.......Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Tuesday night prayer

Tuesday night prayer

I hope you're enjoying your fall weather!!! Here in Florida still feels like summer!  We haven't pulled out any of our  cold weather attire, but we will as soon as it goes down to 65 degrees...haha (that's what we do in the sunshine state).

 I want to start out by thanking you for your prayers and financial support.  It is very encouraging to know that people are lifting up this ministry in prayer.  It can't be done without the power of prayer!

We feel like we have been going nonstop.  Mark has been trying to balance 3 very important responsibilities.  His role as a pastor, his role as the director of Friend's of Internationals and his role as a financial advisor.  Added to that, his role as a husband, father and repair guy at the house.  So, needless to say,  he's felt overwhelmed at times and feeling like he can't devote an adequate amount of time to anything.  He's been balancing all these responsibilities the best he can but we know that he can't continue on at that pace.  I know his heart and passion is for ministry and we both want him to dedicate his time doing that.  We have spent the last month asking God for direction to when will be the right timing for Mark to stop working as a financial advisor at Horace Mann.  He wants to finish well and with a good testimony.  God has used that job in many ways to provide for our needs and his boss has been very gracious with Mark.  We believe that God has led him to start phasing out this month (October), tie up loose ends in November and be completely done by December.

Mark in his home repair role.

Mark as Friends of Internationals Director

Once again, it is a step of faith of what we believe God is asking us to do because his job provides for us financially.  We currently don't have all of our support raised to take care of our family needs but we believe that God will take care of our needs, we just need to be obedient to his leading.  I am still working as an interpreter and will continue to do so as long as I need to.  I believe that God knows our needs and our hearts for ministry and the need to minister to people here.  Please pray that God will provide and raise the support that we need soon so we can go full speed here in ministry!:)

 I was so excited Tuesday because Mark and others from BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) went to the USF campus to share the gospel with the students.  Take a look at the picture of the board with words written on it, each word represents a person, all those people heard the gospel.  Praise the Lord!!!  Mark also got to make more touches with a couple of international students while he was there.  We're hoping to have them over to our house soon!
 

Sunday Morning service

We haven't added anybody else to our prayer night but we are trusting God that he will add them in his timing.  We need more men for Mark, he's been outnumbered for a while.  Our discipleship relationships are going well.  We haven't been able to meet with Jaime and Nora the last couple of weeks because Jaime has had health issues.  He had surgery today and glory to God that it went well!  This month they joined our Sunday morning service, so our group has grown, praise God for that! We now have a children's ministry  that consists of 2 kids. :) We have shared with them our vision for the ministry and they are on board with us to make disciples!

Children's ministry on Sunday morning

Please continue to pray for Lucy as she keeps looking for a new place to live that is near our house and her job.  She's waiting on the Lord's time but being diligent in her search and wishing for gas prices to keep going down ...:)

Danielle and I are still meeting for discipleship and it's going well!  The college life has been a little trying but I'm keeping her accountable and she continues to spend time in God's Word.  She's had great opportunities to share the gospel with girl's in her dorm.  Super exciting!  I'm already challenging her to be praying for somebody that she can sit down and do the bible discovery method with.

Mallory and Lucy will be starting discipleship very soon.  Mallory just got a new place to live so I believe she's been taking time to get settled.  It's been great getting to know her more and more.

Syera's friends at our house.

Our kids have been busy with school and sports.  We have given them some challenges too for their walks with God.  This has been a transitional time for them and they are having to make some of their own decisions that require taking a stand for God.  We are going to wait until Christmas time to go around our neighborhood to invite teenagers to our house for bible study.  We believe that it will be the best timing.  In the meantime we are opening our house to any of their friends from school to come over.  We were able to host a couple of activities this month and hopefully we can do a harvest party later this month.  We are so excited to have a home again that we can host people in!


I believe that's all for now.  Let me summarize our prayer requests:

1. Jaime's surgery recovery
2. Lucy to be able to find a rental home within her budget near her job and our house.
3. Danielle to continue to stay focused in her walk with God and to take advantage of open doors with others.
4. Mallory to grow spiritually through discipleship
5. Financial support to be raised for the Schaffers by January 2015
6. Mark to be able to have discernment and productivity with time management

A day spent with International students at Kennedy space center

7. Interpreting assignments for Astrid
8. More team members to join us
9. International students connections and conversations about the gospel

In closing, I just want to share with you some important facts about the city of Tampa.  It is the third largest city for human trafficking in the nation, Pinellas county (St. Petersburg, Clearwater) is ranked as the top county in the country for intravenous drug use.  1 in every 220 people in Tampa are infected with HIV/AIDS, Tampa/St. Petersburg metropolitan area has the highest rate of homelessness in the nation.  

Tuesday night prayer

It is a dark place, people need to hear the good news of the gospel, and people need to be delivered from their bondage to sin.  We can't do it alone.  We need you to bear this burden with us, you can do it by praying for this city, joining our prayer team, support it financially, or come join our team.  Let God lead you!  We just know that we need the body with us to see this city changed and turn from sin to Christ!
We love you!  Please feel free to share this blog with others!  We want everyone praying!  Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive"


We love you,

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 this ministry financially please send it to:

Midtown Baptist Temple
3953 Walnut St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
C/O Tampa Missions
(816) 398-8171