Andrew and Esther Schaeffer

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

“STILL ROOM FOR MORE!”

Dear friends,

Teaching a Sunday School class to young teens these last few months has brought many challenges. But the biggest one is that of space. When two new female students stood at the door of our classroom, I almost wanted to say to the Lord, "no more." Benches were already crowded. The only possible solution would be to crowd them in on the boys' benches and you know that would never do!

But our heavenly home is not that way. In a story Jesus told describing God's Kingdom, He made it very clear that there was still room for more and that He wanted a full house for His great feast. He said, "Urge anyone you find to come so that the house will be full." The food is ready, all is prepared, but still there is room for others to join in. That describes our perspective as we serve here in Burkina Faso. We are searching for people and urging them to accept Christ as their Savior.

During our hospital visit this week, we encountered a young gal on a mat with a crying baby. Unmarried, just sixteen and still in school, she seemed so alone. We learned that she had given birth the day before in a remote area of the country. The midwife, realizing the baby had some health issues, sent her to the city hospital for surgery. This teenage mom had no clothes for her baby and no idea how to stop her from crying.

What an opportunity for our team! One team member hurried off to the market to buy baby clothes. A couple of us bent down to show this new mom those important first steps in caring for a baby. Then we prayed together, asking the Lord to give her wisdom in caring for her baby. One team member assured her, "Jesus loves you very much. Ask Him to help you. When you leave here find a church that can tell you more about Jesus. He wants you to be a part of His family."

During our Friday night street evangelism, one young woman looked at us with such regret as she explained the mess she was in. "But you are just the one that Jesus is looking for,” we assured her. “He is inviting you to be His guest. Come and join us," we urged her.

We are out looking for anyone willing to accept the invitation. There is still room for more! Pray that we will be faithful in going out and urging others to come in so that our Heavenly Father's house will be full. Thank you for supporting us and joining us in prayer!

Blessings,

Esther

For our latest video clips ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9plhAyeX-4
https://www.youtu.be/5b5CFTNIIYE
https://www.youtube.com/user/estherschae

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Andrew & Esther Schaeffer
Mission Protestante C&MA
B.P. 3050; Bobo Dioulasso
Burkina Faso, West Africa

Andrew: aeschaeffer@gmail.com
Esther: estherschaeffer@gmail.com

Donate: We are supported thanks to your giving to the Great Commission Fund at your local Alliance church. If you would like to help with ministry projects, mark your gift "Andrew Schaeffer work special" and send to:
The Alliance
8595 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs CO 80920
You can also donate online at: http://www.cmalliance.org

Our ministry is part of the worldwide effort of The Alliance.
Our "big team" includes over 750 people!

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Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

March 24, 2020

“Divine love loves that it may bless and do good. You ought to love not because it pleases you, but because it blesses them.” A.B. Simpson

1. We are thankful for all the ways that we are able to bless our community. Sometimes it is in giving advice on how to stay healthy during the Coronavirus epidemic. It can be practical in providing facemasks and soap. And hopefully it is encouraging to our church as we work with them to provide spiritually to those who live in our city. Pray that we will be useful to our Lord, even in these days when most of our activities are restricted.

2. The country of Burkina is under curfew from 7 pm to 5 am. Also gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited. We are choosing to stay at home except for walks in the early morning or late afternoon, work at our Bible School, and radio ministries. We also have set up a hand washing station in our yard for everyone that enters. We hope these measures will set an example and also keep us from getting sick. Pray that we would have wisdom.

3. We have plenty to do. I am finishing up a series of broadcasts on the Psalms and then will begin one on marriage and the family. We have several Jula language writing projects that have been on the back burner for a long time. And we are working with a local tailor to make facemasks. Pray that we can stay focused and use this time productively.

4. Pray especially for our Bible School students who are separated from family. We are anxious to finish the school year and get them back to their homes. Pray that the Lord would guide in each decision.

March 20, 2020

1. Like you, we are facing almost daily changes to our program and what we are able to do as far as ministry is concerned. Pray for us as we look at how best to walk beside our wonderful church family during this health crisis.

2. We are thankful for you who give to our ministry. We have been able to supply soap to our Bible Schools, hospital, and prison. Thank you for your generous giving so that we can be of practical help in these days.

3. For most of our widows, they live hand to mouth. What they earn in a day they use to buy and prepare food for their families for that day. They do not have the possibility of buying ahead and storing rice or corn or other staples. Pray that the Lord would be merciful to Burkina.

4. Thankful for the Christian radio station and that I can continue to do ministry there. Pray for the important ministry of the four Alliance radio stations and that they would remain fully operational during these weeks.

March 13, 2020

1. Coronavirus has come to Burkina Faso as well. The government has been working hard for several weeks to detect cases and prepare for this possibility. All large gatherings have been cancelled and people have reduced the amount of traveling. Pray that the Lord would continue to give wisdom and that people would accept the limitations that the government is placing on us and take the necessary precautions.

2. You cannot know how thankful we are to be resourced to be able to help in desperate situations. At the hospital this week we happened on a situation: a man from a remote part of Burkina who had brought his sister who is suffering from hepatitis. When we entered the room he was just hearing that his sister could not stay any longer because the bills hadn't been paid. What a wonderful joy to know that the Lord Jesus brought us there at that moment and that we could say without hesitation, "We can help with that." The bewildered man couldn't believe it. We assured him of our help and said, "We are here because of Jesus. Jesus brought us to you." We thank you for your generous support that allows us to meet the needs of desperate people and to show the love of Christ.

3. Continue to pray for a young woman, Christine, who is part of my Sunday School class. She went missing last week. Please pray that she would be found and returned to her family.

4. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to teach Bible at a girls' school. Pray that we would be bold as we speak truth to young women in this and others schools and Sunday School groups.

arch 6, 2020

1. Pray for our Sunday School class. Pray that we can clearly present the Gospel and give these young people a thirst and desire for the Lord Jesus. Pray for energy and creativity and joy!

2. We are teaching young women in two different settings this week. Pray that we would be people of influence and that we could communicate clearly the wonderful plan that our Heavenly Father has for each of them.

3. We thank the Lord for allowing us to intervene at the hospital to help a newborn and her mom who were in great need. We thank the Lord that He healed this little baby and that the surgery that brought them to the hospital was no longer needed. Our contact with this family was so brief and now they have returned home, way out of our reach, but we believe that our Heavenly Father will continue to draw them to Himself.

4. These are busy weeks with many deadlines for radio broadcasts and speaking opportunities. Pray that we would be revived and enabled for every good work.

Burkina Faso

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