The Reverend Dr David Smethurst is once again exciting us with his mission travels and remarkable evangelism for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Madara Walks for the First Time
Madara, the 17 year old from the Spriditis orphanage in Latvia who has been paralysed and in a wheelchair from childhood? She has had a powerful witness for the Lord from her wheelchair, and we just wanted to see her blessed and walking. She had two operations in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2013 and 2014 on her lower back, and that was all that was needed to get her up and walking, albeit with walking apparatus at this stage - a video clip after her first surgery in 2013.
At the end of this video she is seen entering a local Russian News Studio in St. Petersburg who interviewed her to publish her progress and her courage. The words at the bottom of the screen say "Madara has started to walk". Sorry it's all in Russian but below is the translation.
The video is about what happened to Madara in St. Petersburg during her rehabilitation after sophisticated surgery. She started to take her first steps but she needs to keep practicing. In the video the Doctors tell about her situation, that she has all the potential to be walking by herself but it will take more rehabilitation and exercise. The doctors said that treatment like this should have taken place when Madara was about 2-3 years old, but there were no qualified doctors in Latvia who could have this performed surgery. They also mention that she needs to continue her rehabilitation sometime in the summer and she needs more funds to do so. According to orphanage director Kristiana, Madara is not able to walk fully by herself yet without a corset or the walking frame, but she is able to care for herself which is a huge improvement.
Occupational Work for Madara
The Spriditis Orphanage is looking for a special program to train her for a profession. Madara is 17 now and she will have to leave the orphanage in one or two years' time. The orphanage director is hoping that she can leave with the ability to do something constructive to support herself. She is not quite certain what this program will be but it will be something that is specifically suited to her condition. She does not know the price yet for the training. We'll try and meet that cost.
Wonderful Youth Camps in Latvia
Summer Camp time for the orphans in Latvia was exceptionally fruitful, with the children getting out into the fresh open air and learning more from God's word and deepening their relationship with Jesus. We have had two summer camps with around a hundred orphan teenagers each, that we try to integrate with the city church youth. The city youth were mostly able to pay for themselves but the orphans needed to be sponsored. That was costly but it was worth it for their spiritual wellbeing, their future church life and their vocations.
Between March and August we also try to provide work-related courses for the teenage orphans who turn 18 soon and will have to leave their orphanage to make their own way in life. In the summer camps we link these orphans with young people from the church youth groups, who open their homes to these needy teenagers to integrate them into the city churches while they are looking for work. This has worked so well for the last 15 years.
Then the School Semesters, for the hundreds of school-age orphans, start in September. Educational fees need to be paid and school requisites need to be bought, that will prepare them for the start of the next school year. The government gives nothing for free but we are able to buy very good school requisites in Poland for half the cost in Latvia. We send our drivers over there to buy the requisites.
The Orphanages in Zhitomir (150kms west of Kiev) are relatively safe but the Orphans in Odessa, and the children and teenagers in the Homeless Children's Centre have been threatened by the violence that overflows from the eastern region (not far away). The costs of meeting the needs of the Orphans there are increasing because of the present political crisis, the Russian Rebel invasion in the east, and the ethnic violence taking place. Rising costs due to the shortages in this troubled nation have caused the orphans support to treble. This has not taken God by surprise and we continue to trust him to meet the monthly needs. Please pray and stand with us to meet the needs of the orphans - they don't deserve to suffer any more, because of presidents' and politicians' lust and greed.
Zhitomir Orphanages
150 kms west of Kiev the orphanages have been experiencing great needs that cost a lot more to supply in these critical times, such as items we've been racing to supply – warm jackets, sports shoes, warm bedding, cots, play pens, baby buggies, high chairs, clothing and shoes, before the next winter.
These are the Zhitomir Centre for rehabilitation of children with tuberculosis, the Zhitomir Baby Centre, the orphanages at Grishkovtsa, Berdychev, NovogradVolynsk, Nova Borova, Ushomyr, Berezovka Village, Vilha Village, Kmitov Village, Korostishew, Denishi, and Teterevka.
In the midst of supplying all these needs to hundreds of children, one little boy needed a special supply of food to keep him alive. His name is Andrey who is 11 years old. He has "phenylketonuria" and needs special foods without protein such as flour, noodles, milk, coconut cookies and such like. The body is unable to break down a substance called phenylalanine, which builds up in the blood and brain. High levels of phenylalanine can damage the brain. If it isn't treated, damage to the brain and nervous system can lead to learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties, epilepsy and severe eczema.
Two months Amazing Ministry in the U S A
Florida at the River of Life AOG church in Merritt Island, and the Park Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville. I had two wonderful Easter morning services in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with Living Hope Family Church. I had a wonderful meeting at the Celebration Community Church, Bordentown,
At New CityChurch, Williamsport I was interviewed about how I came to the Lord 52 years ago, how God opened doors for me to be involved at the Olympics and how we came to support orphans in Eastern Europe. New Jersey at the New Life Church, Bordentown and their Christian Academy with a lot of Korean and local students responding to the gospel. The next night I shared with the youth of the Celebration Community Church a special bunch of youngsters - missionary material.
Next was to Michigan to minister in the Hastings Assembly of God Church. Then a television interview at TCT Christian TV station in Allendale, MI who interviewed on my involvement at the London Olympics and the support of orphanages in Eastern Europe. Next was in Illinois where I had three days of wonderful ministry in Danville, Ogden and Bloomington.
Then on to Latter Rain Fellowship in Danville and a terrific Missions Outreach Dinner in Ogden that was well attended by pastors, business people and students from Korea, Zimbabwe and local areas. The next weekend was at CityMark Church, League City, Texas (south east Houston) with Pastor Steven Yoes and his wife Maya, who was one of my very early interpreters in Latvia in 1992-93. We had three very enthusiastic seminars on Saturday morning on evangelism.
The two Sunday morning services were electric with hunger for more of God. What a great climate in which to minister God's word. The people responded well to the challenge to run their race well for God and be the brightest lights for Jesus in this world.
David Smethurst Ministries: http://www.smethurstministries.com/