Greetings from Addis Ababa Ethiopia!  Thank you for your prayers, I made it!

My connection at Dulles went off without a hitch.  I took the shuttle to my terminal and found the gate for Ethiopian Airlines.  I wasn’t there long before I ran into my friend Mark Hollingsworth from Compasssion International; the leader of our trip.  Soon , the rest of the team of other radio people started showing up from their various locations.  We quickly began to get to know each other and joke around.   This will be such an experience to have together.  There are several of us that are new at this.

While we waited for the last few radio people to arrive, we sat around, looked at a map of Ethiopia and talked about the upcoming trip.  Soon after that we had dinner and boarded the plane for our 14 hour flight!    The descent and departure in and out of Rome (our fuel stop) was beautiful.   I peeked out the window every once in a while to see mainly water or dessert.   I was able to see the sun set as we made our descent into Addis Ababa and it looked like the sky was on fire!  So gorgeous…thank you Lord!   I can’t believe I’m across the world!

The airport experience and drive from there to the hotel we are staying at was already eye opening and definitely affected me.  I am looking forward to seeing the hope and the provision that Compassion is providing to so many (and through many of you!) and I know that they can provide for so many more like those I saw today!  It will be great to hear the first hand accounts from the children and families.

Looking forward to sharing more of my experiences with you in pictures and reports.

Stacey  Gagne

-Experiencing Compassion in Ethiopia

STACEY GAGNE – Wow, it’s hard to believe that in less than a week I’ll be boarding a plane and heading to Ethiopia!  I received my Trip Guide put together by Compassion and it has a wealth of information to prepare me for my adventures.  I’m so thankful that they are already taking good care of me as I head to the other side of the world with them.

People have asked if I have a sponsored child in Africa and I don’t (yet).   I sponsor a (now) young man named Miguel from Bolivia.  I sponsored him during one of WJTL’s 26 Hours of Compassion several years ago.  He’s 15 now.  It’s so fun to receive letters from him and to watch him grow.  At first his letters were mostly pictures and now he sends thoughtful letters.    I know that at the center he is receiving Bible teaching, education, field trips,  and fun activities with people who desire to show him God’s love as they care for him.  He tells me about what he is learning and thanks me often.   It’s always amazing to me how his letters can be so encouraging to me.

Having never been overseas, I am sure that this trip will help me understand even more clearly why Compassion’s ministry is so important and even to relate better to my sponsored child!

Stay tuned for my live reports and blogs next week!!

JOHN SUMMERVILLE, TWR – GUEST BLOGGER. Stop reading this blog for just a moment, and in your mind, count how many bibles are in your house.  If your home is like mine, it’s hard to count how many our family has.  We have multiple copies of the NIV, NKJV, KJV, NLT, Message, and ESV.

Now count how many commentaries and other resources you have on your shelves.  Too many to count?  Me too.

Now count how many radios in your house.  Don’t forget to count the radios in your cars.

What’s the point?

We are blessed.  The Lord has given us tremendous resources.

WJTL and TWR are joining hands to give these same resources to house church pastors and lay leaders in China who live in the rural parts of China.  Many of them are leading congregations and they desperately need these resources.  These leaders need a study bible with notes, maps and references.  They need a radio to tune into solid bible teaching.  And they need books that correspond to these great radio programs.

You can share these resources with our brothers and sisters in Christ in China when you give a gift to the WJTL campaign.  Be part of something big.  https://www.twr.org/campaign/rck-wjtl2010

John Summerville is the Director of Radio Station Partnerships.
TWR broadcasts Jesus in 220 languages utilizing AM, FM, shortwave and the Internet.

JOHN SUMMERVILLE, TWR – GUEST BLOGGER. Imagine someone getting ready for bed and casually turning on his radio to keep him company and hearing about Jesus for the very first time.  That person is so intrigued that he begins listening every night.  Soon he accepts Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.  The excitement bubbles inside of him and he begins to tell his friends to listen too.  In just a little while three of his friends are listening, and in the morning when they see each other they discuss what they’ve heard.

The “buzz” about this little radio group continues to grow and their numbers increase from four to six.  Then it grows again to 10 and the group decides that they need a bible and should start a formal study group.

Now when the group gets to be 12 members with others asking if they can join, someone in the group suggests that they ought to start a church.  They choose one person to lead this effort.  They choose one person to be their pastor.

They choose you.

But the only thing you know about the bible is what you’ve heard on the radio.  And you only began listening to it because your friend asked you to just 3 months ago.

Imagine how important it would be for you to receive TWR’s China Radio Church Kit!  How valuable would the hard back study bible with its notes, references, and maps be to you and your ability to share spiritual truths with your new congregation of enthusiastic believers?  How crucial would the text books that correspond with the programs heard over TWR become in giving you solid theology and answers to so many of their questions?

Now imagine someone handing you those resources.  The smile on her face reassures you that despite being unprepared as a pastor, she is part of God’s answer in supplying you with everything you need to lead your congregation.

Let’s change the scenario.  Suppose you are that someone who is able to hand valuable teaching resources to a house church pastor?  Your smile reassures that new pastor that you are giving him these materials for his spiritual growth and you are one of many who are standing behind him in prayer.  Be a part of something big.  Support WJTL’s effort to equip Chinese House Church Pastors with a gift today.  https://www.twr.org/campaign/rck-wjtl2010

John Summerville is the Director of Radio Station Partnerships.  TWR broadcasts Jesus in 220 languages utilizing AM, FM, shortwave and the Internet.

LISA LANDIS – Gibby Mane of Catel Village, Guinea Bissau shares his testimony with Beryl Forrester. God is doing great things in West Africa through the work of Eastern Mennonite Missions.  Help us share Jesus with the good people of Gambia & Guinea Bissau.  Click here for how you can help! And thanks for doing what you can.

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JOHN SUMMERVILLE, TWR – GUEST BLOGGER.  A few years ago, while I was serving in the military, I was depressed and disgusted with my life. One day when I was on patrol duty around the barracks, I resolved to take my life with my weapon of service. Suddenly, a friend arrived to relieve me of my patrol. Seeing my depression, he held out a small radio receiver and said, “Take this receiver. I received a broadcast from abroad; somebody was speaking our language. Go take a rest and listen well to what the speaker says.”

I turned on the small receiver and a few minutes later I heard a voice read Acts 16:27-31: The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Through this verse, I believe I heard the voice of Jesus tell me, “Do not give yourself over to death, believe only! I am here to give you life. I will give life to you and to your family, and to your friend that is with you!”

You can change a person’s life by giving a radio.  Your gift of $75 provides a beautiful hard bound study bible, a portable radio, and 7 books that correspond with the radio programs heard over TWR.  Be a part of something big.  https://www.twr.org/campaign/rck-wjtl2010

John Summerville is the Director of Radio Station Partnerships.
TWR broadcasts Jesus in 220 languages utilizing AM, FM, shortwave and the Internet.

JOHN SUMMERVILLE, TWR – GUEST BLOGGER. His straight black hair framed a rugged and tan skinned face.   A broad smile swept over him with a twinge of humility reflecting like a pool of water in his eyes.  “I wasn’t going to tell you my story,” started Chang, “But I will tell you.”

Chang shifted his feet and with enthusiasm explained in a gentle voice that he is a pastor of a house church in China.  “The punishment I received for running an unregistered house church in my province is harsh and I was sentenced to two years hard labor.”

“The local authorities came to my church and hauled me off to prison.  Working 12, 14 and even 16 hour days, 7 days a week, making bricks was exhausting.  In the summers, temperatures would become extreme getting as high as 113 degrees.  Prisoners would simply drop from heat exhaustion.  Unsympathetic guards dumped water over my fellow prisoners and forced them back to work.”

Then this broad shouldered man of only 5’3 pointed a thick finger upward finishing his story with this, “Thank the Lord my head is so hard.  They could not beat it out of me.”

They could not beat Jesus out of Chang.  No matter what the authorities did, they could not beat out of him his love for our Lord.

Are you looking at your trials as a predicament or a privilege?  Suffering is something I personally avoid.  Yet, this godly Chinese house church pastor regarded suffering for the Lord a privilege.

And “privilege” is a great word to use when we consider we have the opportunity to partner with committed Christians all throughout China.  Thank you for your gifts to support Chinese house church pastors like Chang. https://www.twr.org/campaign/rck-wjtl2010

John Summerville is the Director of Radio Station Partnerships.  TWR broadcasts Jesus in 220 languages utilizing AM, FM, shortwave and the Internet.

Check out Highlights from my West Africa trip with EMM!

My West Africa Trip Highlights

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Check out the footage of the current Catel, Guinea Bissau School and then read how you can help the kids of Catel Village.

School building for a West African village

At least 300 children in the village of Catel, Guinea-Bissau, are elementary school age, but many of them do not attend school. Very few are literate. Currently the village has two school classrooms, but one is made of palm fronds and needs to be rebuilt each year after the rainy season, and the other building is incomplete. Providing a durable, permanent school building will be the first step in addressing the village’s educational needs, boosting children’s self-esteem, and combating poverty.

We plan to erect a four-classroom mud-brick structure with cement floors and a corrugate metal roof. The classrooms should then be furnished with student tables and benches.

The village will provide labor for the basic construction; the village will also be providing some funds through the sale of their cashews to the MEHDA cashew processing plant in Catel.

1210 Elementary school building (Catel, Guinea-Bissau)

A – $20 will provide one sack of cement for the floor.

B – $50 will help to provide windows and doors.

C – $100 will help to provide a corrugated metal roof (total cost $4,000).

Donate now and designate your funds for “West Africa project 1210.”

What an inspiring, rewarding, eye-opening experience spending time with EMM mission workers in Pirang Village, Gambia and Catel Village, Guinea Bissau.  And thanks to a volcano that most had never heard of- let alone are able to pronounce-my trip was extended 3 extra days. 

You are welcome to view my West Africa pictures here and check out some videos I shot here.  More coming soon!

I have a new respect for missionaries working in far off lands.  EMM mission worker Beryl Forrester reminded me that while there is a great need for expatriate missionaries like Beryl in West Africa, there is also a great need for people back home to support their mission work.  During my stay in West Africa I saw & experienced the many modern conveniences given up to live and work in a far off land-like electricity, or running water and it reminded me that there is much I can give up here in the states to support what people like Gary & Denise Williamson and Beryl Forrester, and the YES teams, mission interns, etc. are doing on location. 

I invite you to join me and the WJTL team & EMM is helping to build a school in Catel, Guinea Bissau and improve education there as well as in Pirang Village, Gambia.   At school the kids learn to read, have a meal, are given opportunities for advanced education that they might not otherwise have and are introduced to Christianity.   It’s through the holistic work of organizations like Eastern Mennonite Missions that communities like Pirang and Catel are given hope through followers of Jesus meeting both physical and spiritual needs.  Pleas join me in bringing hope to West Africa through EMM by clicking here.

And thanks for all of your prayers that I arrive home safely.  God is good!