Stephen Schaefer began taking private piano lessons as a young child. Music is a very important part of his life and beyond the piano he has learned to play several other musical instruments, such as the guitar, trumpet, bass, and banjo just to name a few. Growing up in North Carolina, Stephen has always been a part of the church. He attended youth camps in the summer and was greatly involved with the youth and music ministries. As a teenager, he was a part of a Christian band named North Ward that achieved a remarkable amount of local success in the High Point, NC area. In 2003, he went to Paraguay for the first time on a short-term missions trip with Ward Avenue Church of God of Prophecy and nothing has ever been the same since. On the 2003 team he helped to build the structure that is now the Safe Harbor Children’s Home located in the town of Carapeguá. Since that trip, Stephen has returned to Paraguay every year assisting in the ministry of Paraguay Missions, operated by COGOP missionaries Dan and Gwen Miller. Over the years he has helped coordinate children’s retreats, establish community centers, and always volunteers to offer his musical talent to further the ongoing work in Paraguay. In 2007, he met his wife Jessica Schaefer while on yet another mission team to Paraguay. Since then, he has dedicated himself preparing to become a missionary, which includes graduating with a bachelors from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. He knows that God has been guiding him all of his life and preparing him for the moment when he would step into a leadership role as a full-time missionary.
Jessica Schaefer knew from a very young age that international missions would be a passion for her life. At seven-years old she told her aunt that one day she wanted to be a missionary. Growing up in Georgia, she has always been involved in various ministries of the chuch including music and youth. When she was thirteen-years old her pastor’s wife at the time asked her if she wanted to go to Mexico on a mission trip- her answer was a resounding yes! After returning from Mexico, Jessica knew she had received confirmation of exactly what she was meant to do in life. She immediately began learning Spanish and looking for other mission opportunities. In 2006, she went on a mission trip to Peru and met missionary Dan Miller who invited her to visit Paraguay. In 2007, she made it to Paraguay where she met her future husband, Stephen. After meeting in 2007, she and Stephen dated for three years before deciding to marry in 2010. Jessica has prepared for years to be a missionary which includes being very involved with her local church as a missions director and graduating with two bachelors from the University of Georgia and a masters from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She feels blessed by God and believes that he has ordained her steps so that she could fulfill her calling and make all her dreams become reality.
Sampson Schaefer had no idea when he was adopted in 2011 that he would one day become a world traveling pup. However, being ever resilient and armed with several chewy toys and dog bones, he is excited to be a part of Mission 403 and the work in Paraguay. He enjoys lazy days, lying on the porch, and giving high-fives to everyone he meets. His hobbies include sleeping, eating, and running with shoes in his mouth as his owner Jessica chases him around the house.