The Smith Connection

Here are a few current prayer items:

1. PRAISE GOD for the salvation of Mario and Anabel! Bryan, and one of his disciples, Cesar, have been studying the Bible with them and they trusted in Christ this past Saturday, May 21. For those who have been following their story, they are neighbors of the church property. It is their daughter, Isa, who trusted in Christ at our VBS last year and got baptized last month. Her parent's interest was sparked by her testimony and baptism. PLEASE PRAY for their new life and growth in Christ as we continue to study with them.

2. PRAISE GOD for His provision for some good focused time for Bryan to work on his masters' thesis the last two weeks. Some great headway has been made. PLEASE PRAY for him as he wraps up his thesis process. Lord willing he will graduate on June 4, and have about two months to completely finish the thesis project.

3. PRAISE GOD for His continued provision for the Square Meters for Christ church property project. We still have a good ways to go on our fund-raising, about half of the total, but the Lord is continuing to provide. PLEASE PRAY for the Lord to provide the financing necessary. The owner needs the church to pay him the total amount due at this time, so the church is working on taking out a mortgage which can be paid off as soon as possible without penalty.

4. PRAISE GOD for the four leaders who recently graduated from a two-year leadership training program that Bryan facilitated. PLEASE PRAY that God will continue to use them for His honor and glory in the New Birth Bible Church of Queretaro. Follow this link for some photos of the graduation: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/LeadershipTrainingGraduation?feat=directlink

Thanks for you prayers for us! God is working!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, and Ben

Posted by Bryan at 01:08 PM | Permalink

Here is the latest from Queretaro. Thanks for praying!

PRAISE:
- Bryan was able to conclude the two year leadership training program with the four men from the New Birth Bible Church here in Queretaro. We will hold a small graduation ceremony during part of the church service this coming Sunday, May 15. We praise God for these men and their families and for how He is using them to build up His church here in Queretaro.
- We are in celebration mode this time of year in Mexico. Last week we held a special service in celebration of Children's Day - the kids enjoyed a special program while the adults were taught some Biblical principles for parenting by a fellow missionary and friend, Brock Hower. We concluded our time together with a Christian clown show and a cake. Yesterday we had a special Mother's Day service. We praise God for the 24 mothers who were in attendance. The men and youth surprised the mothers with a breakfast of tamales. During the breakfast they were serenaded with some special Mother's Day songs. We then had an interactive teaching time geared toward the moms. We praise God for these special times as a body of believers. (See a link for pictures below)
- Our children are completing their school year here at home. Kendra is finishing 6th grade, Tara 4th, and Ben 2nd. Ben is also enjoying learning and growing in Taekwondo. He is also into spinning tops - a current fad here in Mexico - and building with Legos. The girls are enjoying some dancing lessons and the both love reading. They all love our dog, Tanner, and help care for him. They recently enjoyed an MK spiritual emphasis camp. (See links for pictures below)

PRAYER:
- Bryan needs to dedicate some concentrated time on completing his thesis. It is progressing well, but sometimes it is hard to get some good focused time with everything else going on. The goal is to finish the thesis by the end of July. Please pray for some good, concentrated time to be able to be dedicated.
- We would ask for your continued prayers for the church property purchase project. We are currently at the halfway mark and trust that the Lord will continue to provide for the project to be completed. In the mean time the church is in the process of taking out a mortgage to in order to finish paying the owner. If you are interested in more details you can either write to us or visit the following link: http://www.smithconnection.com/2010/10/square_meters_for_christ_prope.html
- Please continue to pray for our new Bible studies. Mario and Anabel continue to study faithfully and seem to be very close to trusting in Christ as their Saviour. Luis Enrique still seems to be far off, but we know God can touch his heart. Pedro continues to be very committed to grow in his faith. Lucina also continues to attend church and Lori is following up with her. We praise God that other church families are also reaching out to friends and relatives and we are seeing growth.

PICTURES:
- You can see some pictures from the Children's and Mother's Day events at the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/ChildrenSMotherSDay?feat=directlink

- You can view some pictures from the MK spiritual emphasis camp here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/SECAmealco2011?feat=directlink

- You can see some recent pictures of the kids here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/KendraTaraBenMay2011?feat=directlink

Thanks for being an important part of our team!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Posted by Bryan at 07:54 PM | Permalink

Greetings from Laredo, TX! As promised, here are a few recent pictures from our trip this summer. The most recent highlight: a new addition to our family - Tanner Eugene, a Jack Russell. See the pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/USTripSummer2010?feat=directlink

US Trip - Summer 2010

Thanks!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben (and Tanner!)

Posted by Bryan at 01:34 PM | Permalink

Thanks so much for your faithful prayers! We have not been as faithful with our prayer updates! Please take a little time to read through and pray over our photo prayer update.

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!

Posted by Bryan at 07:15 PM | Permalink

Your prayers for us are much needed and appreciated! Please take a moment to pray as you read this pictorial prayer update:

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!

Posted by Bryan at 09:43 AM | Permalink

Click the icon below to go to our Picasa site or watch the slideshow here:

Fall 2009

Posted by Bryan at 03:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Here are some new family and ministry photos. You can either click on the thumbnail below to go to our picasa site, or watch the slideshow here.

Summer 2009

Posted by Bryan at 02:47 PM | Permalink

Here are some new family and ministry photos. You can either click on the thumbnail below to go to our picasa site, or watch the slideshow here.

Spring 2009 Photo Update

Posted by Bryan at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Click on the thumbnail to go to our Picasa photo site, or watch the slideshow below.

Winter 08/09

Posted by Bryan at 07:42 AM | Permalink

Click on the thumbnail to go to our Picasa photo site, or see the slideshow below.

Photo Highlights - Fall 2008

Posted by Bryan at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Photo Highlights - Mid-Summer 2008

Posted by Bryan at 10:12 PM | Permalink

Here are some photo highlights. Click on the image below to see them on our Picasa site, or see the slideshow here on this site.

Photo Highlights - Early Summer

Posted by Bryan at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Go to the following link to see some photos, or see a small version of the slideshow below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/PhotoHighlightsSpring2008

Posted by Bryan at 11:05 PM | Permalink

See some highlights from the last couple of months by clicking on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/Winter0708Highlights

Or see a slide show below:

Posted by Bryan at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Thanks so much for your prayers concerning the radio and TV spots. Things went well, and it appears that we will have a weekly opportunity to share a verse from the book of Proverbs! We gave a Bible away to a caller on the TV show, and later found out that others had called in wanting a Bible as well. This may be another way to make contacts and open doors – give away Bibles to callers including an invitation for a Bible study in the front cover. We’ll keep you posted on how this develops. We will also send or post pictures of our new church meeting place soon.

With much appreciation,
Bryan & Lori

Posted by Bryan at 07:07 PM | Permalink

Here is a link for some recent family and ministry photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/Fall2007

Fall 2007

If you prefer, you can see a smaller version of the slide show right here on our site:

Continue reading "Photos - Fall 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 02:30 PM | Permalink

Here is a special update:

Continue reading "Smith Photo Update - Fall 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 01:24 PM | Permalink

Thanks for your continued prayers! You are an important part of our ministry team here in Mexico!

Click on the photo below for some recent pictures.

Gracias!
Bryan, Lori, Kendra, Tara, & Ben

Posted by Bryan at 11:36 AM | Permalink

Click on one of the links below to see some August/September family and ministry pictures. Or you can view a small version of the slideshow right here on our website.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/AugustSeptember2007

August/September 2007

Continue reading "Photos - August/September 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 04:03 PM | Permalink

Click on one of the links below to see our before and after house pictures. Or view a small version of the slideshow right here on our website.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/BeforeAfterHousePictures

Before & After House Pictures

Continue reading "Before & After House Pictures" »

Posted by Bryan at 09:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Please click either the picture or the link below to see some recent photos. We will try to post some "after" pictures of our house in the next week or so. God Bless!

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/JulyAugust2007

July/August 2007

Continue reading "Photos - July/August 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Praise God we found a house! Click below for more details:

Continue reading "Special Prayer Update" »

Posted by Bryan at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

*Follow either of the links below to see some pictures from our lives and ministry from June 2007

*If you have seen our pictures on this site before you will notice that we are trying a new format with the Picasa Web Album. You will notice that there are several options as to how you can view the pictures. Please leave some feedback here to let us know what you think of this new format. Thanks!

http://picasaweb.google.com/bryanandlori/June2007

June 2007

Continue reading "Photos - July 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 08:02 PM | Permalink

The kids enjoying the new farm kitten

*Click below for more family and ministry pictures
*Click on the thumbnails to see larger versions of the pictures

Continue reading "Photos - June 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 06:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Family picture - April 29, 2007

*Use the link below to see more family and ministry pictures
*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - May 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 08:13 AM | Permalink

Kendra & Tara all ready for school! It was Dr. Seuss dress-up day, and the girls went as Daisy-Head Mayzie.

*Use the link below to view more family and ministry pictures
*Click on the thumbnails for a larger version of the image

Continue reading "Photos - April 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 06:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ben with two of his church friends, Ashtyn and Silas, at a church roller skate party

*Click below for more February family and ministry pictures
*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - March 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 02:44 PM | Permalink

Winter finally really arrived in the month of February. The kids had been praying for some snow, and they got some! Sled rides, snowballs, beautiful scenery, icicles, snow days off from school, drifts, white fields - we enjoyed it all!
*Click below to see some Winter Fun pictures

Continue reading "Winter Fun" »

Posted by Bryan at 01:20 PM | Permalink

Kendra, Tara, & Ben with their Grandma & Grandpa Wenger on New Years Day

*Click below for more family and ministry photos from Januray
*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - February 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 01:25 PM | Permalink

Family picture, December 2006

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

Continue reading "Photos - January 2007" »

Posted by Bryan at 01:25 PM | Permalink

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

Continue reading "Photos - December 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 09:42 AM | Permalink

Our family at Chickies Rock Park near the Susquehanna River

*Click below for more photos of our family and ministry
*Click on the thumnails to see a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - November 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

One of the things we miss when we are in Mexico is all the fun fall activities and scenery. Some of our favorite things...

Continue reading "Lancaster County Fall Fun" »

Posted by Bryan at 01:02 PM | Permalink

The Smith family with "Farmer Dan", the scarecrow that we made

*Click below for more pictures from our lives and ministry
*Click on the thumbnails to see a larger version of the picture

Continue reading "Photos - October 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 09:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Click below for more pictures from our life and ministry from the month of August
Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - September 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Kendra, Tara, & Benjamin - July 2006

Click below for more pictures of our life and ministry
Click on the thumbnails for a larger pop-up image

Continue reading "Photos - August 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 03:20 PM | Permalink

Here is our new, long over-due, prayer card
Click on the picture for a larger version of it

Posted by Bryan at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Kendra, Tara, & Ben at Koinonia Camp, Amealco Mexico

*Click below for more family and ministry photos from the month of June
*Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - July 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 06:14 PM | Permalink

Bryan and Lori at a recent wedding

*Click on the thumbnails for a pop-up of a larger image

Click below for more family and ministry photos.

Continue reading "Photos - June 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 07:06 AM | Permalink

Kendra, Tara, and Ben giving us a concert on Grandma Wenger's piano

*Click below for more family and ministry photos

Continue reading "Photos - May 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 04:23 PM | Permalink

Haz click abajo para la foto del grupo

Continue reading "Foto Conferencia de Líderes 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Celebrating Tara's 5th birthday

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE PHOTOS

*Click on the thumbnails for larger images

Continue reading "Photos - April 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 05:30 AM | Permalink

Kendra, Tara, and Ben with friends Daniel, Kevin, and Daniela

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE PICTURES

*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - March 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE PICTURES

*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - February 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE PICTURES

*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - January 2006" »

Posted by Bryan at 04:12 PM | Permalink

The kids by the Christmas tree

CLICK BELOW FOR FOR SOME RECENT PICTURES

*Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Continue reading "Photos - December 2005" »

Posted by Bryan at 12:31 PM | Permalink

An early Christmas photo of our family

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE FAMILY AND MINISTRY PICTURES

Continue reading "Photos - November 2005" »

Posted by Bryan at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

Kendra, age 6

Tara, age 4

Benjamin, age 2

Posted by Bryan at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Bryan at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)