|PIC1|In Riga, Latvia, he gave a seminar for pastors and church leaders at the Russian Word of Truth Church. His theme on how Evangelism uses the gifts of the Holy Spirit proved to be a huge success. The Sunday service included the past minister of health, Gunar Latmenis whom David Smethurst was privileged to help to the Lord some 10 years ago. That evening Sasha Rodionov, the youth pastor hosted an amazing youth meeting where many teenagers came to the Lord.
"I was warmly welcomed by the prisoners of the maximum security Jelgava Prison, where I had previously set up a trades training program," Reverend Smethurst explained. "We held a great meeting and time of fellowship. Over some 8 years so many have come to the Lord."
One of the long term prisoners, Arnis, now 49, was released from prison last year. He served a 19-year drug-related sentence. Arnis is now involved in a Latvian government scheme helping in an anti-drug program and was given a prestigious award. He wrote a book on his experiences in which he has honoured God for his achievements and his victory over drugs.
"I was in Latvia to visit some of the 18 orphanages we support including the very first orphanage we supported Eastern Europe, the Bulduri/Spriditis Children's Home," Reverend Smethurst detailed.
He also visited the Mother and Baby House, where he has established training courses for staff and the young mothers-to-be (mostly teenagers). This 9-month course will be extremely beneficial for young mothers and staff. This run-down centre needs urgent renovations to make it habitable.
Other programs he is supporting are sports facilities such as a trampoline, a portable pool and renovations to the 'Hard of Hearing Children's Centre'.
"For example, the Likumi Orphans' Center heating system furnaces exploded two years ago. We had that repaired, and now the whole orphanage plumbing system needs to be replaced. There are similar needs at the Ukraine Homeless Orphans' Center in Odessa, where I also visited," commented David Smethurst.
"I am looking to provide warm meals and gifts for the children in ten orphanages at Christmas time, each of which has 35 children with a gifting expense of $20 each. I am requesting assistance of the total value of AUS$7,000, if any readers wish to help."
Reverend Smethurst's personal visits will be followed up by his team members, who plan to provide Bibles, school supplies and fruit and at the same time conduct outreaches and follow up work to several more orphanages in the Odessa region.
In Scotland and England Reverend Smethurst ministered to numerous enthusiastic congregations. A personal highlight was a visit to Wally Perryment, a 92 year old boxer and great boxing trainer of past years.
"We had a great time reminiscing about boxers of the past," noted David Smethurst. "When I asked him if he had a relationship with Jesus, he replied, 'Absolutely. I couldn't manage without Him' ".
In Zambia he teamed up with his nephew, Philip Smethurst, of the Overland Missions, where he engaged in missionary training and a remote area ministry at Nyawa. The residents there were astonished someone had come from so far away to minister to them.
Australian cricket chaplain Mark Tronson says of David Smethurst's astonishing world mission sojourns, that an Australian Christmas is beyond the imagination of those whom David Smethurst ministers outside the first world. Meanwhile, David Smethurst and Mark Tronson are considering an annual Australian get-together of itinerant ministry personnel.