We have seen God answered prayer in the last few months of things that in our human minds were impossible to come through. The reason why I haven't posted anything on our blog is because life has been pretty hectic in the last 3 months. I'll share with you what's been going on with our family, our team and our ministry here in sunny but rainy Tampa, Florida.
Our move..............As most of you know, we had been praying for a home for our family. The situation with Mark's job and the requirements to be able to get a loan didn't match up, so it seemed impossible for us to get a house any time soon. I will not overwhelm you with all of the details of how it came about that those two things came together. As a result of God being a part of it all, we were able to purchase our home on 7/15/2014. Praise God!!!! We feel so blessed and are very excited to start using it for His kingdom without having to worry about the noise level or the small space. The home needed some TLC. God knew that we were going to need some extra hands so he blessed us with Ryan, Lindsay and Annie Templeton! A couple of months before we knew our moving date, the Templeton's had asked us if they could come and serve in some way in our ministry, at the time we really didn't think we would have much for them to do but we told them that we could use their fellowship. But, the cool thing is that God already knew what we would need during their time here. They booked their flights a couple of months ahead for the exact dates that God new that we would need their strong muscles to be loading and unloading a moving truck and some extra hands to rip up carpet, strip wallpaper, paint, etc. They were a tremendous blessing as an encouragement through fellowship but also as a help on our move.
Then, we had Jeff and Kiley Grasher come for a visit, they were also a great help in the painting department but the greatest blessing for us was the time they spent with our 3 kids while they were here. They were such an encouragement for our kids!!! Following their visit my sister, Frida and her daughter came to help in various ways that I'm not gifted in such as sewing and helping me get things set around the house. Lucy and her disciple, Mallory were also a great help to us! During this transition, we had to spend almost two weeks at Lucy's one bedroom apartment. She was so nice to let a family of 5, plus guests, plus 2 dogs invade her quiet space. Thanks Lucy!!!:)Teen bible study...................
Along with this transition, sadly, we had to say goodbye to our teen bible study. We believe God used us in their lives in the last 6 months. We have planted a seed and we believe He will use others to water it and give the increase. We plan to get together with them again once we get more settled in our house, but due to the distance and not having a place to meet with them, we won't be able to meet weekly with them. One of the teenagers was able to go to teen camp with our kids with the church that we used to attend in Ocala, Fl. Our prayer is that he will take heed to God's word and that he will find a body to connect to. We want to start a new teen bible study in our new neighborhood.Friends of Internationals...................
Another prayer request that was answered is the opportunity for Mark to lead the ministry of Friends of Internationals at USF (University of South Florida). We've always had a heart for international students and this will be a great opportunity for us to get involved in their lives, love them, and share Christ with them. We believe we will be impacting the world from Tampa. We are already getting involved in this ministry by doing airport pick ups, helping the students get settled into their apartments and by going to the welcome dinners. This is a full time position for Mark, and due to that we need to raise financial support for our family. You can read more about it in his prayer letter. If you aren't receiving his prayer letter but would like to, please let me know. If you would like to support our family financially, you can do so through Midtown Baptist Temple and on the memo line write: Tampa Missions. Please be praying that we would be able to raise that support by December. 
God also answered our request about the kid's school. We were heart broken to change them again to another school but God through His grace took care of them and they are looking forward to go to their new school. They will be attending a school called Cambridge Christian School. I'm excited that they will all be at the same school. God provided discounts and scholarships for them to be able to attend. He can do the impossible!!!!:)
About our team.............
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The Toti's....We had shared with you that Ron, Rebecca and their kids were moving to Tampa to help us make disciples. God has not allowed Ron to get a job, and their ministry in Portland has been fruitful lately. They are asking God for confirmation and clarity on what they need to do. Continue to pray for the Toti's. We would love to have them with us, but we want what God wants for their family.
Making Disciples..............
I can't remember if I shared with you about a couple that came to Tampa due a job relocation, their names are Jaime and Nora Barajas. Nora got connected to me through her aunt Angie Anderson (missionary in Mexico). Long story short, Mark and I will start meeting with them for discipleship this week. They are already believers but are eager to study God's word and have a heart to make disciples. They have 2 young children, Ella and Eliam. Awesome family and we are excited to see what God will do in their lives.
I will start discipling a girl that used to be in our youth group in Ocala that will be attending USF this year. Her name is Danielle. I'm also going to start meeting again with Estefania, she's a girl that we got connected to when our MBT team was here in march. Mark will make contact again with the students that he was meeting with before that will be coming back to school.
Our pastor............
Mark has a lot in his plate right now so please be praying for his sanity....haha:) Right now he is still working for the Insurance company, leading our church planting team, painting, building closets and fixing things in our house, training for the position as the leader of Friends of Internationals, being a husband, daddy and discipler, and trying to raise support for this new position. Phew....he's got a lot going on and sometimes it can get overwhelming. Please pray that God will give him wisdom and discernment with his time and that he would not allow the flesh to win during the frustrating moments. He's doing a great job at trying to balance it all but he is only human and he needs God's strength.Tuesday night prayer............
Our family and Lucy have been meeting on tuesday nights for prayer. In September we're going to invite our disciples and the people that we're meeting with to join us on tueday nights for a time of worship and prayer. We want them to have the opportunity to come together with others to pray for each other and to be encouraged through prayer and His word!
Prayer requests...........
1. Teen bible study in our new neighborhood
2. Discipleship connections: Jaime and Nora Barajas, Mallory, Danielle, Estefania, Costas.
3. Lucy's timing and location for a new place to live.
4. Inner strength and discernment in time management for Mark's responsibilities.
5. Clarity for the Toti's about God's plan for their family.
6. More team members to join the mission in Tampa.
7. Financial support for our family to be raised by December.
We covet your prayers and thank you for being interested in what God is doing here in Tampa. We have no doubt that He is at work and that He will do great things! Please feel free to contact any of us if you have any questions about anything you've read or about the ministry. Thank you to all the visitors that we've had!!! We love you all and continue to pray because God hears and he answers!!!
Mark, Astrid, Syera, Dylan, Nykki and Lucy :)
In case you don't have our contact info here it is:
jmarkschaffer@yahoo.com
astridschaffer@ymail.com
lucyrakins@gmail.com
If you would like to support us financially:
Midtown Baptist Temple
3953 Walnut St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
C/O Tampa missions
(816)398-8171
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