Newsletter January/February 2012.....

 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:3-6

Dear Raivu Family and Friends,

Happy New Year!

Spring of 2012 will mark five years since the seed was planted to do more than live life, but to live life with a purpose serving God. Two years ago, we announced our relocation to Washington County, Wisconsin to search for land and launch into the long term vision of Raivu. On January 10, 2012 it was made official by the Town of Polk Board of Directors for approval to build the first house in partnership with Cedar Springs Church on their 38 acre parcel, in Slinger, Wisconsin. Besides being a new headquarters for Raivu For Kids; this home is the first step towards the long term vision. Corey along with a volunteer has completed staking out the location of the home on the land. This home will provide a forever home for kids without families. We are currently finishing up the logistics of the partnership with the church regarding the land and have begun fundraising. With that said, it gives us great joy to announce that our Raivu For Kids new headquarters  will be at 3128 Slinger Road in Slinger, Wisconsin.

January started with our first outing with Raivu 1440 middle and high schoolers with a day just for them.

 Visit us online at www.Raivu.org  or find more pictures and stay up-to-date with Raivu For Kids on Facebook and Twitter .

Serving Jesus,

Pastor Corey and Jodi

Raivu from the eyes of…………Jon - Student leader

There have been some truly great things happening at Raivu 1440. I see well over 75% of the kids bringing their Bible every Tuesday and Thursday, including myself. I see them becoming familiar with the Bible, and how to find verses that we work with during the teachings. I see kids that seemed shy at the beginning of the summer come to be very vocal during Raivu. Plenty of kids even want to pray for us as we close Raivu. We right down prayer requests at the end of each night, and more and more kids take it serious and appreciate the prayer requests. I see each and every person at Raivu is either a person of God, or are on their way to be.

Raivu is a fun and exciting way to do Sunday school, even though Cedar Springs’ Sunday school has always been fun. At Raivu, we open each night with prayer and reciting or code and pledge. Our code: simply, the fruits of the spirit. Our pledge: WITH THE HELP OF GOD, I WILL LIVE MY LIFE WITH HONESTY, COURAGE, COMMITMENT, AND SERVICE. Then we play a game or activity that is always enjoyed by everybody. After a fun game or activity, we go to the teaching of Corey and what God puts on his heart to say to us. We all use our Bible and read along with any Bible verse that Corey reads for the teaching. And we close each Raivu with writing down a prayer request, and putting it into our God Box for Corey and Jodi to see and pray over us. Each and every soul that attends Raivu loves it.

From the exciting games we play, and the special events we have, to the special quests at Raivu, and the teachings we receive each night at Raivu, all of it has been truly amazing in how it works through us.

Raivu from the eyes of.......Tina Ericson- Raivu For Kids Board Member

The New Year is upon us, and we at Raivu for Kids have an accelerated excitement to do the will of the Lord!  The Raivu journey continually teaches us patience and our past gives us hope to keep pressing on.  Through fervent prayer to God for direction, we have been able to remain strong in His will and remain true to our mission and vision for Raivu.  Mission:  To teach youth to live with a purpose.  Vision:  To equip youth with the skills they need to succeed regardless of their challenging situations, and instill in them a desire to live their lives to honor God. 

We are so humbled to have been blessed immensely in 2011.  As we look back on the past year, our specific prayers were to be led to kids who we may show and teach the love of God to, to acquire a physical weekly meeting place with these kids, and to provide permanent housing for those kids needing greater care physically.  Well, God NEVER falls short on His promises, though we are so undeserving of them.  Raivu for Kids now has a mission field of kids who are being taught weekly God's love and gift of salvation.  As of last year, Raivu for Kids also now has a physical meeting place, thanks to the gracious members of Cedar Springs Church in Slinger, Wisconsin.  Lastly, as of January of 2012, Raivu for Kids was approved to start constructing a permanent home for kids.  Only God knows the complete vision and outcome for Raivu for Kids, but we are constantly witnessing His amazing grace and direction as we have gone from a single thought of helping kids to now creating blueprints for permanent housing.  It has been a challenging road at times, but we give God the glory for the entire journey.  Matthew 19:26 tells us, "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  In humility we come before God and know that Raivu for Kids will continue to touch lives.

As a member of the Raivu for Kids' Board of Directors, I encourage each one this year to understand that God is real, to know that He hears us when we pray.  Be strengthened by this and persevere!  Romans 15:5-6 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

With God's love and blessings,

Tina Ericson - Raivu for Kids' Secretary

~Prayer requests~

Fundraising and building project

Financial increase to support Raivu's growth

Health, perserverance, financial support, and patience for our family

Youth of Raivu

Sale of the donated tool truck so we can purchase a passenger van