2007 December News Letter

Merry Christmas! I’m sure it is getting colder in North America, but here in the southern hemisphere it continues to warm up as we pull into the summer months! No chance of a white Christmas here, but we do hope for a cool front to cool down Christmas day a bit!

As I look back over the past three months, it seems like a lot has happened. Some of it is not so positive! Please pray for each of the items below. We don’t feel like the sailing has been all that smooth lately!

Schumacher family: Our neighbors, Doug and Madeleen Schumacher, a South African couple, have been through the wringer! It started with a phone call in the evening, as Debbie and I were entertaining some guests. Debbie took the call. It was Madeleen on the other end saying, “I have a big snake in my house and Doug is at the office making a phone call. Can Mark help me?” I grabbed some “snake” tools and ran over, just as Doug was arriving home. When we got inside we realized this was BIG trouble! The snake was under a chest in the dining room and part of the middle of the snake was protruding out from under the edge. I realized that I needed to act quickly before it pulled its body all the way under. I quickly jumped on the piano bench and then onto the chest and drove a shovel into the snake’s back. Once its head appeared, a second shovel did its work. The snake was almost 9 feet long and was the dreaded Black Mamba, a very poisonous, fast, and aggressive snake. It can out run a man and often moves with its head a yard off the ground. When Madeleen started to piece events of the last three days together, she realized that the snake was in the house for the last three days and they didn’t know it! The next event came three nights later when thieves broke into their house while they were sleeping and stole quite a number of valuable items, including a computer they had bought from a friend just three days prior. Two weeks later, a second attempt was made on their house. Fortunately, the house alarm was set properly this time and the intruders ran off when the siren sounded. The fourth tragic event happened when the Schumachers pulled up to a gate at a house in Johannesburg a few weeks later. Armed men held them up and forced them into the back seat of their car and drove around for almost an hour. All during this time they expected the worst… rape and death! They pleaded for their lives asking that they take their car and belongings, only to let them go. While this was taking place, we were informed and praying desperately that the Lord would spare their lives! Eventually, we received a call saying they were dropped off and had called from the home of a family who had taken them in. They were not hurt physically, but it will take awhile for the emotions and memories to heal. Please pray for Doug and Madeleen as they recover from these traumatic experiences!

Swaziland Security Upgrade: Recently we have experienced two break-ins at the transmitter site, as well as other attempts to our houses. Because of this increase in attacks in the last couple of months, I feel it is necessary to upgrade our security systems in our missionary staff housing and at our transmitter site. This will cost around $5,000. The money is not in our normal operating budget, so I am hoping God’s people will rally to help us. If you would like to help with this project, please inform TWR that you would like to donate to the “Swaziland Security Upgrade Project.”

Systems Administrator Resigns: The second thing to hit us has been the resignation of our systems administrator here in Swaziland. Since we are a technical radio mission we depend heavily on computers to do many critical tasks, which include playing out the Good News to our listening audience. We have been very short on computer people around the world, so it is a huge challenge to figure out how we will continue to meet our computer needs. Two men came for a week from our Cary, USA, office to assess the situation and try to configure things so that more can be done remotely. Although this is a help, it is not an answer to our computer needs. Please pray that someone will be found who can help us. TWR desperately needs computer people to join our world wide team.

TWR President and COO Resign: Recently we were given the news that our President, David Tucker, and COO, Samuel Chiang resigned. The chairman of the board and previous president, Tom Lowell is taking over the running of the mission until new leaders can be found. If you would like to read more about this, please go to www.twr.org where you will see more details. In the mean time, please pray for Tom Lowell as he carries the huge responsibilities and heads up those looking for new leadership.

Benin Transmitter Site: The Benin transmitter project in West Africa continues to be delayed. Recent news is that the last two containers have been released from the port. One arrived on site and the other one is waiting to be transported by rail from the port city. Now that these two containers have been released, a new on air date can be set which will have a much greater chance of being met. Each month that we are not on air, it costs TWR Africa a fair sum of money and cuts into an already difficult budget for 2008. The Cox family, recently arrived missionaries in Benin, just reported that all five of them have come down with malaria! Chuck Saunders also just came down with typhoid fever! Benin is not an easy place to live. But, we know that in view of eternity, it will be worth it all. Please continue to pray!

I know this letter hasn’t been as positive as others. I’m trying to be honest with you. Will you pray for us? With God’s help we will continue to fight the good fight of reaching people with the Good News of Jesus and the salvation He has provided. Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? What better gift than the gift of salvation?