March 2017 Dear Prayer Partners, Greetings from the Twin Cities in Minnesota! We are so grateful for the time we were able to steal to write this prayer letter. More than that, we are grateful that we’ve had to steal the time! One of the many burdens the Lord put upon our hearts when moving us to surrender to missions was the desire to plunge ourselves completely into His work, making every moment count for the Kingdom of Heaven. As you know by now, the Lord didn’t even wait until we were on the field to fulfill that desire! Our last three months of deputation have included multiple meetings in Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida, Minnesota, and Illinois. We are so grateful for the churches that have taken us on for support and helped us on our way with their kindness and generosity. We look forward to what the Lord will do in our lives and ministry in this next busy quarter of 2017! What a blessing it is to be surrendered and busy for Him! Speaking of “surrender,” I find it interesting that this term is most often associated with great loss or defeat—the surrender of an addict to the vice that has conquered him; the surrender of a criminal to the authorities pursuing him; the surrender of one nation to the conquering sword of another. However, complete surrender to the Lord and His work is different. It is the surrender seen in eyes of a bride as the veil is lifted from her radiant and upturned face. She does not despair of loss. She does not lament the family she leaves behind. She does not grieve the loss of her old home. She is “forsaking all,” yet she thinks nothing of what she is forsaking. All behind is naught, for before her stands her hope, her joy, her everything. We have been asked on deputation, “What have you given up to become missionaries?” Our answer was then, and is now, “Nothing.” Yes, there are hardships in this new life, yet His yoke is easy because He pulls along side us as we submit to His direction. His burden is light, because He will carry the Lion’s share if only we lay it upon Him. This is the life of surrender, yet this is the life of power. It is the life of submission, but the life of freedom, joy, peace, and purpose that can that can never be found “until all on the altar is laid.” Please pray for us as we continue to surrender to Him day by day that He may accomplish His purpose in and through us. In Christ,
The Father always provides!
The Smiths to Palau 850-303-4993 AllinAllMinistry.vpweb.com