Deaf students graduation from sewing school, they sewed their own outfits!

November, 2024
 
Dear friends,
 
Earlier this week we read that, of the 244 million children and youth who are unschooled worldwide, more than half of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. The article specifically mentions Burkina Faso, where over 2500 schools have been closed due to terrorist threats and attacks. This has displaced many students and their families. That is why we are thankful for you who are investing with us in helping school-aged children get a good education.
 
Upon our arrival back in Burkina last month, we received student scholarship requests from the directors of a deaf school, a sewing school, a Christian school, and a Bible school. With your help, we are again sponsoring more than one hundred students at these four schools.
 
As one school year ends and another begins, we receive reports about how “our” students did.  We were so pleased to learn that each of our deaf students successfully passed into the next grade. The sewing school continues to provide practical training and a means of livelihood to many of our deaf friends. And the deaf church is also moving forward. Since all the chairs are filled on Sunday morning, we have ordered sixty more!
 
This morning, we participated in the local Christian High School’s chapel. The school yard was buzzing with more than 1500 students! A pastor friend gave an excellent message from Jeremiah 29:11, reminding the students that, even during tough times, God has a wonderful plan for us.
 
Our Bible schools are moving forward too! We are thankful that a new dorm was completed in time for this school year. Even though we have been shocked and saddened that several former students were among those killed in recent terrorist attacks, that is not keeping other young people from responding to God’s call to ministry and enrolling in our Bible schools. Fourteen of our graduates recently completed the necessary requirements and were ordained into the Gospel ministry.
 
Last year we sponsored a makeshift school for around fifty displaced children who have moved into our city. Because they did not have report cards or other necessary documentation, they were unable to enroll in a regular school. Praise the Lord, thirty-two of these students passed their proficiency exams this summer and are now enrolled in regular schools! We are delighted that this school year our “displaced school” is adding a trade school option for older students.
 
Thank you for investing with us in education in Africa!
 
Blessings,
 
Andrew and Esther Schaeffer

Prayer Requests and Praise

  1. Please pray with us that our deaf and sewing schools will reach more deaf children. Pray that our Christian trade schools would faithfully present Christ to the students. Pray that our Bible schools would prepare pastors to serve well in these challenging times.
  2. Earlier this year we provided a week-long seminar for the sewing school students, most of whom are deaf. The seminar focused on how to budget time and money, run a business and deal with clients. Pray for the young graduates who have started their own sewing business.
  3. Next week we begin our annual distribution to the widows in more than twenty city churches. We plan to share a word of encouragement and have a time of prayer together. Pray that the widows’ lists and distribution details would come together and that the gifts of food and clothing would truly bless.
  4. Pray for wisdom as we partner with church leaders to help the many bereaved and internally displaced peoples (IDPs) here, especially those who have been traumatized by recent attacks.

Students at our Christian High School

Serving with the Christian and Missionary Alliance
cmalliance.org

You can donate online at: 
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or cmalliance.org/give

type “Andrew Schaeffer” in the
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You can also choose a project by typing “Burkina” under
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We update prayer requests each week at
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Our mailing address is:
Andrew & Esther Schaeffer
1211 Fleetwood
Carlisle, PA 17013
aeschaeffer@gmail.com