Tuesday’s Tribute: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Shout out to Jay for making this day NOT about me. I need to be reminded of that more times than not. Be sure to check out the people at halftimelessons to see what other Tuesday’s are out there. Make sure to read about a little girl named Sunny.

The world of orphans has Angelina. Dar fur has George Clooney. The One campaign has Brad Pitt. Congo has Ben Affleck…wait. Ben Affleck? Really? Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Ben. I loved that movie he was in…you remember the one…what was it again?

But when it comes to the Congo and the people who are over there changing things on the day to day and not just when they can squeeze it in between films, I only think of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Not the guns for hire, but the people who have dedicated their entire lives to the people of Congo. Jim and Nancy Smith. They are a couple I admire greatly and have watched their lives over the past decade. They are a selfless couple who have continued on his fathers (Laban) legacy there, Laban Ministries International (LMI). I would say that they are missionaries, but they are much more than just a label. They don’t go into the bush to change the people into Americans. They use nationals to change the Congo. They have just celebrated their 30th anniversary in Congo and Laban’s 70th anniversary.

With the nearest hospital being a 2 1/2 day walk, they have made a dispensary that serves the local population. But LMI isn’t happy with just that so they have started a hospital. One day soon, no more mothers dying from childbirth.

As Christians, over the past 30 years they have made an incredible impact with the Evangelism Explosion Program. Their programs have been translated into French and Kituba. And in 2004, they installed a radio tower to project information across the area. Five million people hear Christian radio and additional information everyday.