and said, “I have a confession to make.” Of course, that got everyone’s attention very quickly! I continued, “I have been doing an experiment on some of you. It was an experiment to make you smile, to help you be cheerful.” I told them how the Lord had impressed me and shown me what to do.

I smiled at them all, and watched their reactions as what I had said sank in. Many began to laugh, seeing the humor in the situation. But the ones I had particularly been “experimenting” on just smiled back at me. They knew.

The Lord proved once again that He is able to drive away any clouds and bring the sunshine again. What a joy to cooperate with Him in helping these children to learn that lesson! p

When I arrived at Springs of Life, one of the orphanages run by

Living Springs Overseas Missions, I noticed that a few of the boys in my classes refused to smile. In fact, these boys would walk around campus scowling, no matter what they were doing.

The Lord impressed me to try to get them to smile and be more cheerful. I began to pray, “Lord, help me to make them smile. Show me how.” I realized there were two simple things for me to do: Make eye contact and smile!

So began my experiment, smiling particularly at each of these children and praying for them each morning.

Of course, not every day was rosy, and there were many days when I didn’t feel like smiling. One day I was feeling especially homesick and lonely. I really did not want to teach grammar that day, but I knew I needed to. I prayed for extra strength and walked to class.

When I walked through the door, a student I was “experimenting” on glanced up at me and grinned. Of course I smiled back, and then it hit me: The experiment was working!

Some were more of a challenge than others, but eventually every one of the boys had replaced his frown with a smile.

About a month after I began my experiment, I stood up before my class

Living Springs and its missionaries share the joy of the gospel with hundreds of children in India. $8,500 will enable Springs of Life to dig a new well for the orphanage.

Rebekah (left) is a missionary teacher in India, where she loves to spread the joy Jesus has given her.

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The Experiment

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t o M i s s i o n s W o r l d w i d e

outpostcenters.org

Outpost Centers International F Monthly Newsletter 3.2 F February 2009

by Rebekah Ondrizek

Freeing the Captives

Adventist Medical Aviation, Venezuela

Prayer: Safety for search teams looking for the missing airplane and comfort for the family members of those involvedmedicalaviation.org/venezuela

Cedarvale Health & Lifestyle Retreat, Australia

Funds: $12,500Regrade the gravel drive leading to the centercedarvaleretreat.com.au

Health Education Resources, USA

Funds: $1,200Sponsor a Health Expo in India or Israelhealthexpobanners.com

Reaching Hearts for Kids, USA

Funds: $20,000 Purchase 15 acres in Tanzania for sustainability through agriculture and industryreachinghearts4kids.org

More giving opportunities at outpostcenters.org

can make theYOUdifference

Ministry needs

Your Connection to Missions Worldwide newsletter is published monthly by Outpost Centers International. Please send all changes of address to: Your Connection, 5340 Layton Lane, Apison, TN 37302. Please include the old address along with the new. Tel: 423-236-5600. Fax: 423-236-5650. E-mail: connection@outpostcenters.org

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Please pray for the people that A Door of Hope ministers to daily.

adoorofhope.com

June Willis* couldn’t shake the addiction.

She’d chosen to have the surgery, so she felt that the following year and a half of illness was her fault. She had been useless for so long. And the anti-anxiety drug was the only thing that gave her peace.

When June heard about A Door of Hope Ministries, she felt a glimmer of hope. Could she be free from the guilt—from the addiction? She contacted Rena Majors, the director.

The change took time, but slowly, as Rena shared of God’s healing and restoration with her, June began to find forgiveness, freedom, and healing.

Update: News From Around the WorldVenezuela - Adventist Medical Aviation: Bob Norton, director and pilot, took off on Monday, February 16, with six passengers. They did not reach their

destination.Inclement

weather may have been a factor in the disappearance of the airplane. Search teams continue looking for the plane, which

appears to have gone down in the deep jungles of Gran Sabana, Venezuela. The terrain and dense growth make searching difficult. Church members around the world have banded together in prayer.

Zambia - Riverside Farm Institute: Lifestyle center staff visited Parliament on Friday, February 20. They spoke about diabetes with workers and members of Parliament.

Listeners took all of the free literature that was available and asked for more. Some also purchased copies of The Desire of Ages and Ministry of Healing. The group was invited to come again to share.

A Door of Hope has been ministering to hurting women, men, and teens for 15 years. The staff travel near and far, delivering the wonderful truth that in Christ Jesus we are loved, accepted, forgiven, and made whole.

Though the economic crisis forced them to close the residential portions of the ministry, A Door of Hope will carry on. Rena continues to minister to churches, academies, and women’s groups, at retreats, and one-on-one to those held captive by depression, addictions, and the pain of their pasts. p*name changed for privacy