Archive for the ‘Pastor’s Family’ Category
“Our Pastor ~ On Loan to Africa”
Between sessions at the annual Seminar
Hello, everyone in Morning Star Fellowship and beyond ~ James has been in Sakila, Tanzania for two weeks now. His computer time has been either in International Evangelism Centre’s busy office (IEC) or in Arusha town where “the clock is running.” Consequently, James has asked me to construct an update from his emails and our phone conversations.
The annual Seminar took place from Sunday, June 20 – June 27. Thousands of believers and Bible School graduates from the surrounding nations of Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi took buses, cars, and just plain walked to gather in Jesus’ Name for prayer, singing, and preaching of the Word of God. For most of those in attendance the Seminar is the highlight of their year. In the twenty-seven years since teh Bible School’s inception, the number of churches begun by IEC trained pastors has well topped the fourteen hundred mark. Although not all pastors and church leaders were able to travel to the conference, all churches were represented by the twenty-two regional leaders.
This is a good place to declare IEC’s banner scripture for the year 2010: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17 BTW, this happens to be the same scripture that Tiala Ao & family pray for their work in Mokokchung, Nagaland.
Eliudi Issangya and his son, Godwin Selembo, discussing request
The thousands who come to the Seminar spend the week in Sakila sleeping everywhere and anywhere. And, listen to this, Eliudi and staff feed everyone three times a day. I think the Lord’s miracle of the loaves and fishes happens there in Sakila on a daily basis! This is just not talk but action in trusting God to do the impossible.
James knows that the people come hungry for anointed preaching of God’s Word ~ the kind of preaching that will impart renewal of purpose and vision to “forcefully advance the Kingdom of God”. They know and James knows that MBELE! ~ moving forward ~ will probably demand perseverance despite challenges such as no food, no water, and no money. Encouraging these Christian kingdom-builders is a serious responsibility and James seriously asks the Lord for HIS guidance as he ministers to his beloved African brethren. I ask too.
Leaving Seminar Hall
With great interest I asked James this morning, “What did you preach at the Seminar?” Some of you will be very interested in hearing that James chose the Parable of the Good Shepherd as recorded in John chapter ten. For his listeners, James applied Jesus’ teaching in four ways: 1) He protects us; 2) He leads us; 3) He feeds us; 4) He laid His life down for us. As a church we have prayed for the Lord’s blessing upon James and his times of preaching. Well, the Lord has answered our prayers! He deserves the glory and thanks.
Many tribes are represented at Seminar.
On Tuesday, June 29th James wrote, “We spent most of the afternoon with Helen’s family up in her village. Both of her parents are alive and there is quite an extended family. Her village is much more primitive than Sakila and very beautiful on the slopes of Mt. Meru.” On the previous day James wrote, “My Swahili is getting better each day; I can even do greetings in Meru (Eliudi & Mama Helen’s tribe) which makes me a big hit with Eliudi’s mom and the older ladies.”
Matthew and fallen tree limb
Before I end this update, one “life at home” story needs to be told to illustrate the Lord’s care for me as my Good Shepherd while James is so far away on another continent. On Thursday, June 24th, our youngest son, Matt, stopped by our home after work to visit and check in on me. Minutes after Matt’s arrival a sudden and violent storm brought a torrent of rain and strong winds upon our property. The fury ended just before we said our goodbye and as Matt headed out the back deck door. Seconds later I heard Matt yell, “Mom, come here!” A thirty foot tree limb had been knocked down and was completely blocking the top of our driveway. If you click on this image you will see the enlarged version. Because of the size and weight I could not have moved it by myself. But ~ my Lord’s care was there for me through the timing of Matt’s visit. I praised God for His all-knowing and all-loving care for me that day and today and everyday that James will be gone.
People ask me. “How do I do it?” ~ that is, allow James to travel to Africa. First, I know the Lord has comissioned him to go to Africa. Second, I know the gift that he is to Africa ~ a gift from the Lord to them ~ a gift from Morning Star to them ~ and a gift from me and our family to them. How could I ever say “no”.
In His grace,
Sarah
“Sending Off Our Pastor Again”
The countdown until James’ departure for Africa on June 16, 2010 has come and gone. Earlier today, Wednesday, June 23rd, James called me using his Motorola phone with a SIM card. He is adjusted to the environment in SakilaVillage, Tanzania. I was relieved to hear that! I am sure all of you in the Smith Family and at Morning Star are glad to hear it as well.
Since his arrival, there has not been electricity in the village, or more accurately, the supply has been intermittent. James does not forsee having electricity to power his lap top or the Internet until next week. In light of that I will post these “send-off” pictures in the meantime.
When I spoke to Bishop Eliudi Issangya this morning he was exhuberant when declaring that, “James had arrived safe and sound. ” Eliudi will host James during the visit without the help of his wife, Mama Helen, who died on February 2, 2010. She will be missed greatly.
About to say good-bye again ~
On a personal note, I am writing a daily journal this time around of James’ trip to Africa. We’ve never taken the time to count the exact number of trips he’s made. The estimate of twenty-one or so has served to make the point that he has gone there a lot. On “Day 3″, which was last Friday, I pulled out James’ old U.S. Passport and attempted to count the Tanzanian, South African, Mozambique-ian (heh-heh), and Kenyan visas stamped on the pages. I wasn’t able to do it which was daunting for me since I love to count things. hahaha… Anyway, he’s been using his new passport since the trips in 2003 so I would only have half the number anyway.
Paul trying to pack James into the back of the Subaru.
Here’s a shout-out of “thanks” to Paul Grimsland who drove James to JFK on June 16th and there’s a good possibility that he will be making the trip down to JFK again when James returns. Don’t tell Paul I said that though. Paul is punctual and reliable and a good friend who’s heart burns for doing what he can to provide educational opportunities for impoverished youth through H4C child sponsorship programs. I can tell you that Paul loves these kids! By way of making that point, read some of his MBELE! blogs posted earlier in the year on www.Mbele.org (You will find the archive box on the right side of the web page.) Another tremendous brother in the Lord, Vinnie Smith, has driven James to and from airports many times over the years. Wow, personal drivers sure make the difference in getting started from home and getting back to home.
Pencils for Africa from Radnor High School
This backpack in the picture above holds a lot of pencils, more than one thousand, and a lot of caring by the students of Radnor High School which is located west of Philadelphia in the great state of Pennsylvania. I plan on writing a blog titled, ”The Journey of the Pencils”, to tell the fascinating story once James sends me a picture of the recipients in Africa. However, this will be the first “thank you” to all those PA residents who assumed a role in this effort to demonstrate concern for the children in an African village school.
When we spoke earlier today James asked me to thank all of you within Morning Star Christian Fellowship for your love, prayer & financial support and for reinforcing his ministry time in Africa. Eliudi sends his deepest thanks as well.
Sarah
In Memory of Helen Issangya
Mama Helen with one of her daughters Rogathe and one of her grandchildren, Shirley.
The first time I went to Africa was in 1993; that seems like two lifetimes ago. Since 1993 I have been back to Africa well over twenty times (thank you MSCF!). Most of these times I have stayed in the home of my dear friends Eliudi and Helen Issangya, in Sakila, Tanzania.
The first time I rode from the Kilimanjaro Airport to the village of Sakila I felt as if I had travelled to some foreign planet, or possibly the moon, that’s how strange it was to me (and also to my good friend, Mike Wood). Now when I go to Sakila it is truly my “second home.” Other than my own house I feel most at home when I am in Sakila. Much of that credit goes to Mama Helen Issangya who saw to it that I was welcomed and cared for over the last seventeen and a half years. This dear woman, wife of my great friend Eliudi Issangya, and mother to six children, has now passed on to her eternal home, a greater home. A land that will never grow old.
This blog is a small attempt to show her the honor and respect that is due to her for taking care of me and the many other people who showed up at her home in need of care. Mama Helen was always there for me. She made sure that I had the food that I needed, the clean water that was necessary, and she showed great compassion towards me as I went through everything from malaria (1996) to a heart attack that caused me to be hospitalized and have surgery in Amsterdam in 2007. She had suffered so much with her illness that she knew how to care for those who were in pain or distress.
Helen treated me with such respect. I hope that I sincerely returned that respect back to her. Thank you Mama Helen for giving yourself to all of us for all these years. I, and many others, African and Americans, will never forget all that you did for us, and the “Mama” that you were to us. Be at rest, Be at Peace, Mama Helen.
Helen Issangya went to her eternal home on February 2, 2010.
James R. Smith
A Cold Glass of Water for You
This will be quick since it is very late here on Saturday night and I must be getting to bed after a LONG day, actually, and a VERY EVENTFUL week. Hopefully, I will be able to write more about the many recent encounters and short trips and ministry times before we leave Gurgaon or once we arrive in Nagaland next week. At ant rate this blog is to offer some refreshment to all of you who comprise Morning Star Christian Fellowship.
You may remember that my travel scripture theme is Proverbs 25:25 which reads, “Like a glass of cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” Well, I am now in a very distant land from the USA and I must tell you that Morning Star folk are deeply loved by the Lord Jesus and that I have not experienced deeper nor more stirring worshippers and musicians & singers and preaching in all of my travels. God has given many of us within MSCF a resolve to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. And…He has revealed to us the NECESSITY of waiting upon Him while we sing songs of praise and thanksgiving. His grace towards us is abundant my dear family in God. With much anticipation I look forward to being home after the Lord’s purposes are completed in me here on the sub-continent of India and to join you in singing to our God.
More later, God willing…
Sarah
OVERVIEW OF WEEK IN BANGALORE
Well, if one picture is worth a thousand words, then I have just sent you eight thousand words and I must say with great effort Ask James about using other’s computers while depending upon multiple servers across the globe and Internet capabilities in developing nations. In fact, James, you may have to straighten this blog article up a bit!!!
Our week in Bangalore included the teaching sessions with the DTS students (PICTURED BELOW), a visit to LIVING FOUNTIAN GATES CHURCH on Sunday, lunch with Jojou (YWAM STAFFER) at THE EMPIRE BUFFET, and attendance at YWAM’s South India Annual Conference. That is not all we did since there were spontaneous discussions, prayer gatherings of the 2/3 sort and enthusiastic fellowship interactions over tea. Judging from the enormous amount of feedback directed to me everyone was refreshed by our visit and by the ministry of the WORD OF GOD through the PARABLES OF JESUS. The REMA WORD to many was Galatians 6:9 – DON’T GIVE UP! Many took the time and effort to thank me with tears in their eyes and deep gratitude. The honor was mine.
Please take time to read my blog on MBELE! REGARDING OUR CHANGE OF PLANS. Our Lord Jesus moved with swiftness to protect us and supply unplanned lodging for ten days here in Gurgoan, India. A day or two is needed to publish the story on he Internet.
I am thinking of all of you and praying for your strength and comfort during this time of loss of dear brother, Frank Amodeo. I send my deepest condolences to Pris, Neil & Lisa and their families, and Marie.
Your prayers for me are being answered. His peace, security, health & provision, and purpose are being manifested. You are my spiritual family!
Finally, to the man I admire the most & love, James, and to our three sons and their families, I send my deepest affection and admiration.
In HIS GRACE always,
Sarah
