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The Dick Smith Family in New Zealand

January-February, 1960

Number 1

UNUSUAL GIFTS
"I'd like to give the church about five acres of peas". What would you say to such a gift offer? Obviously the gift would be one conditional to others doing
some work if the Lord's field would be harvested.

Being holiday time, we began by thinking the few youth who were still around Takaka for the holiday would help and we could open the field to the public as "Pick-your-own-Peas". So as not to be bothered with permits and law, we made
the price a "donation" for a project called "Peas for Pews".

For two weeks some of our family daily visited the site and most usually picked peas. Sacks of peas were taken to people who could not pick but would pod their own. One older invalid chap had pleasure in not only freezing for himself, but sharing the word with neighbors who also placed orders for picked peas.
The pea patch was opened on the thirty-first of December and three dozen folk

braved the sweltering summer sun to fill buckets, bags, and boxes that day.
Some of the tender young pea pods were not as full and tight as many New Zealanders liked so they have kept on growing for a fortnight. The fourteenth of January was the first day when no one picked peas.
By the time the project closed, $312 had been donated and several hundred dollars worth of peas remained in the field to be baled for feed for the

Hodgkinson's pigs. Many thoughts were aroused as one picked peas --calling laborers into the harvest, but there were few to accomplish the massive job;
amazing excuses people use so readily when work is involved; trying to tell or

even lead people to spots where the peas were best, but they would always stop short of the best places to pick at vines near the gate which consequently were

saw because they would not follow -- ->- U- ^

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directions. Welearned

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a lot that could be - . i " ' - - MuL spiritualized in the

unusual and conditional offering for the

Wilma at the "Peas for Pews" project.

project"

Church in this Modern Age". Other thoughts go back to stories of unusual gifts given at the turn of the century, eg. God's little acre. If you have heard or recently shared in some project like this, drop us a line telling about it, please. However, one surprise follows another and on Sunday, January 13, another

unusual gift appeared, this time in the offering bag. Yes, that's right. I said
"bag". We do not use plates, but bags -- blue satin lined bags with a frame around the top with a hole about six inches in diameter, that is eight inches deep. This gift was anonymous, but carefully wrapped in brown paper. It was

a plain gold wedding band that would fit a lady's finger. You can imagine the questions that ran through our minds: Who? Why? Has someone accidentally
dropped this into the offering bag with an offering and thus a mistake or maybe, perhaps a truly sacrificial gift from one fighting with sentiment? It would be embarrassing to sell the ring and later be asked if it had been found; it also might embarrass someone if too many probing questions were asked publicly. We began to narrow down possibilities locally, but realized that with the holiday guests in attendance, we might never know the source. Our first suspicion proved to be correct a gift of love from a tiny, frail, spinster (in the very best use of this word -- an unmarried gentle woman) who has little or nothing herself, just wanting to "give something to help the poor folk" ... and that ring had been given her years ago in payment of a debt and was all she had! While most people do not understand her care of her chickens, ducks,

cats, guinea pigs and birds, she is obviously aware of the record price of gold,
recently $680 an ounce, and desires to help others. Zimbabwe Christians have needs and with other gifts from all over New Zealand Churches of Christ, this gift with God's blessings truly manifests sacrifice and devotion.

Perhaps you church leaders ought to weigh carefully what the reaction might be when the preacher puts probing signs on the church notice board. Our current one for December and January is, "What are you giving Jesus?" The key to a lot of troubles is the one that fits the ignition. I wish I were what I was when I wanted to be what I am now.

REACHING GOALS
One of the goals of the Takaka congregation for 1979 was the complete repayment of all loans for

day seemed to doubt whether the goal

would be achieved "on time". One

faithful member said, "I knew God would help us repay the loans, but I
was not sure He would do it in Dick's time".

the manse (parsonage). The congre

gation had taken the decision in mid1977, to purchase a minister's house

It is almost impossible for each member of a congregation to "own" the goals as something that is
achievable in their life and faith. Of course the whole exercise is one in

for $27,500. It truly was a decision of faith since they had been without a minister for some years and had

about $7000 invested in savings due

to mature in May, 1979.

which the growth of faith is the object. No two members of the congregation are at the same stage of spiritual maturity. Another goal during this same time
has been the achievement of mission

The congregation had been blessed by personal loans of several members

where no interest was involved as

well as $5000 loan from the Property Trust Board at 3% interest. They had
no real thought of a schedule of repayment and did not develop one except to repay loans along as we had
the money available. We thank God for a great number of such gracious givers to make this goal achievable -by-30-December, 1979.

gfiving to the point where we are now also giving "living-link" offerings of $100 a month to Colleen Bradley, a member of the congregation in
Taiwan with the World-wide

Evangelistic Crusades. Another goal accomplished in Sunday School was an offering of

All funds Agents. sent to Forwarding

The last Lord's day of the year was in

the midst of New Zealand summer

holiday season, so we had several visitors in our worship. We invited them to share the joy and thanks giving as we anticipated God's blessing. The theme for the service

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brentlinger

757 Burchwood

Flora, IL 62839

phone: (618)662-6479
South Pacific Christian Fellowship

was "Family Life" and the challenge

of the need of an offering of just over
$1,000 was made known if we were to

meet this goal. The offering was counted as the sermon progressed to the point where we stressed goals and
their achievement. How thrilled the

Johnnie Marion, P.O. Box 4157 Columbia, SC 29240

Field Address:

congregation of some sixty-one folk

were as the announcement was made

Richard Smith 138 Commercial Street

Takaka, New Zealand

that the designated offerings that day for the manse amounted to $1340.

Many had thought this an impossible

goal, even from the time we had begun to talk about it. And for the mind-set and faith of that time when

Renewal Report (405-070) is pub lished bi-monthly (Jan.-Feb.), (Mar.Apr.), (May-June), (July-Aug.), (Sept.-Oct.), (Nov.-Dec.), for South

offerings averaged below $50 per

week for the thirty folk present in wor

ship, it was an impossible goal. The

skeptics and doubters even to the last

Pacific Christian Fellowship, Richard and Wilma Smith, by Mission Services, Box 177, Kempton, IN 46049. Second Class Postage Paid at Kempton, IN.

$425

for

International

Needs

orphanages in Bangledash and Afnca. Other good mission offerings for the Boat-people and Kampuchean relief works have been gfiven.

THE NEW YEAR

A Way unknown; A Book unread;

A House with rooms untenanted;

A Sea unsailed; A Word unsaid; A Tree with fruit unharvested; A Tale untold; A Tear unshed;

PRAISE, PETITION
& THANKSGIVING
1. Praise God for the blessings and faith represented in the achieve ment of the manse repayment. Ask God to help you trust Him to
give more. 2. Thank God for the delightful
summer season in New Zealand where the rains have come at least

A Reel-unrolled ofcolored thread; A Field untilled; A Friend unfed;

every fortnight so the grass in the Golden Bay area can keep the milk production up to high levels.
3. Petition God for direction in the

publishing of a Nelson district

newsletter for which Dick is the

A Loaf unbaked of living bread; A Song unsung; A Hill ahead; A Beauty Spot unvisited. A Web unspun; A King unspread; A Hope as yet unheralded; A Fight unfought; A Fear unfled; A Conqueror with uncrowned head. Another year will soon be dead; This is the year that Old Year bred.
"Johnstone G. Patrick

editor. It will circulate among all the members of eight congrega

tions.

4. Petition God for guidance as the Smiths contemplate just how they feel God would guide them to use
their talents in the future.

5. Praise God for the opportunity for

Bob to share in a mission visit to

Haiti during the Christmas break

between semesters at Cincinnati

Bible College.
6. Thank God for the continued

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blessings for Glenda and Bob. Glenda is preparing to graduate from Cincinnati Bible College in May. 7. Praise God for the young New Zealand men in Bible College and ask God's leading for the ministry
at Takaka.

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FROM THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS...

"A servant is one who gets excited about making someone else success ful.. . submission is not a status of inferiority." Beverly LaHaye

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The Dick Smith Family in New Zealand

March-April, 1980
Number 2

THE

MAILBOX

"Do you know anyone who dislikes receiving letters? The friendly, encouraging kind of mail that is! Mailcall is probably the most regularly looked-to event for both soldiers and missionaries. Some of you no doubt find a mission newsletter very impersonal, but we hope you will think ofit today as a letter in your mailbox written especially to and for you . . . My dearest friend (your name),
12 March 1980

I'm enjoying an absolutely gorgeous day here in New Zealand. We have expected rain, but so far it has been sunny and fall like. So sorry to hear about the late snows you are having and pray it will not damage the fruit trees. I suppose I'm more concerned for fruit trees since we are living in an area where peaches, apples and pears provide much of the nearby industry. We bought a twenty-five pound sack full of Golden Delicious last week for $1, though we are paying $2 for a gallon of fuel.

The family seems to keep busy and well. Roger has had his 15th and that plus the passing of an exam entitles him to a driver's license here. So, the orange gocart has been sold in preference to the keys to the also orange Austin Maxi car. I was sure the neighbours would be happy to enjoy the quiet restored with the departure of the go-cart. However, the money was soon re-invested... yes, you guessed it, he bought a six piece drum set plus cow bell. Fortunately his
practice has been after school in the afternoon at about 3:30 so it does not disturb many in the town.

Barbara has been moved to typist at the bank, for the next three months. She was happy for the change from the batch-balancing machine she had been using for three months. Her best friend and the last of the schoolmates, has left for nurses' training in the North Island. It will be another very difficult time of

adjustment as there are no Christian girlfriends her age remaining in Takaka. Christian fellowship is so important. I pray that you are continuing to enjoy woriderful Christian fellowship in your local congregation. Try it, you'll like it.
Dick and I constantly need to depend on the Lord for courage and guidance. That song, "I am a stranger here, within a foreign land" often rings a double meaning for me. The problems are so complex and we are so inadequate in ourselves. It's wonderful to see how the Lord knows just how much you can take. He gave us real victory and joy last month, since our last newsletter. A young couple, CoHn and Julie Langiord, moved last year to

Takaka from Bainham. (She is

from Australia and they were married there. In the photo, Colin stands with Julie and Heather, Colin's sister, to show the girls' wedding dresses. Heather was baptized two years

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ago.) We have shared with Colin

in discussing salvation with
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Julie and those prayers were honoured in late February when Colin came to the house one night

to say Julie was ready. Another

lady has expressed desire to be obedient and we continue to pray that she will not ignore the
colwiction she has felt.

B
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On Friday and Saturday our family will participate in a family camp at Bethany Park (some of the buildings in the photo). Dick is to share in an adult study on "Discipleship". The Annesbrook church where John Fulford ministers is the sponsoring church. I think we will experience real joy with these folk, as many of them have become good friends.

About five hundred folk from the District attended Fellowship Sunday, March 2, in Nelson at the Rutherford Street church (photo of building). The singing was terrific. Nothing does more to lift my spirit than good old hymns sung well! Perhaps you know some of the Americans who were on the program: David Osborn (now ministering at Rutherford Street congregation), Dennis Helsabeck (serving at Hokitika) both preached and Lisa Hawkins (serving a three-month term with the Bishopdale church in Christchurch as a music director) provided the special music. Each family took along their lunch in

^Sunday's lunch and carryit from Takaka. My considerate family suggested

that Mom take a break and the Colonel could fix it instead. Treat accepted and enjoyed very much by all.

order to be ready for the afternoon program. Guess what we had? Kentucky Fried Chicken! That's right... it is available even in New Zealand. Since we had to travel to Nelson early on Saturday, there was no convenient way to pack

Each year we have a Sunday School picnic at the beach. This year it was
rained out two week-ends in a row, but we were successful on the third attempt. The wind was extreme though, and it kept the tide up to the grass line long past

high tide. Fortunately, there is a grassy area beyondthe beach at Para Para, so
the fellows put up the volleyball net and those with enthusiasm kept busy until
lunchtime. After the lunch, the tide was well out and the sandy beach was

ready for us to play games, have races and build sand castles. I think I counted eighty-four present this year. A terrific day to be remembered along with a sun
and wind burn.

The tomatoes were ready this morning, so I got some juice canned (bottled). Don't the shelves look lovely when the work's done and the bottles are filled? I had a little time to work on folding and addressing some mimeographed

papers as Dick has a terrific load of work this week. Our local missionary to
Taiwan, Colleen Bradley, depends on Dick to type and mimeograph her
newsletters and it has arrived to be done this week. Then there is the weekly

church newsletter to be out by Wednesday plus the District bi-monthly newsletter due soon, for which Dick was chosen to be editor. So, quite honestly, that is why I'm writing this letter to you today ... it is due to be sent to the

printer this week too! It is hard to run such a busy news room and keep up with
-two- Bible studies, three scripture

classes, an evening study with one family, youth club, Sunday School
classes and of course the phone.

All funds Agents.

sent

to Forwarding

Speaking of youth club, they went eeling last weekend. Now you should try that if you have a strong stomach.
The books on "Prayer" have arrived in Nelson and are ready to be released by customs. This is the TEE material
to be used in the "Seminar 80"

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brentlinger

757 Burchwood

Flora, IL 62839 phone: (618)662-6479

South Pacific Christian Fellowship Johnnie Marion, P.O. Box 4157

program by the Nelson district churches. Many are excited to get

started as we have talked for five

Columbia, SO 29240
Field Address:

months about the program. It appears that we will have a hurried trip over the hill tomorrow to get the books cleared and distributed, so there goes another day. I'm sure you could get as tired as I, just writing about your many activities and work loads. Remember, somebody somewhere is going to a mailbox in hopes of hearing all about it from YOU. Perhaps ifyou'll ask the Lord to give you patience to be used to help fill the post boxes, you can. He

Richard Smith 138 Commercial Street

Takaka, New Zealand

Renewal Report (405-070) is pub lished bi-monthly (Jan.-Feb.), (Mar.Apr.), (May-June), (July-Aug.), (Sept.-Oct.), (Nov.-Dec.), for South Pacific Christian Fellowship, Richard and Wilma Smith, by Mission Services, Box 177, Kempton, IN 46049. Second Class Postage Paid at Kempton, IN.

will help you discover that it is rewarding.

Beware of a rubber conscience and/or

a concrete heart.

(This is a very special paragraph)... Thanks Pansy, you've kept cards and
letters faithfully in our box for fifteen years! May God bless you for it. Your sister in Christ,
Wilma Smith

Profanity is the crutch of conversa- tional cripples.

People are known by the way they

talk, walk and balk.

Hot arguments have a

producing cold shoulders.

way of

PRAYER.
Petition & Praise
1. Thank God for doctors and

Nothing cooks your goose quicker than a boiling temper. The emptier the pot, the quicker it boils, watch your temper.
It is not what you eat that causes ulcers; it is what is eating you.

medicine. After making ten to fifteen trips a day to the littlest room in the house. Dr. Kingston
evaluated all the tests which did

Sin causes the Christian's cup ofjoy

to spring a leak.

not show any trouble at all but guessed that there might be some kind of micro-organism or microzoon or protozoon evading all the tests. So after a round of medicine, I'm back to my normal morning and evening trip, thankfully.
^."Praise God for the decision ofJulie

Don't speak unless you can improve

on the silence.

Some folk have only three occasions for attending church: when they are hatched, matched, and dispatched.

Langford. Ask God's continued guidance in the growth and development of her Christian life. 3. Thank God for some guidance and petition Him to confirm His leading in decisions for service in
1981.

4. Praise God for the vision of some

for the redecorating and building on to the church building in

Takaka. Ask God to remove the

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stumbling blocks and help the faithful to be patient with the

faithless.

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5. Thank God for the arrival of some

of the material for the Seminar 80

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study, ask His guidance for leader ship training among the district
churches.

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6. Thank Him for His continued

blessing of good health and strength for each member of the family scattered around the world. 7. Ask God's help and direction as Roger begins to get ready for the
exam in November for School
Certificate.

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