Christmas Letter

Hello Family and Friends,

As we think back on this year of 2014 the words that come to describe our year are Adventure, Change, and Brokenness. This Christmas we pray that you are filled up with the hope of this season. As we are leaving our family and Camp Tecumseh we are excited for our new adventure in Kenya. We want to share with you 12 blessings of this year. Join us as we strive to keep Hope, Joy, and Peace at the center of our lives no matter what comes our way.Having a year of baptisms and blessing with the children at Elston Family Church- these kids change our lives every day and show us why we do what we do.

Our last summer at Camp Tecumseh and feeling loved and blessed the entire time.

Promotions for Luke and growing in leadership and confidence.

Elin coming to visit us and celebrating Fourth of July with a wonderful visit to the zoo. Joys of Miriam Joy turning 5- everyday she shows us that sacrifice, no matter how hard it may be, is always worth the miracle at the end.

October trip to California and the kids enjoying time with Papa John and Grandma Mary.

Year of laughs with Mark Charles turning 6- there are so many wonderful memories with him, he makes every day exciting and fun.People in our lives that our willing to just love us where we are, no matter what we are going through.

Experiencing Disney with the kids and visiting Papa Marshall and Grandma Tillie.

An amazing mom (Grandma Jane) and sister (Barbie) willing to drop everything to come and stay with us when we need it.

Celebrating 10 years of marriage. We continue to live each day being broken together. Grateful for Grandma Lois staying with the kids so we can have a getaway.

Ethan staying with us for a week and the kids going to Day Camp where they had so many memories they will treasure forever. We want to leave you with this verse:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Luke, Jamie, Mark, and Miriam

 

 

 

 

Global Teams Appointment

 

January 2014

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce the Ulrich family’s appointment by Global Teams as field partners serving an unreached people group of Kenya. With more than 300 field partners working with 145 unreached people groups around the world, Global Teams’ vision, To See the Heart of Christ in the Skin of Every Culture, is being lived out in many nations.

We have desired to serve God as a couple since we were married. More specifically, God has continually encouraged us to instill the love of Jesus in children. In 2012, we received a call to take our heart for children to a culture with little influence from the Gospel. After much prayer, we discerned that God was calling us to southeastern Kenya to help show the children there, in tangible ways, how much God loves them.

The Need and the Vision

Families in southeast Kenya struggle to feed and clothe their children, and pay for them to go to school. The children experience despair and a lack of hope due to the cycle of poverty. We will be working with a school that provides a Christian education, meets national education standards, provides lunch for the children four days a week, and gives them clothes. The school combines the hope of Christ with the anticipation of a better future, and will be the only way for many to end the cycle of poverty. We will work alongside the teachers, helping spread joy and purpose to the students in the “every day” of teaching. We also plan to use our gifts in Christian education to teach the story of Christ in ways that will engage the children.

Next Steps

In southeast Kenya, there is a huge opportunity to impact the families of children attending the school. The only church in this area has been planted on the school grounds and there is opportunity for continued growth. We believe this will be a place for us to establish ourselves, learn the language, and be used by Christ.

Ultimately, our vision is to continue our work in Kenya a bit further north in the town of Malindi, in another school overseen by Global Teams. This school enrolls 400 students and serves around 30 orphaned children. These orphaned children live with relatives in circumstances that make it hard for the extended family to meet all of their needs. Our heart is to open a Hope Home – a loving environment that will provide assistance beyond what the orphans’ families can offer: medical care, additional meals, clothes, tutoring, and life skills.

In addition to teaching and helping to care for orphans, we hope to create income-producing programs that will help to sustain and grow both of these schools. Our desire is to see students taking an active role in paying school fees through communal work. We plan to stay in Kenya until God completes the work He has for us, to see the heart of Christ in the people of southeastern Kenya.

Partner With This Work in Africa 

We are in need of others to partner with us in this journey, for we cannot do it alone. Please pray about what the Lord would have you do with us for the people of Africa. We look forward to talking with you further about this adventure.

Luke and Jamie Ulrich

If you would like more information or would like to partner with us financially, please email or visit the Global Team’s website.

http://www.global-teams.net

Luke.Jamie.Ulrich@gmail.com