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Sharing the Gospel on Christmas Day!
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12/25/2012
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Ten Vietnamese joined our family for Christmas dinner. What better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior than to have the opportunity to share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ? December the 25th was a wonderful day! See the Christmas Day photo story below.
This is a special family email compiled by Sister Cindy to share with you our holy days celebrations and give you a glimpse of the personal side of the Smocks.
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 | | The Smocks started the morning with homemade cinnamon rolls from our friends Mark and Glenna Jones in Hebron, Ohio |
 | | Time for stockings! The Christmas stockings were knitted by Jed's Aunt Dolly who lived to be 102. |
 | | Iris has the biggest stocking which was purchased by Aunt Eva and Uncle David. |
 | | Les Miserables Teaching Part 2 |
After opening gifts, our family patriarch gave a Christmas devotion based on the musical, Les Miserables, which we all attended together on Christmas Evening. This is our family's favorite musical and we have listened to it together over and over on our missionary journeys together. We prayed together for our expected Vietnamese guests: that God the Holy Spirit would be present with power as we attempted to share the Gospel in spite of our language barriers.
 | Now it was time to put the final touches on the Christmas feast that has been three days in the making. We carefully placed the Fontanini Nativity scene (gift from a friend) in the center of our table so that our guests could see the "light to lighten the Gentiles."
Left to right: Martha, Charlotte, Evangeline, Priscilla, Justina and Cindy. |
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The Happy Hosts: We planned with our children to reach out to the "strangers" and make then feel at home.
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 | | Guests arrived and offered to help us in the kitchen. They seemed to really enjoy watching how things were done in an American kitchen. |
 This is the Ho family. Cindy originally met Cuong, the father, at the drivers license bureau in 2009. That year we had Cuong and two other graduate students for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The next year Cuong's wife, Thi and his children Dzung and Thao joined us for Christmas dinner. This was the fourth year that they have joined us for holiday dinners. Like many Vietnamese, they worship their ancestors. We were overjoyed to find out that the children, Dzung and Thao have made commitments to the Lord Jesus. The parents approve.
 | | Tom helped slice the ham. On the left is Thi the wife of Cuong. She has a PhD in plant science. They work for the Vietnamese government. |
 | | Justina takes a moment from the last minute meal prep to pose for a shot with young Thao. Thao, a second grader, was eager to talk about the Lord and told us, "One of my friends says, 'There is no God.'" Cindy asked her if she believed in God and she said, "Yes!" Her eyes were beaming. |
 | | Turkey Ready! |
 | | We sing Joy to the World together before Christmas Dinner. |
 | | Bro. Jed explains the meaning of the carol and leads us in prayer before we dine together. |
 | | Time for food. |
 Since we had 22 for dinner we set up an extra table in the living room. We were so busy fellowshipping that we never got pictures of us at the other table or a picture of the whole group. Bro. Jed talked to Cuong and Tom for a long time using the nativity scene to "bring them good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." They listened intently and did not argue or object.
 | | Priscilla and Martha with two of our honored guests. We asked them to sign our guest book and each one took the time to write a paragraph of thanks. Tom, the man who cut the ham for us wrote, "Thank you very much for the wonderful Christmas. It will be an unforgettable time in my life." |
One of the special moments was when Thao on the right asked Cindy, "What is grace?" At the end of the evening Cindy shared her salvation testimony with the whole group. She gave Thao the music box nativity scene in the picture.
Did you know that the majority of internationals in this country have never been in a American Christian home? We went to bed rejoicing that we had been counted worthy to share the truth with those who had not heard.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men!
 | | Cindy's Kitchen by Rocket |
Our local musician friend, Rocket wrote and recorded the song,
Cindy's Kitchen.
He played it while we were doing Christmas dishes.
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A Chistmas Carol
by Charles Dickens,
Jed Smock's 24th
Annual Reading
December 22, 2012, Columbia, MO
A special Christmas memory for our girls is hearing their father's annual dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol. All of our children were with us this year and each one participated musically in the event. I am thankful for a husband who knows "how to keep Christmas well!" Below is a video of the last minutes of the drama followed by a photo story:
 | | A Christmas Carol Reading, by Jed Smock |
Our children started by singing, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" to the audience of 30 friends and family. Left to right: Charlotte, Iris, Justina, Priscilla, Martha, Chase, (Martha's friend) Evangeline, and David.
Iris, our 4 year old granddaughter, told the Christmas Story by quoting Luke 2:4-7 and singing Away in a Manger accompanied by her mother, Justina. See her on YouTube below:
 | | The Christmas Story, by Iris Gail Hughey |
| Son in law, David blessed us with O Come, O Come Emmanuel on
violin. |
| | Martha played O Little Town of Bethlehem on the saxophone accompanied by David on the piano. |
| | It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, by Priscilla Smock. |
| | "Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!--Ebeneezer Scrooge to the Phantom. |
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Days of Christmas
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December 23: Iris and Grandfather role play the story of Mary and Joseph taking baby Jesus to the temple. Grandfather is the prophet Simeon.
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Mary rejoices!
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| | December 24th: Iris at the Christmas Eve service with our friend Lois. It was a wonderful time of worship. |
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Iris singing, Away in a Manger with the other children at the Christmas Eve service.
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Smock ladies working in the kitchen on Christmas Eve.
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| | Justina, Evangeline, Priscilla, Charlotte, Cindy and Martha |
| | Sister Pat helped also. |
| | Charlotte and Mom make the famous chocolate fudge icing cake. |
| | It has to be done carefully! |
| | It is a success! |
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Enjoyed seeing all the ladies working together in the kitchen.
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The New Year
Not sure how many of you busy folks made it to the end of this Christmas photo journal. Hope you enjoyed it. We had a blessed holiday and so much to be thankful for. I pray you all a very fruitful New Year for the Lord Jesus. Below is a picture taken by Bro. Jed on New Years Eve. We helped Iris build a snow man family. Iris left on New Years Day and only Priscilla is home busy getting ready to leave for College of the Ozarks. Jed is leaving for Florida State on Jan. 7 and then Sis. Pat and I will meet him the next week in Louisiana. We are excited about the new semester of preaching.
Love in Christ, Sister Cindy.
 | Most of you know that I don't like pants but I do enjoy wearing Evangeline's first uniform on snow days with the kids:)
--Sis. Cindy. |
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Spring Semester 2013
Tentative schedule for The Campus Ministry USA, Brother Jed, Sister Cindy and Sister Pat: Northerners are welcome to join us on our southern tour in the winter.
January 7-11, Florida State University
January 14-18, Louisiana State University
January 22-25, Sam Houston State
January 28-Feb 1, Texas A&M
February 4, University of Texas
February 5-7, San Marcos State
February 8, University of Texas
February 11-22, University of Arizona
February 25-March 1, Arizona State University
March 4, U.C. San Diego
March 5-6, San Diego State
March 7, San Marcos State
March 8, UC San Diego
March 11, UC Riverside
March 12, UCLA
March 13-14, Long Beach State
March 15, UCLA
March 18-22, Fresno State
March 25-29, Texas Tech, Lubbock
April 1-5, University of Oklahoma
April 8-May 3, Missouri campuses
May 6-June 7, Washington and Oregon campuses
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Prayer Needs
- Revival!
- Wisdom and annointing of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel.
- Move of the Holy Spirit convicting the students of sin, righteousness and judgment!
- Health and physical strength.
- Favor with the authorities.
- Favor with the Christians on campus.
- Open doors.
- Monthly Supporters
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Contact Us
Contact Us:
brojed@aol.com
573-999-0347
Home Office:
CMUSA
2402 Longview Dr.
Columbia MO 65203
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Help on the Home Front
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You are our vital partners in mission!
Below is a list of ways that you on the home front can help us in the 2012-2013 school year.
Prayers and intercessions: We cannot stress the importance of prayer enough. We know that we have faithful saints who pray for us daily. We believe that this is a key to our success. Drop us a note or an email and let us know that you are praying for the ministry.
Financial gifts:
Monthly Support
-- A number of you send us a check each month. This is a great blessing, whether large or small, because it helps with budget planning. We invite others to consider being a monthly supporter. If you have online bill pay with your bank you can schedule a check to be sent to CMUSA each month automatically, that way you don't have to remember to do it. Another easy way is to just click the Donate or PayPal button on this letter. (You do not need a PayPal account but can use a debit card.) Or you may mail a check to our home office. If you plan to support us monthly, drop a note or email and let us know.
Anytime, Any Size Gift -- This provides a great percentage of our support.
Church, home meetings or debates:
Bro. Jed has many powerful messages and teachings to bless the believers in your area. When he comes to your community don't miss the opportunity to hear a call to evangelism, a challenge to live holy, or an inspiring teaching on the atonement. It will change lives! Ask your pastor to invite him to your church or Sunday school class or just plan a small home meeting to bless and revive your friends and family.
Hint:
If you provide food, (even just pizza) people will come! Contact us for more info.
Lodging and/or meals: If you can provide lodging in your home that saves us an enormous amount of money as well as giving us the blessing of fellowship. Even one meal or night is a great help. Thank you to all who do this yearly! We look forward to seeing you in 2012-2013.
Join us in the battlefields when we come to your community--your witness for just an hour or an afternoon on campus can make a difference! Take a week vacation and travel with Bro. Jed and team.
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