Hello, friends! The Smiths are keeping busy here in Camelford. We were so very blessed to make a 2.5 week visit home to Texas over the recent Easter holidays. It was a fast-paced trip, but it had to be! We wanted to squeeze in as much time with as many dear friends and family as we possibly could. We also were honored to do some ministry events while there, including
speaking and leading worship for The Journey Fellowship (New Waverly, TX), leading worship for The Crossing Church (The Woodlands, TX) and hosting a UKFJ Ministry Reception to share an update on God’s work through UKFJ in England.

At this very moment, we are joined in Camelford by a large group of students from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX (just a few miles up the road from our hometown of Conroe!). These amazing young adults are all active members of SHSU campus ministry Chi Alpha and are here on mission to support Souls Harbour through practical service and community outreach. Leader Eli Stewart has been bringing teams here for several years and has formed a special connection to so many in the church and even in the community. In a small rural community church with little to no discretionary budget, most projects to enhance or repair the church come as DIY projects.

So, with all this extra man-power on hand, Pastor David has devised some magnificent projects for them to work on around the church. Aside from the manual labor, they are making fantastic investments in our youth through formal teaching and training and just spending time with them and building relationships. The team will also be reaching out more broadly through open-air style outreach events here in Camelford and the nearby tourist-packed town of Tintagel. We have been miraculously blessed with reasonably dry and mild weather since the team’s arrival, which is a huge blessing as the previous weeks had been very wet and unseasonably cold. Please keep the team and their activities in prayer over the next two weeks. We look forward to sharing the great results of their visit in our next blog!

Last week, I was so very blessed to ‘showcase’ my current group of voice students (ages 10 to 17) that I give lessons to as an outreach ministry. WOW! These kids have come so far since they first started. It is such an inspiration and joy to watch the talents that God has planted within them grow and blossom. The showcase is always such an encouraging event, as the students (some unsaved/unchurched) invite their friends and family to attend an event that is nearly fully centered around music that testifies to and glorifies God. Also, over the last few months, Trevor has been writing loads of new music... several worship songs, several 'story' songs and -- most interestingly -- several 'country' style songs!! All of these new songs are about giving glory to God and encouraging others to trust Him and live for him. If you'd like a sample of the latest and greatest, Trevor is gradually recording and posting 'raw' recordings of each song online. Click here to listen and be encouraged and blessed!!

As a family, we have a few special milestones approaching:

• Brooklyn turns 5 on May 31st!
• We celebrate 2 years in England on June 7th!
• Brooklyn finishes her first year of school (Kindergarten equivalent) on July 19th.

In the meantime, we continue to serve Pastor David and Souls Harbour through our many tasks of practical service and ministry support. As always, thank you all so very much for your faithful prayer and support for our family and UKFJ. We love you!