Newsletters While in the United

I hope each of you had a blessed, Christ-centered Christmas! Ours was different—our first Christmas without either Mom or Dad. But, it was so good to be together as a family.

The Lord provided for me to have a wonderful, 3-week “R&R” in Cornwall, England, (Nov. 28-Dec. 20) visiting with a good friend and getting some rest. After I returned, I learned that the Lord had provided the support I was lacking. On the 27^th, learned that my ticket to Ethiopia had been purchased for January 17^th(!) I suddenly became very busy. It seems like such a huge “to do” list, not the least of which is sorting, packing and storing things that were Mom and Dad’s. But, there is also business related to the mission and international travel and people to call or see. The “R&R” was such good preparation for the myriad of things that always must be done close to departure date.

As you can see, 2006 is starting out in the “fast lane” for me. But, I am really excited about going back to Ethiopia after over 2 years. There will be many changes, not the least of which will be my responsibilities. I have agreed to fill in for our SIM health coordinator (Jean) for her 6-month furlough. That will mean a quick trip to Alduba to pack my things so I can take to Addis Ababa what I will need to live there for 6 months. Once Jean returns, I hope to have a longer visit in Alduba in order to spend time with people and find out how I can encourage them. But, during these first 6 months in Addis, decisions will be made about the details of the ministry I will be involved in and where I will live after Jean returns. (Generally, I know I will be working with the church in the HIV/AIDS ministry, but it is the specifics that must be developed.)

THANK YOU to each of you for making it possible for me to return to Ethiopia, representing you in the Lord’s work there. I feel humbled and privileged. May you experience the Lord’s peace and enjoy His Presence throughout 2006.

*My family.

*Rest, refreshment and good times of fellowship.

*The on-going outreach to ethnic people in the Asheville, NC area.

*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to provide for me.

*The Lord’s continuing guidance and enabling as I prepare to return to Ethiopia.

*Safe travels and good adjustment to the health coordinator responsibilities and to life in the “big city.”

*The Lord’s enabling for those who are serving Him through the ethnic ministries near Asheville.

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 <studentcentral@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames

Sharon Smith

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME ANY E-MAILS UNTIL I SEND AN E-MAIL ADDRESS FROM ETHIOPIA!!

Ethiopia Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA Web Site: htt://www.sharonsweb.info (704) 588-4300

“The last time we heard from you, Sharon, was just before you returned to Ethiopia. Where are you? How are you?” The people who wrote this are good friends, and I am very sorry I have not been able to keep them/all of you informed about where I am, how I am, and what I’m doing. There just hasn’t been time! But, let me try to summarize the past 5 months.

January 18, 2006—arrived back in Ethiopia. The next day, I began work on all the official things needed in order to live here—resident permit, driver’s license, etc.

January 28, 2006—flew to Jinka, where Alduba people met me and took me to Alduba. There, I cleaned (a LOT of dust collects in 2 years and 3 months!), sorted and packed everything in the house. There was so much work to do that I didn’t have a lot of time with people.

February 8, 2006—flew back to Addis, began to work with Jean, the Health Coordinator, to learn my new job.

February 24, 2006—left Addis by car for the 2-day drive to Jinka to help Linda, a new nurse, move to her new station—her new coworkers met us there and took her the rest of the way.

February 26, 2006—the 3 of us who had driven to help Linda move drove to Alduba (2 hours) for church and the day. We loaded all I expected to need in Addis for 6 months and left on the 27^th for the 2-day drive back, arriving late in the afternoon on the 28^th.

March 1, 2006—I began work on my own(!) in the health office, working in the office during the day and trying to unpack and get settled in the evenings.

March 13, 2006—I left for the southern part of Ethiopia again! We had word of problems Linda could be having in her new station, (Makki) so SIM Admin. sent me to help. As it turned out, what was anticipated wasn’t a problem, but other things were. I was there 5 weeks helping her and getting a bit of a rest after the hectic pace.

April 18, 2006—I went to Jinka to meet Donna Clawson (translator in Alduba). I had almost 4 weeks with her to help her with some problems. Like the problems in Makki, these were not anticipated, but it was good for me to be there to help. There was also opportunity to visit friends and to do some teaching in the church. It was the closure I needed for the Alduba chapter in my life.

May 13, 2006—Donna and I arrived back in Addis Ababa. I can’t even describe the mountain of correspondence and business that greeted me.

May 15, 2006—I received word that one of our missionaries was seriously sick a full day’s drive from Addis. I talked with the doctor who was caring for him. By May 18^th, he was stable and there was transportation, so he came to Addis and I took him to the cardiovascular clinic for examination. May 19^th he was admitted there. (Admission means someone has to take his food three times a day—that was up to me, but I’m thankful for those who came along side to help. The doctors also wanted me there for every test and examination, so I was at the clinic 2 or 3 times every day, sometimes for a few hours at a time.)

May 23, 2006—a construction accident took the life of one of our short-term missionaries! The shock and grief are difficult to describe, but so is God’s Peace! God is Good and Faithful! I cling to that, especially when I don’t understand.

May 27, 2006—my patient was evacuated by air ambulance to the USA for further diagnostic tests and, based on the results, treatment.

June 1, 2006—opportunity for a couple of hours of rest and debriefing at the SIM retreat center, about a 1-hour drive outside of Addis. It was good for all of us who had been involved in any way with the May 23^rd death.

So, how am I? I praise the Lord that I am FINE! The mountain that I mentioned on May 13^th, has gotten bigger during the subsequent emergencies, but I’ve at least been able to sort it, so I now have a series of hills to tackle rather than a huge, insurmountable mountain. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR ME, especially when you had no news from me. If you have written, I very am grateful for your letter and I will answer—I just am not sure yet when I’ll be able to do that.

*God’s goodness, faithfulness, all-sufficient grace, perfect timing and sovereign control of everything

*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to enable and provide for me.

*Health and safety for our mission family—I’d like to have a loooooong time without emergencies!

*Continuing good adjustment to the health coordinator responsibilities and to life in the “big city.”

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 <studentcentral@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames

Sharon Smith

Ethiopia Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA Web Site: htt://www.sharonsweb.info (704) 588-4300

Let me start by saying THANK YOU! to all of you who have prayed for me during these months of “office duty”. The work was not without difficulties, but the Lord enabled me and also gave me the privilege of helping &/or encouraging people in the course of the office work. He has allowed me to experience that there is joy in any task He gives me as long as I do it for Him. I praise Him!

Jean is back from her home assignment, so what is next? Again, I am praising the Lord and invite you to praise Him with me that He has made His will very clear about that. I will be moving to Jinka, a 2-hour drive from Alduba, to work with the church. The things the church leaders have asked me to do are:

1. Encourage those who have been trained in the True Love teaching, probably doing continuing education for them as well as helping them connect more closely with the national Kale Heywot Church (KHC) program for HIV/AIDS prevention.

2. Adapt this teaching and offer the same training to the members of the mosque as a means of developing relationships and beginning spiritual conversations with them. HIV is not a respecter of religion. Also, the KHC members want to learn how to develop ways to reach out to their Muslim neighbors. I hope this will be a good starting point for them.

3. Teach discernment of truth so believers, especially those who don’t read, will be able to differentiate truth from deception when they hear someone teach or preach in church—there are many false teachers eager to convince anyone who will listen that what they are teaching is truth, even though, if they read the Bible at all, they take one verse or phrase out of context and base their teaching on that.

Jean’s mother celebrated her 105^th birthday while Jean was at home. So, Jean will return to Canada to celebrate Christmas with her. I have encouraged her to do that, and have promised to fill in for her again for the 4 weeks she will be gone. There is no house for me to move into yet and no suitable place has been found to rent, either. If we decide to build a house, it will take time. So, I am using the time away from the office to catch up on correspondence and E-mails and to start the preparation for the 3 things I have mentioned above. Jean expects to return from Canada around January 6, 2007, so my move south should take place sometime after that.

I do not expect to write again until after the Holidays, so I will take this opportunity to wish each of you a BLESSED CHRISTMAS and a VERY GOOD YEAR IN 2007!

*For the Lord’s clear guidance to Jinka and to the specific things He wants me to do there

*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to enable and provide for me.

*Guidance in the decision as to where I will live—a rental at a price I can afford or build a house

Just after I wrote the above letter, one of the SIM-Ethiopia Admin. Team (Fred) called and asked to talk with me. Council has just finished their weeklong meetings. Fred explained that, based on Council decisions, all of us will have to adjust our ministries and plans for ministry. Our personnel and finances are more limited than we want, but we have to live and minister within the resources the Lord has given us. Therefore, we must focus our time, energy and money in areas where there are no established churches yet. That is not true of Jinka, where the church is well established. I believe I still must do what I have outlined above, (what I promised the church leaders I would do) but within a 6-month (give or take a few months?) time limit. For this, I would live in Alduba and travel to Jinka periodically to consult with the church leaders there and to train them to do what we planned that I would do. Then, I will move on—but to what? I am not sure yet, but: Please Pray I will—

Sharon Smith

Yes, I.m still in Addis. No, I did not expect to be here this long. But, I had to move again in order to clear the apartment I was using for the person who normally lives there. she had been on home assignment. That move had to take place before Jean and I could do the hand over things we needed to do in the office after she returned from Canada. So it was another temporary move and it was the 4th in the year since I’ve been back in Ethiopia. The stress of another temporary move, combined with fatigue and a painful tooth worked together to push me to the edge emotionally. I’m still recovering, but hope to move as soon as I’m back to normal. I praise the Lord because I was conscious of His presence very close to me, even in the darkest times when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A wise missionary learned of my struggles and said, .Sharon, I see this as an attack from Satan. Knowing what the Lord has impressed on your heart to teach when you get to Jinka, and knowing Satan doesn’t want that taught, especially the part about discernment of truth, you should expect more attacks in a variety of ways. It seems to me that he is right. The Lord doesn’t give pain without a purpose. So, my prayer is that I would learn all that the Lord knows I need to learn through this and be better able to withstand future attacks.

3. Teach discernment of truth so believers, especially those who don’t read, will be able to differentiate truth from deception when they hear someone teach or preach in church. There are many false teachers eager to convince anyone who will listen that what they are teaching is truth, even though, if these teachers read the Bible at all, they take one verse or phrase out of context and base their teaching on that.

While I am in Addis, I am taking advantage of a theological course (on Angels and spirits) and libraries (at the theological college and in the pastor’s office), which are available to me here. I’m trying to do some study/research into the things I have been asked to teach in Jinka after I get settled in Alduba. If you wrote to me over the holidays, THANK YOU! I am grateful for every letter and card. I will do my best to answer personally, but have not been able to write letters in the midst of the darkness and pain. Please be patient with me.

*You, my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to enable and provide for me.

*Continued recovery and that I would learn all the Lord has for me to learn through this time

*That I would know clearly when it is the Lord’s time for me to move to Alduba

*Guidance and enabling as I try to catch up with correspondence and also develop teaching materials

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 <studentcentral@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames

Sketches from Sharon

June, 2007

Dear Partners,

God continues to work in spite of my weaknesses. I AM SO THANKFUL! In my March letter to you, I mentioned my painful tooth. I almost never have a toothache, but God never gives pain without a purpose. My tooth was no exception. I went to the dentist SIM usually refers people to and got no help, so I tried a different dentist. She (Dr. Li) is Chinese and has a very good reputation. I experienced immediate relief under her care, but it took 9 weeks instead of her estimated 3 to completely finish the job. By the end of that time, we knew each other a little bit. At my last appointment she said, “I would like to get to know you better.” We went out for supper a few evenings later and the result of that meeting and another one a few days later was that she gave her life to the Lord! Since then, her sister has believed, too, and the Ethiopian dental assistant who works with them has also declared her faith is Christ! God is most glorified through weak vessels.

(1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Since my last letter, many of you have written encouraging notes to me, and I really do appreciate that. I’m better, and am very thankful for all the Lord continues to teach me. But, I’m still extremely fatigued. Since I promised my niece when I returned to Ethiopia that I would come home for her graduation from her family practice residency program, I plan to arrive in the USA on June 14^th for at least a month. I hope it will be a good break and a time of rest and refreshment. But, the SIM leaders here have encouraged me to stay longer if I am not fully rested and refreshed by the end of one month. They realize how stressful and fatiguing the past 1-1/2 years it have been for me.

When one of our retiring missionaries learned of the struggles I went through and am still healing from, he said, “Sharon, I see this as an attack from Satan. Knowing what the Lord has impressed on your heart to teach when you move to Alduba, and knowing Satan doesn’t want that taught, especially the part about discernment of truth, you should expect more attacks in a variety of ways.” It seems to me that he is right. So, I am seeking to learn all that the Lord knows I need to learn from the emotional pain in order to be better able to withstand future attacks.

As a reminder, the things the Jinka church leaders have asked me to do are:

2. Adapt this teaching and offer the same training to the members of the mosque as a means of developing relationships and beginning spiritual conversations with the many Muslims in town. HIV is not a respecter of religion. Also, the KHC members want to learn how to develop ways to reach out to their Muslim neighbors. I hope this will be a good starting point for them.

3. Teach discernment of truth so believers, especially those who don’t read, will be able to differentiate truth from deception when they hear someone teach or preach in church—there are many false teachers eager to convince anyone who will listen that what they are teaching is truth, even though, if these teachers read the Bible at all, they take one verse or phrase out of context and base their teaching on that.

While I have been in Addis, I have taken advantage of a theological course (on Angels and spirits) and libraries (at the theological college and in the pastor’s office), which are available to me here. I’m trying to do some study/research into the things I have been asked to teach in Jinka after I get settled in Alduba.

Praise the Lord with me for:

*God’s goodness, faithfulness, all-sufficient grace, and patient teaching

*Dr. Li’s commitment to Christ and that of her sister and assistant

*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to enable and provide for me.

Please pray with me for:

*Continued recovery and that I would learn all the Lord has for me to learn through this time

*Growth and encouragement for Dr. Li, her sister and her assistant

*That I would know clearly when it is the Lord’s time for me to return to Ethiopia and to move to Alduba

*Continued growth in intimacy with my Savior and Lord.

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 <studentcentral@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames

With praise to our sovereign and faithful Lord,

Sharon Smith

P.S. I am very sorry you are receiving this letter in July. I wrote it early in June, hoping you would receive it shortly after I arrived in the USA. But, it got lost somewhere in cyber space! Thanks for your faithfulness in spite of my lack of communication!

Ethiopia Ministry Address: Mission Address:

P.O. Box 127 SIM-USA

Addis Ababa PO Box 7900

Ethiopia Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA

(704) 588-4300

Web Site: http://www.sharonsweb.info

Contact Information for my time in the USA

151 Shady Grove Rd, Cowpens, SC 29330

Phone: 864-461-7891

Sketches from Sharon

October, 2007

Dear Partners,

“Where are you now? Why haven’t we heard from you?” These and similar questions have been expressed by a few, but probably are in the minds and hearts of many of you. Thank you for your prayers, understanding and support since you heard about my struggles and fatigue. I had expected to return to Ethiopia the end of September, but the SIM leaders in Ethiopia urged me to stay in the USA until March, 2008. I have peace about this and am doing all I can to rest and also find ways to be refreshed during this time.

God’s ways are amazing! Shortly after I heard from Ethiopia about delaying my return, my sister, Marly, had surgery. Usually I’m in Ethiopia, but the Lord has used this delay to give me the privilege of being here to help. For several weeks, the majority of my time was spent with her. She is recovering normally now, and I praise the Lord for that. E-mails, phone calls and letters have had to wait. Thank you for your patience.

Presently, I’m scheduled to return to Ethiopia March 25, 2008, provided there is clearance from SIM-USA and SIM-Ethiopia.

Praise the Lord with me for:

*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to encourage, enable and provide for me. May God bless you for your faithfulness!

*SIM’s care and concern.

*God’s goodness, faithfulness, all-sufficient grace, and patient teaching.

Please pray with me for:

*Continued recovery and that I would learn all the Lord has for me to learn through this time.

*That SIM and I would know clearly when it is the Lord’s time for me to return to Ethiopia.

*Growth and encouragement for Dr. Li, her sister and her assistant.

*Continued growth in intimacy with my Savior and Lord.

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 <studentcentral@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames

With praise to our sovereign and faithful Lord,

Sharon Smith

USA Address: Mission Address:

151 Shady Grove Rd SIM-USA

Cowpens, SC 29330 PO Box 7900

Phone: 864-461-7891 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA Web Site: http://www.sharonsweb.info (704) 588-4300

Sketches from Sharon

February, 2008

Dear Partners,

I am so thankful! Since I wrote to you last (in October) the Lord has graciously met my needs. He has given me rest, richly refreshing times with family and friends, opportunities to serve Him through helping others and opportunities for solitude with Him. He has taught me and continues to teach me so much. I am thankful for His patient teaching—even when the lessons are painful.

It would take volumes to share everything with you about what the Lord is teaching me, but let me share just a little. He is teaching me to act my age! Yes—I celebrated my 65^th birthday in November. Somehow, I thought that age wouldn’t catch up with me. I continued to live and work at the same pace I always have. But, that is part of what caused my “crash” into depression and burnout. So, as I prepare to return to Ethiopia March 25^th, I am continuing to learn my limits and doing my best to live accordingly. One thing that is helping me is leading a Bible study at Orchard Street Baptist Church. (I am living in their mission house.) We are studying disciplines that will enable us to live more faithfully and effectively for the Lord. Two of those disciplines are “slowing” and “celebration.” In our fast pace of life here, in the USA, we skim over everything, including our relationships with the Lord and with other people. If I am always in a hurry, every relationship I have with people and my relationship with the Lord will be disappointing and leave me feeling lonely. But, going deeper with anyone will seem like a burden because of the time it takes. Hurry is a habit of life, and is one result of over commitment, so these are habits I am trying to unlearn. I find that when I am not in a hurry, I enjoy people more. I also notice the Lord’s many blessings more quickly and easily. Then I can more consistently thank and praise Him and also give and receive what is needed to nurture relationships with family and friends, to say nothing of the relationship I have with my Lord. Thanksgiving and healthy relationships tend to elevate my mood—they naturally lead to celebration. I wonder how many people I have repelled from a relationship with Christ because I have been glum or complaining instead of thankful and joyful.

After my return to Ethiopia, I expect to need a couple of weeks in Addis Ababa to get organized. Then, I’ll move back to Alduba to work with the area church leaders on some specific things they have asked me to teach them. My hope is to work with them to develop the material and then encourage them as they begin to go out to the churches to teach.

The Lord has impressed on my heart that I need to finish in Ethiopia, so I hope this material will be prepared for the church leaders to teach by the end of April, 2009. My “spiritual son” will graduate from the ministry training center in Dilla (northeast of Alduba) early in May that year. He is preparing to serve the Lord as an evangelist. I look forward to the joy and privilege of sharing this milestone with him before I return to the USA for “home assignment.” After that, I have signed up to move to the SIM retirement village in Sebring, FL. (I may still go overseas to help with short-term needs, but I would no longer live there long term.) The Lord has given me a sense of His confirmation and peace in making these decisions, though it has not been easy. However, I know that many things can happen between now and then. “My times are in Thy hand.” (Ps. 31:14-15)

Praise the Lord with me for:

*Rest, refreshment and healing of my mind, emotions and, yes, my weary body.

*Continuing opportunities to serve the Lord here and in Ethiopia.

*God’s mercy and faithfulness.

*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters.

Please pray with me:

*That I would remember and practice all the Lord has been teaching me, especially about slowing and celebration, and that I would consistently live my age.

*For growth and encouragement for Dr. Li, her sister and her assistant. (I have not had any news from or about them since I came home.)

*For the Lord’s guidance in setting priorities for the two months I have left here, in the USA.

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 <studentcentral@bellsouth.net> attention Kamron Reames

Rejoicing Because HE Lives!

Sharon Smith

USA Address: Mission Address: After March 25/08

151 Shady Grove Rd SIM-USA P.O. Box 127

Cowpens, SC 29330 PO Box 7900 Addis Ababa

Phone: 864-461-7891 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA Ethiopia

Web Site: http://www.sharonsweb.info (704) 588-4300