February 2002 Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends:

It's way past time for an update on the Smiths.  You haven' heard from us since Christmas, and I'm sure you're wondering what's going on.

At Christmas time, we reported in our letter that we were at 82 1/2% in our monthly support and 39% in our one-times.  We are excited to report to you that by God's grace we have had several new churches add us to their Missions Families since the first of the year.  In addition, several one-time donations arrived in late November and December, helping to put a dent in the One-Time need as well.

I don't have "the latest" One-time amount total from MTW, but I believe we've whittled down our deficit to perhaps $8,000, maybe less.  Keep praying for this specific support need.

As for the "monthly support" account, we are now above 90%, needing only a few hundred dollars a month more in order to be fully supported!

We really expect to "hit the mark," perhaps in March, as the several churches that are now considering us make their decisions one way or the other.  We visited two new churches in January.  We are visiting another new church this weekend, and we have another conference to attend in March -- also at a church that is considering us.  In all, there are about six Missions Committees that now are or soon will be considering adding the Smiths.  Please pray that the Lord will give them the grace gifts they need to add us to their Missions Families!

Because we're getting so close, we have begun making firm plans to go to Costa Rica.  Our language school there is on a quarter system, and we've applied to start in the June quarter.  That will give us the time to tie up loose ends here in the States and make a (hopefully) coordinated and (again, hopefully) less-stressful transition to San Jose.  We would appreciate your prayers concerning the move to Costa Rica.

Here is a special concern that we'd like you to pray for as well.  We've been back in the U.S. for over two years and have become "Americanized" probably more than we know.  And even though we were able to adapt well to Guayaquil's version of "Latin American culture," we know that things will all be different in Costa Rica.  Please pray that the Lord may give us grace to shed our "gringo-ness" in a winsome manner and blend in with the "Ticos" (Costa Ricans) without comparing them either to Americans or to Guayaquilenos.  Often times, the most memorable part of "sharing Christ" isn't the words we say as much as the context in which they are framed.  We want to be gracious, loving and kind in every situation so as to adorn the Gospel graciously.  Please remember this as you pray for us.

We praise the Lord for you all.  It is a comfort to know that we have family all over the U.S. who are lifting us before the Throne of Grace.  May the Lord bless you for caring for us.

Your servants for Christ's glory,

Ron & Peg Smith
Benjamin & Allison

- Wednesday, February 6, 2002