Andrew Smith on International Mission
Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support over the years. Once again, I am heading to East Africa, this time on two trips. The first is to Mozambique with a charity called Through the Roof http://www.throughtheroof.org/ or http://www.facebook.com/TTRchangeslives/.
The ‘Wheels for the World’ trip is 15th – 26th October 2024 to Mocuba, Mozambique. There are many as people around the area who need a wheelchair or walking aid and do not have the money to buy them. The WFTW team works alongside local Christians already working in the area. We will be partnering with a local team representing Somos Nós https://somosnos.org/what-we-do/ . This will involve fitting & distributing the 145 reconditioned wheelchairs, buggies, and walking aids that are in a container that I helped to pack in the UK. Also, we will be sharing the gospel, offering a bible and praying with each recipient as we demonstrate God’s love in a practical way to each recipient and their family. This gives local workers a contact point with recipient’s families and the possibility of sharing the gospel in the privacy of their own homes. In our experience this impacts the local community, as friends and neighbours witness changed lives.
A team of 6, made up of Physios, OTs, and techies (me) to help distribute the wheelchairs and other mobility aids to the local people around the town of Mocuba and surrounding areas. Some recipients will travel up to 150 miles to be assessed. I have been fortunate to go on previous trips to different towns in Kenya. It will be both challenging and rewarding as we raise them up from the floor into the dignity of a wheelchair.
Please pray for: Preparation of team members, good health for the team, good relationships within the teams and with local Christians. Protection whilst travelling via Malawi and in Mozambique. Clarity through interpreters. Wisdom when fitting wheelchairs to client’s needs. Follow up work by local Pastors and local Christians and outreach into the local community.
“In Christ we, though many, form one body and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us.” Romans 12:5-6
Then in November, I am returning to Western Kenya and to the area around Bungoma to work with my friends Bishop Patrick and Pastor Laurence. It will be a 20 day trip from 27th November to 18th December. It will be a packed programme with 5 days of prison ministry, 5 days of youth ministry in 3 locations, a 3 day conference and 3 Sunday preaches. I am really looking forward to it and to see how God wants to impact thousands of lives.
The conference and the preaching I have been involved with for many years. It will be interesting to see what God wants me to bring and deliver on those occasions. The Youth Ministry is a new venture for me, as God has called me to pass on to the next generation my knowledge and experience. Youth in this context is anyone from 15 to 35 year, so a broad range of age and life experiences. My main challenge is to deliver God’s messages across the range and to smaller groups. It is my intention to give out some bibles
Pastor Laurence introduced me to Prison Ministry in December 2022. It was both a formal process, because of protocol, and then informal with freedom to preach the gospel. Last time 151 prisoners gave their lives to Jesus and about 40 were healed. The Prison Chaplains followed up on all these people. Praise God that many of the new believers gave testimony of continuing to follow Jesus last December when pastor Laurence visited. As the prisoners are generally poor, we distributed as much soap, sanitary products and toilet paper as funds allowed.
This time I am visiting 10 to 11 prisons in 5 locations, having been granted permission by the local Commissioner. It will be a privilege to minister to the youth, women and men prisoners as they are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, and to draw them closer or deeper into relationship with Jesus. As a team we are aiming to support as many of the 8000+ prisoners with essential gifts by encouraging local Kenya churches near each prison to be involved in raising funds to buy as much as possible. A big challenge but every person who receives something will appreciate it.
If you would like to support the Prison Ministry financially, here are the costings. It is better to buy them in Kenya to support the local economy and to reduce transport costs. £1=150Ksh
Soap bar £1.50, box of 12 = £18 (each bar of soap is cut into 4 pieces! It will be used for personal and cloth washing.)
Toilet paper x 12= £2.50, Bale of 40 = £7.50
Sanitary Towels - box = £10
Milking Jelly - box of 12 = £3 & Milk – a box of 12 = £5 (for babies in the women’s prisons)
Toothpaste - box of 12 = £4.50
Toothbrushes -5 = £1
Sheets = £3.50
Bibles = £7
Here are account details: A M J SMITH & SM SMITH 20-46-73 20953539
Please reference it Kenya 24 and the specific item.
It is my intention to transfer these funds to Bungoma at the end of October, as this will give them time to buy the various items locally and arrange transport.
I know that your prayers are very important for God’s plans to be fulfilled and for my safety and wellbeing. If you would like to join my ministry WhatsApp group and keep up to date, please message me on +447527110546
Please pray for: Hearing from God for sermons and talks, being full of the Spirit and following God’s direction, seeing many people giving their lives to Jesus and lives touched by God, for many healings wherever I minister, safe travel in all forms, to see God’s abundant provision and to have good fellowship with all my friends and new people that I meet.
Thank you. God bless you all
Andrew