Fall Update - Kids

We are proud to announce - Stephen had 51 Excellent grades #5or A's, Olivia had 45 A's, Maddie had 62 A's and Sayer got many "as expected". Sayer's teacher wrote he is a "sweet child and natural leader". Imagine that!

They are adjusting nicely to the Freedom School with a couple of sad times here and there. Stephen got a perfect 100 on his Civil War history project on Turner Asby. Olivia got some nice comments from her music teacher. Maddie is a strong reader. Keary and I help with Maddie's class on Mondays. Sayer says the best part of school is playing at the different stations. Sayer has learned a new song "This is how we know" about Jesus.

Thanks from St. Louis

Thanks for all your prayers -- We are now all united in one place. Skip attended the orientation at Cov. Pres. Much to think about -- Calling -- it was a big wake up for him. Check out the school - www.covenantseminary.edu

We live nearby Cov. Pres - Creve Coeur, East and north of the school. We worshiped at New City Fellowship (PCA) -- http://www.newcity.org/ucity/index.asp - it appears they are intentional about orphan care -- Their mission statement says -

Seeking first the kingdom means these types of ministries will mark us as the church. We will care for the widow, the orphan and the immigrant in our midst. It also means we will seek justice in marriage relationships, parenting responsibilities and work issues. God is concerned that his justice fill the earth, and that means justice both personally and socially. In his love and graciousness, these ministries are not the "calling" of a special few of God's people, but it is the privilege of all God's people to live such lives of service.

It has several ministries that we are interested in. Many different backgrounds and nationalities. Our kids are in School at Freedom School. Please check out the school --
http://tfsstl.org/

Back From Dalton, GA -- Thank you Grace Pres. Church

Our family had a wonderful time of worshipping the Lord by helping a man dying of Liver Cancer fix up his home. Dalton, Ga is the carpet capital of the world. The gentleman had two sons age 10 and 11. The church offered to fix up his home to help his children financially when his home was sold at his death. He was expected to die in 2 months and hospice was called in while we were working on his home. Grace Pres.'s Pastor challenged us to show the love of Christ and not expect anything in return for our construction help. We also did VBS all week and had 20 to 40 Latino children come to our bible club event. We were so blessed to be able to serve as a family. During the week, we invited many people to the church's annual Fiesta event. We heard this week that 300 Latino people came to the church for the event and heard the gospel.

See http://www.gracedalton.org/ for church information and their ministries.

Pleading The Cause of Orphans So They Prosper

Please pray for us as we consider what God says to us in his Word about Orphans/Fatherless. Jeremiah 5: 28-29.

We are headed to Dalton, GA soon

We have just over 4 weeks before we embark on our next family mission trip. This time we are staying state-side and will be in Dalton, GA from July 25-August 1. We look forward to serving the Latino community there. We are very excited that 1/2 our team is bilingual and the other half is learning Spanish! Our hearts still remain with the orphaned and we hope to serve in another orphanage soon. Please be praying for that next location (possibly Africa) and the remaining $1500 our team needs to raise to get to GA! Thanks for your prayers!

Josephine House Needs Your Prayers and Support

Orphan Painting - Special People of Peru

Peru Painting- A local artist painted this child. This is an excellent portrait of what the special little ones look like in Cusco, Peru-- Please pray for the neglected and abandoned children in this area. Our friend Jessica is working in Cusco and counseling children through Mission to the World (MTW). Please pray for her.

Ministry to Orphans in Congo - Inspirational Video Clip

http://www.vimeo.com/2495731

Orphan Ministry Update 2009 - Ritchie Family

We are praying about our next orphan mission trip. We have been praying about Africa - and the many orphans there - Kenya and Tanzania specifically. We have a friend who is going to Tanzania for a couple of months to help with an 80 child orphanage near Moshe, Tanzania. Our church is sending a team back to an orphanage we have supported for several years in Kenya.

Please pray for us and that God would direct us in our pursuit of caring for orphans. Rice is a big need for the orphanage. Here at Costco 50 lbs. costs $12 to $14 but there it cost $40 or more. A large shipping container is being sent in early March from our area. We are looking to send or take items the Kenya Orphanage. Please call us for more information. If you are lead to send support money - you can give us the check or mail it to MTW with the #16626 on the memo line or on a piece of paper. Thank you.

Ritchies Permanent MTW Account #16626

We are official -- MTW has given us a permanent account number for support and funds for our family to serve Him in upcoming mission work. This # 16626 represents a change from short term to potential long term service. The address for support is 1600 N. Brown Rd. Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8141. Please put this number on the MEMO LINE. Please pray for us as we seek God's leading on how and where to glorify and serve his son, Jesus Christ. Thanks for all the prayers and support.
We are currently working through Let the Nations be Glad, by John Piper. So far, God has blessed our group and is guiding several people into full time mission work. We meet on Sunday afternoons in our home or the Garcia's home. We are seeking to encourage people who are being led by God in this area.

By His Grace,
The Ritchies, Skip, Keary, Stephen, Olivia, Maddie, and Sayer.