Jessica Schaeffer

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Dear Friends,

5,000 Babies!
On Monday, Oct. 5, the 5,000th baby was delivered at the hospital, less than 3.5 years since our opening in May 2006! What a privilege it is to make a difference in the lives of many moms and babies at the Koutiala Hospital for Women & Children in what is rated (by “Save the Children”) as one of the worst countries in the world to be a mother or child.

Recent research shows that more than 2 million babies and mothers die worldwide each year as a result of complications during childbirth. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,561020,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a4:g4:r6:c0.000000:b0:z5). This article states that each death is a double tragedy, since almost all these deaths could be prevented. In Africa, fewer than half of women deliver with a skilled attendant. Only 1 out of every 5 babies born in African hospitals is cared for by staff with the skills and simple equipment to resuscitate them if they do not breathe at birth (http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2009/care-at-birth.html). So our hospital has opportunities every day to prevent double tragedies. And as we provide good medical care, we have open doors into hearts and lives of people who need Jesus.

Twins x 3 + Triplets x 1 + Single births x 2 = a tired mom: Meet my friend Nana
Last fall Nana delivered triplets at her home in Koutiala with the help of a few of her teenage daughters. Nana hadn’t done any prenatal care, so didn’t know she was having triplets. Maybe since she already had 3 sets of twins, having more than 1 baby wasn’t as big of a shock. The babies were quite small, about 3 pounds each, and one of Nana’s friends told her she should bring them to our hospital (we have a growing reputation as the place to bring your premature baby). So a few days after their birth she came with her babies and spent the following 6 weeks at our hospital.

Nana’s husband sells flip flops for a living…he often travels to other towns to sell on the day of their big market. The family just barely manages to get by on the money he makes. When the time came for the 3 babies to be discharged, one of my missionary colleagues covered the $200 bill. Nana & her husband sent their oldest son (age 15) to work in another town to try to earn a little money to help the family.

In many ways, Nana and her family are a typical Malian family. They have a lot of children (with a few more multiple births than usual, although multiple births are more common in West Africa). They’ve also lost a few kids who died as young children (about 1 in 4 children in Mali dies before age 5, so again, Nana’s family is “normal” for Mali). In January, a couple months after the triplets, “Sara”, “Bintu” and “Miriam”, had been discharged from the hospital, Sara died. Nana was walking with Sara to the nearest health clinic one morning after realizing how sick the baby was, but Sara died on the way. I was very upset when I learned this, but when I went to visit Nana a week or so later, I was surprised at how accepting she was of the loss of another child. Like many Malians, life for Nana is about survival, and she just had to keep on going to care for the rest of her family. She was just as warm and gracious as always.

Nana doesn’t yet know Jesus as her Savior. I’ve had opportunities to share with her in my fairly functional though elementary Bambara. Before I left, I gave her and her family a Bible. Nana doesn’t know how to read (typical for Mali too…less than 30% of Malians older than age 15 are literate)…but 1 of her older kids said they would read to her. Would you pray with me for Nana and her family? She is a dear friend, and she also represents so many other Malians whom I have grown to love, whom God loves infinitely…He desires that they find life in His Son.

Thank you for praying for me and for our hospital as we participate in what God is doing in Mali. I am incredibly grateful for your love and kindness to me! Thanks too for your gifts to the Great Commission Fund that support me in my work.

Gratefully,
Jessica

Fall schedule:
Sept. – Oct. 6: Cherry Tree Alliance (Uniontown, PA), Smyrna Alliance Church (Cleveland), New London Alliance Church, Living Hope Church (Medina), Sandusky Alliance Church, Shelby Alliance Church, Clear Fork Alliance Church (Bellville), Hope Community Church (Mount Vernon), Center Pointe Church (Centerburg)

10/10, 12-14 Zanesville Alliance Church (Zanesville, OH)
10/11 Community Bible Church (Frazeysburg, OH)
10/15-18 Faith Community Church (Zanesville, OH)
10/19-21 Coshocton Alliance Church (Coshocton, OH)
10/22-25 Antioch Alliance Church (Logan, OH)
10/26-27 Athens Community Church (Athens, OH)
10/28-30 Flushing Alliance Church (Flushing, OH)
10/31-11/3 Bethlehem Chapel (Wheeling, WV)
11/4-6 Weirton Alliance Church (Weirton, WV)
11/7-10 Idaho Road Alliance Church (Austintown, OH)
11/11 Windham Bible Church (Windham, OH)
11/12-14 Global Missions Health Conference (Louisville, KY) (I’m attending, not speaking!)
11/19 Orrville Alliance Church (Orrville, OH)
11/22 Kids Chapel at Grace Church

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

PRAYER & PRAISE
1. Pray for Nana & her family, and for many others who have heard the Good News at the hospital, that they will understand Jesus’ great love for them and give their lives to Him.

2. Pray for my Malian and missionary colleagues who are working long hours with many difficult & sad cases during malaria season. Pray that God will protect them physically, spiritually, and emotionally from the attacks of Satan.

3. Praise God for good progress on the construction of the new maternity building. Pray for Bob, Doug, Renee, and all the construction workers in this project.

4. Pray for my missionary team in Mali as they meet for Field Forum Oct. 12-17. Pray that it will be a time of refreshing, encouragement, and deepening for them.

5. Praise God for many new friends I’ve made along the way during my travels to 20+ churches in Ohio & West Virginia this fall. I have been blessed and encouraged by each church I’ve been to. Pray that God will speak through me during the remainder of my fall travels over the next 5 weeks (I’m including my schedule at the end of this since some of you have asked).

Mali

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