Dear Friends:

We’ve come to the end of another year. Did you accomplish what you set out to do this year? Or are you going to repeat the same resolution for 2018? What if you give something back to God?

I feel closer to God this year because I trusted in Him with all my heart (most days), to lead me and guide me through my day without having to hurry and scurry through to get everything done on my ‘to-do list’! I learned to live in the moment, with less stress. It is a very peaceful way to go through life, and I like it!!!

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians 4:6-7

What would you like to give back to God in 2018? This is the question Pam asks every year of our staff and our girls. As the girls took turns opening their Christmas gifts, they had the following responses to this question:
TIME
LOVE
MYSELF
COURAGE
MORE TRUST
MY STRUGGLES
MORE WAYS TO SERVE
TALENTS & RESOURCES
CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

I pray that you find peace in your life with whatever it is you might choose to give back to God.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!”  ~ Philippians 4:4-7

Blessings . . .

Jan

Prayer Requests:
~ for the girls to recognize they are almost half-way through the school year, and that they desire to actively seek the healing that is waiting for them, in the next few months.

~ for one of our girls who has left the program; please pray for a hedge of protection around her, and that she will remember what she has learned here and will come to faith in Christ.

~ for the girls who have not accepted Jesus Christ yet as their Lord and Savior, that their hearts are moved to desire all that He has to offer!

Praise Reports:
~ for all that the girls are willing to have a closer relationship with God.

~ for the love of God the girls felt with all of the special Christmas gifts they received!

~ for new Christmas memories created for the girls as they participated in our school Christmas party.

Wish List:

File Cabinets

Please see list on last post for all other items.

Merry Christmas Friends:

How to sum up this year, never mind the past 20 in one short letter, other than to say God is good and He is faithful. Agape House celebrated its 20th anniversary this past November by sharing a 3-part video about how awesome our God is, that He is faithful to break the chains and set the captives free! (Note: This 3-part series can be viewed our website under ‘What We Do; Our History’).

This year we are ministering God’s hope and healing by sharing the love of Jesus to 17 girls and their families. Both our Teen Home and Transitional Living Home are full, and we continue to get telephone calls asking for help. It reminds me of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to rest their head and give birth to our Savior, but all the inns were full. Until one man said they could use his stable – he offered what he had and the Son of God came to earth to give us the greatest gift of all, His love, all the way to the cross.

This Christmas season as you may be looking for the perfect gift, remember the greatest gift is love; our love and God’s love. Love transforms lives, heals broken hearts and sets captives free. We don’t need more stuff, we need more Jesus because He alone is the greatest gift of all.

Thank you for your love and support and for helping us share the love of Jesus with these girls and families. Thank you for being like the inn keeper offering your gifts, talents and resources to make a difference.

Praying Jesus’ love fills your hearts and home this Christmas.

With all His Love,
Pam Patterson

WISH LIST:
Box Tops for Education: This school year, our goal is to earn $1,000! Clipping Box Tops is an easy way to help earn cash for our school. Each one is worth 10¢ for our school! Just look for the pink Box Tops on hundreds of products. All you have to do is clip them and drop them in one of the collection jars located at the Home, School, Counseling Center and Transitional Home. Or if you live out of town just save them up for a couple months and mail to the school. That money will be used to pay for art, music and computers for the school as those items are not in the regular budget. A list of participating products can be found at www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products

We could win 10,000 boxtops (that’s a $1,000) for Agape just by signing up on BoxTops4Education.com, selecting Agape House to support, and then clicking the sweepstakes link below to be registered. Each registered email address can submit an entry form once/day during the month of December. PLEASE consider registering (you get cool coupons for products too). Details and links are below. Please share with all Agape supporters and staff!

First: Sign up to be a member of BoxTops4Education.com to enter and designate Agape School to support during the Sweepstakes Period by going to: http://www.boxtops4education.com (membership is free)

Second: To enter online sweepstakes, go to:
http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/sweepstakes/2017/lysol-holiday-cheer
to complete and submit the online Sweepstakes entry form during the sweepstakes period (begins December 1, 2017 and ends December 29, 2017 (“Sweepstakes Period”).

Thank you cards
Stamps
Extra large band-aides, Cough Drops, Dayquil, Nyquil, Robitussin, Sudafed, Benadryl, Neosporin, hydrocortisone cream
Kitchen Cabinets for the MPR Kitchen (if you are renovating your kitchen, would you consider donating your old cabinets?)
Computer (up to 2 years old – does not need to be new) for use in the Home

Santa Cause is in Town!

Join us at the 2nd Annual Santa Cause and the “12 Charities of Christmas Tree Festival” at the winter harbor in the wooden boat center at Gage Marine/Pier 290 (1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay! Charities create a themed winter wonderland by decorating a Christmas tree surrounded with marvelous prizes. Visitors stroll through the beautifully decorated trees and can purchase raffle tickets to enter into any of the “Twelve Charities of Christmas” raffle boxes. Raffle tickets are $1 each (110 for $100). Don’t miss the chance to win many amazing prizes!

Agape House’s themed tree is “Tropical Paradise Getaway” with a Grand Prize of a one-week trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, including round trip air fare for 2 and $500 spending cash. 100% of the “Tree Festival” proceeds will be divided among the 12 charities accordingly.
So help us fill our box for your chance to win our Grand Prize “Tropical Paradise Getaway” package or any of these additional generous prizes: Tiki Bar with Barstools & more; Bar Cart; Abbey Resort Spa Package for 6 Adults; “Pie a Month” for 12 months; Beach Adirondack chair & more; Kayak; Dinner for 2 at Cafe Calamari; Frontier Flowers of Fontana $100 Gift Certificate; Medussa Grill & Bistro $100 Gift Certificate; and Lake Geneva Canopy Zip Line Tour for 2 & Gino’s East $50 Gift Certificate.

View the trees:
Mon-Fri from 4pm-9pm
Sat-Sun from 12pm-9pm beginning Nov. 24 through Dec. 30!

Visit santacauses.org for details!
COUNSELING SERVICES IN MUKWONAGO

Contact Carol Hayes, B.A, Christian Counselor
262.894.7397 (text/voicemail)

Did you know you can support Agape House for Girls just by shopping Amazon for your holiday gift giving needs? Many of you shop Amazon weekly and don’t even realize that we are part of Amazon’s amazing give back program, Amazon Smile!

All you have to do is shop http://smile.amazon.com, choose Agape House, Inc. and every purchase you make, Amazon donates money to our mission! You can give year ’round just by shopping! So easy!!