Update From Jamaica Christian School For the Deaf

[I received this message yesterday from Sophia Reid, Director of the Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf, a Mission Discovery partner. Maury]
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in our time of troubles.

Many of our staff and students are down with the flu, they are weak, have high fever not eating and having lots of pain. A lot of doctor visits and we keep running out of medication. The Lord is truly our rock and our physician, night and day.

A time for everything under the sun and its our time for cars to break down. Mary and some of our students was on their way to school on Monday January 12, when the wheel flew off and over took them.

God was and is our protector and also our mechanic, they travelled down a mountain and would soon travel down another mountain side when God stepped in. Praise God for His mercy all is well.

We will lose another of our teacher come the end of this month, Miss Kesha Robinson will leave because of personnal reason. Now at this time we need four (4) teachers.

The evil one is trying to throw us a curve ball but with all of this, we continue to keep the faith and try to encourage each other to never give up because God will never give up on us, as we continue to do His work.

Two teachers are here from Sam Sharpe Teachers College doing their teaching practice, we are so happy to have them at this time, they will be here for three months.

Our graduating class starts their work experience today, they are very excited.

The pit for the staff apartment was dug but needs more fund to put cover on it, right now its uncovered and we would love for it to be covered as soon as possible, it will cost $2000.00 US.

We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,
Sophia Reid
Administrator/Plant Manager

The God of Drama

I have a friend named Macon. It’s now wonder that a man like Macon, who has such a unique personality, would love theater. Macon is a regular in community playhouses around Nashville. He’s good too. So all this to say, that, because of Macon, I have been to more plays this year than I had in my entire life to this point and I’m starting to notice some patterns. Plays that hold my attention have the following things in common:

There is a problem
There is drama
There is mystery
And the solution is a surprise

I’m sure as time goes on I’ll get better at recognizing what holds my attention but that is basically it for now.

Get this for drama. Jesus last words on earth before He ascended to be with the Father were, “and you will be my witnesses in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Verse 9 of Acts 1 says “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Wooh what a show! Read the next verse, two angles had to tell the disciples the show was over, but that Jesus would be coming back the same way he left! At the end of the Elvis concert I attended in 1972, smoke surrounded the King of Rock n Roll and when it cleared he was gone and a voice came over the sound system to a stunned crowd and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.” This is similar.

My experience with walking with God since 1972 is much the same as the story of His ascension. My live has been fraught with drama. I can’t say that I have enjoyed every dramatic change of scene, but am on the edge of my seat while at the same time a co-writer of the events to come!

Imagine walking out on stage and all of the actors are speaking in other languages. Imagine entering stage left and a fellow “actor” hands you an orphan, “here, change his diaper.” You’re on stage following a tractor-trailer loaded with all the lumber for houses for the poor in Mexico and it flips over on a sharp curve and catches fire! (That really happened too!) Or an elephant turns toward the car you are driving (a small Toyota), floats his ears forward to warn you to “back off!” Or a homeless man warns you to back off or he will punch you out, later only to weep in prayer as he experiences God’s love and all in the middle of a gas station parking lot at the corner of Expressway 83 and 10th Street in McAllen, TX. Caleb, remember that?

Macon, thanks for introducing me to your world. God thank you for inviting me to Yours too!