John Shrader 13: Is the End Near? (In Kafue?)

[anjulibai]

I suspect that the money he has one hand isn't meant for stuff like the tents. I'm guessing it's for basic living expenses. He spends it without thinking and then afterwards has to complain to Daddy that he's broke. 

[Gobsmacked]

It must be easy to just go out and buy things, even sales goods, when the money has just landed in your lap John. No effort from you required at all to spend OTHER people's money. Money that they, for some unfathomable reason, are still donating. 

Doh.

[Palimpsest]

1 hour ago, sawasdee said:

So he has $1500 on hand for a new 'need'? And WHY is the trailer not registered? He's had it months...

Please, Rufus, Harvey will dry up the donations from the credulous and uninformed in Katy!

Rufus knows.  Methinks Daddy may have given Johnny a credit card because every luxury item he prays for seems magically been "provided" for by prayer.

And I hope the funds dry up.  It is quite ridiculous.

5 hours ago, Howl said:

Meaning John had $1500 discretionary cash to buy tents. CASH.

Or credit.  Apparently Johnny is rolling in moulah.  But God or Daddy always provides.

[Palimpsest]

3 hours ago, ILoveJellybeans said:

I hope his plans aren't to make Esther and the kids travel along with him and live in a tent. Nobody who is heavily pregnant wants to live in a tent, and camping with 11 children (including toddlers) sounds like a nightmare. Giving birth in a tent doesn't sound good, especially if the nearest place to civilization is a remote village with a questionable chance of having a really good hospital if something goes wrong.

Nooo.  Relax.  Esther is home in Kafue.  In a house.  With the kids. And fridges, washing machines, printers, pianos, "libraries," and all the mod cons John can grift.  And lots of obstetrical equipment.  

The tents are only for John to play David Livingstone every few months.  In style.  In the "bush" with the "men."  When the whim takes him or when he feels desperate.

No way would Johnny ever live in a tent.  He is a very delicate flower. 

[subsaharanafrica]

John's gone to the border again and is still trying to get his tract as well as John and Romans translated into Portuguese to hand out in Mozambique. 

Oh John, the Portuguese spent a couple hundred years exporting Christianity across the globe. I can guarantee you that the books of John and Romans already exist in the Portuguese language in better quality than a random person you find to do it for you would produce. Try a local bookshop. 

In other news John has stated that Arcade and Jolis have "gone off into rebellion and sin". 

And also he's apparently realized that without Boyd there is no one to translate for him. Therefore after (how long has he been there again?) he has started trying to learn the local language so that he can preach. 

[Lurky]

Genuinely can't understand why missionaries don't learn "the local language" before they head out to their mission field (as part of the planning/preparation process!  ha! Who am I kidding?) - but even if that's not possible, how is it not number 1 priority when they get there? 

There might be a bit more excuse for John with Zambian languages than, say, the Dillards and Spanish, but that's more of a case of "buy a specialist language course.  But yeah, that involves that 4 letter word that John finds obscene:  W O R K

[samurai_sarah]

12 minutes ago, Lurky said:

Genuinely can't understand why missionaries don't learn "the local language" before they head out to their mission field (as part of the planning/preparation process!  ha! Who am I kidding?) - but even if that's not possible, how is it not number 1 priority when they get there? 

(snip)

You'd think they'd try at least! Having said that, some of my friends who work in development and/or anthropological research found it pretty difficult to learn a local language. Mostly because they couldn't find anyone who could teach them, before they set off. However they learned locally and/or hired interpreters.

As you rightly pointed out, this takes work. Something Shrader isn't known for. It costs blood, sweat and tears to not only learn a language, but to learn about the entire culture behind it. One doesn't go without the other, but Shrader seems happy to ignore all of it. Without even trying. Not that I'm surprised...

[Palimpsest]

@subsaharanafrica has given a great synopsis above but I want to save this drivel for posterity.  @Milly-Molly-Mandy, perhaps don't read while baby is eating.  

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Left the village of Chisobe (which literally means, "We are lost") this morning before 6 am.

You told us that yesterday.  So you got up early.

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We headed to Boma, passing many villages along the way. To our left, we saw the sun rising across the waters of the Luangwa river, with the country of Mozambique on the other side. This river meets the waters of the mighty Zambezi at Boma. Once we reached, we were standing in Zambia, and the picture of the guys in the boat is looking across the Luangwa River to Mozambique, and just behind us to our right is the Zambezi and across that river is the nation of Zimbabwe.

Tour guide.  I wonder whether John has read the Just So Stories.  John, do you want to know what the crocodile has for dinner?   "Go to the banks of the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo Luangwa River, all set about with fever-trees, and find out."  But don't kill any Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snakes.

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They're still asking for our tract in Portuguese there in Boma,

I wonder which tract that is.  John can't still be using Roderick's testimony now he's fled the coop.

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and we need John and Romans in Portuguese, if anyone has a contact on that! Please pray that we can get the tract translated into Portuguese. I'm also looking for good discipleship material in the same (thinking ahead).

http://biblesociety-zambia.org/ and http://worldbibles.org/get_languages/eng/ZM/___

They both have translations into most of the languages John will need.  And Portuguese.

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We witnessed, passed out John and Romans with Gospel tracts in both English and Nyanja, and made some good contacts.

The "Baptist" church in Boma teaches that you are born again by Baptism. They even have a Bible School teaching the same.  Oh how the truth needs be taught, preached, and proclaimed in these villages.

No! You don't say.  What a total shocker!

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Satan has successfully taken out the men we were training to go to Burundi and here in Zambia. They have sadly gone off into rebellion and sin. Please, please pray for them.

How my heart breaks to think of the many souls that are perishing.

How about unblocking them from your Facebook, John?

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Pray that I can learn Nyanja well enough to witness and preach.

Pray that God raises up faithful men here in Africa. Humble, teachable, honorable, and servant-hearted men to reach their countrymen.

You utter fart-face John.  All the things you, most decidedly, are NOT!  Poor Roderick.  What a diss.

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Maybe God will raise up some of these young men for His work one day.

Pray for protection against the attacks of the enemy, the lies of false brethren, and the weakness and weariness of the flesh.

Pray that Christ might Increase and we might decrease.

Praying that John's lies are exposed and that he takes to his bed with some minor or imaginary malady soon.  

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We're back in Chisobe, quickly breaking for lunch, then off to another village for maybe 4-5 hours of preaching and teaching.

Please pray dear saints,

 

Praying that John preaches for 4-5 hours without any audience except a single warthog.

[formergothardite]

John met a real life African chief! 

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Met my First Zambian Chief Today!

We had a very FULL day today, I had the privilege of being taken and introduced to a Chief.

There's protocol that must be followed, certain things that must be done. It was a wonderful experience! He even gave us his blessing to preach and evangelize in his District!

We made some great connections, I'll share more about them later.

Mr. Penwell, the Headman of Chisobe Village, is very, very interested in the Gospel. He was sitting "front and center" in the preaching time this afternoon in his village (he's pictured in the meeting shelter as we waited for the Chief). Please pray for his salvation.

Very full and exciting day coming up tomorrow.

I'm exhausted and heading to sleep now as we pull out at 5:30 am tomorrow morning heading for Boma, where the tips of three countries converge at the point of the Mighty Zambezi River and the Luangwa River. They are Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Please keep praying for us.

Bro. John Shrader 
Zambia

 

I'm actually shocked he followed the proper protocol. Of course John is exhausted from not doing a whole lot. 

Spoiler

 

[Gobsmacked]

John reminds me somewhat of DPiaT. It's all cosplay, words (hours of them) and imagery. He relishes in the adoration (imagined!), the crowds (imagined!) of the people who are just sat in their villages waiting for John to arrive. 

No John, they are not. You are just a one day wonder, a fair rolling into town to amuse people for a day or two. When the fair packs up and departs, normal life resumes. 

The whole escapade is just a second act in the play titled "John Schrader in scary sub-Saharan  Africa." Or even a sequel to the play "John's travails in Africa" 

My blood pressure is rising at the thought of all the wasted sheeple money that is sorely needed in Texas right now. 

[Howl]

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The "Baptist" church in Boma teaches that you are born again by Baptism. They even have a Bible School teaching the same.  Oh how the truth needs be taught, preached, and proclaimed in these villages.

You are going straight to hell if you aren't the right kind Christian believing in the same EXACT, correct Thing John believes in.  That's John's deal.  His entire shtick. That's it. The basis of his grandiose feelings that he IS, literally, the great white savior.  

I am beginning to wonder if John is searching for translators of already translated texts to make sure it's Gospel According to John. It's not enough for it to be a KJV translation, like you could get from the Bearing Precious Seed web site. 

[subsaharanafrica]

There are intensive Nyanja courses in Lilongwe, which isn't even the part of Malawi where the language is predominant. You can't tell me that such a course does not exist in Lusaka or that John hasn't had enough time on his hands with which to complete it. 

[Ms. Squishels]

John needs the good tents so that he has a nice place to lie down and rest if he should happen to get the vapors while he's out in the bush.

[Palimpsest]

4 hours ago, formergothardite said:

John met a real life African chief! 

Is it just me, or is Mr Penwell giving John's outstretched hands a very suspicious look.

[hollyandivy]

5 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

 

Praying that John preaches for 4-5 hours without any audience except a single warthog.

And what evil things has the poor warthog done to deserve such punishment?????

[Howl]

1 hour ago, Palimpsest said:

Is it just me, or is Mr Penwell giving John's outstretched hands a very suspicious look.

Based on body language, Mr. Penwell is experiencing a what the heck? moment and reflexively withdrawing. 

[SoybeanQueen]

I can't stop giggling at John's "Africa-theme" zebra shirt in a room full of proper shirts and ties.

[Gobsmacked]

John would have been most disappointed that Mr Penwell wasn't wrapped in an animal skin with a bone through his nose. John (IMO) gets his ideas of Africa from Boys comics circa 1950. Zebra shirt to meet the village chief? What a complete tourist, idiot and plonker etc............

[Khan]

9 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

Is it just me, or is Mr Penwell giving John's outstretched hands a very suspicious look.

That look reminds me of one Justin Trudeau gave the orange individual.  "To be rude or not to be rude?" 

[Naga Viper]

11 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

Is it just me, or is Mr Penwell giving John's outstretched hands a very suspicious look.

Maybe he's noticed how soft, smooth, and untouched by hard labor they are.

[Curious]

20 hours ago, Lurky said:

Genuinely can't understand why missionaries don't learn "the local language" before they head out to their mission field (as part of the planning/preparation process!  ha! Who am I kidding?) - but even if that's not possible, how is it not number 1 priority when they get there? 

There might be a bit more excuse for John with Zambian languages than, say, the Dillards and Spanish, but that's more of a case of "buy a specialist language course.  But yeah, that involves that 4 letter word that John finds obscene:  W O R K

I would never go to a country where I knew absolutely nothing of the language.  I would at least try to learn some basics before I went on even a vacation, just so I could get around, order food, etc.

John has been immersed (supposedly the best way for adults to learn new languages) for 2+ years now and seems to have picked up almost nothing of the local language(s).   I have to think it would almost take actual effort to remain so...illiterate?  uneducated?  not sure what word I'm searching for there

19 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

 

 

Praying that John preaches for 4-5 hours without any audience except a single warthog.

 

What did that warthog ever do to you? 

[Curious]

19 hours ago, formergothardite said:

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The first thing I noticed in this picture is what a lovely suit the man looking at Shrader with some suspicion is wearing.  Then there is John is some weird print from who knows when.

It seems to me if you are meeting the CHIEF of a village and there is protocol to be followed  you might put on something a little more formal.   I guess we should be glad he didn't go in his "authentic African garments"

 

[subsaharanafrica]

I travel to countries without learning any of the local language all of the time, including to Zambia.  Speaking English and French will get you far on this continent.  Truth be told, for a lot of places, if you are just going to visit you're not likely to come accross a situation where you won't be completely fine using English*.

John's not visiting.  John wants to live there and interact with people in every day life.  For that you definitely do need the local language.  He keeps saying that he's not there on vacation but he acts as if he is, because God knows he's not in a local market arguing about the inflated price of a kilo of rice.  He doesn't know how.  He also doesn't know how to have a conversation with a fundi when something needs to be fixed with one of the cars or anything for that matter.  When he gets lost on one of his expiditions into the bush he needs someone else to ask for directions.  He can't preach in such a manner that the people he's trying to convert will understand.  Without the local langauge his basic survival skills are pretty abysmal.     

*Where I live they actually use a dumbed down/fake version of the local language when dealing with tourists who want to speak a few words.  It's a bit weird.  Without getting into specifics all of the tourists, tour guide operators, and hotel staff use a slang greeting that is used by nobody else in this country because it's not really a greeting.  Using it pretty much only serves to announce that you don't speak any of the language. But they keep using it because greetings are involved here and people want to feel like they learn something/ that they tried when they visit.  

 

[Gobsmacked]

Looking at that photo a second time, Mr Penwell looks suspicious because although he is holding out his hand for a quick shake, John boy has his two hands out ready to go in for a two hand 'cuddle'. Poor Mr Penwell was probably at a complete loss about what to do with this up-start trying to take over at their first (and possibly only! Meeting). Trump does it too with his grabbing handshake. John was being terribly over familiar.

[formergothardite]

More from John's adventures in the scary African bush!

Spoiler

The sun was quickly dropping behind the horizon, highlighting the grass-thatched hut next to the burnt-brick church building we had just finished our meeting in.

As the people kept coming, at one point we had more than 70 folks packed into the small building.

I preached and taught verse by verse for more than three hours, and the people were very attentive. I believe some understood, for the first time in their lives, that Salvation is truly only by Grace through Faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ alone (Romans chapter 3), and not by Baptism or good works. That was what they told me they were trusting in when we started. There were no professions of faith, as you know, we do not push anyone, for conviction must come from the Holy Spirit of God, but the Seed of God's Word was planted. Conviction and Salvation are God's Work. We wait for Him to give the increase.

After we said our goodbyes, we then headed away from our tents and supper, going the opposite direction to the village of Siawakonsza.

There had been a misunderstanding, and people had been waiting more than two hours for us to come teach and preach the Word of God.

We used solar powered/charged lamps and though the darkness had fallen, people gathered around to hear the Word of God.

I briefly shared (without names or details), that we've been going through some very difficult trials in Kafue.

Justina, a very precious lady there in Siawakonsza, was so excited to see us again, and she gave us such sweet words of encouragement, asking us to continue, to keep coming, to keep preaching the Word of God!

What a blessing it was to my heart in my tired state.

We finally made it back safely to the tents. Packing up tomorrow and heading back home.

Thanks for your prayers dear friends,

Bro. John Shrader 
Zambia

As for the bolded, you know John gave every tiny detail.

These people look a bit on the bored side. 

Spoiler