Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

New Vision City of Refuge was visited by the students of the local Assemblies of God Bible College this week to help celebrate Valentine's day. The afternoon was spent playing cricket, football, baseball and other games. The night was capped off by a special dinner of Jerk chicken, rice and peas and wonderful treats like cupcakes and cookies. As Timon and Pumba crooned in the background the college students generously gave each child a small gift.
We appreciate the friendships that are being forged and the mentoring relationships being built between the college students and the New Vision kids. These college students are the future pastors and ministers of Jamaica and their hearts are already full of compassion for the orphans of their country. Praise God for their vision and insight!

Let Us Fix Our Eyes On Jesus

New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home was blessed recently by the ministry of Tom and Anne Davis. This couple, from Grace Assembly of God in New Whiteland, Indiana, provided free eye exams and glasses to those in need. Over 165 people were served including our children and staff, residents of the surrounding communities and the students and staff at the local Assembly of God Bible College. Thank you Pastor Wayne Murray for sending such a fine couple and partnering with us in ministry. If you would like to know more about Grace Assembly please visit their website at http://www.grace-assembly.org/index.php

A Worthy Investment

The children who make New Vision City of Refuge home come from a variety of backgrounds. For many, neglect, abuse or abandonment have been a part of their past. Fortunately, though, their future is much brighter because of people like you who desire to invest in the life of a child.
The Mission of New Vision City of Refuge
To provide a home for needy children in a loving, Christ-centered, disciplined environment.
To witness the evidence of transformed lives through training, nurturing, and mentoring.
To raise up a generation of productive citizens for the community, the nation, and the church.
You have an opportunity to. . .
Embrace a Child
A total of $150 is needed each month to take care of one child. Your support enables New Vision City of Refuge to provide benefits such as education, health care, housing, childcare, books, food and clothing. We are on a quest for six sponsors that can give $25/month. Of course, a monthly commitment of any amount is appreciated and if you desire, you may give more.
Ensure a Future
In addition to your financial support, your prayers will be of great value to ensure your sponsored child’s salvation and success in life. Please uphold them in prayer for their spiritual, emotional and physical needs.
Encourage a Life
Though not required for sponsorship, a letter to your sponsored child from time to time will be a welcome blessing! You can speak words of life to your sponsored child in the months to come that will guide them on the path to becoming a man or woman of God and an asset to His Kingdom!
To get started click on the link Sponsor a Child to the right under the links section.

Basking in the Son

Reflecting on a year gone by and looking forward to 2007; we're hoping your new year will be bright and sunny!

A Christmas Memory

His name was Raymond A. Mitchell but everyone called him Pop-pop. He was my grandfather. Christmas was memorable at my grandparent's home not only because of the gifts we received (a handmade item from my grandmother like a Raggedy Ann or Andy doll, and a stocking filled with treats that included candy, nuts, apples and oranges) but because of the love that abounded.
A quiet and gentle man, Pop-pop possessed an inner strength that I admired. At church he graciously greeted guests, dutifully checked attendance and was a favorite with all the children (his coat pockets were always filled with little goodies like zebra-striped gum which he handed out liberally).
In 1979, when I was fifteen, Pop-pop was diagnosed with colon cancer. Although weakened in body my grandfather remained a strong presence in my life. One morning as I and my siblings were headed off to school, the phone rang; Pop-pop had died. It was December 21.
Calling hours were that evening at our house. As family gathered to comfort one another and friends came to pay their condolences, sadness lingered among the Christmas lights and holiday trimmings. And then our minister, Father Jeff Rawthorn, arrived. He shook the snow off his coat, walked directly over to my grandmother and taking her hand in his he gently said, "Imagine, spending Christmas with Jesus."
Of all the words spoken that night those few captured my attention and spoke life into my heart and hope into my spirit. It was true, we were not able to be with Pop-pop that Christmas but Pop-pop was with the one whose birth we were to celebrate in just a few days.
Christmas, although a little more somber that year was not without joy. Memories were shared, gifts were exchanged and the peace that passes all understanding was present that day because of a simple reminder from a wise Episcopal priest; "Imagine, spending Christmas with Jesus."

All I Want for Christmas

“It is good to be children some times, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself”-Charles Dickens
What are you hoping for this Christmas? Here are some Christmas wishes from Olivia, Wesley and Sophia.
In Jamaica there is no such thing as one stop shopping. You usually have to go to many stores to find every item on your shopping list. With that in mind Olivia wishes that Jamaica had a Wal-mart.
Although football is popular in Jamaica it's not the same sport we're used to in the States. Wesley has been following the Indianapolis Colts on the web and wishes their season would end as well as it began.
The warm weather in Jamaica has its advantages but Sophia still wishes it would snow for Christmas. That and a puppy would really make her day.
All of us, though, want to wish our friends, families and sponsors a very merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

A Hug from Home

Our home church, Fort Wayne First Assembly, blessed us recently with an all ladies team led by Chris Cormany and Nancy Williams. This wonderful group of women hosted some special projects and events for us at New Vision City of Refuge. As you can see in this photo, Sophia enjoyed the pleasant and relaxing Spa Day where we were pampered and treated to a special lunch and other goodies. A beautiful girls' tea was also enjoyed by all the girls at New Vision in which they received, among other things, their very own tea cup; as precious and as fragile as they. The Bible College students and staff were blessed by their chapel presentation and my three children were in for a special surprise as this ladies team did a wonderful make-over of their rooms. Thank you Fort Wayne First Assembly, we love you!

My Old Kentucky Home

New Vision City of Refuge student volunteer, Amanda Hacker and our daughter Olivia hang out together with Merlene.
Although the Kentucky District is not our home district when a missions team visited with us here recently it was like getting together at a family reunion. This wonderful group, led by Pastor Terry Moore and Pastor Gerald Hogan made a lot of headway on our new boys' dorm. Windows were installed, screens put in place, tile laid down and rooms were painted. Devotions, crafts and children's church also kept the kids happily occupied. We shared a lot of laughs and good meals but our sing along time, well, let's just say none of us will be joining the choir any time soon. Thank you Kentucky District for joining us on the field and partnering with us in ministry. Ya'll come back now, ya' here!

It's Round Up Time!

Howdy, partners.
We’re not on a cattle drive but we are rounding up sponsors for New Vision City of Refuge. You can sponsor the home or sponsor a child starting at $25 a month. Just make out and send your offerings to AGWM 1445 North Boonville Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65802 and put “New Vision” and the account number 6825046(42) in the memo line. You can also do this by clicking on the link “Support New Vision” or “Sponsor a Child.”
Each month you will receive a sponsor newsletter, which is also available when you join My Yahoo Groups-Jesus Loves Jamaica. Your sponsorship helps us to provide daily neccesities for every child; food, clothing, education and spiritual training. We have so much we want to do at New Vision City of Refuge to make it the best children's home in Jamaica but right now our efforts are hindered because of lack of funds. We appreciate your careful consideration in this matter.

Wha' Gwan, Flat Stanley?!

What's going on, Flat Stanley?!
Flat Stanley is a long distance visitor from New Jersey sent to us by school teacher Beth Zimmerman. Flat Stanley will have a short stay with us and then he will be returned to tell of his tales in Jamaica. He's lived with us at New Vision City of Refuge Home for a little while now visiting all the kids and accompanying us in children's church. We took him to YS Falls which was a fun place to swim and see the sights. You can't come to Jamaica and not do a bit of shopping so here is a picture of Flat Stanley picking up some suntan lotion and preparing for a day outdoors.