Navarre High School, Navarre Florida, USA 3/21/2008

Navarre, Florida
March 21, 2008

Navarre High School

Hatcher, Jessica Price, Harrison, Lauren Price, Reid, Sharon Price, and The Price Family (my deceased husband’s sister and her family) moved to Navarre, Florida in December. They have begun a new ministry, Iron Gate Ministries and are seeking God’s will for His direction for their family. Their oldest child and only son, Stephen died of cancer this past August.
We prayer walked the local high school where Jessica is a senior. We prayed for God’s light to shine in and through this school and that He will call the local believers to come mentor the kids here. Please pray for this community, high school and family.

A Day with the Griffith Kids in Florida

A day with the Griffith Kids
Navarre, Florida

The Price family, my family and the four Griffith kids had a delightful day of hunting Easter candy, playing at the park and just plain old goofing off.
How much fun to be a kid!

Drury Nursing Home in Englewood, Florida

Drury Nursing Home
As we walked the hallways, we stopped in to visit residents. We prayed over many, gave out tracts and candy. The candy had scripture on the wrapper and the boys read the scripture to the residents.

I am reminded of something Pastor Glen Evans once shared with me. The elderly (and often others as well) so need a human touch. They often are not hugged or touched by others on a regular basis. How easily we can minister to those alone by simply hugging them or touching their hand.

Before we went into the nursing home, I shared with the boys the importance of touching and hugging these dear people. I loved watching the faces of these men and women as my boys reached out to them. :-)

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Luke 8:43-48

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