Oasis for Orphans Blog Post - June 2021

Smith Family Update

from the Oasis for Orphans Blog

Oasis for Orphans is where it is today because of the families who felt a call to the orphaned and vulnerable in Kenya and answered it with their lives. While this season with Rick and Ann Smith (and family) is coming to an end, we are excited to see their story unfold. We know Oasis and this family have a bright future ahead.

Below are some updates from the family in their own words.

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Warm Greetings from the Smith Family – 

Way back in August of 2010, our family landed in Kenya, and we (the collective we, including all of you who walk alongside us) began a full-time adventure serving orphaned and vulnerable children together through Oasis for Orphans.  The journey has been more challenging than anticipated and also more meaningful than we could have imagined. Hasn’t it been remarkable to get to know these precious children and watch God grow them over time?!

Exactly ten years later, in August of 2020, God began birthing something new in our lives. 

Most of you know, Rick has been working on completing a Master’s in Counseling degree. In working through our own challenges in ministry, he has grown a heart and calling to serve others in similar situations. To become fully licensed as a counselor, Rick will need to complete 3000 hours of counseling under a supervisor over two to three years. He has an opportunity to work towards being fully licensed at Alongside Ministries in Michigan.  Alongside serves people in ministry through a three-week intensive counseling retreat.  It is the perfect fit for him, and he couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to serve with the gifted staff there. 

If you know Ann, you know her passion for teaching Trauma Competent Care to the staff and families connected to Oasis. Over time, those opportunities have expanded to other organizations serving vulnerable populations and even other countries in Africa.  Through a God-sized opportunity, Ann will work with a partner organization of Oasis called Trauma Free World.  While she’ll remain connected to Oasis as a volunteer trainer, she will expand her opportunity to impact more children globally by joining Trauma Free World full time! 

One of the other reasons we felt it was time to return to the United States was to remain more closely connected to our family. After losing Ann’s mom in the fall, we feel the need to be closer to our aging parents and children.

Katie and Matt have settled in Indiana. Katie works for Notre Dame University, and Matt works for Purple.  They are thriving in their community, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to live closer to them. 

Rachel recently graduated with her degree in Elementary Education. She will be teaching fourth grade in Virginia in the public school system. Rachel is excited to build her trauma-sensitive classroom and serve the amazing children and families in her community. She will be living with a posse of friends and has a wonderful church and work community already!

Julia is entering her junior year and is studying nursing. She loves it! Julia has deep friendships and a sweet spirit. She spent the summer working at a camp and made many friends there. 

Caleb has adjusted to the school system in the US and was able to play on the varsity basketball team. While the transition has been challenging due to covid, we are thankful for the beginnings of new friendships at church and school.  He will be a senior next year and is looking forward to his cousin from Kenya joining him next year for school.

We want to take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for the many years you have prayed for us, visited us, encouraged us, listened to us, and financially blessed us.  We are humbled and blessed by your commitment to walk alongside us and are so thankful for each one of you.  

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On behalf of Oasis for Orphans, we thank those of you who have been on this journey from the beginning. Rick and Ann have helped create a solid foundation we are only beginning to build upon in Kenya. We plan to see Rick this fall as he attempts the Chicago Marathon with Team Oasis and will continue to see them both as our paths and their skill sets intersect with what Oasis is doing in Kenya.