Dec 17 2019

When the world CRASHES DOWN
https://www.abwe.org/work/missionaries/william-lori-smith
This is a hard update to write. It’s hard to find words adequate to express our incredible awe of God Who is our foundation that remains strong when all of lives walls crash down around us. 

Monday night we got the call all parents  have nightmares about. Ruthie called us and her voice told it all. Our Eddie was hurt in car accident.
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Eddie was  very seriously injured and this will be a long road of recovery, but Bill was able to get back to the Usa and is now holding our baby girl as she navigates the uncertain road their young family has been thrust into. 

Our family, her siblings , their church , and so many others have surrounded Ruthie. The body of Christ around the world has joined us in prayer. In our turmoil and fear..... we are held ❤️  

The day after our family need spin our works upside down , our GBBC family was struck with an horrific heart blow as well. 

One of our fourth year education students , Jason Narina, just finished his LAST CLASS. He was heading back to his home village to see his children and start to utilize his training when tragedy struck. Getting off the plane, piloted by our Andrew’s friend, his wife’s brother was waiting for him , huge bush knife in hand. Before anyone could even blink, he tried to decapitate Jason. The pilot , thinking fast, pulled him into the plane and flew back to Goroka, where our sweet Jason meet his Savior. 

Jason was the only believer in his family. He and his wife, Priscilla hoped to use their lives to make a difference. We pray God will use his death to make an even bigger difference we pray!!  

Motives are speculative but the agony continues as sweet Pricilla, Jason’s widow , has been marked as the compensation death from his family. Amidst her overwhelming grief she is in jail locked up for her own protection.   Pray for Jason's wife and kids and all of their needs. 

With our world turned upside down, Bill gone, three sleepless nights ,finances unexpected stretched to cover air plane tickets.... what do we do??? Mobile clinic!!

Our ROCK remained. We decided to stand strong amidst trial and attack in the POWER of HIS MIGHT!!  

We have had extreme opposition in our church plant at Makia. The SDA CHURCH has been trying to remove us from their communities as people are getting saved. Lives are being transformed. Their message that salvation comes through church membership and baptism into their membership is being threatened by the TRUTH OF GRACE. So we went into their community with an explosion of LOVE in Word and Deed living out the glorious Gospel of peace Christmas represents!!  

The sun was scorching HOT. PEOPLE came from all over the community. We treated hundreds. We poured tons of medicine and all our strength as a love gift. Pray for lasting fruit!!  

Our family is once again divided by the world. But our hearts of holding the mission God has assigned to us unifies our hearts. 

Lori will keep on task with ministry explosion of open doors right now as Bill holds our Ruthie and Eddie ministering to their needs. 

On A Solid Rock we stand!! All other ground is SINKING SAND. 

PLEASE PRAY:
1). Eddie is still in very serious condition. Pray his body can be strong enough for surgery to address the serious fractures of his arm and leg.  There has been great improvement. Thank you for praying and please keep it up.  

2). Please pray for the week of Christmas as we will be having outreach services both at Rapture and Kenemaro and Makia. 

3). Pray for the financial need of tickets and of ministering in two location one right now. Pray for our family as we will be apart this Christmas. 

4). Pray for Gbbc youth camp Jan 13-17. We feel these attacks are part of Satan running with fear over all the amazing things God is doing. We have a huge interest in camp. Pray forGod to provide for many kids to come❤️ We are asking God for $6000 to cover the escalating costs of camp 

5). Pray for Grace and Safas families to be saved. 

We are so thankful for the many upholding us in prayer right now. The love and support of our children Stateside stepping in immediately to help their sister til daddy got back, her in-laws and her grandparents being there to help, the churches and police and Christians around the world uniting to assist us...... it has been amazing. Our ROCK remains a firm foundation under us♥️

No restraint. No retreats. No regrets. Amazed and in awe of our loving God. 

Bill with Ruthie and Eddie. Lori the boys and babies and Dad in PNG. 

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