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While I was in Eastern Europe I checked on the 32 orphanages
we support. It was so cold
(minus 18 C at the time)
and many children were sick and needed attention. Those
children who are HIV positive were battling with illness.
Heating bills needed to be paid and still do as the
extremely cold weather prevails. It's been minus 25
C as blizzards have swept snow and ice across these
regions. The orphans generally have managed but many
are still sick and we're trying to keep up with the
supplies, and the provision of blankets and warm clothing.
Thank God not one child has died. We are so grateful
for that. They still have the blizzards of April to
weather. Please pray for them and stand with us for
these needy children if you are able.
Equipping the Saints in Western Australia
The two weeks in Western Australia were hectic but very
fruitful. The trip started with a drive from Perth
to Dalyallup to stay with sweet friends, Aubrey and
Coleen Heine, and to minister ion the Saturday night
in Donnybrook. Four churches attended the meeting.
On Sunday I was at the Busselton AOG Church with very
sweet longstanding friends. Two days later I was at
Duranillin at a Quilter's Club lead by Heather Jefferies.
These lovely ladies gave me 20 more quilts to send
over to the orphans in Latvia to keep them warm in
winter. They've made about 120 quilts so far for these
needy children. When the orphans eventually leave the
orphanages at 16 or 17, they take the quilts with them
- it's their own property. It does their dignity so
much good.
I then drove to Wagin where Vineyard and Uniting Church
friends gathered for a very precious meeting. From there
it was to Lake Grace via a 100 km detour on gravel roads
because a flood had cut off the main roads to the town.
These dear friends were so grateful for the word of encouragement.
After the meeting I drove the four hours back to Perth
dodging the kangaroos on the road in places.
 The next Sunday I was with the two Assemblies of God
Churches in Falconhead, Mandurah and Pinjarra in a wonderful
combined service. That Sunday night I had the joy of
ministering at the Balga Salvation Army Church. God's
presence was beautiful as He touched needy people. The
following Tuesday I drove the 100kms to Northam where
the Salvation Army hosted a combined church meeting.
What a blessing that was. It was exciting to share with
the students of the Victory Life Bible School during
their Friday chapel hour. The prophetic word flowed in
that session.
The final four days were very blessed and fruitful -
at Churchlands Christian Fellowship in Perth. On the
Thursday night I addressed the men at a very challenging
but healing meeting. At the Friday night youth rally
some 36 young people stepped boldly from the crowd to
indicate their commitment to follow Jesus. At the Saturday
breakfast it was my privilege to share with the church
leaders on how they could bring many to Christ and thus
mentor the congregation under their care into a fresh
wave of refreshing personal evangelism. The two Sunday
services were electric with God's presence. The people
had brought family, friends and colleagues to the services;
so many came to the Lord that day.
Spiritual Downpours in Outback Queensland
In early March, Bernie Gray, International director
of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, and I travelled
throughout outback Queensland covering almost 5,000 kms
in 13 days. I enjoyed speaking at businessmen's outreach
dinners, Mayoral breakfasts and a school meeting. There
was a desperate shortage of rain in these areas. Where
ever we went, either driving in or out of a town, it
would rain almost like clockwork, where there'd been
little or no rain. They treated us like angels for bringing
the rain with us. The mayor of Biloela thanked us so
many times during his speech. Very often the physical
context is an indication of what is transpiring in the
spiritual realm.
We started Kallangur, north of Brisbane and then to
Toowoomba and saw many needy people come to Jesus. From
there i shared at the fellowship in the Redlands area.
Driving north we ministered in Tewantin near Noosa. On
the first Sunday I preached at the wonderful Maryborough
Assembly of God Church and saw people give their lives
to Jesus.
In Childers I was asked to speak to a school group of
12 year olds about counseling athletes at the Olympics.
I showed them a power point presentation of me with various
athletes and that opened the session to questions form
the children which led right into the gospel. The teacher
was amazed and thrilled that I was able to do this, where
she was not allowed to do so.
In Biloela the outreach meeting was attended by people
form the Uniting Church, Assemblies of God and the Catholic
Church. The next morning a brilliant Mayoral Breakfast
was held and again people came to the Lord. There was
a sweet fellowship meeting in Moura in the middle of
nowhere.
In a little place called Springsure we had a very special
outdoor meeting where people came to the Lord and many
were touched by the Holy Spirit. There was a small but
very sweet fellowship dinner at Longreach, where it rained
very heavily and but for a lift in a four wheel drive
we wouldn't have made it through the flooded roads.
Bernie and I then drove to Cloncurry, only about 180
kms from the Northern Territory border. In Cloncurry
the meeting was held in the Uniting Church. The presence
of the Holy Spirit was beautiful. En route here we passed
Winton, where Banjo Paterson lived, and McKinlay, where
Crocodile Dundee's Walkabout Creek Hotel is. What character
this country has.
The travelling has been tiring with huge distances each
day across this big state but the people's hunger for
God and their appreciation have been very rewarding.
Not many city speakers come out here. From Cloncurry
we traveled 600 kms toward the coast to Charters Towers,
where we ministered two meetings at the Christian Family
Church. In Townsville we ministered at the very sweet
Bluewater Assembly of God where three precious souls
came to Jesus
The next day saw us at Yeppoon, near Rockhampton, where
I spoke on fulfilling our destiny in Christ at an excellently
organised Mayoral Breakfast. Many needy people were encouraged,
especially a man who only had months to live. I prayed
for him that God would allow him to fulfill his destiny
before he left for heaven.
Every blessing,
Dave Smethurst
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