Roland Jr and Jinni Shafer ...eXpAndInG ThE ReACh Of tHe GoSpeL 
Photo Synopsis of Past 3 Months
Spring: graduations, proms, performances, field day, conferences, gardening ~ amidst many other things. Surely a busy time for all. We decided to send a synopsis of events via photos and short descriptions.
God has allowed New Tribes Mission to remain focused on the vision set by its founders many years ago. This is exactly Why We Are Here! We thank the Lord for everyone who has partnered with us and allowed us to be part of the NTM team.
Technology can be very helpful and effective in getting the gospel to those who have never heard. The goal here is to discover what will best help each missionary and their specific ministry to achieve this, not to necessarily get the best and newest gadget…(even though they are really cool!) 
- ICT Workshop – “I WON”
On the Road to Medieval Times
Mo get a flower from Red Knight
Girls with "Our" Red Knight
Quiz Team
Elijah has been practicing for the Quiz Team competition since October. The event will be on the 25th of May. They came in first in the preliminary competition, but apparently many of the teams don’t start studying and memorizing until right before the tournament. Susan & Jinni will be in St. Louis for Pop’s 80th birthday!
Susan finished her 3rd book in AWANA this year. She’ll get her Timothy Award next year. She had to memorize over 40 verses for her last section!!!!
Waiting for her 3rd book Award
Spiritual Refreshment held for NTMers at nearby camp. Refreshed!
Kids had fun too!
Field Day – 15 School Records were Broken!
Athletes
little Athletes
Mo High Jump
Susan 100 meter
Check out our new photo albums!
Spring Break started with snow and Susan’s 10th birthday! Now everyone in our family is “double digits”. Our neighbors on the farm where we lived gave horseback rides to Susan’s friends for her party. Then Everyone went inside and made their own cakes and iced them. Fun and games for all!
Jinni was praying for the weather to be right for Maple Syrup Making over Spring Break, and the Lord provided. Many students from the Academy came up to help, and it was a great new experience for us. 3 and a half days of work provided about a gallon and a half of syrup! Yummy!
Once every 1,461 days…Happy Leap Day!
Snow Day in Canada!
It is a rare day when Canadian schools are cancelled. This could be our first big blizzard this year. Elijah is happy! He will get to go curling with the Academy students today. One of the missionary candidates has offered to teach them…they will be walking!
Before Christmas, Roland and I were privileged to go to an ASCI teacher’s Workshop together. We were privileged to take part in several seminars dealing with difficult issues.
Moriah and Susan decide to dye their hair black. Boys did it when we were in Jungle Camp.
Christmas was a huge surprise….again! Every year we seem to be saying to the kids “Christmas will be very slim this year.” We had an unusually low November voucher (which takes care of December expenses) and did not even have enough money to pay for bills automatically deducted.) We told you about the Love Committee already, we ended up with some other large contributions in December and an overwhelming January! God has brought new partners to our team and we are praying to be at 100% support by the end of 2012!
Roland and another missionary Alan, worked hard to turn an antique king sized bed frame into a bunk bed for Susan. Take at look:
Jinni is currently writing a play for Easter with her drama class. She is encouraged by the students’ input, yet feels slightly daunted by the endeavor. Imaginary in nature, yet attempting to stick to Scripture as much as possible, they are undertaking the synopsis of Jesus being born in 1988. This Easter, would be the first Easter and Year 1. She has enjoyed the research, and believes it is a good learning experience for all! Pray for one of her students who will be needing an appendectomy before the performance!
Roland is ever busy with IT opportunities: Web meetings, network issues, researching phone systems, ongoing computer issues with everyone, etc, etc. He also has been busy making sure our wood supply is replenished. We live on mostly wood heat, so if it gets used up…well…brrr!
Elijah with our RMFBC Teen Group went to Toronto to compete in the regional quizzing with Word of Life. Their team won every section and he quizzed out 3 times. This was just a practice really, for the upcoming national event in April.
Roland, Jinni and Susan have had a chance to help out in the kitchen at a nearby camp. It is a lot of hard work to feed many hungry campers and Susan has been a huge help. She competes in final of chess tournament today.
Moriah has been very diligent in her studies. For her first research paper, she chose to write about how archaeology and prophecies prove the Bible is true. In this teacher’s opinion, it is of college level material. She has done an amazing amount of research, and had 1,000 words for her rough draft. 500-600 words was the requirement.
Sometime in March we hope to embark on a new cultural experience. Tapping trees and making maple syrup. Pictures and details to follow.
And the best news for last, the reason we are here: All of you! Thank you for your partnership with us! We are privileged to share in all God is doing around the world to make Jesus known.
Merry Christmas!
We are very grateful for family, friends and especially for Jesus Christ Our Savior, Who was willing to leave the comforts and glory of heaven, and come to earth to teach us, love us and show us the way to eternal life!
Our family (Roland, Jinni, Moriah & RJ – up from Bible School) had the privilege of sharing a Christmas drama in one of the communities up here. It was a special blessing for all of us. We also had 2 performances on campus, and Jinni’s drama students presented several songs and a drama. Below are pictures from that event.
Scene from "Nativity on the Square"
NTMC Academy Ensemble
Once again we have been overwhelmed with the generosity of God’s people, and from strangers. Surprise gifts of cash have appeared and yesterday 3 boxes of groceries plus a bag of gifts arrived from the local “Love Committee”.
We are humbled and glad to be here in Canada, being a small part of God’s big job or reaching tribal people with the good news of Jesus! May your days be Merry & Bright. Peace and goodwill to you this Christmas!