January/February 2018
January and February were full of activity with teen camp and Pastors camp as the highlights of summer; yes summer. Our seasons are opposite of those in the states. Both were well attended and beneficial to the work here in Chile.
This year in teen camp we had the largest group of teens so far at 130, and another 30 volunteers and workers for a total of 160. It was one of the best camps we’ve had with several young people trusting Christ as their savior and many others giving their lives to go into full time Christian service. Personally, for our family it was a great encouragement for Morgan and Luke and helped them to grow in the Lord.
Pastors camp followed teen camp just a couple weeks later. Pastors of the churches that have already been started and who had graduated from the Chile Training Center along with current students attended this camp. We came together for two days and were able to hear some great preaching and challenges from the young pastors and receive some very helpful and needful instruction from the missionaries. This was a great time to encourage one another to continue serving the Lord in the places he has put us.
The work at the Chile Training Center continues. Just this week a good number of our men, missionaries and chilean pastors, came together and worked to install floors at the training center. We are encouraged to see how the local churches here in Chile have supported the work at the training center; prayerfully, financially, and with physical labor. They have been a huge blessing.
We are down to the last payment on the Chile Training Center. We need approximately $40,000 to complete the payment. I say approximately because the value of the dollar against the peso is dropping and depending on how much it drops it can change the remaining amount significantly. For example, we are getting 15% less on our personal support compared to this time last year. That being said, it is vital that we do all that we can to raise the remaining $40,000 as quickly as we can to get the maximum exchange possible. We know that God is able and that he is going to do this. He has already done exceedingly above all that we could ask or think he would do. If you’ve been praying about or considering giving to the Chile Training Center now would be a good time to get involved. It would be awesome if we could pay the building off in full a month earlier. For information on how to give please visit www.250project.com.
Thank you for your faithful support. Thank you for your faithful prayers. Only eternity will reveal what a blessing you have been to us, and how the Lord has used you to advance his kingdom.
God Bless,
The Smitheys
Jamie, Erica, Morgan, Luke, and Meredith
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