Deep calls to Deep

Jamaica has many beautiful places to visit including some breathtaking waterfalls. We have braved a few and although Dunn’s River Falls is more well-known and popular our family prefers the serene locale of YS Falls.

While in the States my family and I had the opportunity to spend a few days at Niagara Falls visiting my parents. We journeyed on the “Maid of the Mist” and felt the spray of the most powerful falls in North America as its rushing waters came crashing down within a few short feet of us. The sound was deafening but the experience was enlightening.

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls,” pens the Psalmist. He creates for us a dramatic image of the outpouring of water which flows from God’s repository above to the earth below. As one who stands in the midst of this turbulence he continues by saying, “All your waves and breakers have swept over me.”

It is quite evident that the author’s life is flooded with despair and suffering yet in the center of this torrent there is a confession of hope, “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life.”

Experiencing the roar of the waterfall is not unique to this ancient writer; the cares of this life have swept violently over each of us. Even the children at New Vision City of Refuge have heard the deafening roar of the waterfall and have felt its turbulence. Through our ministry though, we are teaching them to hear God’s song through the uncertainties of life.

Your prayers, words of encouragement and financial assistance add to the melody of God’s song which reminds us of his presence and faithfulness even in the midst of turbulent times. Thank you for your continued support.

Assessing the Damage

Friend and fellow missionary Gary Pyatt sent some photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Dean in Jamaica. This particular photo is Windward Boulevard in Kingston on the way to the airport. Soon he will be putting up more photos on his website. You can access it here: www.jamaicachildcare.com
The kids and I are scheduled to leave on Thursday, August 23. We'll be arriving in Montego Bay at 2:05 pm CT. I appreciate you prayers because we still don't know the condition of the roads through the mountains into Montego Bay.
Again, I am so thankful for your prayers and provision through this time.

Heading Home NOT

Well I thought we were going home tomorrow but it doesn't look like that will be possible. My flight was cancelled and after talking with Stuart it might just be as well. He tried going to Christiana and telephone poles were down all over the place. Our friends in Kingston said the airport road was impassable.

Tomorrow I will call the travel agent and try to find another flight out at the end of the week.

I am so grateful to everyone who has prayed and offered to help us in our plight. I want to especially thank Shawn and Cheryl Small of Wonder Voyage who have generously put us up in a hotel while we wait to go home. God is good!

Heading Home

As Hurricane Dean heads towards Mexico we are heading home. Tomorrow morning our flight is still scheduled to fly. We will go to Miami and then into Kingston. Please pray for roads to be clear so Stuart won't have a problem picking us up.
Our City of Refuge in Christiana held up to some very strong winds; some of our trees were damaged and some roofing was blown off. The City of Refuge in Kingston suffered much worse damage; the chicken coop with 150 chickens is gone, the coffee crop is ruined and a few roofs were blown off.
Fortunately no one was hurt at either home.
After today I probably won't have internet service for a while. So until then, thanks for your prayers and I'll send an update as soon as I can.

The Approaching Storm

Hurrican Dean is poised to hit Jamaica on Sunday, August 19. Our family has been in the States for the last couple of weeks spending our last week in Texas for our Caribbean Retreat. That is where Wendy and the kids are right now. Stuart flew out this morning ahead of the storm to go back to New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home and help them prepare. At this point the government is only allowing citizens and those with work permits to enter Jamaica.

Please pray for us.

"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed." Psalm 107:29

Down and Dirty

Trinity Episcopal Church from Belleville, Michigan recently sent a hardworking, fun-loving team to work and minister at New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home. Led by Shawn Small and Eric Neubauer of Wonder Voyage Missions, this group had the envious job of hauling rock and digging dirt to help build our septic system! They also took all our kids on a picnic to Gouri Cave and went spelunking with the teens. A visit to the town of Christiana and game night filled out our week together.

Thank you, Wonder Voyage and Trinity Episcopal for a memorable week!

Please visit their websites at http://www.wondervoyage.com/index.php and http://www.trinitybell.org/index_a.html