“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

Your Africa Community Transformation, Inc, (ACTS) partners both here and in Ethiopia join in wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year! At this time of year, when we celebrate the greatest gift ever given to man, we also celebrate each of you and your continued support which enables us to share the name of Jesus Christ among the unreached peoples of the world.

Bill Cornell is just back from Ethiopia. ACTS was asked to participate in the first ever Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) conference on health. The countries of South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Ethiopia are part of this organization and were well represented at the conference. When the organizers were informed about ACTS and its rural development work, they felt that there was certainly a place and a need for faith based organizations to be included in the work that is being
done. As a result, while other exhibitors were charged a fee for their booth space, ACTS was given a space on the exhibit floor free of charge. As we explained what this small ministry was all about, we were asked, no less than fifty times, about the possibility of not only expanding beyond our two Ethiopian villages, but beyond the borders of Ethiopia into all of the other countries. Oh, if that were only possible!

While visiting the schools, Bill had a first ever chance to meet and talk with the Wereda (county) chief administrator. He extolled the work of ACTS and expressed the gratitude of the two communities in which schools are operating. ACTS has been so successful that our visit to the current schools revealed that we are experiencing record enrollment. That’s the good news, the bad news is that we our falling short of the necessary number of child sponsors. Also, as the school buildings are now three+ years old and packed daily with nearly 70 kids to a classroom, maintenance needs are starting to arise.

In late March, a group of about ten people (including a few teenagers for the first time ever) will be traveling to Koshe and Woja. The primary purpose of this trip is to show and to share the love of Jesus Christ. We will update you on the travel plans as the departure date approaches.

In the meantime, we ask that you prayerfully consider a one time gift or an additional child sponsorship as we go forward in to the New Year. Don’t forget your purchase at Smile.Amazon.com where you designate Africa Community Transformation Services, Inc. Fresno, California will provide .5% of every purchase to ACTS from the Amazon Foundation.

May the blessings of this joyous season be with you and may you truly feel God’s love for you which is beyond all measure.

Blessings,
Karen and Bill Cornell
ACTS Board of Directors
ACTS Ethiopia