STACEY GAGNE –   Today was the kind of day where by the end of the day we had to remind ourselves that we did indeed see and do it all in one day.   In quick summary:  we visited a brand new  project, one of my teammates met her sponsored child, 3 people made decisions for Christ (2 moms and a teenager), took 2 home visits, had dinner and heard testimony from Leadership Development Program students and leaders and even did some shopping and packing.  With so many experiences to update you on.  I will start by just sharing some photos from the day.    Stay tuned for specifics soon!  Praise God for the work of Compassion International here in Ethiopia!

STACEY GAGNE –  Today was the day that we spent at the FBI Church, or Faith Bible International Church.    WJTL has gotten to be a part of helping this church partner with Compassion as many of our listeners joined the Child Sponsorship Program in 2010.

What a difference a couple of years makes!  When we were here in 2010 there was final construction taking place on the building that was newly built and dedicated.   Now they have a huge thriving church with plans to build a school on the property in the near future.  They also discussed plans to put cobblestone or some sort of pavers in the front entrance area where the kids play futball.
The church holds a weekly healing service on Wednesdays.  It was sort of strange to be in a packed out church in the middle of the day on a weekday, however many of the people who were there have flexible jobs, no jobs, or are just so desperate for the Lord and healing that they were there.  It was a powerful powerful service full of energetic worship and amazing encounters with the Lord.  We saw God move in miraculous ways!!!  They honored us as guests and invited us up onto the stage to share with the congregation.  That was quite an honor.

We spent a good deal of time playing with the kids that were there at the church that were not in school for whatever reason.   I blew bubbles with them, learned some playground games and danced with them.

Our afternoon was very special as we visited the homes of two little boys:  Fitsum and Daniel.  Fitsum lives with his father, sister and cousin.  His mother passed away when he was only 1 year old and so his father has a lot of responsibility trying to make a living as a laborer and pay rent on his one room home.  He repeatedly shared his thankfulness for Compassion and for our visit as he has very little camaraderie in his life.  We were able to provide the family with several important items including rice, coffee, flour,  pasta, oil, and tea.

Visiting little Daniel was special to me, as I am friends with his sponsor!  I was able to represent her,  bring the gifts that she had purchased for him and his mother and get to hear from his mom.  He is blessed to have both parents in his life and they live in one of the nicer homes that I have visited… A two room home that even had a television.  His mothers biggest prayer for her children is that they would thrive and grow up with hope and a future that she did not have when she was a child.   She was gushing with thanks for Daniels sponsorship.  That little boy is beaming and thriving.  Praise God.

We wrapped up our day having dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant with traditional food and dance.  It was a fun time to spend together as a team and enjoy the rich culture!

I will be posting another blog soon with lots of pictures.  I’m thankful for another day well spent here in Addis Ababa hearing and sharing the good news of Jesus and how His love is being spread through the work of Compassion International!

STACEY GAGNE- I think these beautiful photos speak much louder than words.

Stacey with Senait, her sponsored child.

STACEY GAGNE –  Greetings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!  Our team has had a very full and inspiring day today as we visited Ethiopia’s Compassion Office and the Sadamo Guenet Church project, also the home of Senait, the beautiful little girl that I have the pleasure of sponsoring.

We had the privilege of joining the Compassion staff with their morning devotions this morning.  Not only did we receive encouragement as we worshiped with them, but they prayed for us.  We spent time the Country Director Tsehaywota Taddesse.  He truly shared his heart with us and shared the testimony of how God moved his heart for children.  He shared how “God mobilizes the world for the heart of even just one child”.

It was eye opening to hear that there are 370 churches in partnership with Compassion in Ethiopia and many anxious to be added to that list!  I love that Compassion has a heart to see local church bodies grow by way of families who become involved in the program and in turn become involved with the church body and learning about the love of Jesus.

This afternoon we headed out to Sedamo Guenet Church where we were greeted by the church staff, compassion site directors and families involved with the program.  We were treated to a coffee ceremony, helped feed children their lunch and heard the testimony of several mothers who are a part of the Child Survival Program and have received Jesus as their Lord as a result of how they have been impacted.  The CSP program is fairly new for this project, having been established in 2002.  There are 36 children and 35 mothers currently involved.    183 children are registered to the Child Sponsorship program.

Our time with all of the children was very sweet; of course mine was focused on Senait and her mother Aberush.   Oh how she has grown and looks so much healthier than she did in 2010!   We played together, talked, sang,  I had the opportunity to visit her home and present them with gifts.   Mom, Aberush pulled out a special chest she had tucked away for her most special things and in it were the letters that I have sent to Senait.  Wow.  That brought me to tears.  When it was time to say goodbye, there were many hugs and kisses as we walked out to our van.  We were almost all loaded into the van and ready to close the door and Senait’s mom Aberush rushed back over to the van in tears and gave me one final long hug.    Aberush and Senait live with the grandmother who pulled me aside earlier in the day to share how much her family has been impacted since Senait’s sponsorship.   Though she is extremely young and shy,  Aberush’s actions spoke that to me in volumes.

Child sponsorship matters.  It impacts children, families and in turn communities and beyond.  I welcome you to begin praying now about being involved in a families life and participating in WJTL’s 26 hours of Compassion February 20 -21.      I also invite those of you who are current sponsors or even potential sponsors to pray about the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia in August with us to meet your child and get involved with a service project at the church where they receive their care.  Our visits are a HUGE encouragement to them.

I hope that you are staying tuned to the live reports.  You can also go back to listen to them at our wjtl casts page.   More photos are coming soon and video will be edited and posted in the near future.

Serving with joy and delight here in Ethiopia!

Stacey Gagne

JOHN SHIRK – From Ephesians 3:17 and 18-And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

His love is wide. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

His love is long. Isaiah 59:1 says, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save.” Jesus came the distance from heaven to earth to rescue us from the eternal consequences of our sin.

His love is high. Psalm 103:11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”

His love is deep. Micah 7:19 says, “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

Each dimension of God’s love is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

KRISTI LEIGH — Good morning!  It’s beautiful to know that so many of you are singing songs of praise to God throughout our region this morning!  The playlist is below.  Please let me know if you have song questions or if you’d like me to add you to the Playlist Email Group.

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com

ANN D’ALESSANDRO –

CMI Productions now has a Facebook page and we would Love it if you would Like us!!!
You can see information on upcoming concerts, watch videos, enter Facebook contests and all kinds of fun stuff to help you stay up to date on upcoming shows!  (And we have a lot of them this Spring!)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CMI-Productions/314429142008579?fref=ts

FRED MCNAUGHTON – January 18, 19 and 20, 2013.

5) Showing of the movie “Last Ounce of Courage” at the Living Waters Theater; tomorrow and Sunday (Jan 19 & 20)7pm. Doors open at 6pm. Freewill offering, no reservations needed.  More Info: (717) 687-4263

4) FREE showing of the movie October Baby tomorrow (Sat. Jan. 19th) at 6:30pm at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church. Before and after the movie meet local ministries involved in promoting the value of human life. More info: 717-538-4889

3) October Baby, a feature length film will be shown at Jerusalem Church 1620 Newport Rd Manheim at 6:30pm Sunday (January 20th).  Following the movie, Lisa Hosler of Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services will share. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.  The movie is rated PG-13 and deals with the serious emotions of abortion.  Parents should use discretion in bringing children.  More info:  717 665-6565

2) A string quartet of present and past members of the Philadelphia Orchestra will be in concert Sunday (Jan. 20th) at 6:30pm at Calvary Monument Bible Church in Paradise.    More info: calvarymonument.org

1) Coffeehouse and Open Mic night with Unusual Suspects
Tonight (Friday, Jan 18) 7-9p at the Community Room on Prince in downtown Lancaster.  The event is free, there will be an opportunity to donate to support the music of Unusual Suspects.

STACEY GAGNE –  I am thrilled to invite you to tune in next week to follow along as I report live for WJTL from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with Compassion International.  I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with you!

Many listeners will remember that I took a trip to Africa on behalf of the station in the fall of 2010.  The trip was life changing for me and also for the children and sponsors who were connected as a result of the trip and WJTL’s 26 Hours of Compassion Event we held upon my return.    On this trip, we’ll be following up with the Faith Bible International Church Compassion project and also visiting the homes of some of  the children being sponsored locally!   I’ll also be visiting Senait, the beautiful little girl that I sponsor, and had the privilege of meeting on our last trip.  Needless to say, I’m excited to bring some goodies to share with her and the kids at the projects that we visit.

Our team will also visit  Ethiopia’s Compassion Office, meet some students in the Leadership Development program,  and spend time at several other projects where I’ll get updates on Compasssion’s work there, where the needs are, and find out how WJTL listeners can get involved during our next 26 Hours of Compassion event February 20-21.

Join WJTL  January 21 – 25 as I get a second chance at a once in a lifetime experience.  I anticipate sharing many stories with you through live reports, blogs, videos and photos and more.