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

The Pittsburgh Healers

Recently a team from Calvary Assembly in Irwin, Pennsylvania (right outside of Pittsburgh) visited us at New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home. Pastor Todd and Sharon Neveu (classmates with us at Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God) led this wonderful group in work and ministry. They scraped, painted, cleaned, organized, did crafts and hosted a staff appreciation party. The staff was delighted with the hand crafted angel pins that the children made, the personalized gift bags, and all the generous items they received. The children especially enjoyed the bonfire and s'mores. Thank you Pastor Todd, Sharon, Nicoletta, Keziah, Courtney, Heather, Wendy and Phillip for your generous spirit and your kindness towards everyone at New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home.

You can visit Calvary Assembly at http://www.calvaryirwin.com/

Check out the Photo Album to the right under the links section.

Extended Family

The family at New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home is about to increase with the expected arrival of newly appointed Missionary Associates, Paul and Dulcie Bushhorn and their four children. The Bushhorns have valuable missions experience including serving as missionary interns in the summer of 2006, at another children’s home in Jamaica which helped solidify their call to the orphans of this island.

These Missionary Associates will be a great asset to New Vision City of Refuge not only to help facilitate the work load but to also ease our time of transition when we return to the States in June 2008, to begin our year of itineration. The sooner they arrive here, to learn the ministry and build a relationship with the children and staff, the better. The Bushhorns hope to join us as early as January 2008, but they need your help to expedite this process.

Please consider supporting the Bushhorn family on a monthly basis. You can send your contributions to:

Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM)
1445 N Boonville Ave
Springfield, MO 65802

Their account number is 2588663.

You can also use the Online Commitment Form located to the right under the links section.

Please contact Paul or Dulcie at pdjhal@hotmail.com to set up a service time or to meet with your missions board.

Let Freedom Ring

In The United States of America and Jamaica, summer is the season to celebrate our respective national independence days. The United States celebrated her independence on July 4, and Jamaica will commemorate hers on August 6.

In each of our histories there are notable persons who epitomize the fight for freedom and independence. Depending on the country you live in, we recall and honor the self-sacrificing actions or inspiring words of people like Patrick Henry or Alexander Bustamante, George Washington or Norman Washington Manley, Paul Revere or Paul Boggle.

Freedom though, is not simply a physical concern but a spiritual one. A person can not truly be liberated if his mind and soul are in captivity. The Psalmist declares, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Although it may sound paradoxical, the way to true freedom is through obedience to God.

Many of our children gained physical freedom from abusive guardians or abject poverty when they were brought to New Vision City of Refuge Children’s Home. Although, we are thankful for the opportunity to love and care for them, there is a greater freedom we desire for them to experience; the freedom to know and love the Liberator of their souls.

But our common foe is an unmerciful opponent; and the battle rages on.

As a friend and sponsor of New Vision City of Refuge you have become our allies. Your prayers and financial assistance provide the necessary arms to fortify us in this sacred war. As patriots we stand under and salute our national flag to honor those who fought for our freedoms. As Christians, we stand together under the cross of Christ and continue to fight for the liberation of each child’s soul.

Let freedom ring.

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.