Mrs. Ulrich’s Kindergarten Class at Williams Elementary School, Gainsville, Fl

Reid, Hatcher, Harrison (front), Tracy Ulrich (my brother, Ben’s daughter), Cruz Thomas and Matt Ulrich.
Cruz Thomas is our newest family member. A student at Limestone College in Gaffney, SC, Cruz is a strong believer. He lost both of his parents in the last couple of years and we collectively decided to “adopt” him. He joined us in Gainesville during his Spring break.

Tracy and Matt Ulrich were our hosts in Gainesville, FL.
Matt just began a new position as an associate Pastor with First Assembly of God. Tracy is a first year kindergarten teacher. Please pray for their ministry.


Williams Elementary School
Mrs. Ulrich’s Kindergarten Class
Gainesville, Florida

Only Twelve?!
Friday, March 14, 2008
We visited my niece, Tracy’s kindergarten class and told her kids about our trip. We gave out the Gospel bracelets that glow in the dark and shared the meaning of the colors. My boys loved being with the class and played with the kids.
Cruz Thomas (Limestone College Student on Spring Break who joined us and my new fourth son : ) and I were debriefing after we left. I couldn’t help but voice what was in my head, “all this way, all this preparation, all this money….we spoke to maybe twelve 6-year old kids.”
Cruz very wisely shook his head and replied, “Look what the twelve did who Jesus taught.”
‘… “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the Lord of hosts…’ Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

Glen Springs Apartments, Gainesville, Fl

Glen Springs Apartments
Gainesville, FL.
Sharing the Gospel – Our First Run
This was our first venture in direct interaction with children without any introduction.
After some soccer time, we offered snacks and drinks. While the kids ate, Cruz Thomas (Limestone College student who joined us while on his Spring Break, red shirt) read from the Bible and shared about Jesus.
As he spoke, there were several teen age boys who sat on the sidelines and disrupted the talk. I walked over to them and gently laid my hand on the shoulder of one of the boys and just began to pray quietly.
When Cruz finished speaking, we shared the Gospel through the colors on the bracelets and offered the children a prize if they could share the Gospel back to us using the bracelets. The teenage boys were all for this and gathered around me to show they had listened. I went through the Gospel a second time with them and when I spoke about the blood of Jesus, I asked, “Would you guys like to ask Jesus into your hearts?”
To my absolute shock, all three of them eagerly nodded. To test their sincerity, I said, “you’ll need to get on your knees to pray”….all three without hesitation, dropped to their knees.
I prayed and they prayed after me. I couldn’t stop asking God to do things in their lives and put them to work….they repeated everything I asked. Then a fourth teenage boy ran up and said, “I want to ask Jesus into my heart too!” We started praying all over again.
Theo, Torres, DJ, and Kendal….please pray for these new believers and that God will work a mighty work in their lives.
“And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:40 NKJV

A Mom and her sons
Takishanda desperately wanted her boys Tyler and Noah to learn the meaning of the colors. She had asked how the boys could get a soccer ball and I told her if the boys could share the Gospel with it and would promise to tell others the meaning of the colors, I would give them one. She sat on the sidelines coaching them. We prayed over kids individually. I especially loved praying for this mom and her boys.

We gave out lots of the Children’s version of the Jesus film for them to take home and watch.
The day was fun, exciting, and a learning event for us. My boys just fit right in playing with the kids and really enjoyed themselves.

Persecution Party
Our day ended on a rather sour note when a big kid tackled Reid pretty brutally for no apparent reason. Reid, to his credit walked away and seemed to understand that this incident was not so much about him as it was probably about the child’s home life.
We decided it was close enough to being persecution and immediately called for a Persecution Party (a family secret we have learned when things sometimes seem tough even though we are trying to follow God). Chocolate ice-cream and cookies for all!
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…” Matthew 5:11 & 12 NKJV