Central Africa Mission

Non Profit

Dr. Jerry R. Smith Family

c/o Okolona Christian Church
4701 Manslick Rd.

Organization U. S. Postage
Paid

Louisville, Ky. 42019

Louisville, Kentucky
Permit No. 616

Ozark Bible Collogo

III I iJ. Main

Joplin, I,:o.

64301

ii3 M

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With the Dr. Jerry Smith family...

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about
...in the service of ChritI

VOL. 45

JANUARY

1971

HAPPY CHISTMAS REUNION

This Christmas season we have had a taste of home, in that Marietta's

parents have been visiting with us. We had not seen them for four years and it has certainly been wonderful to be together again. Their visit lasted just a month, but during this time we drove over 3,000 miles visiting the different mission stations and points of interest in Rhodesia. It is really impossible to see the overall work here in Rhodesia in just a month's time, for many areas have twenty to thirty church works going.
Nevertheless, we have been able to show her folks, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Spangler

of Louisville, Kentucky, much of the work here, and they will now be less

inclined to worry about our being gobbled up by Hons! A brief outline of

their itinerary is as follows:

S:ilnr(lay. 5 I)ccenil)('r;

Arrived Salishiiry .ihoiit 11 A.M. after travelin.> via Xew N'<rk. J'aris
and the Canary Islands (about 10.000 miles). Visited the home of h'norh

jirrie, our African evan^elist. in the Salisbury area that aftenxMin.

Drove the next morninj^ to Sinoia. where we went to church.
the work there. While there I ave an anesthetic for a

.After

lunch with the Ziden Nutt family, we drove on to Chidamoyo Mission to see
I'^-moral Hernia

operation done by Dr. Hill Nice.

1'uesday afternoon we returned to Salisbury, and the next day left for Inyang-a Mountains National Park, about 150 miles from Salisbury. This was desif^ned to give the folks a chance to rest up. This they did by catchinj^22 beautiful trout. We returned to Salisbury on Friday, and after church on Sunday we all left for Hulawayo. We went to church that nijjht at the Colenbrander Avenue church. We stayed with Jlarry Kennedy, who also had 1o ])ut up with Jack Penninja^ton that nij^ht. Marry and I'^imily are now in
the States on furloujfh.

Monday we went on to Victoria h'alls where we stayed two nij>hts. swelterinj^ in the heat. On our trij) back, we drove through Wankie (lame Reserve, spending one night there. Thursday night we stayed again with V.arry Kennedy, and returned to Salisbury on Friday. Marietta took her folks to two .services in the Salisbury area an Sunday while 1 drove to I'mtali for a church meeting. That night we went to another meeting her<' in Salisbury. Christmas preparations were marred somewhat by the tree toppling over just a few hours after being fully decorated. Oddly enough we later learned that Wayne Spangler, Marietta's brother, had the same thing happen on the same day! The week before Christmas was spent shoj^ping around Salisbury, cooking, etc.. except that I went to Mangula to do dentistry two days.
Christmas morning we had a lovely service with Dr. Dennis Pruett ])residing. We had a "pitch-in" Christmas meal with the Pruetts. and a wonder ful time of fellowship. Sunday morning we got up early and drove to
Unitali so Marietta's folks could meet the church folk there, and then drove

on to Mashoko where we stayed three nights. From here our visits included Hippo Valley. Fort Victoria and Gutu Mission. Space does not permit a detailed account of their visit, but T am sure they will be telling many ]>eople
of the times they have had.

A,.:

New Mai;:e-g^rinders

LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL

I am now in the last year of medical school, and I can say without reservation that these have been five very tough years. Unfortunately, the final year here is often the roughest. This past year five of the class of 27 were failed on their final examinations and have to rejjeat them next May.
1 hope to go out in a "blaze of glory" and not down in a "ball of flames"!
Our school year will end in Xovember of 1971. but before we return home for furlough, T want to complete my internship here. This way we will be able to present a definite program to the churches concerning our plans.

During the year of internship I hope to spend a good bit of time study
ing the Shona lansfuaee. It is a sad commentary that onlv a few of us here

are able to fluently speak to the African in his own tongue. To be able to sit down and converse with a person in his own tongue is vital if one is to know what is in his heart and how to help him. If you do not know the language, you are at the mercy of your interpreter. If you do not bring an interpreter of your own, often the situation arises where a person with a six grade education is telling the people what one with one or more college degrees is trying to say.
The Salisbury work is growing steadily these days. We are hoping to

employ another African evangelist very soon. Plans for a Bible College for Europeans to complement the one for our African minister-trainees are also progressing, and we are hoping to apply for a church site in Salisbury in the coming months. Presently our African church groups are meeting in school
classrooms, and other such "borrowed" places.
Our Umtali church has started a little mission of its own. This is

especially encouraging because they did it without being encouraged to do so by the missionary. One of their members takes a bus about twenty miles out into the Reserve and preaches to a group under a fig tree. Thus far they have had nineteen baptisms. They are building a little church out of poles and mud and have asked us to help them buy sheet iron for the roof. This would be a good project for a Bible School class. Any oflFers?? We will
write more about this work in our next newsletter.

Our grateful thanks to the many who sent Christmas greetings, cards and gifts. It is mainly at Christmas time that we think of- close friends and loved one so far away. We are looking forward to renewing many old
friendships when we come home.

Our Forwarding Agents:

Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Moore
Route No. 1

Springfield, Kentucky
40069

Central Africa Mission

Non Profit

Dr. Jerry R. Smith Family

c/o Okolona Christian Church
4701 Manslick Rd.

Organization U. S. Postage
Paid

Louisville, Ky.

40219
Ozark Biblo Collogc
1111 W. Main

Louisville, Kentucky
Permit No. 616

Joplin,

Mo.

64301

RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

With the Dr. Jerry Smith {omily...

round Fp
about j\
in the service ol Christ

VOL. 46

'V:'-

.
>K'

ife K>^
' _: /,y -'t/

i..

Running for the Bus in a Rural African Township

MOTES AND BEAMS

\\> had a j^chkI illustration of Matthew 7:3 the other night at Harari

Hospital where I was working in surgery.

thing in his eye.

We were in the operating theatre

at the time, when a call came that there was a man in casualty with some

It was about thirty minutes before we could get down to

see the patient, but when we arrived we received a shock.

The man indeed had sotnething in his eye

...

a nine inch knife

sticking half into and half out of his left eye!

this is an impressive sight!

In case you have never seen it.

The knife had

A "friend" had presented him thusly with the

knife after they (pardon the pun) hadn't seen eye to eye.

been driven over four inches into the eye. but fortunately was inclined in a downward direction & passed through the maxillary sinus instead of into

the man's brain.

The tip of the knife could be felt in the soft palate of the

mouth with one s finger.

Probably because of my previous dental "pulling" experience, 1 had the

dubious honour of removing the knife.

It took two men to held the patient

on the table while I pulled, not because of pain, for the man was anesthetized. It was just that the knife was that firmly embedded.

I couldn't help but wonder if this man had been worrying about a mote
in his "friend's" eye. anger. Certainly he ended up with a beam in his own! This

little account also illustrates how difficult it is to undo something done in

Not only did it take three men to pull out the knife embedded in this man's skull, but he will be forever blind and disfigured as a result.
It is sad to think that in an enlightened world such as ours there is so much
darkness in the hearts of men.

A VISIT FROM THE STORK

Don't panicit's not us!! Dr. Jim & Joyce Frasure, of Mashoko Mission

are now the proud parents of a baby girl, a fitting encore after their first
son, Michael. Joyce stayed with us for some weeks prior to delivery as there was a possibility of Rh difficulties. Marietta got to make the "midnight My sole Drive" (actually about 9:30 pm) to the hospital, as I was chicken. drove olT to the hospital with my nervous wife.
also of Mashoko) was in our broom closet.

contribution was to hold the screaming Michael as his mother tearfully

I was able to pacificate the furious little redhead by telling him that his aunt Gloria (Dr. Gloria Cobb.
This thrilled him no end, and

he really didn't worry about his mom for several days.

things one has to do to serve humanity!

Oh the terrible

UMTALI

I am still commuting 165 miles to Umtali once a month, & guess I will continue to do so.
from there.

We have grown close to the people there, and if we

return to Mashoko Hospital to work after our furlough, I'll continue to visit
We mentioned recently about their "mission project." a little

group of people twenty some miles out of Umtali in Dora Reserve.

The

people there are really enthusiastic, and hope to build a church building this year sometime. The local headman has given permission for a church to be

built, and I have promised to help supply the sheet iron for roofing.
structing a pole and mud shelter.
very close to a river bed.

The

people are going to burn bricks before long, but in the meanwhile are con

They have been meeting under a tree

It is good to see them doing this on their own.

I am sure in this age of Welfare and something for nothing you will agree.

NEWSLETTER

We have beeti on tlie rtelcl ftve years this term, or at least are working
on the fifth year, and would like to know if any others at your church would like to receive this newsletter, or the CENTRAL AFRICA STORY. Spangler .^408 Nylon Court. F-ouisville. Kentucky 40219. Any

one wishing to get on the mailing list should drop a postcard to Mr. Ralph

Central Africa Mission

Non Profit

Dr. Jerry R. Smith Family

c/o Okolona Christian Church
4701 Manslick Rd.

Organization U. S. Postage
Paid

Louisville, Ky.

40219
Ozark Biblo Collogo
1111 U. Main

Louisville, Kentucky
Permit No. 616

Joplin,

Mo.

64301

RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

With the Dr. Jerry Smith family...

round Fq
about i\
in the service of Christ

VOL. 47

AUGUST

RIVER CROSSING NEAR GUTU

If afraid to drive across you can walk a swinging bridge which

is 30 ft. high . . . or stay home!!

THE HOME STRETCH

If this newsletter were being written by hand, you might well detect a quivering or shaky style of handwriting. I am now entering the final three months of medical school here, a period known as the "panic phase".
Unlike schools in the States where a senior has hopefully proven himself in the last days, everything here hinges upon THE examination. To make matters worse, our examiners come from either England or South Africa, and we are passed or failed solely on the basis of our performance during a two week exam period.
We are examined in each of four subjects, Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstet rics and Surgery, and in each of the subjects are examined as follows: 1. Two 3 hour written exams; 2. One "long case" where we examine a patient and then are grilled on our findings for an hour; 3. multiple "short cases" to test one's ability in spot diagnosis and examination technique; 4. Side room tests: X-rays, special tests of urine, blood, etc. It is at times like these that t turn to my favorite scripture, "And this too shall pass".

We have appreciated more than we can say your understanding and patience during these "dry years" of study. While we have been very busy with mission work since returning to Rhodesia in January of 1967, our hearts have remained in the bush (rural area), and we look forward with great anticipation to a return to this way of life. Certainly we will be able to provide more newsworthy letters to you! Furlough time from Rhodesia has been traditionally every three years. We are now the record holders, and when we return home in January of 1973, we will have been here six years. By staying the extra year we will be
completely finished with "preparations" and will be able to present a definite program as to our plans and needs upon returning home.

Our reasons for studying medicine here have been many, including first
hand experience in tropical diseases. However, I did not want to "live off

the churches" while going to school, and have in all honesty been able to more than carry my own weight with mission work while attending school. As a further evidence of our good faith, the degree I will receive will be from a British university and will not be directly acceptable for practice in the

U.S.A. I could make it acceptable by doing- one or two years of hospital work at home, but this has not been my reason for studying, and I do not
plan to do this while home.

WEDZA

As part of our final year of study, we are required to live out in the rural area at a "bush hospital" for three weeks. This is to give us a better picture of the medical needs of the country. Rhodesia has almost 5 million Africans, most of whom live in the rural areas. We have been staying at a Catholic mission near Wedza, about 100 miles from Salisbury. It is run by Irish priests, brothers & nuns, and I have been most impressed by their good
natured hospitality.

I am one of a group of six "kids" (I'm 20 years older than my class mates) staying together at the mission. We have so far spent one of the required three weeks, and I have enjoyed myself greatly. There is always
the ominous shadow of the above mentioned examinations, however, and the

fact that the generator is turned off at 10 p.m. creates a problem for would-be studiers. I have "beaten the game", though, by purchasing a little neon light which runs off my car battery. I have been able therefore to keep up my study schedule of working until midnight one night and from 1-2 a.m. the next. This I have been doing now for almost 5 years with only a very few nights off from the grind. Try it for a few months and see how you like it . . . especially those of you over 40! Needless to say, I'm looking foward to breaking the habit. Speaking of "habit", I've been sorely tempted while at Wedza to ask the sisters if they have heard the story about the laundryman trying to drum up trade who went by the convent each day and asked the nuns if they had any dirty habits. Never fear, I'll keep the story to myself!!
Our Plans will not become finalized until shortly before coming home on furlough. We are still desperately in need of a missionary to work full time with the Africans both here and in Unitali, 165 miles away. I have been doing both jobs as best I can, but obviously haven't had the time or talents to give really adequate leadership. Nevertheless, we have been able to "fill the gap'' (pardon the dental pun) while here, and both works are growing.

When we return home, however, I plan to have turned both of these

works over to others, and to spend full time and resources at our chosen
location of service. There are several areas here where we have been asked

to work, but we want to spend some time revisiting the different areas surveying the needs before deciding definitely.
Marietta is still working hard at studying the Shona language, and I

plan to concentrate on becoming fluent during our last year here. I can speak the language pretty well, but my conversation is limited to questions
such as, "Where does it hurt'', "Open your mouth", etc., and you must agree it can be pretty difficult at times to work these into a daily conversation.

The little crippled children at Jairos Jirrie still occupy Marietta's time

every Saturday morning. She is working with the wife of our African evangelist bringing Bible study programs to the children. This will be one
facet of our work in Salisbury Marietta will hate to give up. for she has really become attached to them.
Our Forwarding Agents are still Mr. & Mrs, Vernon Moore, Route One,

Springfield. Kentucky churches ever since we forwarding agents can service for the Lord.

40069. They have been our main contact with the became a part of the mission late in 1961, Only other know the hours which must be spent in this type of We have certainly appreciated their efforts on our

behalf over the years, and hope to work with them for years to come.

Central Africa Mission

Non Profit

Dr. Jerry R. Smith Family

c/o Okolona Christian Church
4701 Manslick Rd.

Organization U. S. Postage
Paid

Louisville, Ky.

40219
Bible Collogn

Louisville, Kentucky
Permit No. 616

1111

i'j,

Main

Jo pi in,

;.:o .

04 -iJ1

RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

With the Dr. Jerry Smith family.

round Fq
about [\
...in the service of Christ

VOL. 48

DECEMBER

iW,
mm

CELEBRATION TIME!!

End of Medical School

Well, it is all over, and after fourteen days of horror, I have emerged
bleeding and battle scarred, but with my medical degree. Having studied

under both the American and British systems I believe I am right in saying
that this school is easier to get into but more difficult to get out of than

those at home.

I'^irst of all, the course is six years instead of four (T was At the end of each year we

given a year off because of my dental degree).

had "external examinations" with examiners coming from overseas to add

to the panic.

The final year examinations are the worst by far, and stupidly, I think, more students are failed at this juncture than at any time during the course.

Failures are allowed to re-write in six months, but it is not a pleasant thing to exi)erience. Over a period of fourteen days we had seven two-hour

written examinations, three of them essay types, and eleven oral exams,

each with two different examiners.

There is no need to go into any more

gory details: besides I still get a little shaky thinking about it!
I am still trying to get used to the idea of having "free time", and
Marietta is trying to get used to the idea of having me around the house.

I am still planning to do a one-year housemanship here at Harari Hospital

before we come home, in order that we can present definite plans to the
churches. This will put us back in the States about the second week of

January, 1U73. It still seems a long way off, but in the meantime, we must
begin the task of raising extra funds for travel and some sort of vehicle
to use while home. None of our children officially count as children as far

as airline tickets are concerned, so I guess it is just as well we did stay for six years instead of the usual three.
Alarietta and I are driving up to Chidamoyo Mission next week, and

from there we are going to fly over to the Zambezi Valley with Dr. Kenny

Messman to study the work going- on there.

Jack Pennington and I have

talked on many occasions about the needs in the Zambezi Valley, and they
have asked us to come and share the work there. We have also been asked

to go back to Mashoko Mission and work at the hospital there, however,

and must make a decision as to where we can serve best.

The people in the valley are still very primitive, and wear bones through
their noses and file their teeth for beauty (maybe I could open a mission

beauty parlour for teeth!).

In our next newsletters I will try and outline

I am sure the work in Mow-

what work is going on both there and at Mashoko.

the valley would be more exciting, as this is still elephant country.

ever, we have a 132-bed hospital and a nursing assistant training school to be run at Mashoko, and it would be poor stewardship indeed to go off to
a new work leaving Mashoko undermanned. Although the decision must

be ours in the final analysis, we would appreciate your prayers in this

matter.

Another item on our immediate agenda is to go down to visit the Umtali church and see how they are getting on with their little mission

project in the Dora Reserve.

We have been to the site where a church

building is to be erected, but have not been down since the work began.
The church at Umtali seems to be progressing well. They now have their

own church board, and I have put them on a sliding scale of support.

Each

year we give $4.00 less towards the support of the church and the congrega
tion assumes that much more of the responsibility. We are paying about

$56.00 a month towards the support of the church. lot, but is about 85%.

It doesn't sound like a

Their building is already paid for, so there isn't

much overhead other than that of paying the minister.

TSETSE FLY SPRAY GATE

For the Control of Sleeping Sickness