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Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
Col 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it , do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Thank you all for yet another month of your prayers and support. As I look back this month and see the direction my course is going, I can very much appreciate any and all who to the throne of grace take my family and I as we try to fight the good fight of faith. You can look at what Paul said here to the church at Colosse and get a real vision of what my family and I ask you to pray for. We desperately need to be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Please continue to pray for me as this past month has been busy making many calls trying to get a few more churches that would help us get to the field of Germany. I have spent this past month mostly making calls both to churches and to missionaries in Germany as well as Brother Nico Verhoef in Switzerland, trying to figure out the steps and preparation needed to obtain visas and the many other “problems” that I will begin to face once I do finish deputation. With language school probably being my best option still, we are praying about the whole situation as one must apply several months prior to be enrolled in the school. Also our visa applications vary in time and forms according to schooling. With much to do and decisions to be made, as it looks now some decisions need to be made several months in advance before leaving the country. I do again thank you for your prayers.
Kacie and Naomi are doing fine. As this month of doctor appointments have increased, my wife seems to be getting very excited and prayerful of the new baby boy's arrival. As excitement builds, preparation is still hard. With a desire to buy the baby clothes, yet knowing how hard it was to go through the whole “closet” last time after the death of Levi, it makes it hard to buy what you want as a parent. Please continue to pray for her. We both “hope for the best,” and the mercy of God, yet know the possible situation ahead.
This month while closer to home I have been able to focus not just on deputation and departure, but on my home church and souls in need of the gospel right hear at home. I was able to keep on Danny Rains (the young man that I have been after for salvation) and bring him to church several times. He was able to come over to my home a few times to have dinner and talk about his need for salvation. On one occasion Danny bowed his head on my couch and trusted Christ for salvation! Also my pastor and I have been making visits together and several men in my home church have asked me to start one-on-one bible study with them in hopes of a better walk with the Lord. So needless to say I have been busy in many aspects of the ministry and thank the Lord for all the open doors.
Please pray for Danny Rains' spiritual growth (and home situation) as well as my cousin Ronnie and brother in law Devon for salvation. Also pray for my wife and little boy as well as Naomi to be healthy, support to be raised, souls to be saved and the Lord to be praised with our effort to run the race set before us. May the Lord bless each one.
Looking for that blessed hope
Mark, Kacie, and Naomi Smith