On May 29th…Walk for Dignity and Loving Care.

Your Support will Help us Provide:
- Medical examinations and appropriate care
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Special Equestrian riding therapy
- A secure home environment
- Balanced daily meals
- Proper Education and schooling
- Appropriate referrals for adoption

There are 3 ways to get involved!
1. Participate: Request a registration form from The Gabriel House, fill out, and return it either by mail or fax it to 239-489-0716, or call 239-489-2663 to be added to the list and bring this registration form on the day of the event.
2. Sponsor A Walker: We need your help! Make a difference by sponsoring a walker and donating a flat amount to the Gabriel House.
3. Business Sponsors: Businesses who donate to The Gabriel House will have their company name advertised for a minimum donation of $200. Call The Gabriel House at 239-489-2663 for details.

To make a safe online pledge payment, go to our secure site via authorize.net here:

AND GOD BLESSED NOAH AND HIS SONS…” Genesis 9:1

On entering The Gabriel House via the front door into the forayer, over to the left in the children’s play room is a 4’x16’ mural of Noah and the Arch. The enclosed picture shows a section of the mural, which was painted over eighteen years ago by a friend, who is now on staff at Disney World in Orlando. The theme “renewal” has been woven through the vision and mission of The Gabriel House from the very beginning… going back to 1991. Obviously, the “renewal’ applies to the rehabilitation of children abandoned and experiencing a medical history. There have been many, many children renewed at The Gabriel House in over twenty years. Praise God!

It took Noah many, many years to build the arch. There was no Home Depot at that time.
It was an amazing amount of work… accomplished with amazing faith in God who asked Noah to, ‘do it!’ “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” Genesis 6:8. Noah was obedient to God! He built a huge ship nowhere near the ocean. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9 Righteousness imputed to Noah from God was due to Noah’s faith in God. Today faith and righteousness are gifts from God through His Son …Jesus Christ! Seek and ask the Lord for faith, an increase in faith and be renewed! Keep looking up…you may see His rainbow!

Ed & Anne

• Diapers:  Pampers Cruiser’s #4 or Swaddlers #2
• Wipes:  Pampers Calming  or Clean or Johnson & Johnson  wipes
• Good Start Formula #2 (yellow can IMPORTANT)

Publix – Target – WalMart – Costo Gift Certificates

Paper Products – plates – cups – napkins

Clorox -disinfecting wipes

glad – odor-shield bags tall kitchen

A workable pressure cleaner

Large Rototiller for Victory Garden

Sponsors for the Walk-A-Thon on 29 May at Lakes Park for Myers. Sponsorships start at $50.00 and up. One can donate on line at Donate.

A  brochure for the Walk-A-Thon has been  prepared and is available. It’s title is:  “Walk for Dignity for Very Special Children.” If you are interested in supporting The Gabriel children in walking for their dignity, please call Ed or Anne Ravish at 239-489-2663. We are looking for walkers and sponsors both individual and corporate sponsors. On behalf of the Gabriel children, thank you for your support.

The mission of The Gabriel House is unique, that is to rescue children who have been abandoned, discarded and who are in need of medical treatment. The vision is to rescue, rehabilitate and help these children reach their highest level of independence and functioning. The home provides a loving compassionate Christian environment which does not discriminate against race, creed or color. The target population is focused on children from birth to six years old. The healing power of love flowing freely to little children, coupled with the necessary medical treatment, has been close to miraculous. Over the past twenety years, many, many  children have been rescued, medically treated and adopted across the United States.

However, the healing does not stop after the medical treatment. The children take with them into their adoptive families a very powerful source of love. Whole families have been blessed and healed by this love. Keeping in mind Luke 9:48, when we receive children into The Gabriel House, we receive the Son and when we receive the Son we receive the Father who sent the Son. There is no greater healing power for children and families.

Background and Qualifications:
The founders of The Gabriel House, Edward and Annie R. Ravish, besides having abundant love and compassion for hurting children, include for Ed, a BA, MA from Rhode Island College and a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut. Annie Ravish has taken numerous Special Ed courses at St. Joseph College and the University of Connecticut. Annie has extensive experience in working with autistic and severely handicapped children. Her experiences include working with adolescent delinquents and supervision of a nursing facility for severely physically and mentally disadvantaged children.

Over twenty years ago The Gabriel House, Inc. launched an international ministry to special children abandoned, unwanted and experiencing a need for medical assistance! Since then, over 300 children have called The Gabriel House their home. They have been helped medically and given a new life in loving adoptive families. We continue to receive letters and photos of children now grown into strong young adults. It is a blessing to know that with the Lord’s direction and continued guidance we are able to go forward in helping His special children.

Anne and I are reminded that, “…we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (with Him) Romans 8:16,17. We cannot and will not take our eyes off the calling to serve His special needy children. With the faces of over 300 Gabriel kids with extraordinary needs, healed and indelibly marked in our memories, we extend to you an opportunity to help in time of need. Would you consider a small gift or donation of $25.00 in support of The Gabriel children and ministry? The need is genuine! The time is now! You will be blessed!

From The Gabriel children…, Merry Christmas!

To Our Faithful Supporters: As we progress through an unprecedented time of financial crisis many of us are confused and possibly very angry. Having lived through the early 1930s economic depression, I recall my family losing everything. We lived in a “rat infested apartment” with the neon lights blinking all night out side of my bedroom window. No central heating and a quarter in the water meter would give us enough water for one bath. There was no shower! Even as a young boy every day was a fearful challenge. God was so distant and somewhat of an illusion in my daily life. And then World War II shook our nation into action! I am sure many who read my personal reflections have had similar experiences. However, I had no concept of how God fit into my life. This is my point in sharing my brief remarks. In times such as we now experience our world seems to be in continued global moral and economic bankruptcy. Perhaps that is too strong description. However, the third chapter of Genesis strengthens that statement. I now know how God fits into my life. He has given me a new life by freely accepting Him personally into my life. Consequently, what I can say positively is that a Biblical view of current world events grounded on truth has given me an inner peace. In other words, and this applies to both Anne and me, in serving His abandoned children as we have done for over twenty years, we have invested in riches that are eternally secure ”where moth and rust cannot destroy.” In a worldly sense we are poor but miracles have saved the lives of many, many beautiful children. “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17

God blesses those who love Him!

Ed and Anne

In C.S. Lewis’ ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,’ (which our kids view on DVD frequently), it is “always winter but never Christmas” …a profound way of describing a world without hope. Much of the world is without Christ and therefore without the hope He offers. As I prepare this news letter, tomorrow is Easter, we rejoice in His Resurrection. The pain, despair, the crying out we experience here has been overcome in His promise of eternal life in His Kingdom. We open our hearts to His promise!

Anne and I send our greetings to you from The Gabriel House! It is a joy to share with our friends and long time supporters, that the work of ‘Rescue the Children’s Mission’ continues in earnest! As 2009 stretches out, our vision and mission goals hold fast, in spite of the serious economic pressure and budget cut backs! (our treasurer reports that The Gabriel income has been reduced by at least 45%). However, Anne and I continue to look forward while keeping our spiritual eyes on the Lord! He is in charge! We put our total confidence in Him…and keep looking up!

You will find in this Spring Issue reports on petite Hannah, blind from birth but growing more beautiful each day. She, in the enclosed picture, is horse back riding with Dee Hollander, the director of Special Equestrians here in Fort Myers. This is a very new experience for Hannah. She has no idea what a horse looks like! Yet, her life will never be the same as she rides each week with Dee.

Kumar, on the other hand is in preparation for his international flight to Fort Myers from India. As some of you know, Kumar is partially paralyzed from the waste down. He is able to stand with the help of leg braces. However, walking is another issue. So, he will be in treatment shortly after he arrives at The Gabriel House. Our friends in India have requested us to pray about another child for “Rescue the Children’s Mission.” We ask your prayers for health and travel blessings.

From the dugout…we have two ‘Home Run’ hitters at The Gabriel House. Both Emma and Nathan are playing baseball in a Special Athletic Program in North Fort Myers. They love it!

Recently we received a substantial grant from the Lions Club in Bonita Springs to replace the main house side double doors which were damaged beyond repair… also to replace the loft deck and stairs, which had become unsafe for the kids to use. Enclosed are pictures of Kendall Tresch, the contractor standing on the rebuilt deck and stairs…also a picture of the new doors, Kendall installed. Thank you Bonita Springs Lions Club.

God bless ya’ll! Keep looking up!

Ed and Anne

May you be blessed abundantly!  Ed, Anne and the Gabriel children!