The Shumaker Family's Blog

We had great services today.  At Tingandogo, we had one man from Togo accept Jesus.  He was very religious but he told me that he saw his need to accept Jesus.  At Cissin we had another man accept Christ.  He is from one of the most faithful families in our church but he has never came to church before.  He finally came today and got saved.    We also had over 100 at Cissin today.  Besides the day of our first baptism, this was the highest day.

The other day, I took my parents to a wildlife game park to see some animals.  We were able to see lots of animals but I took one picture from the car and thought you would like to see it.  It was of a Mama elephant charging our car, trying to protect her young.  She was no more than 10 yards from the car.  It was wonderful and amazing.

I was feeling much better today up until about 5:00 p.m.  I was planning on going to church.  I am not sure when the last time I missed church but I stayed home tonight.  The fever came back tonight.  Thanks for your prayers, I need them.  Please pray for my wife.  She has a very, very hard time when I am sick.

A few days ago, I took my parents to Bado’s(faithful member of our church) village. Bado started an organization in 2002 to help kids with school, whether it be by helping pay for their school or for school supplies. I began to help Mr. Bado in 2005 with his project. My mom has helped greatly with this project. You can read about it at http://www.theharvest.net/Give-a-Child-a-Chance.php

We have helped the past two years in Bado’s village. I wanted my parents to see the village school and the work that we are doing. What we experienced was quite amazing. We saw classrooms with 99 students in the class. My mother couldn’t believe what she saw.

They really honored my parents. They gave them gifts and clothes. They also prepared a meal fit for a king.

After being at the school we went to Bado’s house. Bado has been a great friend and is very vital to the minsitry here. He helps me with governmental paperwork, getting land, etc. His father wanted to meet my father. Sometimes they will give a special gift to visitors(one chicken, maybe two at most). The father gave my dad three chickens, lots of cabbage and a sheep.

They put the sheep on top of the car. My dad asked me what we were going to do with the sheep. He didn’t think that the sheep could ride for two hours on top of the car and live to see tommorrow. Well he did live and we now have a pet sheep. Not really, I don’t normally eat my pets. He will make a good meal in a few days.  My parents said that was an overwhelming day.  They truly honored my parents, which really  blessed me.  By honoring my parents they showed their love for my family.  The work is moving on.

Last night, we had Christmas Eve services in all three of our churches.  There was no way that I could be at all of them but we did manage to go personally two of them that were in town.  We started our service at Tingandogo at 6:00 and went to about 8:15.  God really blessed and we had over 70 present.

Then we had service at Cissin.  We started at 9:00 and went past Midnight.  They love long services on Christmas Eve.  We had a lot of special singing, read the Christmas story, I preached, we ate and then we watched a Biblical Film together.  The greatest thing that happened is that we had three put their faith in Jesus. We had over 80 present.

I sent two young men to Roungo.  This village is about 2 hours away and wasn’t possible for us to go.  Salif came back this morning and said that they had a tremendous service.   He counted 215 Adults and said that many other adults were outside.  He said they had many more children than they did adults.  He must of had way more that 500.  He told me that God really blessed.  It is great to see some of the young men excited about the work and willing to offer their services to travel on Christmas.  I know that they wanted to be here in town but I think they got a greater blessing in the village.

I wanted to write and wish you all a Merry Christmas.  God has really blessed us here in Africa and I couldn’t think of any other place to be.  I did get a great Christmas present about 10:00 this morning.  I was putting a toy together for Emily and Meredith and started feeling bad.  Headache, leg aches, fever, etc.  I think that Malaria has started again.  I broke the fever but it has come back tonight.  Thanks for your love, prayers and support.  We love you all.

We have been out of town and when we got back the internet hasn’t worked for a few days. Yesterday, we our seventh anniversary. I praise God for the wonderful and beautiful help meet that He has given me. We have throughly enjoyed the last seven years and look forward to many more years ahead, serving the Lord together. God couldn’t have given me a better wife.

My parents arrived Thursday night.  I am glad that they will be able to spend a few days with us.  My dad went with me to Roungo on Friday and we stayed overnight.  On Friday night we had more than 150.  When we stay over we have a Friday night service and a Saturday morning service.  We had 130 for the morning service.  The best thing about what happened was that we had 7 decisions for Christ.  What  a Blessing!

I just wanted to give a quick update on Salie, as many have said they are praying for her.  Much to our surprise, she is actually doing a little better.    She came to church last night but came after dark.  She remained outside and had covered much of her face.  My wife said that she almost didn’t look the same the other day and I think because of this, she didn’t want others to be able to see her.  We took her home and when she got out of the car I was able to see her face.  My wife was right.  How quickly somebody can change is absolutly amazing.

A little later, I was praising God that no matter what will happen, she has given her life to Jesus.  I also began to think about what physical pain, sickness and death can do to somebody but if we could only realize what spiritual sickness and death can do to somebody maybe we would work harder, pray harder, preach harder, evangelize harder and live more faithful.  My prayer today is that God would wake us up and realize the condemnation and suffering that will happen for lots of people.

Salif was teaching the children on prayer the other day.  At the end of his lesson, he told me that a young girl asked if she could give  a prayer request.  He said sure.  She said, “Please pray that I won’t get beat, when I get home from church.”  Her father beats her when she comes home from church but she has been very faithful.  Can you imagine, just wanting to come to church and you must get beat in order to do that.