“I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given great joy and encouragement because you… have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” Philemon 1:6.7
Dear Friends of ACTS,
We pray that you and your loved ones enjoy this season as we celebrate the birth of our
Lord and Savior. This is the time of year when we can focus on those things that truly
matter in our lives – the love of friends and family, the love that our Lord has for each of us, and His call to reach out to those in need. I can assure you that your family members in Ethiopia, the kids, would personally thank you for the love that you have shown them if they were able.
Looking back at this past year, we can reflect on challenges we have faced. Some have been overcome and have become blessings and some continue to need attention. The Woja School building, our second, opened for the school year that began in September. We continue to receive photos of the kids which support what the team saw in May; that the health of the kids has truly benefited from the daily meal you have been providing for over a
year now. Encouraging reports continue to be received from our in country partners regarding the growth of His Kingdom among the Mareko people.
God continues to provide the resources that we need for the community transformation that, as stated in our name, is the purpose of our being. The funds needed to drill the well in the Woja village where water and power are nonexistent have been raised. We are still in need of funding for the pump and solar power to run it. A significant portion of the money needed to build the two kitchens is in hand and work will begin on them shortly after the first of the year. Then we will be in a position to turn our attention to the latrine at Woja and the necessary school expansion in Koshe allowing us to increase our grade offerings.
In the meantime, ACTS is blessed by the continued support of our partners and kids’ sponsors. While we are still in need of additional sponsors for a few of our 401 little ones, we have welcomed some new organizations into the ministry. We have made an effort to expand the awareness of the ministry. Linked to the website is an article that appeared in a small weekly newspaper in Michigan. As a result of this exposure, additional kids were sponsored. The Stitching for Missions ministry from the Good Shepherd Church of the North has made new little dresses and pants for each of the Woja kids.
Thanks to the efforts of Terri Fralick and her work exploring grants and donations,
CROCS has sent us one hundred pairs of shoes to take to the kids. A little girl told
her mother that instead of receiving gifts from her friends for her sixth birthday party,
she wanted her invitees to go into their closets and pick out something to give to the
kids in Ethiopia. Six bags of clothing were collected! Another child sent ACTS ten
dollars that she had earned from recycling. Not only is our work touching little hearts in
Ethiopia, but here at home as well. One of our supporters did some consulting work and had his fees paid in the form of a donation directly to the ministry. It is impossible to express what this support means to all of us involved in this ministry.
Karen and Bill Cornell are planning to spend most of the first quarter of the year in
Ethiopia. The plans are to work with the teachers to reinforce the training that ACTS
arranged for them this summer and to help organize the projects that were referenced
above. While a team has not been formed to join them, it is hoped that any of you who
want to spend some time in the villages will contact them about visiting while they are
there. Please put their unsettled plans for housing, transportation, as well as for their
ability to reflect Jesus’ love to those we serve in your prayers.
Also, please pray for the continued struggle ACTS is experiencing in trying to register as
a non-government organization doing charitable work in Ethiopia. The death of the Prime Minister over the summer coupled with the difficulty the current world environment is posing to those trying to form new organizations in unsettled countries has been challenging. Once we have achieved success, the administration of the ministry and the transfer of funds will be much easier.
We thank God for you. Without your support, ACTS would not be able to do the work that it does in taking God’s Word to, virtually, the end of the earth. Know that you are playing an important part in fulfilling The Great Commission. And know that all of us involved with the administration of ACTS are praying that each of you have a blessed Christmas
season.
If after prayerful consideration you choose to make a year-end gift to ACTS, please note that it must be received by December 31 to be recorded as a 2012 donation.
FLASH!
A few recent gifts have left us just $10,000 short of the amount needed to complete
the projects on the drawing board. Won’t you help us get over the top? Thank you and God Bless.
Africa Community Transformation Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation contributions to which are tax-deductible.