Cooped-up Cornhuskers

A wonderful team from King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska visited with us this past week. Team leader Kevin Holdorf had a vision to build a chicken coop on our property and has been woking diligently these last couple of years to pursue this project. This generous team also had opportunity to do devotions and crafts with all the children, treat the staff to a spa day and visit our church and Bible College.
Thanks so much King of Kings Lutheran Church. We look forward to your next visit.

Spring Up O Well

The ancient city of Hierapolis was well known for its medicinal hot springs. This popular attraction promised healing relief for those who sought to soothe their aches and pains.

Another ancient city, Colosse did not have a hot springs but it did have a cold springs. People also trekked there to receive the invigorating and refreshing benefits of their water source.

Laodicea on the other hand did not have an adequate water supply which necessitated the construction of aqueducts to provide water for their city. As opposed to Hierapolis or Colosse the water at Laodicea was neither hot nor cold. People did not flock to Laodicea to receive the healing benefits of their hot water nor the refreshing benefits of their cold water because their water was lukewarm and good for nothing.

Jesus says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either one or the other!” (Revelation 3:15).

The sin of Laodicea was that they were irrelevant; they were of no spiritual or practical significance to anyone. Unlike their water-logged neighbors with their medicinal spas, Laodicea was neither hot nor cold. They did not provide healing for the spiritually infirmed or refreshment for the spiritually fatigued. They were lukewarm and useless.

We are fortunate at New Vision City of Refuge to have the opportunity to provide healing and refreshment to those who are physically, emotionally and spiritually in need. Because of your consistent prayers and financial support we can be both hot and cold to those seeking healing relief or refreshing respite. Together let us continue to be a source for the well-spring of life to all who are seeking assistance.

The Sun Shines on New Vision

Recently two churches from the Sunshine State came and ministered at New Vision City of Refuge. Page Pond and Bagdad Assembly of God along with their respective pastors, Bo Senterfitt and Rickey Tedder brought a wonderful group of people to Jamaica. They worked hard on the new boys dorm by laying tile, installing and varnishing doors and painting. The ladies also cleaned windows, sorted out the clothes in the storeroom and did crafts with the children. Each night we enjoyed singing and devotions together in the cool night air. Thanks so much Page Pond and Bagdad Assembly for shining down on New Vision City of Refuge Children's Home.

He is Our Peace

Anyone who has heard the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” knows how silly and untrue this aphorism is. We have personally seen how deep and real the pain is when our children at New Vision City of Refuge have been called “dashway pickneys” (a patois term meaning “throw away children”) by callous school mates.

Derogatory terms have the intention to separate: to make others feel less than worthy. Teasing and mocking is nothing new. Although, we may inwardly cheer when David calls Goliath an “uncircumcised Philistine,” we are at a loss in our contemporary setting to understand the contempt and disdain behind these words.

Jews in the Old Testament were chosen and marked by God to be the covenant people. This was evidenced by the sign of the covenant which of course was circumcision. All others not a part of the community of faith were referred to as “Gentiles” or “uncircumcised.” This term, “Gentiles” although a seemingly benign expression in our 21st century ears was actually a reprehensible and disparaging name meant to degrade and demean anyone who was not a part of the covenant people.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul enlightens us to a mystery previously hidden but now openly proclaimed; that Jew and Gentile are to be reconciled as one. The Apostle was not simply stating that Jew and Gentile should tolerate each other or do their best to get along. He was fervently preaching that Jew and Gentile are now one new man; united, joined together, complete in Christ. The Gentiles, formerly “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship…foreigners to the covenant…without hope and without God…who once were far away have now been brought near through the blood of Christ”(Ephesians 2:12-13).

No longer “dashway pickneys” but members of God’s family, united with the covenant people.

At New Vision City of Refuge our children who once were abandoned, neglected and abused have now have been “brought near” and welcomed into a loving family environment where they share in its privileges and responsibilities. With your help, our hope and intention is that they realize their Heavenly Father guarantees the equivalent in his family as well.

He is our peace.

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