Shipment to Malawi Scheduled for February 29!Pastors Phiri and Andrew driving a tractor in Texas. They are going to be so excited to have a tractor of their own!

Circle of Hope has been given a TRACTOR and we're sending it to Malawi. You can imagine Pastor Phiri and Pastor Andrew dancing over this one, can't you? Now, how can you help? 

• Purchase Medical Supplies to go in the container. All medical equipment is being purchased from International Aid. Their technicians ensure that the items are working properly and are calibrated for 220v electricity. Please make your donation online at www.cohcommunity.org/give/ 

1. Nebulizer (for doing breathing treatments for Asthma patients) $75
2. Blood Pressure Cuffs $35
3. Exam Table $300
4. Pallet of Medical Supplies (bandages, antibiotic ointment, etc) $700
5. Lab-in-a-Suitcase (a complete lab with power source) $5895
6. For the complete shopping list click here.

• Be on hand to get books and other supplies loaded onto pallets.

The loading will be done in Indiana.

Contact Austin@cohcommunity.org if you can help load!

• Other Items Needed: All items should either be new or gently used. If you would like an in-kind donation receipt for the donation of your item, please let us know. 

1. Preschool tables and chairs (Check with local churches/daycares)
2. Hard-board toddler books
3. A comfortable reclining chair for Pastor Phiri  DONATED
4. 2 or 3 Electric Stoves (please ensure that all elements are working and knobs are intact)
5. Electric Sewing Machines
6. 110 to 220 power transformer (for the sewing machines)

All items must be shipped to: Max Meyer, 2784 W 500 N, North Manchester IN 46962, by February 24th.

• Help with Shipping Costs. It will cost $16,000 to send the container to Malawi. We need your help to get this container out of Indiana by the 29th and on the way to Malawi. Expected arrival date is June 4th. Just in time for our medical team arriving in Malawi on June 19th.

ANY QUESTIONS? Have an idea we didn't think of? Just email: Karen@cohcommunity.org or Austin@cohcommunity.org

NOTE: Shipping used clothing requires extra processes and time. We will not be shipping clothing on this container.

Elina, Lamake, Tasiana, Mika (Batwell not pictured here.)

Lamake (18), the oldest of five children, has been caring for his siblings for two years since the death of their parents. The children would go out each day to try and find work so they could buy food. Lamake managed to pay his school fees and keep his brothers at school, while Elina stayed home to keep house for her brothers.

As the hungry season began this December, Lamake became very discouraged. He could not find enough food for the children to eat. He went first of all to the local chief for her. "Go to Circle of Hope," the chief told him. But Lamake didn't go.

Next he went to the Traditional Authority. "Go to Circle of Hope," they told him. But Lamake didn't go.

Finally he went to Social Welfare. "Go to Circle of Hope," they told him. Lamake didn't go.

Instead, in his despair he took a handful of medicines hoping to end his trouble and escape from life.

He ended up in the hospital very sick. There a human rights worker found him. "Let's go together to Circle of Hope. You can find help there." So Lamake finally came to Circle of Hope.

Over the next several days, Pastor Phiri will be walking through the formalities of bringing the children into TImothy's Home. Lamake will continue his schooling and it is our prayer that with counseling and the relief of his burden that he will truly find HOPE!

Thank you for making it possible to bring children in from such difficult situations. If you are interested in sponsoring Lamake, Elina, Mika, Batwell or Tasiana, email karen@cohcommunity.org. Each of these children will need either one sponsor at $40 per month. Or two sponsors at $20 per month.

The word I want to emphasize today is SERVICE. The word SERVICE in the New Testament is the same word as WORSHIP!

At Circle of Hope we believe that one way we worship Jesus is to serve him. But we serve him best when we understand what he is doing and where he is working.

Psalm 25:12 puts it this way, "What are God-worshipers like?  Arrows aimed at God's bull's-eye." MSG

We invite you in 2012 to join us on an adventure in prayer to see what God is up to in Malawi. We want to worship him with our service to the poor, empowering community transformation and engaging in works of mercy and justice. We want every effort we make, every help we offer, every step we take to be an arrow aimed straight at God's bulls-eye.

Will you join us in prayer this year?

Download our prayer guide for January here!

Safe, warm on her back, he is not worried about me.

A tiny dirty fist reaches to grab the biscuit I hold out;

She runs giggling back to her friends.

Conversation whirls around the mat, rises in a unison burst of laughter;

The women share a joke I do not get.

You are nothing like a woman, a man says to me.

He’s right.

I can’t carry water on my head.

I can’t start a fire from burned out embers.

I can’t kill a chicken.

I can’t hoe an acre of corn.

If I were an African mother, my children would die of starvation.

Why do I love Africa?

Africa does nothing by halves.

From wailing depths of sorrow to soaring heights of joy,

Africa challenges me.

I sit in the night next to a mother,

The body of her dead child wrapped in a cloth beside her.

Tears leak from my eyes. She wails her pain into the night.

I dance through the morning in worship,

Drums,

Singing,

Clapping Hands,

With a mighty joyful noise,

Our song rises to Jesus.

Wake me up, Africa!

Shake me out of complacency.

I saw a man once at a wedding.

It was BYOB (bring your own bowl).

He brought a large serving bowl.

I stopped watching after he ate the third bowl full.

How strange, I said.

Six orphans sit in a circle;

Six spoonfuls of beans gathered into a plastic bag;

Supper for grandmother.

How sweet, I said.

I saw another man eat three plates of porridge.

Why are you eating so much? I asked.

There hasn’t been food in my house for three days.

I’m hungry, he said.

Oh.

Wake me up, Jesus.

The t-shirt says, I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

Teach me to live out of sorrow with completeness of Joy;

That I might take up my cross and follow You.

Teach me what it means to be hungry,

That I might learn to hunger for You.

Teach me to live in the elasticity of contentment,

That I might learn to be content in all circumstances.

That is why I love Africa.

Do you need Africa, too?

We are asking that our community join together to pray for the country of Malawi and the entire continent of Africa. Pray for the children, pastors and staff of the Grace Center. Pray for the government and for release from oppression for the people. We read in the book of Joel 1:13 “Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly…and cry out to the Lord.”

Will you take a few moments to gather together with us and pray?

Board member, Vickie Wisian testifies, “Having been there myself during January I am much aware that the season of Christ’s birth is the beginning of the season of hunger in Malawi. As we have our greatest abundance they have their greatest need. I can tell you first hand that it is a humbling experience to see people starving and one not forgotten. So, with more resolve than ever I am being obedient to call for this time of prayer.”

When: Saturday December 17, 2011

Where:

• Lubbock TX:  Vickie Wisian, 4605 14^th Street, Lubbock TX from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST
• Wilmore KY:  Karen Roller, 615 Bohicket Road, Wilmore KY from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
• Roann IN: Austin Carrothers, Roann Church of the Brethren, Roann IN from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

If you would like to open your home for prayer, please let us know.

Suggested Prayer Preparation:

1.   Pray for God to right your heart before Him. Psalm 139:23, Psalm 51:10. Give your whole self to the Father in preparation for prayer.

2.   Ask Jesus to align your mind with His mind and your heart with His heart listening for areas He may ask you to surrender to Him.

3.   Prepare your heart to receive the words of Jesus that He wants you to pray. This condition of the heart is the easiest when we ask Jesus to align us with His will in contrast to our will in the situation to be lifted up in prayer.

4.   Come join in prayer with an expectant heart and mind.

They called to say hello to us here in America!

I hope you enjoy their Christmas Greeting!

Happy Christmas!  Happy Christmas!

Greetings to all our friends in America!

Song: We give praise to God. Today is the day of giving praise!

Bertha: I want to thank you for all of the great things you have done for us!

Elisa: My name is Elisa Smith.

Karen: Thank you very much, Elisa.  Happy Christmas!

Elisa: Happy Christmas!

Karen: Thank you very much!

Elisa:  I am here on behalf of all of us children here.  We want to thank you for the way you have provided Christmas for us and for all that you do for us.  It is a great gift.  We are grateful and want to encourage you to keep up the wonderful support. Finally, I pray that God will add many years to your life. Thank you!

Enjoy these pictures and stories about their trip.

Pastors arrive at the Lexington Bluegrass Airport. Greeted by Sara Dailey and her daughters, Annie and Gracie, also Leonard Roller.

SCHEDULE:

October 5-7: Lubbock TX

October 8-10: Post TX

October 11: Amherst TX

October 12: Lubbock TX

October 13: Abernathy TX

October 14-17: Sweetwater TX

October 18-19: Kansas City MO

October 20: IWU, Marion IN

October 21 - 29: Wilmore KY

October 30: Destiny Community Church

November 1-5: Susanna Roller's WeddingTeam members 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 came to meet the pastors at the Lexington Airport.

November 7: IWU, Marion IN

November 8-10: Peoria IL

November 11-14: Roann IN

November 15-17: Wilmore KY

November 18: Washington DC

November 19: Depart for Malawi

It gives us a lot of pleasure to take such grown up steps and we hope you enjoy them, too!

2011 ANNUAL REPORT

2011 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITOR'S REPORT

2009 "Glory Team"