El Mene, VENEZUELA


Summer 2015
Written by Edward and Ruth Smith - Venezuela
ewsmith@fastmail.ca


Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Phil. 1 v 18b

We give thanks to the Lord for the opportunity to visit Canada and to meet many likeminded believers and share with assemblies meeting in the Lord's name. The missionary conference in Toronto was also a special time for us. God also gave us the opportunity to spend over a week with Ashley Milne and also to visit ex-missionaries, Mrs. Rhoda Cumming and Neal and Alice Thompson who dedicated many years to the work in Venezuela.

On our return to Colombia, Willian, Kylie Alcala and family were waiting for us. (Kylie, our daughter had not visited Colombia for fifteen years) They are serving the Lord in Brisbane, Australia.

We took them to all of the assemblies and preaching points in the northern part of the country. We shared two weeks of special gospel meetings in Sincelejo where each afternoon there was evangelization. Good numbers came in to hear the Word and one teenager professed to be saved for which we praise the Lord.

On our return to El Mene, Venezuela, the believers were in the fifth week of nightly meetings. Prayer, ministry and Bible studies. This was followed by four weeks of gospel preaching. The conference at the end of July was well attended with about eight hundred present on a Friday afternoon. With the shortage of food and other supplies, we saw the good hand of our God upon us. The meat was supplied from four bullocks that were donated and killed. Costs increased nearly 190 percent on the previous the year.

We have returned to the construction of the new apartment in Yaracal where we purpose shifting in the future. Materials, including cement, are scarce and once a week you can perhaps buy ten bags. Yaracal is a town about eleven km. from El Mene. We have built a large hall there for meetings and a Sunday School. We pray for blessing and eventually the formation of an assembly.

The primary school is in recess at present. We pray regarding the need of more teaching staff for the new year. The education is free to all, no fixed salary can be paid to the twelve staff members. Each one looks to the Lord to meet their needs.

Please pray for the present situation in Venezuela. Everything is scarce. We have to form long lines to be able to buy food and most other commodities. You then can only buy what they allow which isn't enough for a normal family. Your day is determined by the last number of your ID card. Yesterday was my turn and I bought 12 toilet rolls, 2 kilos of rice and two parquets of Rolled Oats. Meat and poultry have disappeared from these parts even though we are in a cattle producing area.

Even though times are difficult, the Word is being sounded forth so we rejoice. Brethren pray for us.

 

Summer 2015
Written by Edward and Ruth Smith - Venezuela
ewsmith@fastmail.ca