Newsletters While in the United States
November 2003 - January 2006
Click on a date to see that newsletter
March, 2004
Dear Partners,
I have wanted to write long ago, but I kept hoping I would know something definite “tomorrow” or “next week”, so delayed writing as I waited for answers. I still don’t know many answers, but I cannot wait longer to write to you. Will you forgive me for waiting so for long?
Last October I began the teacher training in the church associations which I wrote about in my August, 2003 letter. Thank you for praying! The first 2 weeks, October 6-17, went really well and I was looking forward to the third week when I received the message that Dad had fallen and broken his hip! I knew immediately that I should come home to help him. (Dad is 91, so an injury like this is very serious.) The church leaders agreed and were more than willing to postpone the rest of my teaching schedule until I returned. The Lord worked a number of miracles to get me here in record time. I praise Him! I wish I could say Dad has had a smooth recovery and I’m headed back to Ethiopia, but that is not the case. Dad has developed complications that have slowed his recovery. The Lord has shown me clearly that in order to obey Him and honor my father, I must stay in the USA.
During these months, my sister and her family have experienced some unexpected difficulties, which have made them less available than they normally are to help Dad. The Lord knew when I was needed here, though this has not been an easy decision, and my transition to life and ministry here is on-going. The Lord never promised ease—He promised His enabling and provision, and His joy and peace in spite of circumstances. He is certainly showing His faithfulness in all this to all of us!
I will be staying with SIM, so I continue to need your prayers and financial support. In fact, I may need additional support or ministry funds because it costs more to live in the USA than in Ethiopia. I’m not sure yet what the details of my new ministry will be and I don’t have a permanent address or phone number yet. (I have waited this long to write so I could tell you these things.) For now, I can be contacted at my sister’s address or my father’s phone number (see below). My E-mail will not change and will get to me wherever I am.
Praise the Lord with me for:
Family and friends who are being used by God to provide for and encourage me
You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters
Please pray with me for:
Those who learned the “True Love” teaching to live it and teach others
Opportunity to finish the “True Love” teacher training in all the other locations
The Lord’s guidance to the ministry He knows is right for me here and now
Provision of a place to live and for the added support or ministry funds I may need
Me to learn all that the Lord wants me to learn through these changes
Me to be very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and instantly obedient
The Lord’s healing work in dad to continue.
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
USA Ministry Address: Mission Address:
150 Hendrix Drive SIM-USA
Boiling Springs, SC 29316 PO Box 7900
(828) 274-8531 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
<slsmith11@juno.com> (704) 588-4300
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July, 2004
Dear Partners,
The Lord is answering your prayers in so many ways! Thank you for praying. Many of you still have questions abut me and what I’m doing. As I answer some of the most common ones that people are asking me, you will see how the Lord has answered your prayers.
Are you settled and feeling at home? I am living in a house that belongs to the Arden Presbyterian Church, just 3.5 miles from where Dad lives. The address is 2225 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC 28704. My phone number is 828-687-9144. It is a very nice house and the Lord has provided all I need for furnishing it. I am grateful to the church for allowing me to live here, but it is only available to me as long as one of their own missionaries doesn’t return from the field and need to use it. So, I am settled and enjoying the house, but feeling at home is more gradual as I work at developing friendships.
What are you doing? I am still serving with SIM. I have 3 missionary appointee units (one single and 2 couples) I am coaching (offering encouragement, answer questions, etc.), as they get ready to leave for the field. As soon as SIM gets the Web site developed, I will learn how to use it. Then, my role with Windows of Hope for AIDS will be to find and categorize relevant resources. These would be used by people all over the SIM world who are “on the ground” working with various aspects of the HIV/AIDS tragedy. I am also working with SIM’s Ethnic Focus Ministry, which helps churches and/or groups reach out to internationals. We have the foreign mission field right here, but many Americans don’t know how to help the internationals in their neighborhoods feel welcome in their church. I have been contacting local pastors to find those interested in such a ministry—I am finding some are interested, but it takes patience to keep calling until I get past the secretaries and answering machines.
You are living in the USA now. Do you still need financial support? Yes! Many of you have been supporting me for a number of years, and I am deeply grateful and confident the Lord will bless you for it. Since I am still serving with SIM, I still need your prayers and your financial support.
Praise the Lord with me for:
*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters.
Please pray with me for:
*Those who learned the “True Love” teaching to live it and teach others.
*The Lord would provide someone who could carry on with what I started in training teachers for the “True Love” series in the rest of the locations.
*The Lord’s continued guidance in developing the ministry He has given me here.
*This house would be available as long as the Lord wants me to live in this area.
*Me to continue to learn all that the Lord wants me to learn.
*Me to be very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and instantly obedient.
*The Lord’s work of healing in Dad to continue.
*The Lord’s provision: at this time, my ministry account is very low; my support account is not as low (thanks to the faithfulness of many of you), but some have had or will have to stop giving.
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
USA Ministry Address: Mission Address:
2225 Hendersonville Rd SIM-USA
Arden, NC 28704 PO Box 7900
(828) 687-9144 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
<slsmith11@juno.com> (704) 588-4300
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November, 2004
Dear Partners,
The Lord is so good! He is answering your prayers! Last time I wrote, one of my prayer requests was, “Pray that the Lord would provide someone who could carry on with what I started in training teachers for the ‘True Love’ series in the rest of the locations.” When I left, I had trained teachers in 2 church associations. There were 7 more to go. I have prayed that those trained would put into practice what they learned and be enabled by the Lord to teach others.
Not too long ago, I received an E-mail from Ethiopia. I had very mixed emotions as I read, “The church leaders tell us the ‘True Love’ teaching that they learned from you is important. Since they learned it from you, they want to continue to train others the way you trained them!” As much as I had enjoyed teaching myself, I knew I could not go back now and do it. I longed to go just for a couple of weeks, however, to be sure these leaders had all the materials they would need, and to answer any questions they might have. I could not do that, either. But now, they see the importance of the teaching and are willing to do it themselves! They are not limited by language! (I had to teach in the national language. They can teach and answer questions in the local languages.) They understand the culture better than I ever will! They are not limited to roads or good footpaths as my car and “foreign” feet are! They will learn it much better as they teach the material! I confess, it took me a little while to get over my selfish desire to return and “help,” but now I truly rejoice that these church leaders, those who learned while I was teaching, are motivated to do it themselves.
My greatest joy each day, next to the time spent with the Lord, is the time I spend with Dad. His sores are healing very gradually, and we are all grateful for continuing progress. Thank you for praying.
My adjustment? It is gradual and ongoing, but I am thankful for the Lord’s patient teaching. The ministry here? It is still developing gradually. Next time I write, I will try to tell you more about that.
One thing has been difficult. That is E-mail. I get so far behind and it is partly because so many want to encourage me by forwarding things to me from the Internet. (You all know I am not very proficient on the Internet myself!) Thank you for your thoughtfulness! But, I am struggling to keep up with business and correspondence on E-mail. The forwarded messages make it that much harder. I have started to delete them without opening and reading them. So, PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD ANY MESSAGES TO ME! If you want to encourage me or let me know you are thinking of me, please just write a sentence to tell me that and also tell me how you are. I may not answer quickly, but I will answer.
I want to take this opportunity (before the rush begins) to wish each of you a Blessed Thanksgiving and a Joy-filled Christmas!
Praise the Lord with me for:
*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to provide for me.
Please pray with me for:
*The church leaders who learned the “True Love” teaching—that they will be enabled by the Lord to teach it and to live it, and that He would give them wisdom to answer the many questions that will come up.
*The Lord’s guidance and enabling as I continue to1. develop an interdenominational outreach to international people 2. give encouragement to new appointees 3. try to help with Hope for AIDS.
*This house would be available as long as the Lord wants me to live in this area.
*Me to continue to learn all that the Lord wants me to learn.
*Me to be very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and instantly obedient.
*The Lord’s work of healing in Dad to continue.
*The Lord’s continued provision.
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
Please note my new E-mail address. The Juno address will not connect to me after Dec. 1, 2004.
USA Ministry Address: Mission Address:
2225 Hendersonville Rd SIM-USA
Arden, NC 28704 PO Box 7900
(828) 687-9144 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
sharon.smith@sim.org (704) 588-4300
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Sketches from Sharon
March 1, 2005
Dear Partners,
GOD IS GOOD—ALL THE TIME! Even and especially with the unexpected events and
circumstances in our lives. Dad graduated to Heaven about 4 AM on Saturday, Feb.
5th!
God, in His Goodness, gave my sister, brother-in-law and me the opportunity to
celebrate with Dad what would have been Mom’s birthday on Feb. 2nd. Dad never
stopped missing Mom, but he didn’t mope. Instead, he was thankful for his
family. We had such a good time together that evening.
God, in His Goodness, gave my niece, his only grandchild, the opportunity to
visit with him on Friday, Feb. 4th. He told me later how much he enjoyed her
visit.
God, in His Goodness, gave Dad 4 volunteer jobs every week. The sores on his
foot were still not healed, so every step hurt him, but he kept walking because
he had to play the piano or fold bulletins. In his loneliness and pain, he
reached out to help others.
God, in His Goodness, gave me the privilege of being here for Dad for 15 months.
I saw him daily. In fact, my visits with him were the oasis in each day. I left
him Friday evening, Feb. 4th, with the words, “I love you, Dad. Sleep well. I’ll
see you tomorrow.” He answered, “You sleep well, yourself. I love you.”
God, in His Goodness, allowed Dad to go to bed and to sleep normally that night.
About 4 AM on Saturday, he woke up in Heaven.
God, in His Goodness, allowed us to have Dad until he was 92 years old. But,
getting used to life without him is not easy! Focusing on God’s goodness is
helping me through this very painful time. Even writing this letter to you has
been a hard thing for me to do.
If you are tempted to write and ask me what my plans are now, please don’t ask.
Instead, please pray for me. I am willing to do whatever the Lord wants,
whenever and wherever He wants me. Because Ethiopia is so much a part of who I
am, I have begun to cautiously make tentative plans to return there eventually,
but I am asking the Lord to confirm His will so I don’t just do what is (for me)
the easiest thing. Easy is not always the Lord’s best. I do know I will have to
be out of this house by May first, but if the Lord still wants me back in
Ethiopia, I would not be leaving the USA that soon. So, as you pray for the
Lord’s guidance, pray also for a place for me to live after the first of May.
Praise the Lord with me for:
*God’s goodness and faithfulness—His ways are not mine, but they are always
right and best.
*The opportunity to honor my father by living close to him and being available
to him for 15 months.
*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to
provide for me.
Please pray with me for:
*The Lord’s comfort for all of us as we adjust to life without Dad.
*The Lord’s guidance in all the decisions I must make regarding housing and
future plans.
*The Lord’s guidance and enabling in the ministry as it develops here.
*The Lord’s continued provision.
*When things get tough, and they will, pray I will remember my father’s example
and, rather than dwelling on my own problems, reach out to serve others.
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 Reams
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
Please note my new E-mail address. The Juno address will no longer connect to
me!!
USA Ministry Address: Mission Address:
2225 Hendersonville Rd SIM-USA
Arden, NC 28704 PO Box 7900
(828) 687-9144 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
sharon.smith@sim.org (704) 588-4300
Web Site: http://www.sharonsweb.info
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Sketches from Sharon
May, 2005
Dear Partners,
As I rode my bike this afternoon I thought, just as the road is rough in places,
or it bends and there are sometimes hills to climb (or coast down), the road of
life is not always smooth and straight. But, as I ride my bike, I don’t focus
all my attention on the rough places. I enjoy the beauty of God’s creation
around me, and that spurs me on. So in life, I must focus my attention on my
Savior and Lord, not on the hard places along the way. Just as the rough places
and hills along the road strengthen my muscles as I keep pedaling, so my Lord
uses the hard places in life to strengthen my faith and deepen my relationship
with Him. As He continues to walk with me through the grief of losing Dad, I am
learning to know Him not only as my Husband, but also as my Father in ways I
have not known Him before. I am thankful.
It seems the Lord is leading me back to Ethiopia, but I do not know when yet. I
need to finish the painful part of grieving here, rather than packing it up and
taking it with me. Also, the ethnic ministry here is just beginning to take off.
I believe it is the Lord who is opening doors here, and I need to continue to
support, encourage and advise those who will be carrying on when I leave the
country again. In addition to these things, I really want and need more time
with my sister and her family before I head back to Ethiopia.
The church that owns this house needs it by the middle of May, so I will move on
May 6th. If you are among those who received a personal letter from me in April
with my anticipated new address and phone number projected to be in Arden, NC,
PLEASE DISREGARD that information. That location has not worked out for me for
several reasons. My new address as of May 6, 2005 is: 151 Shady Grove Road,
Cowpens, SC 29330. The phone number is 864-461-7891. My E-mail address has not
changed.
Praise the Lord with me for:
*The privilege of being God’s well-loved child.
*The doors that are opening here for the beginning of ethnic ministries.
*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to
provide for me.
Please pray with me for:
*The Lord’s continuing comfort for all of us as we adjust to life without Dad.
*The Lord’s continuing guidance in decisions.
*More people burdened for ethnic outreach to join in this ministry and for His
guidance and enabling.
*The Lord’s continued provision.
*When I encounter hard places along the road on which the Lord leads me, pray I
will consistently focus on/cling to my Lord and Savior and receive strength from
Him to keep pedaling.
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 Lord,
Sharon Smith
Please note my new E-mail address. The Juno address will no longer connect to
me!!
USA Ministry Address: Mission Address:
151 Shady Grove Rd SIM-USA
Cowpens, SC 29330 PO Box 7900
(864) 461-7891 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
sharon.smith@sim.org (704) 588-4300
Web Site: http://www.sharonsweb.info
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Sketches from Sharon
October, 2005
Dear Partners,
Thank you for praying! Let me tell you how the Lord is answering your prayers.
I asked you to pray for Him to continue to comfort my family and me. He is doing
that as I learn to know Him more intimately. What a wonderful Father He is! He
is also answering your prayers and giving me good times with my family.
I asked you to pray for the Ethnic ministry in the Asheville area. The Lord is
bringing the people to us we need for this new ministry as well as bringing us
into contact with ethnic people. (We could still use more to help with various
aspects of the ESL classes.)
I asked you to pray for guidance. The Lord is deepening my conviction that He
wants me to return to Ethiopia: first to have closure in Alduba, where I lived
for over 15 years and then to move to a more central location to help
country-wide with the HIV/AIDS work. I am looking forward to going back.
I asked you to pray for the Lord’s provision. God is answering, but because of
the change in our support system, I am a little short of what SIM recommends
that I have pledged for support. I’m a bit short on ministry funds as well. I am
asking the Lord to provide what He knows I need.
The Lord brings people to encourage me just when I need it, and He has also
enabled me to visit many who live too far away to come to me. I drove 3621 miles
(as far as northern WI) to visit friends, relatives, and prayer/financial
supporters. The Lord protected and refreshed me through this trip. Thank you to
all of you who took time for me and opened your homes to me as I traveled. The
Lord has used you to bless me.
Some of you live too far for me to drive to, so I expect to fly to WA and AK,
then to KS and TX. Here is the itinerary.
October 13-20, 2005 Seattle, WA contact: Mrs. Judy Norman 425-226-6203
(I hope to take Amtrak to Portland, OR for a day or 2 while I’m in Seattle.)
October 20-25, 2005 Anchorage, AK contact: Mrs. Jeanne Lamb 907-277-1263
October 25-28, 2005 Spokane, WA contact: Ms. Linda Meyer 509-235-1809
Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2005 Kansas City, MO contact: Asefa Jotay 913-631-9504
November1-7, 2005 Dallas, TX contact: Tigist Asefa 972-240-7289
November 18-21, 2005 Darlington, SC contact: Central Baptist Church 843-393-8581
If you live near any of these areas, please be in touch with the local contact
person or me. I want to see as many of you as I can while I am in these areas.
As I have prayed about when to return to Ethiopia, it seems January, 2006, would
be a good time. As my sister said, “A new year. A new beginning.”
Praise the Lord with me for:
*The comfort and encouragement of the Lord and of so many of you.
*Safe travels and encouraging visits with so many.
*The continuing development of the ethnic ministries outside of Asheville.
*You—my faithful prayer and financial supporters. The Lord is using you to
provide for me.
Please pray with me for:
*The Lord’s continuing comfort for all of us as we adjust to life without Dad.
*The Lord’s continuing guidance and provision as I prepare to return to
Ethiopia.
*The Lord’s enabling for those who are serving Him through the ethnic ministries
near Asheville.
*Safety, health and guidance in all my travels.
*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 <cenbapch@bellsouth.net>
attention Kamron Reams
With praise to our sovereign Lord,
Sharon Smith
Please note my new E-mail address. The Juno address will no longer connect to
me!!
USA Ministry Address: Mission Address:
151 Shady Grove Rd SIM-USA
Cowpens, SC 29330 PO Box 7900
(864) 461-7891 Charlotte, NC, 28241 USA
sharon.smith@sim.org (704) 588-4300
Web Site: http://www.sharonsweb.info
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