• This past year has been a very happy and eventful one for Agnes and her children.  At this time last year they were excited to see construction on their new home nearing completion.  Then in May they hosted many important dignitaries of the surrounding community as they celebrated the completion of the home and moved in!  The Fabians and my daughter Leah Shaver were on hand to participate and represent the Canadian partners in this phase of the project to “Help Agnes”.
• Since then we’ve launched the Help Agnes – Children’s Support Program which to date has 14 children sponsored, with an overall goal of 30 children at $300 a year.  Each sponsorship enables Agnes to feed, clothe, provide an education, and offer medical assistance to a child in need.  To date we have sent her $4,500 CAD.
• I’m pleased to tell you that God has richly blessed Agnes and her ministry.  There are now 31 children living in the home and enrollment at her school is up to 172 students!
• Bethel Pentecostal Church is providing Agnes with funding to ensure her living expenses for the new home are covered for things such as, her electrical and utility bills.
• Bob Carson and Education Without Boundaries is continuing to provide support for Agnes’s school through training teachers, covering printing costs for manuals/exams and he is working to provide computers and training for the teachers and senior students.
• The remaining funds in the construction account, $3,212 CAD were sent to Agnes in September for related expenses to the home.  I’m pleased to say that our final tally was $77,212 CAD raised for “A Home for Agnes” with every dollar raised sent to Agnes.

Thank you to all who participated.

• Our next initiative will be to focus on getting Agnes help with “The Living Faith Preparatory School”.  We are working with Agnes to decide our course of action and I’ll be sure to provide you with updates as we prayerfully consider our plans.  The website www.helpagnes.com will be updated regularly so be sure to check there for more information.

Agnes is still in need of our support and prayers.  Even though we’ve enabled her to live in a safe and secure home with support to provide for the children, there is still opposition to her work in this community.  Teachers at her school do not always adhere to her faith based approach.  She is in need of experienced leadership to help her run the school.   There is sickness and persecution, but her faith is strong and her trust in God to lead and deliver her never wavers.  I know she wants to thank each of you for your support and we are believing for even more great things for this upcoming year as together we allow God to use us for His glory.  May this year find you healthy and happy, God bless and thank you,

Gary Shaver

Agnes and her children have moved in, and they are hosting a grand opening on May 28th for everyone in their village of Sogakope, Ghana.

We hope that you and your family can help us celebrate with them on Monday, June 14th beginning at 7:00pm at Bethel Pentecostal Church.

We will have lots of pictures, video and even eyewitness testimonies of the opening of “A Home for Agnes”. Come and see the results of our partnership, as Agnes and her children enjoy their new home.

Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP your numbers to shavers{at}magma{dot}ca
By Friday, June 11th

Exciting news about the next project to
“Help Agnes” will be announced!

I’ve been holding back on sending this out as I was hoping to include some pictures of the children in the home. Unfortunately, the furnishings, beds, tables and chairs etc. are taking longer than anticipated to build. Nevertheless, things are proceeding, as you’ll see from the picture below. The home is complete except for some minor details and Agnes and her family are eagerly waiting for April 24th to come. They’ve planned a big celebration to officially dedicate the new home on this date and Agnes and her family will move in. I’ve included some pictures I had taken of their previous home, just a little before and after scenario, to give you a true understanding of what you’ve done to support Agnes and her children. We are already working on a new project to help Agnes in her ministry to impoverished children of her community but I’ll wait to make a formal announce after they have moved in. Thank you for your support and prayers for this “Home for Agnes”.

Gary

Gary

Gary

I think you’d agree that this was not a viable option and not safe for her. Emile, our head contractor was very helpful in finding a trustworthy individual for this position. It is very evident that God’s hand is upon Agnes, the children and all involved in the construction of this home as I continue to hear only good reports back from Sogakope, Ghana.

Thank you for your participation.

Gary

As you’ll see from the pictures following, the work has continued on “A Home for Agnes”. The workers after a short break have been back at it and the roof is now on! Agnes had hoped to have a “green” steel roof and her wish was granted. We are so appreciative of the great work that Emile, Lucky and the laborers are doing. With the roof on, the bulk of the work will switch to the interior of the home. One exception is the holding tank for the septic system. I’ve included a picture of this work as well. You’ll notice that we have a larger tank than is needed for the current home so that it can still service any potential addition down the road should we need to expand the home for more children.

Who knows what God’s plan for Agnes and this home are? Take care and may God bless you in this New Year.

Thanks,

Gary

Bethel’s “Gift of Christmas” raises $29,102 towards completing “A Home for Agnes.”

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God has richly blessed us in our efforts to raise the necessary funds to finish Agnes’ home.  With the money raised from the Singing Christmas Tree presentations, our total is now $75,387.  This surpasses our targeted goal of $72,000.  We now have the required funds to complete the home.  All extra funds remaining will be used for the next project for Agnes. A big thank you to Kathy Blakely, Wayne Mosley and all the cast and crew who volunteered countless hours of their time to put on nine excellent productions of Bethel’s “Gift of Christmas”.

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Our scheduled time for completion is still early March.  All phases of the construction are on budget and meeting all timelines established with our builder, Emile.  Currently, they are adding the roof to the building with all exterior and interior walls up.  The next phase after this work is finished will be to complete all the electrical and plumbing work.

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Bob Graham and Bob Carson each visited Ghana in early December.  They’ve brought back pictures and very favorable reports on the work being done and on the great effort, Emile and Lucky and all the laborers are doing.  Bob Carson spent valuable time there training the teachers at Agnes’ school.

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2009 has been a very interesting year.  We’ve seen a dream become a reality as God enabled a group of men, women and children, thousands of mile apart to come together to help a family, a community and many children, in need , see God’s hand move and realize the hope that comes with obedience to living our lives in accordance with His will.

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I hope that you each have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Thank you, Gary

p.s. a couple of pictures follow.

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Student Play the Drums at The Living Faith Foundation

Student March at The Living Faith Foundation

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Previous Updates:

November 12th, 2009
November 5th, 2009
October 23rd, 2009
October 15th, 2009