These World Cup Tracts are currently being handed out all over Mexico and other parts of Latin America as the world gears up for the soccer tournament. The tracts give the World Cup schedule as well as a brief plan of salvation and offer a free Bible study. Our team ordered around 12,000 of these for our Bajio region of Mexico. Praise God that a few weeks ago we got the information of a man that had received a tract and is interested in a Bible study. We visited Jose to drop off a study, and have been in contact with him about getting together to study the Bible. Just today we gave a young couple a tract and started a conversation with them. We hope this may lead to another evangelistic Bible study as well, although they live in a small town outside of Queretaro. Please pray that these tracts might continue to have an impact here and all over Latin America.

MK Spiritual Emphasis Camp

In April our three kids enjoyed a few days at camp with some of their fellow MK's. It was Ben's first year to attend as a first-grader. While they were at camp we had a chance to get away for a few days and celebrate our 15th anniversary a little early. Please pray that our family would continually grow in our love for God.

Children's Day celebration at church

Children's Day celebration at church - Luis & Miriam did a great job
with an Ephesians 6 Armor of God presentation

Mother's Day service at church

José Luis, Cesar, and Gerardo organized the Mother's Day service
and sang to the mothers with the help of the youth group

We praise God for what He is doing in the New Birth Bible Church. We recently had services celebrating the children for Children's Day and the mothers for Mother's Day. Part of the excitement for us was that we did not have much to do with planning either one of these special services! Please pray for the leadership of the church as we are moving toward naming elders and deacons, and continue to organize the church leadership.

Cesar updating the square meter chart at church

Foosball for square meters!

We continue to raise funds for the property purchase project. Right now we are at 26% of what we would like to raise in the US, and at 32% of what we would like to raise in Mexico. This means that as of today we have purchased 101 m² and have 277 m² to go. One of the creative ways that the church here is raising funds is through a foosball table. The youth group raised funds in order to purchase the table, and all proceeds from the table are going toward the property purchase. Please pray that all the funds would be provided in time to make the last payment in September. Would you consider helping us with a square meter, or whatever God lays on your heart? If you are interested in helping us in this way, please see the Square Meters for Christ article below.

Time for cake!

Quest training event with our team

Ben (right) had his friends Silas and Tucker Hower over for a few nights

We have so appreciated our CAM missionary team. We get together about every two weeks to pray, encourage one another, and fellowship. We recently celebrated Ben's seventh birthday together. We are made up of four families - 13 kids. We also recently enjoyed some training together at the camp. The topics were Finding a Balance Between Family and Ministry and Cross-cultural Conflict Resolution. Our team seemed to benefit greatly from our time together. Bryan is currently leading the team, and preparing the next team leader who will take over in 2011. Please pray that our team would continue to be unified and grow together.

We recently started a marriage study with five other couples using Gary Smalley's Making Love Last Forever study in Spanish. We have met twice, and it is exciting to hear and see what God is doing in each couple. This is a great study that God used to help us make some changes in our marriage about five years ago. One of the couples have not put their faith in Jesus yet and we are praying they will see their need for a Savior. Another one of the couple's, Jose Luis and Estrella, and from our church and are interested in taking the study in order to share it with some other couples. Please pray that this study would be used for God's glory to see his work accomplished in these couples.

Thanks so much for taking the time to pray and support us in this venture together for God's glory!

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Square Meters for Christ

The New Birth Bible Church and Community Center here in Queretaro, Mexico is purchasing the property which we have been renting for the last year and a half. We praise the Lord for His provision for this opportunity. The corner property is 378 m² and includes a large open roofed area which we have been using for the sanctuary. It also includes a house and two apartments. The property is ideal in many ways for the church to continue to grow and reach out into the surrounding communities. We praise God that the church here has been working creatively and giving sacrificially toward this purchase. The owner is a believer, and has given us a very fair price, and about a year to pay the balance.

The property viewed from the corner

So how can you help?

~ Give a gift:

Each square meter has a cost of $350. An account has been set up with CAM International to receive tax deductible gifts toward this project. Would you pray about this and consider helping us with one or more square meters? This is an opportunity to invest in a wonderful gift for Christ’s glory to be proclaimed in Queretaro and around the world!

There are two ways for you to make this gift:

- Make a secure online donation with credit/debit card or paypal:

Go to www.caminternational.org - Click the “Give” tab and select “donate online.” Select “Special Project” and enter the number 063608

- Send a check by mail:

Send your check made out to CAM International and earmarked for “Project #063608 New Birth Bible Church Property”

Send to:
CAM International
8625 La Prada Dr.
Dallas, TX 75228

~ Become a “champion” for this project:

Would you be willing to help us promote this project in your circles of influence? We would be glad to provide you with some brochures which you can use to promote the project. Simply e-mail us and let us know how many you would like, and where to send them.

~ Pray!

Please help us by praying for God’s provision as funds are raised both in the US and here in Mexico. We know that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Thank you!

- I am doing better after a week of medicine and rest. My case of shingles did not seem to be too bad, or at least we caught it on time.
- Our website (www.smithconnection.com) is up and running again virus-free and hopefully more secure. We have turned off the comment feature which may have been a weak point in security. If you would like to comment just drop us an e-mail: bsmith@caminternational.org
- We have almost reached the 25% mark of the funds we would like to raise in the US for the Square Meters for Christ property purchase project. We praise God that we were recently able to make another substantial payment toward the total due in September of this year. See the Square Meters for Christ note below if you would like to help us with this project.
- On a related note, the Governor of our state of Querétaro granted our national co-worker, Mauricio Pérez, an appointment with one of his officials to hear our plans for the property purchase and community impact project. Mauricio was able to present the project and give the Governor some Christian literature. Please pray that God might work in his heart, first to trust in Christ as his Savior, and second to help us with the property purchase project.
- I recently got word that my Masters’ level classes from Lancaster Bible College will be credited toward the program I am currently enrolled in at Puebla Bible Seminary. This being the case, the only thing left to complete my Masters’ in Leadership Development is my thesis.

Thanks so much for being part of our team in prayer!

Bryan, for Lori and the kids

Square Meters for Christ
~ Give a gift:
Each square meter has a cost of $350. An account has been set up with CAM International to receive tax deductible gifts toward this project. Would you pray about this and consider helping us with one or more square meters? This is an opportunity to invest in a wonderful gift for Christ’s glory to be proclaimed in Querétaro and around the world!

There are two ways for you to make this gift:

- Make a secure online donation with credit/debit card or paypal:
Go to www.caminternational.org - Click the “Give” tab and select “donate online.” Select “Special Project” and enter the number 063608

- Send a check by mail:
Send your check made out to CAM International and earmarked for “Project #063608 New Birth Bible Church Property”

Send to:
CAM International
8625 La Prada Dr.
Dallas, TX 75228

~ Become a “champion” for this project:
Would you be willing to help us promote this project in your circles of influence? We would be glad to provide you with some brochures which you can use to promote the project. Simply e-mail us and let us know how many you would like, and where to send them.

~ Pray!
Please help us by praying for God’s provision as funds are raised both in the US and here in Mexico. We know that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

VIRUS #1 - We just found out yesterday that I, Bryan, have come down with shingles to the right side of my head. I am now taking medicines for it, but we understand that it can affect the eye if not properly cared for. We trust that with God’s help and the medicines I am taking I will be well again in a few days. Please pray with us about this. Today I am missing a great missions conference here in the New Birth Bible Church of Querétaro as am at home resting.
VIRUS #2 - On another note, it seems that our website was hacked and a virus added to it. Our server system found and cleaned out the virus, but we are be blocked by Google as an attack site. I hope to correct this soon, but in the mean time please use our back-up website: http://bryan-smithconnection.blogspot.com/ At the same time it appears that my laptop has crashed once again and needs to be fixed. It appears to be the video driver.

Thanks so much for your prayers for us! We know God is in control and has a perfect plan for us – we just need to keep trusting. I have been reflecting on my life verses a lot recently:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6

What a great opportunity to put these truths in practice!

Thankful for Your Prayers,

Bryan, for Lori and the kids

The 2010 New Birth Bible Church mission logo

The New Birth Bible church mission/goal for 2010 comes from Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore…” During the month of January our focus for teaching has been on evangelism and discipleship, concluding yesterday with an evangelism workshop. After the service those who wanted to went across the street to a community park and shared their faith. We praise God that two people responded to the Gospel by trusting in Christ as their Savior! One of them is a man who does maintenance at the park, and the other a 14 year old boy who lives near the park. We praise God for a great start to the year in this way. Please pray as we follow up on these decisions.

Our family with friends Isela, Diana, and Ivan

We praise God for Isela and her children who visited us yesterday evening (Her daughter Gaby is not pictured above. She was in school and not able to come). We had the privilege of leading them to the Lord about four years ago. Even though they now attend another church they are active in their faith and Isela is making disciples of her own. We concur with John, “[we] have no greater joy than this, to hear of [our] children walking in the truth.” (3 John 4)

The chart we have up at church shows the
progress for the property purchase


Bryan giving the owner of the property a partial
payment in December.

We praise God for a good start to the Square Meters for Christ property purchase project in the months of December and January. We have reached 18% of what we would like to raise in the US, and 25% of what we would like to raise in here Mexico. Each square in the above chart represents one square meter. Please pray that we will be able to reach our goals and be able to pay for the property completely by this September. If you are interested in helping us with this project please scroll down and see the Square Meters for Christ article below.

Mauricio, Luis, José Luis, Bob, Cesar, and Bryan –
6 of the 7 church leaders at New Birth

We are excited about the church leadership that God currently has in place at the New Birth Bible Church. Bryan has greatly enjoyed being involved in training three of the above pictured men, Luis, José Luis, and Cesar, plus Gerardo who is not pictured. We praise God that the leadership team continues to grow in unity and is working well together. “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.” (Ephesians 3:21)

Celebrating a “Happy Birthday Jesus” party with
Grandma and Grandpa Smith on Dec. 25

Fishing with Grandpa Wenger – our
only catch for the day!


Playing piano with Grandma Wenger

We praise God for the special family times that we were able to enjoy over the Holidays. We had the joy of having both sets of grandparents here over that time! We also praise God for His protection and provision for our family. Please pray for our van which has been giving us a few problems recently. We would love for it to last us a few more years yet.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this update and pray for us. Please give us your feedback: what do you think of this format for our prayer updates? Should we do it again?

By the way, we enjoyed getting e-mails and cards from many over the Holidays! We especially enjoy receiving updated family pictures. Thank you! Please keep reading below if you are interested in helping with the Square Meters for Christ project.

Being and Making Disciples in Central Mexico,
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Square Meters for Christ

The New Birth Bible Church and Community Center here in Queretaro, Mexico is purchasing the property which we have been renting for the last year and a half. We praise the Lord for His provision for this opportunity. The corner property is 378 m² and includes a large open roofed area which we have been using for the sanctuary. It also includes a house and two apartments. The property is ideal in many ways for the church to continue to grow and reach out into the surrounding communities. We praise God that the church here has been working creatively and giving sacrificially toward this purchase. The owner is a believer, and has given us a very fair price, and about a year to pay the balance.

The property viewed from the corner

So how can you help?

~ Give a gift:

Each square meter has a cost of $350. An account has been set up with CAM International to receive tax deductible gifts toward this project. Would you pray about this and consider helping us with one or more square meters? This is an opportunity to invest in a wonderful gift for Christ’s glory to be proclaimed in Queretaro and around the world!

There are two ways for you to make this gift:

- Make a secure online donation with credit/debit card or paypal:

Go to www.caminternational.org - Click the “Give” tab and select “donate online.” Select “Special Project” and enter the number 063608

- Send a check by mail:

Send your check made out to CAM International and earmarked for “Project #063608 New Birth Bible Church Property”

Send to:
CAM International
8625 La Prada Dr.
Dallas, TX 75228

~ Become a “champion” for this project:

Would you be willing to help us promote this project in your circles of influence? We would be glad to provide you with some brochures which you can use to promote the project. Simply e-mail us and let us know how many you would like, and where to send them.

~ Pray!

Please help us by praying for God’s provision as funds are raised both in the US and here in Mexico. We know that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Thank you!

We trust that you and yours will have a Christ-filled Christmas and New Year! We appreciate all the prayers that have been taken before the Father on our behalf during 2009! You are an important part of our team as we make disciples together here in Central Mexico.

We want to share with you an opportunity to honor Christ and give Him a gift this Christmas. It is called Square Meters for Christ. The New Birth Bible Church and Community Center here in Queretaro Mexico is purchasing the property which we have been renting for the last year and a half. We praise the Lord for his provision for this opportunity. The property is ideal in many ways for the church to continue to grow and reach out into the surrounding communities. We praise God that the church here has been working creatively and giving sacrificially toward this purchase. Just yesterday we gave a second part of the down payment. The owner is a believer, and has given us a very fair price, and about a year to pay the balance.

So how can you help? The corner property is 378 m² and includes a large open roofed area which we have been using for the sanctuary. It also includes a house and two apartments. Each square meter has a cost of $350. An account has been set up with CAM International to receive tax deductible gifts toward this project. Would you pray about this and consider helping us with one square meter? This is an opportunity to invest in a wonderful gift for Christ’s glory to be proclaimed in Queretaro and around the world!

There are two ways for you to make this gift:

Make a secure online donation with credit/debit card or paypal:

Go to www.caminternational.org - Click the “Give” tab and select “donate online.” Select “Special Project” and enter the number 063608

Send a check by mail:

Send your check made out to CAM International and earmarked for “Project #063608 New Birth Bible Church Property”

Send to:
CAM International
8625 La Prada Dr.
Dallas, TX 75228

Thank you for your time and consideration, and again, Merry CHRISTmas!

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

A view from the corner of the property

A view of the sanctuary area

PDF Prayer Letter: Download file

Here is our latest prayer card which was sent out with this letter

If you are interested in making a donation to the Square Meters for Christ project see here: http://www.smithconnection.com/2009/12/a_christmas_opportunity.html

- Oct. 18-21: Lori will be attending a Women of the Harvest Retreat – please pray for safety in her travels as well as for a relaxing and beneficial time with the other missionary ladies
- Oct. 22-Nov. 3: Bryan will be attending a Quest conference in Big Sandy, TX – please pray for safety in his travels, for the family as they stay home in Mexico, and for a time of blessing and growth in this training opportunity
- Nov. 4 and 6: Bryan will be concluding the third of ten books with the four men from the church here that he is discipling/training – it has been an excellent ministry opportunity that Bryan has greatly enjoyed – please pray for continued growth in these four men and their families
- Nov. 7: our church youth group, which we are helping to lead, will be involved in putting on a Life Festival as an evangelistic outreach into the community – this is in light of and in response to the Day of the Dead celebrated along with Halloween here in Mexico from Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 – please pray for many families to attend and hear the Word in their hearts
- Nov. 8: Bryan will be preaching on Daniel chapter 10 at church – the Daniel series has been excellent for the church here. In the new year we plan to go into the book of Revelation. The Lord is coming soon! That afternoon we will be hosting the four families of the men Bryan is training plus our fellow missionaries, the Buhlers, for lunch, a time of fellowship, and some ministry tips from the Buhlers – please pray for continued growth of the church and its leaders
- Nov. 9-12: Bryan will be attending another class in his Masters’ program at the Puebla Bible Seminary – this course will be on Animism and World Religions – please pray for safety in travels, safety of the rest of the family at home, and for a good class and much learning

One more exciting note: The New Birth Bible Church here in Queretaro has signed a contract to purchase the property where we are currently meeting, and has made a down payment on it. We have about a year, interest free, to pay the balance of it to the owner, a Methodist believer. We praise God for this step of faith, and His provision for this meeting and outreach place for the church. We will be seeking to raise funds for this project both here in Mexico and in the U.S. More details to come in the near future, but please be praying for God’s provision for this project.

Being and Making Disciples in Central Mexico,
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

PRAISE:

1. For the teams that came to minister here in Querétaro this summer from Pennsylvania, Texas, and Indiana. Each team was a blessing to the ministry here.
2. For the recent remodeling that was done to our church meeting area. It is a new place! We have a new floor and stage, painted walls, a storage room, a new wall, and security bars on the windows. We praise God for His provision for these projects.
3. We praise God for the people that have been touched in recent community outreach – children, teens, and couples have been impacted with the Truth, and we have much follow-up to do.
4. It was a joy to see eight believers baptized in July, including our daughter Tara.

PRAYER:

1. For Lori and our three children, Kendra, Tara, and Ben, as they start homeschooling again next week. Ben will be at home for first grade now after having completed his stint in a Mexican kindergarten. This will be an adjustment for the new school year.
2. For Bryan as he catches up on his Masters’ studies after a busy summer. He would like to go to his next class at the end of August all caught up.
3. For a new Bible study with a couple that we will be starting on Friday. They are interested in knowing more about Jesus and God’s Word, as well as learn more about marriage. Pray that Jorge and Mari Carmen would come to Christ.
4. For God’s provision for the purchase of the church property that we have been renting. The owner is interested in selling the property to the church, and the church is interested in buying if it is the Lord’s will. Please pray for wisdom and provision.

Thanks so much for your prayers! We appreciate your faithfulness in lifting us and the ministry here up to the Lord. Stay tuned for some new pictures soon.

For His Glory in Mexico,

Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

PDF: Download file

WORD: Download file

This is a slightly modified $20 peso bill

Did you hear that they found the kid today that is responsible for the swine flu outbreak??

On April 27, besides dealing with the swine flu, Mexico City had a scare with an earthquake

- Lori’s Surgery - we thank God for the recent visit of two ladies from our home church in PA. They were a GREAT blessing here as Lori had her surgery and the beginning of her recovery. They made it back to PA safely on Monday. Lori continues to do well and recover more each day.

- Swine Flu – even though the news has been inconsistent and it is hard to know the truth, here are a few facts we think we know:

- There are no officially confirmed cases of the flu here in our state of Queretaro, although we are right next to two states that do have confirmed cases

- The government has closed all schools at all levels in the entire country until May 6 – this includes Ben’s Kindergarten, but not the girls’ home school! :)

- The government has asked that people avoid public gatherings for now, and has closed many museums, parks, convention centers, restaurants, and sports arenas.

- The leadership of our church decided it would be best to suspend all church activities at least until May 6 and focus on praying as families at home for this situation

- The US Department of State has issued a travel alert encouraging Americans to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has encouraged U.S. citizens living in Mexico to take precautions, including having a two-week stockpile of essentials such as food, water, and medicines

We are taking the necessary precautions and trusting in God to keep us safe and healthy in the midst of everything. It has been a blessing that things have slowed down on the church side of ministry so that we can focus on catching up in some other areas, as well as to allow Bryan to continue helping Lori around the house as she continues to recover.

Thanks so much for your prayers for us during this time.

Trusting God,
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

- That Lori’s surgery went well last week, and that we have the help of two sisters from our home church in PA. Many people have been such a blessing to us during this time of need. We praise the Lord that Lori got her stitches out today, and is healing well

- God has kept our family healthy and away from all the bugs that are going around right now – this has been a blessing with Lori’s surgery and recovery

- For a clear opportunity Bryan had to share the Gospel with a doctor at a blood bank here in Queretaro. Pray that this doctor might come to Christ

PRAYER:

- Lori’s continued recovery from her surgery and regaining of her strength

- Paty, a mother of three, including a baby, whose 36-year-old husband passed away last Thursday. She is a dear believer who has been through so much. If you are interested in reading the whole story see below. Some may remember us mentioning her for prayer in the past

- For our “Children’s Day” service at church this Sunday – they celebrate children here in Mexico on April 30, so we will have a special service for them on April 26

Your prayers are a blessing!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Paty’s Story

Friday morning when I arrived home from the hospital after spending the night with Lori I got a message on our answering machine from Jose Luis and Estrella. They asked me to call them back ASAP. When I called they informed me that Paty’s 36-year-old husband, Mario, had died of a massive heart attack the previous evening. To make a very long story short, Mario had a history of abusing Paty and their children in many ways. She is a believer, and if you read 1 Peter 3:1-6 you will see a beautiful picture of the way she has been toward her unbelieving husband for many years. Paty had been in a group Bible study that I taught about 6 years ago. She and her daughters had been going to our church, but stopped going to church because he did not allow them to attend anymore. I could give countless stories of the way he ridiculed and abused them. I had even counseled her to separate from him for a time for her own protection, and that of their children. She remained quietly and faithfully with him. After MANY opportunities to come to Christ, God said enough is enough. We can only hope that in his last moments he came to the foot of the cross.

Now the rest of the story – Jose Luis asked me if I could possibly accompany him to the funeral home where the vigil was being held. Because these two sisters were caring for Lori in the hospital and our kids at home, I was able to go. When I arrived at the vigil Paty was sitting in the back of the little chapel all alone while his family, staunch Catholics, were doing the chants and prayers for the dead soul. I pulled Paty and her daughters to another corner of the room and Jose Luis and Estrella arrived a short time later. We cried, we prayed, we read some Psalms, and we encouraged and comforted Paty and her daughters as best we could with God’s comfort. God was so gracious! It was also an excellent opportunity to mentor Jose Luis, a budding church leader, in how to handle these types of ministry situations. We talked about the stark contrast between the two groups in the little funeral chapel. This contrast is often seen at a funeral in Mexico. Our focus was life – comforting the family, praying for the salvation of the lost, reading the living Word of God. We gave Paty two evangelistic “Life Kits” to share with whomever she wanted of the unsaved family and friends and a love offering to help this widow in her time of need. Their focus was death – praying for Mario, that God would show him mercy, that the virgin of Guadalupe would be his intercessor, and that he would soon be able to be released into God’s presence. The singing was sad, without hope, without life. The prayers were meaningless repetition.

We heard Paty bare her soul as she shared about her husband – she felt guilty because not long ago she had prayed to God that He would remove any obstacles in her life that were not allowing her to serve Him and love Him. Now her husband was gone, and she felt the guilt. We assured her that she did not need to feel guilty. God is sovereign and in control. We knew how she had been a 1 Peter 3 wife to her unbelieving husband. She shared how he had eaten lunch with them that day, something he rarely did, and how he had asked to hold their baby boy, just born a few months ago, so that he could spend some time with him – something else he rarely did. He asked Paty to iron his shirts because he had an appointment somewhere that day at 6:00. He died at 6:05. Lori later reflected that for that appointment it didn’t matter how nicely ironed his shirt was if his soul was un- ironed and wrinkly. At one point during our time Paty asked if there is a vacancy in a ministry at church – maybe in the nursery or Sunday School. She has a burning desire to serve the Lord and can’t wait to get involved in church again.

Paty and her children, Andrea (16), Mariana (11), and Marioni (months), need our prayers.