HOUSE / TEAM GOGO!

Quick Update.

I'm sitting in the ATL airport on my way to lead a team of people to Rwanda, and it dawned on me that many of you may be in the dark! Just wanted to shoot you a quick update:

• We bought a house! It wasn't easy, but we bought a home in Woodstock, GA (near ATL) and have officially MOVED. Our new addy is: 140 Hartwood Dr. Woodstock, GA 30189. More on that in a future newsletter. We are BLESSED beyond all reason.
• Our team (Team Gogo!) will be in Rwanda through August 1st. God has already blown us away with incredible Jesus stories - we know he has MUCH in store for us. You can follow along on social media and through our BLOG.  PLEASE PRAY FOR US!

That's it for now! Love and appreciate you all more than you could ever know. We simply could not do this work in Rwanda that God has called us to without your financial and spiritual support. Beyond grateful. There is MUCH work to be done.

In His Grasp,
Jeremiah

Cut Back Challenge!

What a week! Men, women and families stepping up and sacrificing this week in order to help the people of Kageyo, Rwanda! The keyhole gardens we’ll be providing will TRANSFORM LIVES. Children who know hunger understand that food is the difference between life and death, but they also notice small things about food that we take for granted. FOOD GIVES YOU ENERGY TO LEARN. You can climb trees and play soccer. You can fetch water. Everything changes with food.

A team of 8 men from Texas will be heading to Rwanda this July to begin this project. This year alone, the money we've helped raise will provide 100 sustainable gardens in Kageyo, training for 8 key Rwandan volunteer community leaders to manage the project, and the hiring of two agronomists to supervise the continual duplication of keyhole gardens throughout the area for years to come – which will lower the cost of future gardens significantly.

YOU CAN STILL GIVE (even if you weren't able to partake in the challenge). Seriously, even $10 matters. $160 provides a household garden. CLICK HERE TO GIVE! 

BIG Change Coming

We asked for your prayers in our last newsletter regarding a huge decision about our future with Apartment Life. After MUCH wrestling, we have made the difficult decision to end our time as a CARES team. Our 2-year commitment takes us through the middle of July, so we get to continue serving our neighbors for another 3 months before this change.

Though it's been hard, we do not regret our time in this role for a second! It's exactly where God wanted us, and is without a doubt what we were supposed to be doing during this time. We have learned a TON and know we've helped a lot of people and planted a lot of seeds. But He's made it clear to us that this season is ending.

Why the change?

• As our role with Africa New Life increases, we're finding that we simply don't have the time to the job well. It needs our full attention now, and Apartment Life is FAR too demanding of our time to be effective for ANLM. We're no longer able to give either role the attention and time required, so both are suffering - as is our family. Something has to go.
• Our kids need STABILITY. It's time to plant roots here in Atlanta. Doing Apartment Life means we could be kicked out at any point. So even though this will require one last move, we'll know we're there to stay. The kids really, really need some grounding, and to not feel like we're just going to pack up and move every year or two. It's not fair to them, especially with the emotional baggage they already carry. They need a home.
• Our kids desperately need space outside to play. To be kids. Explore. Run. Breathe. All kids need this, of course, but we feel that Ellie, especially, feels almost suffocated in our apartment, and it's really had a negative effect on them both. We can't send them out to play by themselves where we live - they really need that.

We'd consider just staying at our complex and continuing to pour into our neighbors without the commitment to Apartment Life if it wasn't for the kids and if we could afford it. But Apartment Life helps with a greatly reduced cost on our apartment and we can't afford to continue living where we are without this help.

So we're officially looking for a home to buy. At the same time (not coincidentally), we are under contract to finally sell our home in South Carolina that we've been renting out! Amazing! Honestly though, this is all a bit intimidating. It's scary to buy a home when your entire income is reliant on the generosity of others. And it doesn't help that even as were typing these very words, we received a call that we have a $1,300 repair on our Trooper! But it's okay. We truly trust that He will take care of us. Besides, we must follow where we believe He's leading, no matter what. Right?

If you have any questions AT ALL about this decision, we would love to talk. As partners with us in this ministry, we feel that you have every right to ask! After all, you're a big part of this. PLEASE pray for us as we search for a home for our family. We want to be very wise with His resources, and we want to make sure we're in a place where we can continue pouring into our neighbors! Our deepest desire is to take what we've learned and apply it wherever God would have us.

With much love,
The 4 Smith's

Request

Well, we knew we'd eventually need to do this! As is generally the case with the missionary life, our monthly support has dropped a bit - we've not been at 100% for some time now. It's totally normal and nothing to worry about. Jobs change, unexpected expenses come up, and commitments to give for a certain period of time run up. But it does leave us in a position of needing to make the awkward request for additional support.

If you are not currently giving monthly, would you please consider joining us? If you are already giving, would you please consider increasing your amount? Even small amounts will add up. We need your help in order to keep doing the work God has called us to. He's never let us down, so we're certainly not worried about it...but we do have to ask.

You can click HERE to set up or change your giving.

THANK YOU!!

February

Here's the latest from the Smith circus! View this email in your browser It's been an interesting month! We actually had a budget for apartment life for the first time EVER (see below), the kids were out of school a ton for snowless snow days, and we found out that both Elijah & Erin have an intolerance to milk & eggs! What?! But life is amazing. When you spend your life trying to find ways to help those who have almost nothing, it tends to make you appreciate what you do have. We are blessed, friends! (To learn more about the red "X" on our hands, go to www.enditmovement.com)   **CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILD-SPONSORSHIP** What a difference a month makes! In our last newsletter, we had nothing significant to report about our apartment work. Since then, we've held 2 wildly successful events and connected with hundreds of residents. Our first event was "Muffins @ the Gate" (PICS BELOW!) We stood at the front gate and handed out homemade muffins, coffee (Rwandan, of course!), and juice to about 120 neighbors as they left for school or work. The responses were incredible. Many assumed we were trying to raise money! "Why are you doing this?!" "How much does it cost?" "I love my neighbors!" Our second event was a "Big Hero 6" party! (PICS BELOW!) About 20 kids/parents came out. Many of these kids don't have a great home life, so we're always grateful for the opportunity to pour into them. And we love building relationships with the parents that come!   Things keep moving! We've been working hard on creating a national challenge in order to raise the funds to build personal gardens in Rwanda! Can't give details quite yet, but  please STAY TUNED. We really, REALLY want YOU to be a part of this!!  Other highlights: Speaking at Rockville Christian Church on April 12th, Please pray! Assembling our team for our Rwanda trip in July! Planning our first meeting too! Working on a "Quick Reference" tool for future ANLM Regional Partners (like Jeremiah) to increase effectiveness for the ministry. Helping to develop a website specifically for churches who know little to nothing about our ministry. "Muffins @ the Gate" (below) "Big Hero 6" Party! (below) Facebook Instagram Twitter 4 Smith's Website Email Africa New Life Apartment Life Copyright *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* Copyright *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Muffins @ the Gate

We had a BLAST serving homemade muffins at the gate to our neighbors this morning!! They were SHOCKED that it was free. "Why are you doing this?" "How much does it cost?" "I love my neighbors!" We were able to directly impact and love on about 120 of our neighbors today!

Movement & Fruit

A movement has begun in Atlanta. We have been working HARD & are now seeing FRUIT! The US Director of ANL (Alan Hotchkiss) flew in this past weekend, so we had meetings with a few churches/organizations that we've been developing relationships with...can't wait to see where they lead! Could be huge! While Alan was here, we also held our second "ANL-ATL Brunch." Our first brunch (3 months ago), had 13 people. This time, THIRTY people showed up!! {pics below}. We were able to share the story of Rwanda & ANL, and also invite them to be a part of this incredible ministry. Again, there is HUGE potential here. And in the process, even though it wasn't our main goal, we had SIX children were sponsored!! Six kids whose lives will be forever transformed - they will now be able to DREAM! We're also gearing up for our first trip to Rwanda in July! We can't WAIT to see the team God puts together. Some amazing things have happened already as we've talked with people about this opportunity. Things. Are. Happening. We believe that literally thousands of lives could be changed, in time, as a direct result of God's movement this past weekend. Please pray for continued favor. The more effective we are, the more lives are saved.