LISA LANDIS- A reminder that the next KCB Roller Skating Party is MAY 31, NOT this weekend. Since the last skate was postponed due to the wintry weather, we decided to move the March 22nd date so as not to hold two skates in the same month. In case you didn’t get word, the last skate of the season is MAY 31 from 10am-11am at Castle Roller Skating in Lancaster. I hope to see you then for tons of KCB skating fun! Visit the Calendar at KIDSCOOKIEBREAK.COM, or click the Kids tab here at WJTL.COM for more KCB live on location dates. We are very busy starting April 26th!
Lisa Landis – This Thursday I travel to Kenya to report on the community of Alendu with Rafiki Africa. Rafiki Africa works together with African communities to provide practical resources, training, real and lasting hope, dignity, encouragement, spiritual growth and guidance. It’s been two years since I visited Africa. My last trip was with Eastern Mennonite Missions in April of 2010. Before I travel on Thursday, I wanted to update you on the Guinea-Bissau school project in Western Africa. Here is a quick video of the progress:
The walls are up and the roof is on the school building in Catel, Guinea-Bissau, that WJTL listeners so generously contributed to in 2010-2011. EMM worker Beryl Forester said all the funds that were raised have been used – about $11,000.
Beryl estimates that another $5,000 would cover the cost of plastering both the inside and the outside of the school, pouring the concrete floors, putting in windows and doors, and painting the building. Of course, furnishings like desks and benches would also be helpful; making or purchasing them would likely cost an additional $3,000. This building will have four classrooms, each accommodating 30 students, 120 per session. There are two sessions per day.
There’s still a lot to be done! Catel has one of the worst educational situations in the region. Most of the teachers do not receive a salary so classes are quite irregular and the instructional level is insufficient. Sadly, many of the students who go through the program still can’t read or write when they finish.
But there’s also reason to hope! A man who is a native of Catel will soon complete his teacher’s certificate and Beryl reports that he has a dream to return to Catel to help create an effective school environment here.
Another new project in Guinea-Bissau
Another exciting possibility for the village is the prospect of getting a cashew processing project up and running. EMM is raising funds through a special Faithfunder campaign to run a pilot project. This would mean villagers could process their cashews in the country rather than shipping them to India for processing, which is what they do now. Processing the nuts locally, and establishing trade relationships directly with buyers, means the communities that grow the cashews also get the jobs and retain more of the profits. The community could see long-term economic development.
You can be part of this project, too. You can even get tasty cashew nuts in exchange for supporting it! But it’s only running until October 12. Go to www.emm.org/cashew and find out:
Why is EMM processing cashews in Guinea-Bissau?
What is Faithfunder?
How can people help?
Please pray for safety as I leave later this week for Kenya with Rafiki Africa. Rafiki AFrica is a non-profit run by Roger & Dorothy who run the African food stand at Lancaster Central Market. Rafiki Africa Foundation (Rafiki Africa) is a Christian faith based, 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization focused on poverty alleviation with a comprehensive approach. For more information visit www.rafikiafrica.org. And listen for videos, pictures, blogs, & live radio updates September 13-24.
5. Steven Courtney concert on Sun. Aug. 12th at 5PM at Elizabethtown Grace Brethren Church in Elizabethtown. 717-367-1281 stevencourtney.com
4. Community Day, sponsored by Community United Methodist Church, will be held on Saturday, August 11 in the Saginaw Picnic Grove. The picnic grove is located at the intersection of Long Road and Saginaw Road, Mt. Wolf. The activities will begin at 11:00 am. Phredd concert beginning at 1:00 pm. Food and drinks will be available, featuring Community’s famous chicken corn soup. Everyone is welcome! 717-266-1308
3. Rawlinsville Camp Meeting will be hosting Jessie Rothacker and Forgotten Friends on Saturday, August 11. Jessie’s show, which includes snakes, turtles, and all kinds of reptiles, as well as fun audience interaction, will start at 1 pm. (717) 284-2746 or check out www.rawlinsvillecamp.com Brett Rush will be playing at the Rawlinsville Camp Meeting on Sunday, August 12.
2. Ralley At Rosedale at Rosedale Camp Grove in Laureldale on Sat. Aug. 11th from 6-10PM. Speaker Joe Duerr and woship leaders Eric Schneiderhan of West Lawn UMC , Ashlin Hollinger and Jason Frey of Life Church Lancaster come together for one night of incredible worship and speaking. Free Admission, Food will be available. 610-301-9835
1. Second Friday in Lititz – Every Second Friday of each month, 5-9 p.m., local residents and visitors alike are invited to head to downtown Lititz, PA, a cool, safe and comfortable place for family and friends to get together-all ages welcome. Enjoy dinner downtown then take a relaxing stroll down the streets of our historic village – take your time! 717-626-6332 lititzpa.com/secondfriday_join.php
5. Travis Wetzel on Sat. July 14th from 7-8:45PM at Mt. Gretna Campmeeting in Mt. Gretna at part of their 2012 Heritage Festival. Free admission. An offering will be taken. ben@benwiley.com
4. Celebrity animal expert, Harrison Forbes, will offer safe travel tips to local pets and their human families on July 14 from 11AM-4PM at Freedom Toyota in Harrisburg. The popular film and broadcast trainer will demonstrate pet vehicle safety tips and hand out signed copies of his best-seller Dog Talk The festival, co-sponsored by The Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance, will feature a variety of exhibits and activities. Admission is free. 717-652-3660
3. October Baby this weekend, Saturday & Sunday at 7:00 PM at Life streams Productions in Ronks. It is s free event, a freewill offering will be taken. (717) 687-4263
2 Second Saturday Art Reception to benefit Children’s Home of York at the Office Furniture Outlet Saturday Art Reception. The event takes place July 14, 5-9 pm. It is free and open to the public. Second Saturday features food, beverages, live music from Greg Stuller, plus the work of eight local and regional artists.
#5-Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass create a time of innovative worship for all generations at Grace Baptist Church of Lancaster at 1899 Marietta Ave. Saturday, July 9th at 6pm.Admission is free and a freewill offering will be taken during the concert. http://www.gbclancaster.org
#4-Southen End Community Association Fest Celebration!Saturday, July 9 from 4 – 10pm. Games, food, Titanic Slide, Obstacle Course, dunk tank & more. Pony Rides from 5-8 p.m. Free admission & parking at the Solanco Fairgrounds. FIREWORKS at 10. For more information call SECA at 806-0123 or visit secarec.com.
#3-Historic Coleman Memorial Chapel’s 7th Annual Auction & Chicken BBQ—Baked Goods/Children’s Games fun and fellowship. The church will be open for self guided tours. Located 1/2 mile north of Brickerville on Rt. 501. Colemanchapel.org.
#2-Celebrate 2011 at the Teen Challenge Training Center Friday-Sunday. Speakers, Camping/RV Sites, music, food & games for the kids plus inflatable attractions, a fishing derby for children with a fireworks display Saturday night, free admission! More info at teenchallengetc.com.
#1 -2011 Faith Festival on Sat. July 9th from Noon-8PM at Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Freeland, MD. Free Event. Artists include:Brett Rush, Unsearchable Riches, Mount Zion Praise Band, Thru Me, & MORE. There will also be children’s activities in the “Fruits Of The Spirit” Childrens Tent. Benefits The Northern Baltimore Cluster Of “Volunteers In Mission”. http://faithfestival.webstarts.com/
LISA LANDIS- The Liz Hess Gallery is one of my favorite stops on “First Friday” downtown Lancaster. The gallery is smack in the middle of Prince Street’s gallery row-just look for the red umbrellas in the window. The gallery owner is Lancaster artist Liz Hess who is known for the signature “Red Umbrella” that she works into most of her paintings.
Liz is an amazing artist and she is also a woman of faith. I first met Liz when I had the chance to personally deliver 3 of her original paintings to a small village in Africa where they are being used by an Eastern Mennonite Missions missionary to explain the salvation story to the villagers living in Catel Village, Guinea Bissau.
Liz has a new series,”The Quiet Collection” and I was eager to stop by the gallery this past First Friday to have a look. It’s a series of paintbrushes and prose from the heart and hands of Liz. The paintings have been so popular, she can barely keep them in stock. She also works her red umbrella into the sacred series. Here Liz explains how her signature “Red Unbrella” came to be. I will post a new video soon featuring her new “Quiet Collection” paintings.
Stop by and say to Liz Hess at her Prince Street gallery downtown Lancaster this “First Friday”, June 3, 2011.
LISA LANDIS- In 2007 Hurricane Felix unleashed its power on the village of Boom Sirpi. The village is located along the Mosquito Coast (or Miskito Coast), Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Friends in Action Executive Director Tim Johnston and I visited with one of the village judges who was living in the village at the time of the storm. He talks about the storms impact and the hope that FIA is bringing to the people, who are still rebuilding after the 2007 storm.
LISA LANDIS- It’s been two weeks since my return home from an amazing trip with Friends In Action International (FIA) to Nicaragua. FIA is located in Middletown, PA. FIA is a team of people with diverse gifts and abilities who serve indigenous people groups and missionaries in remote parts of the world with humanitarian aid & relief projects while establishing the church.
Here is an example of how FIA is working in a remote part of the world. This video features several highlights from my visit to the small island Rama Cay, a half-hour boat ride from Bluefields, Nicaragua, on the Caribbean coastline. Approximately 883 people live on this tiny isalnd, which is the size of two city blocks. The island is overcrowded and FIA is helping to establish a village on the nearby mainland so there will be an environmentally stable and self-supporting community as the community continues to grow.
FIA is looking for people to come along side them as volunteers, work teams, and financial supporters so they can continue to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the Rama people. Visit FIAintl.org for information on how you can help.
LISA LANDIS- Jars of Clay is currently on The Shelter Tour stopping off at Grace Fellowship Church in Shrewsbury, PA, Saturday night for a SOLD OUT Show. The Shelter Tour features Jars of Clay, Matt Maher, Derek Webb, and Audrey Assad. They play Eastern University Sunday, April 17th in St. Davids, PA. Click here for ticket information.
We catch up with Matt Odmark of Jars of Clay 9:30 today at The 9 o’clock Coffee Break.
Enjoy this FUN Beatles cover that Jars of Clay made with Mercy Me, Matt Maher, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Afters & Lecrae on their last tour.
LISA LANDIS-I’m slowly easing back into the work week after an exciting time with Friends in Action Intl. reporting live from their work projects in Nicaragua.
We had some free time in Bluefields before we flew to Managua on Saturday. Here are a few of the pictures from our time in Bluefields. These are some of the places the Bluefields work teams get to experience, including trips to the market, the boat docks, & the town:
And here are some of the sites from our visit Sunday to Masaya, Nicaragua including “the lookout” over Lake Masaya:
Listeners can join Friends in Action work teams going to Nicaragua to build homes in May and June. Those interested can get more information or an application by calling the office at (717) 546-0208 or emailing FIA-USA@FIAintl.org.
LISA LANDIS- After our visit to the Rama Island we got back in the boat and traveled not far across the bay to the Rama Mainland. This is where FIA is working to build a village for the Rama people. A man named William is letting Friends in Action use some of his land to construct houses, teach the people agriculture, and generate wind power. This is where Karlita Bravo and her little brother and mom and dad live. They are the national missionaries with Central American missions who are partnering with the work of Friends in Action.
Here are some pictures from our Friday visit. The couple pictured is William and his cousin, the boats are their fishing boats and the cabin is one of the new cabins FIA is building to house works teams. The other house is the Bravo house and the base where Tim and other workers stay. I had a sweet siesta on their hammock. Nothing like being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the jungle. The church is also pictured below. The shot across the water is looking at the Rama Island from the Mainland.
As you see we left to go back to Bluefields as the sun was going down. Next I will post videos of our Friday visit. I hope to post those as we wait in the airport Monday.
