The Great Debate

New Vision City of Refuge was honored to host a debate sponsored by the Child Develpment Agency (CDA) of Jamaica. These last few months four of our residents as well as children from Windsor Lodge and Hanbury Children's Homes (Salvation Army Ministries) diligently prepared and delivered their speeches at our respective homes on a rotating basis. This was a tremendous learning opportiunity for all those involved. Each participant received a certificate and first and second place trophies were awarded to the victors. Windsor Lodge was honored this year for their outstanding team. We look forwarded to more friendly competition and fellowship with our neighboring children's homes.

Milestones

Two of our residents graduated from Christiana High School this past week. Saoul (pictured here with Stuart) and Andre walked the line on July 5, 2007. Saoul has a desire to be a teacher and Andre would like to become an electrician. They were also looking good as they attended their Graduation Banquet and Ball over the weekend.
These are but a few of the milestones we are honored to be able to share with the New Vision City of Refuge children. Those of you who sponsor these or other children also share in these special moments. If you are not already, please consider becoming a sponsor to one of our children. They need your loving support and financial assistance to be successful in life. Look under the Links section to the right and click on Sponsor a Child to get started.

Apply Your Heart To Instruction

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach." Romans 12:6-7
I am just finishing up my first year of teaching at the Assemblies of God Bible College in Christiana, Jamaica. My class of first year students is the largest class the Bible College has seen. They have been exceptional, vibrant and exciting students to teach. Thanks to the encouragement of the General Superintendent of Jamaica, Reverend Conrad Pitkin, education is getting the positive push it needs. Students from all over the island, including graduates of Teen Challenge and members of other denominations, are coming and receiving not only a great education but also ministerial experience in the Pentecostal tradition. In December, fellow missionaries Reverend Steve and Pam Livingston and Academic Dean Reverend Margaret Mills are hosting a missions team to Curacao and taking as many students that are able to go with them. Plans are also in the works to expand the Bible College to allow more students the opportunity to recieve a quality education. This is an exciting time for the Assemblies of God Bible College in Jamaica.

Brown & Bubbly

Samantha and her brother Bryan
The second annual Brown & Bubbly Awards were held recently at New Vision City of Refuge. High school students were awarded prizes according to how well they did in their respective subjects and grades. Samantha, grade 8, was awarded best overall average for all the grades represented. Bryan, grade 10, received honors for best grade in Math. Almost every high school student received some kind of recognition and all received encouragement to acheive their best in school.
Jamaica is a highly competive country when it comes to education. High school students must pass extensive tests in order to be even considered for college. Please pray for each of our students that they will take their education seriously and try their hardest to acheive the best grades possible.

Here's to Your Health!

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 2
Thirty active children with fiesty personalities means that we deal with a lot of bumps and bruises and colds and flu. So we invited our friend and fellow missionary, Peggy Pyatt, a Registered Nurse, to join us yesterday to teach a First Aid Training Clinic for the staff of New Vision City of Refuge.
More Jamaicans per year die of AIDS than cancer, heart disease or murder. In the Caribbean HIV/AIDS is growing at a staggering rate (the secondest fastest rate in the world) so Peggy and her husband Gary led an HIV/AIDS Awareness class for the staff and teen-agers. They have done similar awareness training at PTAs, public schools and churches all around the island.
Gary and Peggy are the LACC co-ordinators in Jamaica and you can visit their website at www.jamaicachildcare.com.