign—Tilay is doing a great job as station manager.
2. There have been enough visitors that I haven’t had to leave every month.
3. The Lord’s faithfulness and provision. No one has died of starvation and people are still able to buy grain in the markets.
4. 15 health scouts finished the first, 2-week phase of their training. (There are 3 phases. The result should be that they are equipped to help people prevent disease and to give basic first aid.)
5. A new health assistant, Girma, is trying out Alduba.
6. I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please Pray With Me For:
1. The Lord’s continuing enabling for Tilay as station manager
2. The Lord will continue to supply visitors whom I can encourage and who can also encourage me.
3. The Lord’s provision for the people here, and for wisdom and creativity for me to know how to respond to so many hungry people.
4. The 15 who have started will finish their training and for guidance in planning the remaining 2 phases of their training
5. Pray for the Lord to show us His will clearly about whether or not Girma should stay.
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
I’m writing this in August, but you will not get it until September, 2000
Dear Partners,
“But, Sister, God is in control. He is faithful.” That was Girma’s encouragement to me as he saw my frustration over some of the challenges the Lord has allowed here since I wrote to you last. Girma was right. The Lord has been faithful to see me through them.
There have been travel challenges—again! I was on my way to a meeting, spent the night in Arba Minch and awoke to hear rain. I thanked the Lord for the rain, but then I learned that the road we had to drive on to get to Addis for the meeting was washed out! A full, rushing river—the one in which I “baptized” the car last year, blocked the only way around. After a day of waiting, praying and relaxing, God, in His goodness, provided a place on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis, so I arrived more rested than I would have been had I traveled the 10 hours by road. The trip home was uneventful, as has been other travel since. I am always thankful for uneventful travel!
There are challenges related to drought and famine. We are getting a little rain now. The people planted about the time I wrote to you last, but the rains stopped. Everyone’s crops were half-grown and then burned in the field by the sun. Now, people are gathering seed and planting again. Everyone is still very hungry, but no one has died from famine in our area. We all praise the Lord for that. Meanwhile, the challenge of being surrounded by hungry and/or demanding people is being answered (in part) by the government, which has begun food distributions, and has promised to distribute food to the people every month. SIM is helping with the transportation of food into famine-stricken areas. (If any of you feel the Lord is leading you to help with that, the donation should be sent to SIM, marked for Account # ET 92718, South Omo Famine Relief.)
Personnel have been a challenge. Asnake left work in June. In a way, it was a relief because I had begun to notice things that caused me to doubt his integrity. Now, his workload falls on Girma and me. The patient load is increasing as the incidence of malaria increases. God has graciously provided people—visitors for a few days, two to work on the Bunna translation project for a few weeks, a medical student for 8 weeks. I have been blessed and encouraged by their fellowship and by their help. The Lord knew I needed them! John and Vino Chan recently returned from the USA and are in the process of getting settled here again. It is great to have some of my neighbors home again!
My mother has had a few health problems recently. (I don’t feel far from home until something happens to a family member.) Since she and Dad will celebrate 59 years of marriage this month, I plan to spend September with them. I am so thankful for my parents!
Praise The Lord With Me For:
1. Tilay is continuing to do a great job a station manager.
2. Safety in travel.
3. The Lord’s faithfulness and provision. No one has died of starvation and the government has begun food distributions.
4. The people who have encouraged me through their visits and help. John and Vino’s return.
5. Girma is working out well here.
6. I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please Pray With Me For:
1. The Lord’s continued enabling for Tilay as station manager.
2. The Lord give continued safety in travel.
3. The Lord’s continued provision for the people here, and for the rain to continue long enough for people to get a harvest.
4. The Chan’s project be approved and his work permit granted so they won’t have to leave the country again.
5. Pray for the Lord to guide us to the person of His choice to work with Girma and me.
6. Rest, refreshment, renewed energy as I visit my family, and that I’ll be a blessing to them.
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
November, 2000
Dear Partners,
"We brought you a gift," they said, pointing to a cloth bag they had carried with them. The bag wiggled! "It's a porcupine," they said proudly. "It's a baby. You can feed it and keep it in your house." "Oh," I gulped, trying to look grateful. Jemo (husband) and Keri (wife) had walked a long distance in order to visit me. They used to live in Dezeshesh, and were among the first believers there. When one of Jemo's brothers would not give up persecuting them because of their new relationship with the Lord, they decided to move. They moved to Irreeya, about 30 Km from here. When they moved there were no believers there. Now, there are 10 and the church has assigned two evangelists to live there and disciple these who have believed. There has been persecution in Irreeya, too, but they and the others have stood firm. I really did enjoy their visit. Now that I have seen them again, I have fresh information to draw on as I pray for them.
They came, however, not just to visit, but for me to examine Keri. Jemo and Keri have been married 7 years and have not been able to get pregnant. In Bunna culture that means that Jemo should purchase another wife. Neither of them wants that, but they are getting a lot of pressure from non-believing Bunna. I could find nothing wrong in my examination, but my facilities are limited. I hope to refer Keri to a specialist within the next few months. (Jemo was married before and had 3 children by that wife before she died, so we think the problem is most likely with Keri.) Please pray for them. This is a heavy burden for a Bunna couple, especially those who are still young in faith, to carry.
There will be a brochure enclosed with this letter. Please read it and pray with us for the needs in our medical work in Ethiopia.
I pray each of you will have a Joy-filled holiday season!
What happened to the porcupine? He escaped! After sampling what was growing in the garden, he returned to the forest, where he was created to live. I must admit I am thankful.
Praise The Lord With Me For:
1. Tilay is continuing to do a great job a station manager.
2. Safety in travel.
3. The Lord’s faithfulness and provision. It is raining and people have a few crops ripening.
4. Jemo and Keri's visit and faithfulness.
5. A good visit with my family.
6. Girma's willing spirit and faithfulness in the health work.
7. I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please Pray With Me For:
1. The Lord’s continued enabling for Tilay as station manager.
2. The Lord give continued safety in travel.
3. The Lord’s continued provision for the people here, and for the rain to continue long enough for people to get a harvest.
4. Jemo and Keri to remain faithful, and that, if it will glorify the Lord, they be able to get pregnant.
5. The Chan’s project be approved and his work permit granted so they won’t have to leave the country again.
6. Pray for the Lord to guide us to the person of His choice to work with Girma and me.
7. Pray for the needs in our health projects in Ethiopia.
8. The Alduba Church as they face some serious challenges.
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
July, 2001
Dear Partners,
Finally! So much has been happening, that I really have not been able to write. I believe you have been praying even though you haven't heard from me because I've seen the Lord work in so many ways. 1) 14 men from 8 communities completed Phase 2 and 3 of the health scout training. By the time you receive this, their graduation should be finished and they starting to serve their communities. The 3 who were trained before also got in on the training as a refresher course. Now, we will start the follow-up these men will need to serve their communities faithfully.
2) Girma and Ayeke (Bunna translator and clinic helper) have worked really hard, especially during the training sessions. (The preparation takes a lot longer than the teaching.) A few health workers have come to help us temporarily with the workload, but we don't have another permanent health worker yet.
3) I have been asked by church leaders to teach True Love Waits in 5 more locations. Four have been done, with a good response in each one. The 5th will be finished by the time you receive this.
4) Church leaders asked me to help teach in a conference for evangelists' wives. That was done in April and was a real blessing to me.
5) The same church leaders asked me to teach the principles of Firm Foundations to the evangelists in their conference in June. That took most of a week and also was a real blessing to me.
6) The choir is still meeting every 2 weeks to study Firm Foundations. Then, they teach in the home groups. I am always encouraged through our studies together, but I hope they will be ready to take over the major part of this teaching soon.
7) It's official! As of May, 2002, the Alduba Health Project will be turned over to the Ministry of Health! I will have no official responsibilities under MOH. My greatest joy and least fatigue are in the opportunities the Lord is giving me to serve in the through the church. I have some ideas, but am not sure yet exactly how the Lord will guide me to concentrate my time and energy after I'm no longer anchored to the health project. I'd like to do more to disciple the evangelists' wives and more with the Alduba Church women. I'm also burdened for the youth and for Muslim women. (There aren't any Muslims here, but all the towns have a growing number of them.)
Praise The Lord With Me For:
1. The Lord's working in so many ways and the privilege of being a part of it!
2. Safety & health; VanGorkoms' safe return from furlough.
3. The Lord’s faithfulness and provision. The government is continuing to give relief grain.
4. Girma's and Ayeke's willing spirits and faithfulness in the health work.
5. The health scout training completed.
6. Ministry opportunities
7. I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please Pray With Me For:
1. The Lord give continued safety and health.
2. The Lord’s continued provision for the people here. Rains have not continued well, so if people have anything left living in their fields, it is a fraction of what they hoped for.
3. The health scouts apply what they have learned and serve their communities faithfully.
4. The Lord's guidance and enabling to finish these final months of the health project well.
5. The Lord's guidance in responding to ministry opportunities now, and in planning for the future.
6. Pray for the Lord to guide us to the person of His choice to work with Girma and me.
7. Pray for the needs in our health projects in Ethiopia.
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
November, 2001
Dear Partners,
They sat in a row on my sofa like 3 very alert musketeers. Shadda had a red cloth wrapped around his head. His rifle stood where he had carefully placed it, leaning against the wall next to him. Busko sat next to him. His broad shoulders and shaved head give him the appearance of an athlete. Wancho, next to Busko, cradled his rifle on his lap, his braided hair curling out from his head. They looked like their interest was in hunting or self-defense, but they told me they had come to believe in Christ! So, I asked them, with Ayeke translating, "Why do you want to believe?"
"We have been watching the Christians' lives," they told us. "When one in our families gets sick, we kill a goat and offer it to the spirit of someone who has already died to make this one well, but that person wasn't able to overcome his own illness and death. So, we are killing our goats and becoming poor for no reason. The Christians pray to their God without offering a goat and He hears them and heals. When we have a little cash, we go to the drink house and spend it. Then, when we are drunk, we fight with each other. The Christians don't drink, so if they have cash, they keep it. And they don't fight with each other as we do when we are drunk. Yours is the true God. We want to follow Him!"
Ayeke and I looked at each other with joy and amazement! These men may not know how to read, but the Holy Spirit has certainly given them clear understanding. We talked with them for a while to be sure they understood their need for forgiveness from sin and that Christ had paid the price for their sin when He died on the cross. That He didn't stay dead, but He is alive and living in each one who believes in Him. They seemed to understand and each one prayed to give his life to the Lord! I continue to be amazed and thankful at the privilege the Lord has given me to serve Him here and to see His work in the lives of people!
All three men are from Dezeshesh—remember that place? Some of the original group have moved to an area farther from Alduba, but still in Dezeshesh. That area is where these men live. Last week, the church people helped an evangelist move there! So, these men as well as the few from the original group will have consistent follow-up. Others from the original group have moved away or are leaning back toward the world. A few have died. But, God has not forgotten Dezeshesh!
Praise The Lord With Me For:
v The Lord's work in the lives of people and for the privilege of being a part of it!
v Rain—the people got a harvest. The second rains are good so far.
v An excellent visit with my family to help Mom and Dad celebrate 60 years of marriage.
v Girma's and Ayeke's willing spirits and faithfulness in the health work, in spite of shortage of staff.
v The health scouts are working well so far.
v Ministry opportunities
v I praise the Lord for each of you—for your prayer and financial support.
Please Pray With Me For:
v Spiritual growth for Shadda, Busko and Wancho.
v Establishment of a strong church in Dezeshesh.
v The Lord give continued safety and health.
v The second rains continue well. People really need a second harvest to make it through the year.
v Guidance as we follow-up the health scouts.
v Guidance in responding to ministry opportunities now, and in planning for the future.
v Guidance and enabling to finish these final months of the health project well.
v Guidance in government relations and for the Lord to open the way for the person of his choice to be cleared by Ministry of Health to work with us here.
v The needs in our health projects in Ethiopia (financial and personnel)
I pray each of you will have a blessed and Joy-filled Holiday season!
With PRAISE to our SOVEREIGN LORD
Sharon Smith
Dear Partners, February 2002
“There have been two emergencies in my family. They are really struggling. I need to go help!” That was my conversation with the SIM Personnel Director two days after I arrived in Addis for what I thought was a short business trip to the city. Three days later, I was on a flight to the USA, where I spent 5 weeks helping with a variety of things. I am very thankful for all the Lord did to make the trip possible and for the way we saw Him work to bring healing. Things were on the way to returning to normal when I left for Ethiopia. Through it all, the Lord gave peace of mind because I knew He was and is in control.
What about everything in Alduba? The Lord was in control here, too. Girma did an excellent job running the health program while I was away. The choir also continued with their Bible study without me. With the added pressure of a May 4th time limit (when this health project is officially turned over to the Ministry of Health) racing towards us, I’m still catching up on a number of things before furlough.
Meanwhile, Terrefitch has entered my life.
It all started when Mulatu unknowingly became an accomplice in the theft of 2 bulls. As a result, he was the object of a curse. Later, he died: hepatic cirrhosis. He was a very heavy drinker; the alcohol destroyed his liver. But people said, "Mulatu died of the curse. His wife will be next; then, his children." Normally, the husband's male relatives decide who will live with the widow, help her and sleep with her to raise up children in the name of the deceased. There were no male relatives left on Mulatu's side of the family— they died earlier for other reasons. So Shukulie, Mulatu's widow, took up with Woolsha. The people knew it was an immoral relationship, but they knew she was getting help with her 4 children, so no one objected. Of course, she got pregnant.
One day at 3 AM, she delivered a baby girl in her hut. Woolsha ran away. The placenta would not deliver, so neighbors brought her to me. She seemed tired, but no more than most women after a delivery. I prepared to remove the placenta; but Shukulie suddenly had a convulsion and died! I tried CPR but to no avail. Now people say, "The curse continues. Shukulie died."
Shukulie's 7-day-old infant daughter was alone in the big, wide world. Her umbilical cord was not even tied. Bunna often just leave it to stop bleeding by itself. I clamped the cord and wrapped her in a towel. Fearing she would be forgotten at her mother's funeral I offered to temporarily take care of her. God had spared her life; she could have easily died with her mother, or now with neglect. I didn’t know what to expect; Bunna value girl babies for bride price; they value boys to carry on their father's name. Surprisingly, the people not only agreed, they seemed relieved to have me take the baby for a while.
She was quite a challenge. She didn't even know how to suck at first. She had periodic spasms, probably the result of a traumatic birth. It took me 2 baths to get her clean after just 7 hours of life! I borrowed baby supplies, brought the crib home from the clinic, put a diaper pail inside the back door—my home had suddenly changed. I was very encouraged by the believers here; three families were ready to raise her as their own, and all said, "God has spared her life. She needs to grow up in a Christian home." Her relatives had to decide. My desire was that they would sign a paper giving a Christian family full rights to raise her as their own. But, I prayed for God's will for her.
After 12 days, I was getting tired. God gives babies to young adults; at 59, I could not have kept up the pace of caring for her along with the rest of my responsibilities for much longer. The Lord gave me His peace that I was doing the right thing and His strength for each day. On day 12 the relatives came with two teenage girls to carry Terrefitch home with them. They had found a relative nursing her own baby willing to nurse this one as well. The younger of the two girls was Terrefitch's oldest sister. I think she especially wanted Terrefitch to stay in the family. I immunized Terrefitch and advised her uncle and sister about feeding and cleanliness. I reminded them that the Lord had spared her life; they need to give her opportunity to learn about Him as she grows up. I prayed for them before they left.
Now, my house seems empty. I had watched her change from a wrinkled newborn to a lovely baby: I saw the spasms decrease and her body begin to relax. It was hard not to get attached. I wish she were closer, but I prayed for God's will. He knows what is best for her and for each of us. I pray her family saw a little of the Lord's love through this; as far as I know, there are no believers in her family yet, but they live near an evangelist who has already made contact with them because of Terrefitch.
Will you help me? (No! not with a baby!) I expect to be in the USA from late May through December 2002. As usual, I will have the opportunity to travel widely in order to visit as many of you as possible. Will you please let me know as soon as possible what is the best time for me to come? (Field address is listed below.) I’m looking forward to sharing specifics with you about all the Lord has been doing and teaching me.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Praise the Lord with me for:
Girma’s hard work and encouraging attitude and the choir’s faithfulness and eagerness to learn.
The opportunity to help my family and God’s faithfulness through many challenges and changes.
The Lord’s provision of housing for my home assignment.
Each of you—for your prayer and financial support.
Please pray with me for:
The Lord’s enabling to finish the health project well and guidance in government relations.
Continued health and safety and continued improvement and healing in my family.
Guidance in responding to ministry opportunities now, and in planning for the future.
Home assignment: God’s provision of a car, and in scheduling my visits to each of you.
The needs in our health projects in Ethiopia (financial and personnel)
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
Dear Partners, August,2002
"I don't believe I really did
it!," I said when my sister told me
how far we had ridden our bicycles and how much climbing we had done. My
sister, brother-in-law and I had just returned from a 5-day bike trip.
We had ridden 213 miles and climbed 16,000 feet on our bikes during those
miles. I am very thankful for the Lord's protection and
enabling-especially since I hadn't trained for the ride. (I arrived in
the USA very late on June 4th-one month later than I had hoped because of
the busy-ness and complications of turning the Alduba Health Project over
to the government and just 2 weeks before the bike ride.) Needless to
say, we had a good time.
So, what have I been doing besides biking since I've been in the USA?
Mostly getting some rest and enjoying time with family-especially my
parents. (I am so thankful I still have them to spend time with!) I am
sorry it has been so long since my last letter. I wanted to write from
Ethiopia before I left, but everything that was going on during those
final months before turning the project over to the government sapped all
my time and energy. (I'll tell you details of that when I see you.)
God is Good, and so good to me! He has provided a "mission house" for
me to live in! He has provided a car for me to drive! He has refreshed
and encouraged me. So now I'm eager to share with you personally all
that the Lord has been doing as well as my prayers and hopes for future
ministry. I'm finalizing plans now for the traveling I'll be doing to
visit as many of you as I can--supporters, friends and relatives. Here
is what I'm hoping to do.
The rest of August and all of September-in the Carolinas except for one
week in KS and NE to attend a wedding and speak at an Ethiopian church.
October 1-5-attend the SIM conference in Charlotte for missionaries on
home assignment.
The rest of October-drive north and west through TN, VA, MD, PA, OH, IN,
IL, WI and back to the Carolinas, visiting as many as I can along the
way.
November-fly to Anchorage, Seattle, Spokane and back to
Greenville/Spartanburg in time for Thanksgiving with my family.
December-drive to FL, then be around the Carolinas again, and enjoy
Christmas with my family.
January, 2003-Lord willing, attend a 2-week course at CIU and prepare for
return to Ethiopia in early February.
If I have not contacted you personally by the time you receive this
letter, please feel free to contact me. I really want to visit with as
many of you as I can before I return to Ethiopia. My address, phone
number and E-mail address are below.
Praise the Lord with me for:
His goodness and faithfulness
His provision of housing and a car for my home assignment
I praise Him for each of you-for your prayer and financial support
Please pray with me for:
The Lord's guidance as I finalize plans for travel and speaking
Health and safety while I'm on the road
The Lord's provision of all I need for my return to Ethiopia
The needs in our health projects in Ethiopia (financial and personnel)
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
Furlough Address: 151 Shady Grove Road Mission Address: PO Box 7900,
Dear Partners, February, 2003
"Have you had a good furlough?" That is a normal question. The person who asked is a student at C.I.U. (Columbia International University) I was in the midst of an intensive, 2-week course there, which concentrated on the life of Christ. It was excellent! I came away spiritually refreshed and emotionally encouraged. But, I struggled to know how to answer this young woman's question. I finally said, "It has been a good furlough with both joys and pain." It has been great to see so many of you, renewing former friendships and beginning new ones. The Lord has kept me safe over thousands of miles of driving, as well as flying to the most distant places. I am very thankful for several months early in my furlough to visit frequently with my parents before the Lord decided it was time for Mom to graduate to Heaven. I see the Lord's goodness and faithfulness in so many ways, but it is still painful not to have Mom with Dad when I go to visit or call on the phone.
"When will you return to Ethiopia?" is the question I am asked almost daily. I really do look forward to getting back to Ethiopia, and had planned on returning early in February. But now I feel the need of more time here. I haven't unpacked my suitcase for more than 2 days at a time since September. I need time to rest and unwind. (I also hope to re-study the course material from C.I.U. for my own benefit as well as for the possible opportunity to teach it in Ethiopia.) But, most important to me, I want more time with my Dad and the rest of my family. Leaving this time is going to be harder than it's ever been! So, I'm prayerfully planning on returning to Ethiopia late in March.
Lord willing, next time I write to you will be from Ethiopia!
Praise the Lord with me for:
His sovereign control of all things for His glory (which always ends up to be for our good)
His goodness, faithfulness and protection
I praise Him for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please pray with me for:
The Lord's guidance as I finalize plans for return to Ethiopia
Rest and the Lord's continuing comfort
The Lord's provision of all I need for my return to Ethiopia (I'm still 7.4% short of the support I need promised before I can return)
A reliable way to communicate regularly with Dad after I'm back in Alduba
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
Dear Partners, April 11, 2003
Thank you for praying! The Lord has answered your prayers and is continuing to answer.
· He has provided all I needed to return to Ethiopia!
· He guided and enabled for the myriad of things that had to be done in preparation for coming here!
· He gave grace for the good-byes!
· I arrived on March 28th, tired from the long trip, but very grateful for uneventful travel!
· The Lord gave rest before I left and has given rest from the trip and jet lag since I arrived!
· Communication with Dad has been good from Addis by phone and E-mail. I miss him and the rest of my family very much, but it is really good to be back!
· The Lord has provided a vehicle already! Prices of vehicles have doubled since I left late last May, but the Lord has provided a reliable 4-wheel-drive Hilux double cab pick up for exactly the amount of money He provided! It’s not new, but I have been assured it is reliable.
I praise the Lord and thank all of you!
I’m still taking care of business and shopping—my cupboard in Alduba after 10 months away is pretty bare. Lord willing, I’ll finish all and be on my way to Alduba in the Hilux next Wednesday, April 16th. I’m looking forward to getting there and starting on all there is to do in the coming year.
Praise the Lord with me for:
His sovereign control of all things for His glory (which always ends up to be for our good)
His goodness, faithfulness, protection and abundant provision
I praise Him for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please pray with me for:
Safety and that I will be a faithful steward of the car and everything else the Lord has provided.
The Lord's guidance as I get settled and start on all there is to do. It will be all too easy to get over committed and not do anything well.
Lord's continuing comfort
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
August, 2003
Dear Partners,
I see God’s goodness in so many ways! I was concerned when I returned to Alduba without a work permit for clinic work that I would have trouble with many coming to ask medical-related questions. But, the people all know I no longer have permission for it and they are respecting that. It makes it so much easier to concentrate on what the Lord has given me to do in this year before I move to Addis.
Another concern was that the church would have trouble planning with me for this year. There is a lot to do, but I cannot do it without the church. My concern was that they already have so much to do that they would not be able to work with me. My concern was totally unnecessary! Once the church leaders knew I would move to Addis in April, 2004, they prayed and came up with a plan that is better than I had hoped for. The Word Of Life Church in Southern Ethiopia is organized into 9 church associations according to location. The leaders for all 9 associations live and minister in and around Jinka. It is these leaders who came up with the plan that I want to share with you.
There is an urgent need for teaching in all the churches to prevent HIV/AIDS. The leaders know that if I were to stay in southern Ethiopia until I die I would not get to all the churches because there are now 176 and they are still planting more! So, they have asked me to train teachers in each church association to teach True Love Waits for singles, True Love in Marriage for married couples and True Love in the Church to guide the church is dealing with the victims of AIDS. I plan to add a little on teaching techniques and on the basics of counseling, since anyone who teaches is likely to be confronted with those who are troubled and ask for help. These teachers would then return to their churches to teach everyone what they have learned. It will mean 5 days of teaching in each of 7 locations. (In two places, two associations will send trainees to one location.)
Here is the schedule so you can pray for me and for all who will be learning with me. October 6-24--teaching in 3 locations, 4 church associations plus the Jinka churches. November 3-14--teaching in 2 locations, 2 church associations. December 1-12—teaching in 2 locations, 3 church associations. September 15-30 I will be involved in a workshop related to the Bunna translation project. Between now and September, I’m busy preparing the teaching and gathering the materials that will be needed for each teacher to teach effectively.
Praise the Lord with me for:
The fellowship we have as we plan and prepare
The Lord’s guidance as teachers from each location are selected for training
The privilege of serving Him here
I praise Him for each of you—for your prayer and financial support
Please pray with me for:
The Lord’s enabling as I prepare and then as I teach
The Lord’s provision of all the materials that will be needed (booklets, pictures)
Safety as I am now trying to visit the 12 True Love Waits groups that were formed before.
Safety and health as I drive to and camp in each location for the days of teaching
Wisdom and discernment in all my contacts with people
If you would like to receive this letter by E-mail instead of the postal service, please send your name and E-mail address to <cenbapch@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
Field Address: P.O. Box 127 Mission Address: PO Box 7900
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
<SIMOffice@Yimesgin.org> (704) 588-4300
Note: if you use this E-mail address, put my full name at the top of the message. There are many of us who use this same address.