Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:45:15 -0500
Subject: SCHRADERS' PRAYER LETTER MARCH 2007
 
Dear Praying Friends,
Presently, we are experiencing a more literal understanding of Psalm
42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water so  my soul pants for You,
O God!"  Welkom has been breaking all the records lately as we are
undergoing a scorching summer in Welkom.  Days and nights are close to
100 F. plus as we sit close to the desert.  How do you take an afternoon
siesta when you have no air conditioning in the parsonage?  Sandy and I
wet each other down with the garden house.  Then, we dive into bed with
the fan on full blast.  How refreshing!  Believe it or not, about one
hour later, our clothes are just slightly damp and our bed totally dry
about 15 minutes after we are gone.  The devil has been turning the heat
up on our ministry in Hani Park, yet it has not quenched the thirst of
our people for His truth, or our desire to continue to bring it to them.
A little bit of this letter will be "catch up" as some of you have e-mail
and some do not.

THIRSTY SOULS:  I became seriously ill early in December and found myself
in a hospital bed for 8 days.  About 4 AM Sunday morning I was staring at
a guy with a full beard  wearing  only a toga and sandals.  I thought to
myself, "Oh Lord, I am in trouble!  Will he understand me?  Will I
understand him?"  He turned out to be just what "The Doctor" ordered.
Dr. Bobat was a brilliant G.P. as well as a devout Moslem. He was also a
THIRSTY SOUL.  I offered him a gospel tract, "Is something missing in
your life?"  He said, "I'll take it!"  The next day he came up to my bed
examining me and asking me if I were a missionary.  I told him I was and
he shook my hand.  He then began to expound the great truths of Islam.
Finally, I said "What about your sins?"  Do you think a dead goat is
enough to cover all of your sins?  He stopped dead with his dissertation
and stared curiously at me and then continued.  I then felt led  to say a
prophet once said, "HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised
for our iniquities"...He stops again.  He walks toward the door and
without looking back says, "Pray for me."  A couple of days later he came
in looking very troubled.  He said, "Your blood scans have come back to
me and I have some very difficult news.  The diagnosis is Chronic
Lymphatic Leukemia.  I have scheduled you for a bone marrow test just to
be absolutely sure.  I told him it would be a lot more difficult if I had
not received the gift of eternal life some 37 years ago.  He simply
looked astonished.  PRAY FOR DR. BOBAT... PRAY FOR ME.  The bone marrow
test confirmed that I do have C.L.L..  My most recent blood work came
back from February 15th.  My specialist still wants me to be tested on a
monthly basis.  That news was a bit discouraging.  I had hoped to be
dropped back to every 3 months.  I HATE NEEDLES.  I am still as active as
ever.  PRAY I would remain a THIRSTY SOUL for all He still wants to
accomplish through me during this brief stay here on planet earth.  Psalm
90:12.

THIRSTY SOULS:  Delisa, my brother in Christ and also our gardener came
in looking very discouraged.  He said "Last night a (prominent)
businessman had been shot dead.  He solemnly stares at me shouting, "BAM,
BAM, BAM!"  He continues saying, "But Pastor the worst thing was it was a
little child!  A little child had shot him dead! BAM, BAM, BAM!  I guess
the tsotsis (gangsters) are recruiting little children to perform their
executions at Hani Park.  What is our answer?  Sandy and I are offering
puppets instead of pistols.  PRAY for Michael, Goodman, Oscar, Pete,
Ivan, Kevin, Gordon, Paul..........and yes, Tsumi.  Tsumi is a little 12
year old boy who has suffered severe abuse.  He spends a lot of time at
the feeding scheme.  He sort of lives in his own  little world
practicing his Michael Jackson moves.  He came up to me and whispered in
my ear that he wanted to be "on the team!"  He is small with very then
arms....but how could I refuse?  PRAY also for Tsumi's salvation!

THIRSTY SOULS:  Last Sunday morning, February 18th we began driving about
25 people from Hani Park into Welkom Baptist church. One teenager was
ashamed to come because he had no shoes, only bedroom slippers.  We
discretly bought him shoes  (thanks to your giving).  We did not want him
to feel embarrassed, but to feel a part of the family of God.  Our Nissan
Hard Body pickup truck was full to overflowing.  Adults as well as
children came because they had asked us for quite some time.  They were
tired of hearing pretty much "0" from the churches they were attending.
Hopefully, this is the foundation for Hani Park Baptist church.  We are
still seeking property or deserted buiidings to put up our own place at
Hani Park.  Keep praying!  But these people are coming out because they
are THIRSTY SOULS!

Sandy and I also pray that you will be THIRSTY SOULS for all our Lord
wants for you during your brief stay here on planet earth. Thank you for
all you are doing to love our children through our ministry.  God Bless you!
Jake & Sandy