“Taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” ~ Psalm 34:8

Dear Friends:

I am always happy when we reach the end of January; to me it seems like the longest month of the year. The holiday celebrations are over, the days are short and cold, we’re dealing with winter weather conditions (although this year has not been too bad), and we need to think about getting our taxes done by April 15th! And through all of this, we are blessed because we are able to see how good God is, and take refuge in Him, all the time.
And now that we have reached the end of the month, we will see the days begin to fly by . . . soon we will have April Showers and May Flowers; God is good!

Blessings . . .

Jan

Walk Amazed With God at our 5K on Saturday, April 28, 2018. See full details and registration on our Events tab.

Please Pray For:
~ this ministry to be all that God has planned, and for our Board members to seek God’s wisdom and discernment regarding upcoming decisions.

~ a time of rest (and refuge in God) for our staff and volunteers over the next few weeks as some take time for vacations; as well as for safe travel and God’s blessings to pour forth.

~ Our Agape Angels by name: Anna, El, Ella, Emma, Farica, Grace, Hannah, Haylee, Jay, Kira, Laura, Megan, Savanah, Tessa and Vanna; that they seek God’s refuge and truly taste and see that the Lord is good!

Praise God For:
~ patience as we implement new ways to help our girls be successful in reaching their goals – God is good.

~ our volunteers who give endless hours helping the girls to see the goodness of God, as they overcome hurdles in their lives – God is good.

~ all who have helped provide so many items on our never-ending Wish List – God is good!

Wish List:
Volunteers to provide and serve school lunches (Contact Debby at 262.394.5043)
Mentors needed for girls (Contact Pam at 262.275.6466)
Snow pants & snow boots, various sizes, so the girls can go sledding
Healthy snacks, i.e., almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, beef sticks, and low sugar protein drinks
New Laptop Computer
NIV Bibles for use in the Classroom
CDs for School: Tedash, Mandesa, Lecray, Amanda Cook, Bethel, i.e., Melissa Hessler, Leeland Mooring, Kristen Dimarco
CDs for Home: KB, Toby Mac, Andy Mineo, Hillsong United – Need to Breathe, Francesca Battistelle, United Pursuit, Gungor, Matt Kearney, Audrey Assad, The Modern Post, All Sons & Daughters, Rend Collection
File Cabinets, 2-drawer/vertical w/lock
Games: Spin Master Hedbanz, Speak Out, Farcle or any new board, card or dice game
Drawing and Construction Paper
Kitchen Cabinets for the MPR Kitchen (if you are renovating your kitchen, would you consider donating your old cabinets?)

Mark Your Calendars for our 5K on April 28, 2018; register at website under ‘Get Involved/Events’

Dear Friends:

It’s been a busy week at Agape House, on so many levels; with some moments better than others! Through it all, it’s good to know that we can trust God to equip us each day to deal with any and all difficult situations that might arise.

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and from throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His.”  ~ II Chronicles 16:9

There was a special birthday luncheon on Tuesday, sponsored by Terri Sitorius, as the girls were treated to a delicious meal with fun New Year’s decorations and gift bags. Those girls who have a birthday this month received special gifts, too.

And we celebrate each girl’s birthday big time when it arrives. There were special treats and activities in school on Wednesday for one of our girls’ birthday, as well as after school in the Home. This young lady officially became a teenager this week, and she clearly portrayed evidence of becoming a teenager: 13 going on 30!

A few days ago we had Rebecca from Lighthouse Church share her testimony with the girls at chapel, wherein she talked about having a ‘Back Story’. She explained that when we are going through a challenging situation in life, we need to be able to look back and remember the times that God has helped us get through difficult situations and how we were blessed: this is a ‘Back Story’. What a beautiful testimony for our girls to hear!

Today the girls are visiting the Lakeland Animal Shelter where they will learn about the adoption process of pets.

The list of activities goes on and on; there’s hardly a dull moment around here. And best of all, through the ups and downs, we see God’s love in action!

Blessings . . .

Jan

Please Pray For:
~ our girls to know the beauty of how much our God loves us, and that He is looking out to support those whose heart is completely His.

~ physical, emotional and spiritual healing for our girls. One of our girls is at home recouping from surgery she had after Christmas; pray for her to stay strengthened and hopeful for the time when she is ready to return to Agape and that her healing is progressive in a positive way. Another girl is struggling immensely; and one of our girls is asking for prayers for her brothers to have safe travel and find their way into the light of God!

~ the staff to continue to be strengthened in Christ’s ways; that we are not discouraged; that we seek God to equip us in the difficult moments; and that we are not pulled into the dark, chaotic moments of the girls.

Praise God For:
~ for the progress we are seeing in some of the girls as we watch them grow closer to God, and learn to deal with their anxieties in more positive, effectual ways. It’s also beautiful to see them encouraging each other in many ways!

~ the many ways God’s love is poured out upon our girls, including those who share their testimonies!

~ that we know God answers prayers.

WISH LIST:

DVD Player for the TLH
New dish towels and dish cloths, about (6)
New bath towels (about 4)
Healthy snacks, i.e., almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, beef sticks, and low sugar protein drinks
Bluetooth Speakers for Classroom
New Laptop Computer
NIV Bibles for use in the Classroom
CDs for School: Tedash, Mandesa, Lecray, Amanda Cook, Bethel, i.e., Melissa Hessler, Leeland Mooring, Kristen Dimarco
CDs for Home: KB, Toby Mac, Andy Mineo, Hillsong United – Need to Breathe, Francesca Battistelle, United Pursuit, Gungor, Matt Kearney, Audrey Assad, The Modern Post, All Sons & Daughters, Rend Collection

Games: Apples to Apples, Spin Master Hedbanz, Speak Out, Farcle or any new board, card or dice game
Drawing and Construction Paper

File Cabinets
Thank You Cards
Stamps
Kitchen Cabinets for the MPR Kitchen (if you are renovating your kitchen, would you consider donating your old cabinets?)

Walk aMAZEd With God at our 5K on 4/28/2018

Dear Friends:

As we begin this new year at Agape House, we are truly in awe and aMAZEd at all God is doing. We believe this year will be unforgettable as we trust God for ‘new things’ to happen . . . stay tuned in as things develop!

“From now on I will tell you of new things, hidden things unknown to you.” ~ Isaiah 48:6b

I pray that you are ready to respond to the ‘new things’ God will do in your life this year, as you watch His blessings pour forth! Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support of Agape House.

Blessings . . .

Jan

Praise God for:
~ the new things God is showing the girls and staff at Agape; it is so exciting, especially because we know God is with us through it all!

~ His wisdom and discernment for Pam, all the staff and Board members.

~ God’s loving care, mercy and love; help us to never take these things for granted.

~ willing hearts/vessels to be filled by God as He pours into our lives, so that we can pour all of that into the girls!

Please Pray For:
~ God to break down the walls in the lives of our girls; that they would be awakened to God’s love!

~ the girls to see how much God loves and cares for them.

~ the girls to continue to press on with their school work and their healing!

Kira was delighted with the NEW Cheeseburger Backpack she received for Christmas; it’s such a delight to watch these girls embrace ‘NEW THINGS’!

Wish List:
File Cabinets
Thank You Cards
Stamps
Kitchen Cabinets for the MPR Kitchen (if you are renovating your kitchen, would you consider donating your old cabinets?)

COUNSELING SERVICES IN MUKWONAGO – Contact Carol Hayes, B.A, Christian Counselor; 262.894.7397 (text/voicemail)

Amazon Give Back Program: Did you know you can support Agape House for Girls just by shopping Amazon? 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!!

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!!

Dear Friends:

Break every chain – let us always reach for this goal!

God is so good . . . we had an amazing celebration last Thursday evening at Geneva National as we celebrated all that God has done at Agape House in the past 20 years!!! The beautiful room filled with almost 300 people, the delicious food, the awesome testimonies, and many fabulous items for the silent auction were all memorable. Today we want to give a shout out to all of our friends who donated those items for our silent auction; we hope you all enjoy your gifts!
Agape Girls – Homemade pies
Astaland II, LLC- Colorado Condo for 1 week
Brahm – Starbucks Basket
Brosel – Gromme & Redlin Paintings
Bruno’s Liquors – Rum & Kahlua Kits
Buckau – Mountain Bike
Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn – Gift Certificate
Coffee Mill – Basket of Coffee
Cost Cutters – Supplies & Gift Certificates for Haircuts
DeVries – Photography Sitting
Ebbner – 1950’s Lazy Susan, Teapots and Purses
Egg Harbor Cafe – Gift Certificate
Evergreen Country Club – Comedy Dinner Show Gift Certificate
Excel Chiropractic & Wellness – Health & Wellness Basket
Fontana Jewelry – Silver Necklace
French Country Inn – Gift Certificate
Frese – Prepared Dinners for 4 for 1 week
Friends On The Square – Coffee Mug &Gift Certificate
Gallagher – Jewelry Holder w/Jewelry
Geneva Family Dentistry – Sonicare Toothbrush & Teeth Whitening
Geneva Inn – Gift Certificate
Geneva Lakes YMCA – One-Month Family Membership
Geneva National Golf Club – Golf Package for 4
Gordy’s Boat House – Gift Certificate
Hilbelink – Handmade French Rolling Pins, Wooden Bowl & Pens
Kruizenga – Don Bird Collectibles & Dual Lumbar Support Pads
Lofy – Pure Joy Gift Basket & Custom Signs
Louise – Salon Chair by Baker Furniture
Maclay – Michael Jordan 1982 NCAA Picture
McQueen – Gift Certificate for Therapeutic Get Away
Mueller – Basket of Health & Wellness and 10 Prepared Meals
Nelson – Fire Pit, Candy & Coffee Gift Baskets
Oakfire – Gift Certificate
Patterson – Permatex Products for Auto
Pearce – Massage Therapy Gift Certificate
Pialoo – L’Bri Gift Basket
Rea – Willow Tree Carvings, Hand Woven Rug, Wooden Signs & Baby Frame
Royal Oak Farm Orchard – Gift Certificate for Bushel of Apples
Sammy’s On The Square – Gift Certificate
Stair – Power Washer and Thieves Basket/Gift Certificate
Staller Estate – Private Wine Tasting for 8
Stillwater Coffee Company – Candle, Gift Card & Espresso Beans
Subway – Gift Certificate for 3′ Giant Sub Sandwich
Sweet Aroma Ristorante – Gift Certificate
The Ridge Hotel – Gift Certificate
The Sower’s House – Stain Glass Window
Thelen Bros. – Lawn Maintenance

And another big thank you to the
following Sponsors for this event:

Termax, Baird & Kunes Country Auto Group

Please Pray:
~ for our Agape Angels to resonate with the testimonies they heard last Thursday evening, and be filled with hope for their future!

~ for our new girls at Agape: Farica, Melissa, Grace and Kira, that they are adjusting to their new environment, beginning to trust the staff and volunteers who are here to help them find their way, and seeing God’s love pour forth in the miraculous ways that He always shows up.

~ for all of our staff as we continue to minister to the girls and their families, pray that we are being led by the Spirit for all decisions that we make for/with them.

Dear Friends:

I heard the girls laughing in the classroom yesterday; it was like music to my ears! So I figured a verse about laughter would be appropriate. I searched under ‘laugh’ at biblegateway.com and the first verse that came up was this:

“. . . a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance . . . ”
~ Ecclessiastes 3:4

I’m sure you would all agree with me that this is exactly how we are able to express our lives. It’s a good mixture of emotions, and we hope that the love from our God is all part of the mix.

Please Pray:
~ for those who are weeping and mourning, that they will find time to laugh and dance as well, and see God’s faithfulness.

~ for our 20th Anniversary Celebration next Thursday; the excitement is building as we finalize the details of the event. We know that God is good, and are looking forward to this celebration!

~ for the new girls starting out at Agape; we have had a flood of requests and are filling up quickly. Pray for them to feel safe and comfortable here, to feel God’s love and to be ready to seek His healing.

Praise God:
~ for the joy of seeing prayers answered for Bob Milliman; he is gaining strength daily; please continue to pray for him to be patient with the healing process.

~ for the beautiful colors of Fall we have experienced this past week; what a beautiful season to dance in the leaves!

~ for the joy of the girls supporting and encouraging each other!

We are so excited to celebrate all that God has been doing at Agape House for the past 20 years, and looking forward to seeing all of you who will be attending our Information Night on November 2nd. We have a special video to present that “Tells the Story” of Agape House!

We’d also like to thank the following Sponsors for this event –

Termax, Kunes Country Auto Group & Baird

your support is greatly appreciated!

If you want to attend and haven’t registered yet, see the information below – do not delay . . . we’ll accept new reservations until Monday morning!
And don’t forget about our Silent Auction;
see the list below of some of the fabulous items that will be available for Bidding, which will end at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s a ‘Sneak Peak’ at some of the
Silent Auction Items Available to Bid On:

French Rolling Pins & Homemade Pies by Agape Angels
Condo in Steamboat Springs, CO – 1 Week Stay
Certificates for 1 Night Stays at:
– French Country Inn,
– The Ridge &
– Geneva Inn
Comedy Dinner Show at Evergreen Country Club (for 11/18/17)
Designer Upholstered Salon Chair By Baker Furniture
Golf Package for 4 at Geneva National
Young Living Essential Oils Basket
L’Bri Basket
Starbucks Basket
Healthy Self Basket
Gift Certificates for Restaurants & Coffee Shops, i.e.,
– Egg Harbor Cafe,
– Oak Fire Grill,
– Gordy’s,
– Chucks &
– Sweet Aroma
Stained Glass Window
Framed Terry Redlin Photo
Purses from Coach & Vera Wang
Pressure Washer
Mountain Bike
And much more . . .

NOTE: Bidding will end at 6:30 p.m., so come early to fellowship and have some fun!

Blessings . . .

Jan

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT!
Are you thinking about having photos taken for Christmas gifts?
You can support Agape House and get your photos done all at the same time with Cyndie Lee Photography at our Counseling Center in Walworth on November 11th.
Click on this link to see more details: Cyndie Lee Photo Sessions