Some Good News!

The school nurses in Chattanooga sent some much needed school supplies to our students at Free Will Baptist Christian School here in St. Croix. Some items have been distributed and some will be given out in February during National Dental Health Month. This group of 5th and 6th graders were all smiles when I gave them crayons and colored pencils. I made sure they knew who had sent them from miles away!

Happy 5th Grade Students...Happy Teachers!

6th Graders

Kids are always happy to get a surprise!

Thank you Chattanooga School Nurses!

Answers To Some Of Life's Questions

Sometimes in life you go through some experiences and wonder how it will all work out but most of all you wonder why this happened in the first place. This week God has answered that question for one of those journeys for us. As I had written recently Hovensa, the oil refinery here on the island, is closing in a month, leaving many without jobs and possibly any hope of finding another one. The job opportunities are quite bleak here to be honest. God IS able to provide one, but maybe there is some work that needs to be done in the hearts of those losing the jobs. Maybe God wants us to have a deeper closer walk with Him. He knows that when things are going well our relationship with Him is not as close. Maybe God has a work He wants to do through you and the only way He can do that is to have a broken heart.

God allowed us to go through the job loss experience. Billy had a good business building homes, with employees, making a very good income. The bottom fell out in the home construction business and the small businesses could not keep going. Some major adjustments had to be made in our lives. We still had a mortgage payment, the regular bills that go along with life, and auto repairs, etc. Now many would be quick to ask "What did you do wrong?" We also asked that question. Things in life just happen sometimes!

But God had a plan, which at the time we couldn't see. We were actively involved in our church, reading our Bible, and felt we were doing what God wanted us to do. God began to rekindle the fire in our hearts for missions. It made sense to put our house on the market to sell. We contacted a realtor and soon people were coming to look over our house. Now that was uncomfortable at first. We had built the house from the foundation up ourselves and still had mixed emotions about selling it. Months went by and no sale. Since the housing market was not good for the seller, we kept reducing and reducing until finally after two years it sold. We came out debt free with very little profit. That still hurts today!

During those two years, work projects came in to help us keep our head above water. The bank worked with us so we could pay interest only on our house mortgage. It was a rough two years...but God was faithful! As our hearts were breaking, He began to mold and shape our hearts to line up with His desires for the plan He had for our lives. All we could do at times was to just trust and obey...seemingly with no answers.

But God still had His plan He was working on. We came to St. Croix as missionaries in November 2010. Both of us have been working while trying to raise support to stay here. God gave us the opportunity to start a Children's Church and be involved in the bus ministry for children. The other morning before going to work, I felt God clearly speak to my heart. It was like He was saying you KNOW what it feels like to lose a business, have to sell your home, and start over. You need to help those and show them there is hope. The only hope is in Jesus Christ!

What an AWESOME God we serve!

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The Island of St. Croix Needs Your Prayers!

These were the headlines this morning in our island newspaper. Yesterday we heard the news that Hovensa, the oil refinery that employs about 2500 people on the island, will shut down in a month. To some it may not seem like a big deal but remember we are a small island and a large business closing the doors leaves many unemployed. The job situation here is not good, and recently the government announced laying off 1000 people. The Virgin Islands is also the 8th most deadliest place to live according to recent news.

This island is in urgent NEED of prayer. The loss of jobs has a rippling effect that at this time is hard to describe. For instance I work at a Christian school where parents pay to send their children for a good education. Many of these parents work for Hovensa. What does that mean for the school? For the students? For us? There are a lot of unanswered questions at this time.

Hugo was the hurricane that devastated the island in 1989.



We have and continue to learn that during any crisis, God is STILL IN CONTROL!
Our church has a sign for the year 2012 that says

 Can God?     God Can!

We have been praying for a revival on this island. God is doing a work here! When things appear to be spiraling out of control...remember God knew this was coming and He has a plan. Our responsibility is to pray, be obedient to what He says to do and keep our eyes on Him!

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."       2 Chronicles 7:14



Chattanooga School Nurses Are The Best!

For ten years I worked in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County School System as a School Nurse. Along the way I met some of the best nurses, one especially is Sheryl Rogers, my former supervisor. She has a heart for meeting the needs of children. Last year, when I first came to St. Croix, all I had was a stethescope to practice nursing with. She, and the rest of her school nurses gathered supplies and helped me get off to a good start as a School Nurse here.



This year at Christmas they chose my school and the children of this island as recieptants of 5 big boxes of school supplies, toys, candy, personal hygiene items, and lots of toothbrushes and toothpaste.

It was like Christmas all over again! I had such a good time unpacking and sorting through all the things. They sent me hand sanitizer...even some Bath & Body Works scented type! What a treat! 

There were stickers to hand out to sick or injured children. It makes coming to the nurse a lot more pleasant.

The children will be delighted to get these much needed supplies! And of course a sweet treat!

I do a personal hygiene class for the fourth and fifth grade students. They think I am wonderful when I give them a paper sack of soap, washcloth, deodorant and a comb, even though I explain it comes from the school nurses in the states.

Enough colored pencils and crayons to be divided among the students!

In February I do a dental health class at the elementary school. There are enough supplies for each child to receive a new toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. Some of these items were donated by Chattanooga area dentists.

Children love to get surprises! These items are a great way to develop personal relationships with the children. They see the school nurse as a person who can teach them about health issues, a person who cares for them and someone they can trust.

More pictures and information will follow once the items are sorted and given to the children.

Thank you to the Chattanooga School Nurses!

Your hands of love have reached to the children here on St. Croix!

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10



November ~ December 2011 Newsletter

It's About What God Can Do!

We have seen God do some amazing things in 2011! The most precious to our hearts has to be the birth of our sixth grandchild, Ali Cecilia Smith, on December 26th. Despite complications since October, God kept her safe and growing until time for a safe delivery!

God can meet the deepest desires of your heart and a time of refreshment. Three weeks during Christmas He provided a mountain getaway for us with some spectacular views (house sat-no charge!) Quiet times with the Lord on the deck overlooking the Caribbean Sea were priceless!

Children's Church

A group of 23 home schooled children from Church Hill Baptist Church in Augusta, Maine worked together with their Moms to make 100 Wordless Books for our children at The Way of The Cross Baptist Church.

God can work through willing children to make a difference in the world!

The children also sang two songs for Pastor Appreciation Month in front of the church. We continue to see spiritual growth in the children. We have seen 43 different children come, though the average is 19 weekly. We have a team of helpers with rotating schedules to assist with the children.

Church Van Ministry

Billy began driving the church van on Friday nights in early December. He, along with another driver, pick up children and workers for AWANA. Bumpy roads, rough neighborhoods, and late night trips make for an interesting drive!

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.." Ephesians 3:20

Looking For What God Can Do In The Future

As we work with the children and get to know them and their parents, and grandparents better we are seeing some needs we seek prayer for. Many of the children come because the grandparents take the time to bring them to church and see the need for their spiritual growth.

Ky'Danya was coming with her grandmother until some family conflict occurred. Now this little girl, who loves Children's Church, is not allowed to come to church.

D'Andre has some serious kidney problems and may need to have one of them removed.

For a small island there is a lot of violence. According to the Virgin Islands Daily News, "Rampant violence places Virgin Islands among deadliest places on earth." Young people are turning to ungodly lifestyles at a much younger age. The time is now to reach them. Pray for consistent church attendance and for souls to be saved.
God can make a difference in their lives!

Mission Support
This is not something we talk about much. We came here to St. Croix because we felt very strongly God called us here. He is and has been our provider and will continue to do so. He uses people to meet other people's needs. Some have asked how we are doing raising our support. We are at about 14% of what is recommended for our monthly support.
God can increase this to 100%. With full support, this ministry can affect more lives for Christ!

New Phone Numbers
340-643-0820 Billy
340-643-0821 Cecilia
This is the last change we needed to make to be islanders!

Praises
Healthy delivery for Ali
Time of refreshment
God's faithfulness in providing for our needs.

Prayer Requests
Children's Church
Children's physical and spiritual needs
Ministry opportunities
Van Ministry
Affordable housing

Thank you for your prayers and financial support.

Billy & Cecilia

Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
YES Ministry
P.O. Box 700697
St. Cloud, FL  34770
or online at:
http://www.yeservants.org/