Ghana Adoption and Cross Trip

The Cross is Adopting!

Adoption News

Great News!!! We just got news that we can travel to Ghana to meet our little one.  We leave this Thursday, February 2nd, 2012.  We still need $5,000 (needed by Thursday!!!) Hallelujah!

Cross News

It looks like we will be there from the beginning of February to March 15th.  While we're there, we will be carrying the cross and sharing God's love

There might be a few chances to carry the cross in neighboring countries, we'll see.

Prayer Points

• We still need $5,000 (needed by Thursday!!!) Hallelujah!
• Please pray that we get our I-600A application approved quickly (within 1st week)!
• Pray that God's power is on me while I carry the cross

Exciting Times!

The Saga Ends?
My shoulder is getting better and hopefully we can close the door to this past season soon, Praise God.

Super News! (Ghana Adoption)
It looks like we might get to go to Ghana soon to meet our new little one for the first time.  We are so excited we just can't stand it.(We still need $8,000, but we are very encouraged and feel God is on the move).  We also thought that this would be a good opportunity to carry the cross in Ghana and share the love of Christ with everything that moves, Ha!

The Cross is headed to Jordan!
We are headed with the Elevate team to JORDAN! We are planning on being there for about 16 days in May.  New updates as we get closer to follow.

Main Prayer Requests

• $8,000 for Ghana Adoption
• That our adoption would be completed soon
• Complete shoulder healing and recovery

Enjoy the pics of our family and the cross in Waco!  We love and value you.  Thank you so much for your time and support.  God's with you.

Elevate Trip 2011: Raleigh, North Carolina

We're back!!!  It was a great trip, the best Elevate trip we have had so far.  God did amazing things.  Elevate saw...

• 18 people saved
• 17 people healed of various things
• We held life groups every night while we were there and saw 15 visitors come each night.
• Elevate also got to be a part of the first Celebration Service of Antioch Raleigh

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers and support!  We really felt God with us.  People cried, felt the presence of God and the students experienced God in incredible ways.  It was a win all around!

I love you the most!

Aric Smith

Good News

Good News!  I'm officially out of my sling!  I still have rehab for another 6 weeks, but they say my arm is doing the best it has ever done coming out of surgery.  Thanks for the prayers and thoughts.  Continue to pray that my arm gets full motion and strength back.

More exciting news.  The cross is headed to North Carolina with Elevate, Antioch's church training school.  I'll be headed out October 24th and get back Halloween night!  We are very expectant and can't wait to see what God will do.

I'll try to send another update before we leave, but until then, here's some prayer points...

1.  That God's presence would be on the cross.
2.  That we'd be bold and share the Love of God with everyone.
3.  That my shoulder wouldn't be a hindrance.

Check back for a play by play of pictures during the trip to North Carolina. (Oct 24th - 31st)

Aric Smith

Update on Aric

Hey guys,

Obviously, because of the surgery I haven't been able to update y'all sooner. I'm doing well. The surgery was more intense then what they thought it was going to be. It ended being 2 hours and 30 minutes long! They put 2 new screws in my shoulder, and sewed my rotator cuff back together.

Physical therapy starts tomorrow, and they will tell us how much motion I've lost and how long it will take to get it back. Physical therapy in the past has been "slap-yo-mama" painful! Pray that God heals my arm and that we'll be back to carrying the cross soon!

People have asked me if it was because of carrying the cross that I had to get surgery? The short answer is "no", it doesn't necessarily help it, but these are deep tissue tears from wear and tear over the years that are being repaired, and once healed they will not stop me from walking with the cross. And walking with the cross won't cause me to need more surgery in the future.

Thank you for all your prayers and support,

He likes ya, and He loves ya!
Aric Smith

ps Angry Birds has been a lifesaver in this season

Aric Smith: Why I Carry the Cross

Waco: The Beginning

We started carrying the cross in 2008.  We walked around Waco 7 times for a total of about 297 miles.

Seattle Trip

Check our our pics from our Seattle trip.  This trip was taken in October 2010 with a group of about 20 people.  Thanks for praying!