I have been here in South Africa for ten months now. I would like to share with you some of the highlights from the last four months. Thank you for making it possible for me to be here fulfilling God’s call on my life.

Here at Jackson’s Ridge Training Centre in May we had puppet festival. One of the sessions was about how to do puppets. Another session dealt with ventriloquism. I participated in the ventriloquism session. Also my colleague, Gail, made some puppets. I helped to sell them in the ministry’s resource room. Where children’s workers were able to purchase them to use in their individual ministries.

Later in May, we conducted a training seminar at a local church here in South Africa. I showed the attendees how to do an object lesson using three glasses. One glass contained blue water, which represented sin. Another glass held red water, which represented the blood of Jesus. When I poured the water from both glasses into the empty glass, the liquid became purple. “The purple,” I told the people, “represents royalty. We become royalty when we ask Jesus to come in to our hearts.”

Then in June, our team helped in a golf tournament to raise funds for the upcoming Royal Family Kids Camp.

That evening we put on a banquet for those who participated in the tournament. I helped to decorate the banquet hall. The theme was “The Olympics,” which is also the theme for this year’s Royal Family Kids Camp.

Then, in July we travelled to the town of Mafikeng to conduct a Children’s Ministry Training Seminar. On Friday night, we held a youth service. In the service we talked about eternity and the need for repentance. Praise the Lord, the glory of the Lord came down! The service made me miss my kids back home in Oklahoma where I helped with the youth for about seven years.

Also in Mafikeng our team conducted a Saturday Children’s Ministers Workshop. I told the story of Daniel and the Lions Den. I used a lion puppet that appeared with a mighty roar! I also showed the children’s workers how to do object lessons and how to teach memory verses to their children. Finally, On Sunday we ministered to the kids in Children’s Church.

Please pray for the following:

• Please still pray for my health. I am doing much better.
• Pray that God will use me in any way He desires.
• Pray for the Jackson’s Ridge Training Centre where I serve.
• Pray for the kids who come to Jackson’s Ridge.
• Please pray for the coming Royal Family Kids Camp.
• Please pray for direction.

Again, thank you for your faithful support of me and my ministry to the children of South Africa. You are truly a blessing. I will pray for you.

 

 

 

Kristie Ridge

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been here in South Africa for six months now. I’d like to share some of the highlights with you, and I’d like to thank you for making it possible for me to be here fulfilling God’s calling on my life.

When I arrived I began working in the resource room counting everything I could get to. I then helped out in my first Royal Family Kids Camp in December. The children who come to these camps have been orphaned, neglected, or abused. While there, I was involved in the Breakfast Club where we were able to share with the kids about how they were royally in God’s kingdom. (On the left is a photo of the Royal Family Kids Camp counselors and staff.) I was able to help with making stock bread. To make this bread you place the dough on a stick and cook it over coals, —it is a lot like roasting marshmallows. I also helped out in the café where we served the kids their choice of hot chocolate or blue drink and cupcakes. They also do crafts in the café.

One highlight of the camp was when the kids celebrated their birthdays. They each received a backpack filled with wonderful things. I also helped the kids spend their “Royal Rand” at the camp store. (Rand are the South African dollars.) Some of them didn’t even know how to exchange money or receive change for what they bought. They would just say, “I don’t have enough money to buy that.” What joy came to my heart when I saw their faces lighting up as they were buying items from the store! The hardest part was on the last day when all the children had to go back to the orphanage or foster care where they lived.

Kids Camp in January

Then in January, I worked in my first camp at Jackson’s Ridge.  On Saturday night we had a “praise party” where we worshiped the Lord and the staff was able to pray for the kids. It was a powerful time and some of the children were delivered from demonic oppression.

Children’s Worker Seminar

Also in January, we conducted a Children’s Worker Seminar. It was the biggest seminar we have ever had at Jackson’s Ridge with over 200 children’s workers attending. I served by working in the resource room; making sure everyone had the supplies they needed during the seminar. Prior to the seminar, I put bar codes on the items that would be distributed during the seminar.

Missionary Ladies that were at the Pastor, Pastor Wives Conference.

Then, in February we conducted a Pastors’ Wives Conference at Jackson’s Ridge with the International Assemblies of God. About 80 pastors, pastors’ wives, and missionaries attended the conference. During the conference Pastor Ndlala preached about the Holy Spirit.

In March I helped prepare for an upcoming conference for toddlers. I was very busy cutting out things that the little ones would use during the conference. Two of the things I cut out were treasure chests and a wheel with happy and sad faces.  I also attended seventh grade classes at the School in Magaliesburg.

Please pray for the following:

• Pray for my health. I have struggled with health issues since January, but praise the Lord, I am now doing some better.
• Pray that God will use me in any way He desires.
• Pray for the Jackson’s Ridge Training Centre where I serve.
• Pray for the kids that come to Jackson’s Ridge.

Again, thank you for your faithful support of my ministry in South Africa. You are truly a blessing. I will pray for you.

_{Kristie Ridge}

 

 

The morning, I was leave to go to the airport was not a good morning on Tuesday November Third 2015. I started have a migraine headache and I had to finish packing. Isaiah was hanging on my neck and would not let go. On the way to the airport I have to make a stop by Walmart to get another trunk to put stuff in. Then we went to the airport I got the trunk we brought at Walmart and put stuff in it. I got my bags and trunks all checked in and we went up stairs. We were going to get something to eat but I could not take it though security. I said my goodbyes and Mom and Dad said there goodbyes. I went though security and had to be padded down. Also my hand wiped down. I want to my gate and waited to board the plane for Tulsa to Atlanta. I make some phone calls and got on the plane the flight left at 12:39PM. I got Atlanta about 3:33PM there time. I ate in Atlanta and made some phone calls. The plane took off about 7:10PM and I made it to Johannesburg, South Africa about 5:30PM Wednesday evening November Fourth 2015. I went to give thanks to God for keeping me safe on the way to South Africa. I went to give thanks to God for getting me here with all of your support at home.

 

 

      I have thought about the spiritual cost because of where I will be going. The crime rate is very high in South Africa. I am going because that is were God has called me. I will be going to South Africa to work at a place call Jackson’s Ridge Training Centre as a Missionary Associate. It is 45 minutes from Rustenburg, which is the closest big town. I will be working with children that have been abused or neglected. I will have a part in training children’s workers so they can train workers for the next generation of kids. I am going to be helping with the service we have in the evening with kids.
     We are God’s hands and feet to the world. We are living in the last days. God is coming soon for His people. This means that we have to do our part in reaching people for Christ. This means love people where they are . It is about souls that need to be saved for the Kingdom of God.