The Smith Connection: December 2006 Archives

Buck....in church?

So it's hunting season in PA. What's so strange about seeing a buck? How about a buck in your church??? (And it wasn't in the offering plate!) Read on...

Last Sunday when we arrived at our church we saw what you see in the picture below, one of the entrance doors was all boarded up. We wondered why, and soon got the story - this past Saturday our youth pastor and a few others were waiting in the church for more youth to arrive for an activity. They heard a crash of broken glass, and turned to see an eight point buck charging down the church hall towards them! The youth pastor and one of the youth had the presence of mind to open the set of doors that they were standing near, and the buck charged on through past them, out the doors, and across the church parking lot. As for our associate pastor who was out part of last week "deer hunting" and didn't see one deer, he is kind of wishing he had stayed in his office! :-)

Church door.jpg

Posted by Bryan at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Smith Prayer & Praise - December 2006

*Click below for some December prayer items. We always appreciate your prayers for us!

Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5

How is this for a December 1 forecast in Pennsylvania - high near 70, high wind advisory at noon, showers and thunderstorms with a flash flood advisory and temperatures dropping to the 30's with windchill in the 20's later this evening! All we need is a little snow to round out the forecast! I guess other parts of the country are getting that. It is great to know that our strong God controls all things! We appreciate your prayers for us. Here are a few items to keep in mind:

We praise the Lord for...
- A great and encouraging missions conference at Reston Bible Church November 8-12
- Good reports of what God did through the Bill Graham TV special November 9-11
- For Lori's parents and sister who have been a great help in watching our children during some ministry times that we have had. We also enjoyed a great Thanksgiving and some other special times with them.
- Neat times spent with many of our friends and supporters. We are enjoying catching up with many people during our time in PA.

Please pray for...
- The New Birth Bible Church in Queretaro, Mexico as they grow and are stretched together. They have been going through some difficult times recently, and are missing having us there. We know God can use this time to strengthen and mold them for His glory, but it has not been easy for them. We are also learning to pray much, and leave all our dear brothers and sisters in God's hands. We thank the Lord for phones and e-mail!
- A trip to Michigan at the end of this month to celebrate Christmas with family
- Our continued involvement at our home church, Calvary Bible Church, Mount Joy, PA. We are enjoying our ministries and fellowship there, and praise God for a caring church family.

Please visit our web site for updated pictures: http://www.smithconnection.com/2006/12/photos_december_2006.html

Trusting Our Strong and Wise God,
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Bryan & Lori Smith
2062 Bossler Rd.
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
(717) 361-8804
bsmith@cam-mexico.org
http://smithconnection.com

Mission:
CAM International
8525 La Prada Dr.
Dallas, TX 75228
(214) 327-8206
info@caminternational.org
http://caminternational.org

Posted by Bryan at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Photos - December 2006

A US cultural experience - seeing the Statue of Liberty

*Click below for more family and ministry photos
*Click on the thumbnails for a larger version of the image

FAMILY

A camp fire and hot dog roast on a cool November evening

We enjoyed seeing Pastor Ron Gibson and his wife, Donna, durng the 65th anniversary weekend of our church. Pastor Gibson performed our wedding ceremony back in July 1995.

A special trip to New York with Grandma & Grandpa Wenger, and their friends from Guatemala, the De La Cruz family. We saw the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Times Square, Toys R' Us on Times Square, and a drive past Central Park. A full but fun day!

Playing "pirates" with Daddy

Grandma & Grandpa Wenger stayed with Kendra, Tara, & Ben while we went to a missions conference in Virginia. They especially enjoyed playing in leaf piles!

Lori with Tara & Ben on top of Governor Dick Tower

Time with family on Thanksgiving Day. The kids like Uncle Chris and Aunt Cheryl's dog, Baxter.

We have enjoyed our neighbors, and owners of the farm we are living on, Jeff and Rose Aungst. Jeff recently set up a play fort for the kids to play on. That same day we had supper with them, and their daughter, Faith, slept over with our girls.

Decorating the Christmas tree

Starting the last week of November, we have been taking care of little 6 week old Emma, daughter of some friends of ours, four days a week. The kids are having fun helping us with her.

Two neat scenic pictures

MINISTRY

Our home church, Calvary Bible Church, Mount Joy, PA, recently celebrated its 65th anniversary. We have enjoyed being involved at the church. Here Ben is shown at a Fall party in the Pioneer Club program.

Reston Bible Church missions conference - it was a great conference with lots of opportunities for ministry and fellowship. Bryan and Susan Nevin, co-workers of Bryan's parents in Texcoco, Mexico, were also at the conference. It was fun seeing them!