Welcome Home...and Thank you!!!

A BIG welcome home to mama's Soldier Son. He has just returned from Iraq. Your service is appreciated by our little family and, as I know, by many others.

We're glad to have you home.

In Memoriam

Sister Gee from New Covenant Church in Mandeville passed away this morning at Mandeville Hospital.

She sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" Sunday in church.

She will be missed by her family and the family of New Covenant.

She was a great woman of God, submitted to her church leadership.

Prayer in Topsham

Worship at New Covenant

Yup, Just Like That...

PLEASE DON'T WAIT. RECEIVE HIM NOW. BELIEVE NOW.

Jamaica - Sunday - Wow!

Hallelujah! Byron was the first person in the doors of New Covenant on Sunday morning!

He even got a new shirt for church from someone!


We ministered in their Sunday morning service, teaching and preaching on the importance of submitting to the vision of the house, the man and woman of God and how that is all connected to fulfilling your destiny.

After the message, as we prayed for the people of New Covenant,

Brother Smith


Sister G


and Sister Donna
all were healed of deafness or pain in their ears!

Byron recommitted himself to follow God and claimed Pastor White as his man of God!

Sunday night, we were back in Topsham.

Perla and Lee

The church in Wanstead joined us there. It was good to see Pastor and Mother Stevens again.

(Should I get a hat?)

New Covenant from Mandeville also came and all three churches joined together for a great time of worship.






God showed up and God showed off!

The people were encouraged by the Word of God. There was another man healed in his ears that night. As we prayed for the people, the presence and power of God fell and filled all the believers anew. Everyone was refreshed by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The mission work of Revival Fires Fellowship International and Overflowing Life Christian Center is bearing much fruit in Jamaica.

When it is time to give to missions, we ask that you remember the faces and places we have shared with you today. Your giving facilitates these good works.

The churches in Jamaica are moving forward in God.

Come back this week for videos from our trip...

Jamaica - Saturday

TOPSHAM, Jamaica

The view from the Topsham church.

We arrived on Friday afternoon, (without our carry-on). After the drive from Kingston to Mandeville, we checked and freshened up a bit. Then we went to Pastor Williams’ house in Topsham for dinner. We spent some time with him and his family.

During our time in Topsham, we had some time to see some of the work that has been done on the church building. They have installed beautiful new doors.

The floor has been completely tiled.

It was bare cement before. They have completed the new lettering over the pulpit area also.

The back room, for visiting ministers, is finished and fully furnished.

The bathroom also has been completed.

Pastor Williams also showed us some of the damage caused by this year’s hurricanes. He personally lost about 2/3 of his crops. The stones were washed away on the path to the church in certain places,

as well as under the various footbridges. Hurricane Gilbert was severe enough to uproot trees.

The pigs, however, survived.

They are reproducing.

This one is even currently, ‘with pig’, Pastor Williams said.

MANDEVILLE, Jamaica

On Saturday, we spent some time preparing for ministry on Sunday. We also got out and about in Mandeville waiting for our afternoon appointment with Pastor White.

We came across Byron.

Actually, he came across us. He appeared very concerned with whether or not we were enjoying our vacation. We shared with him why we were actually in Jamaica. After speaking with Byron for a bit, he started asking us for money for food. Since we were on our way to Juici Patti, the Jamaican equivalent of McDonald’s, we told Byron that we would buy him a beef patty.

The security guard at Juici Patti was none too pleased to have Byron there. Byron sells packets of seeds on the street and they did not want him selling his seeds inside. That was their verbal statement anyway. Byron put down his box of seed packets but they still were insisting that he leave. I assured the guard that Byron was with us; he would be eating with us and leaving with us. I got that all too familiar ‘you silly american’ knowing smile look from the guard as he walked away.

While we spent time in Juici Patti with Byron, the Spirit of God moved in the restaurant and gave us a word for Byron’s life. Many others were listening attentively as we shared the truth of God’s Word with this man. We could see people listening in and nodding in agreement to what was being said.

Byron had been speaking very negatively about people and the way he gets treated. We shared with Byron the truth of sowing and reaping and that the negative treatment that he regularly receives could be a direct result of the negative way he treats others. It is a biblical principle of sowing and reaping.

As we left Juici Patti, we encouraged Byron to come to church right there in Mandeville the next day where we would be ministering.

PASTOR ALANDO WHITE

Later that afternoon, we met with Pastor Alando White and his wife, as well as another member of their church. Pastor White was the one who had contacted Bishop McIver with a desire to come under his leadership and apostolic covering. Pastor White showed us around some different areas of town and told us about their various ministries there in Mandeville. It turns out that the main part of Pastor White’s vision for ministry is to minister to street people and rehabilitate them and place them back into society. I think we found Byron’s pastor.

After our time with the Whites, Perla and I had dinner at the hotel, continued preparing for Sunday and then rested up for a full day of ministry in Jamaica on Sunday.

Coming up...Jamaica - Sunday - Wow!

Happy Birthday!

Today is our little girl's 15th birthday. She is growing up to be a fine young woman of God. She gets straight A's. She is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a Senator for her Freshman class. She loves God and walks the walk. We love you, Cecilia!

Jamaica 2008 - Part One - $15.00, for what?!

We flew from Philadelphia through Montego Bay, (where USAir lost my ONLY bag I checked; yeah the one they charged me 15.00 to check), then on to Kingston.

So, this bag you see, was our only checked baggage. We had our full alotment of carry-ons. We could carry on everything we needed. I just didn't want to go through the whole little-plastic-bottle-for-everything-your-body-needs-in-a-ziploc-bag-please ordeal. So we shoved all those liquids, etc. into one bag and checked it.

The USAir lady said it was going through to Kingston. Since, I have traveled multiple times internationally, I knew better. So, I asked her to clarify it. She assured me that it would go through to Kingston. I asked her again if I needed to pick it up in Montego Bay to clear through customs and recheck it. She said once again that the bag would be in Kingston when I got there and showed me the tag on the bag to prove it.

Our flight into Montego Bay was delayed almost an hour. As we ran through the airport to make our connection, we passed the baggage claim. I actually thought of stopping to check if my bag was there, but we had NO TIME. As we ran past, I glanced over. I didn't see any small black bag with a blue ribbon tied to it on the carousel. Ok, I thought, maybe this was what I was now paying $15.00 for anyway. They'll put it through inspection and it will come out on the other end.

Off to immigration and customs.

I am a big man. If I have to run through the airport, I sweat. The whole security thing, taking off my shoes, my belt, watch, check your pockets, and don't lose your passport and boarding pass in the process! Some airports they want your passport through the x-ray, in others keep it with you.

Anyway, security and immigration officials are told to always be suspicious of anyone sweating profusely. HA! I almost always get pulled aside at security and I almost always get the extra questions at immigration. But this time I had my blood pressure under control. No sweating this trip.

We went through immigration and customs, barely made it to our plane. They actually were calling our names on the speaker to get to the gate.

Off to Kingston!

We arrived in 25 minutes, on time. We went to the baggage claim and found no bag. I knew at that moment what had happened. I went to the 'lost baggage' counter. I was so happy to be at my destination. Jamaica is so friendly. They quickly determined that my bag was in Montego Bay and they would have it delivered to me at our hotel, and charge US Air.

I should have it by morning; but this is Jamaica, where the ruling mentality still stands, "soon come".

We got our bag LATE the next night. We had already bought everything we needed. But it was good to have the bag.

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.


Philippians 4:11

Jamaica 2008 - Introduction

This was not my first trip to Jamaica. It was my third. We have been working with Bishop Jim and Mary McIver for several years in Jamaica. When we are in Jamaica, we stay in Mandeville, the third largest city on the island. It is the closest city to the churches we work with. This was Perla's first trip to Jamaica.

Revival Fires Fellowship International has two churches in Jamaica in its fellowship; now three.

Pastor Williams' church is in Topsham*. He has been with us for several years now. Topsham is in the mountains. The roads to get there are very curvy. People beep when driving on them as they are coming to a curve. This is to let any oncoming traffic know you are coming. At night, the beep becomes a flash of the high beams. They also beep when they know someone, think they know someone, live in the same area as them, have seen them a lot or to say thanks for letting them pass. Needless to say there can be a lot of beeping. Where I would rush to the mechanic if my air conditioner wasn't working, I imagine they really need that horn.

Pastor Stevens' church is in Wanstead. Wanstead is even farther into the country. Pastor Stevens has been with RFFI for a couple years now also.

Pastor White of New Covenant Church in Mandeville contacted Bishop McIver with an interest to come under his leadership. The other churches were also desiring a visit from us. Bishop was not able to make the trip at this time due to prior obligations, so he sent Perla and I in his place.

It was a very fruitful trip!

*I discovered during this trip that it may actually be Topsand, but everyone there says and spells it as Topsham. I may never know. Neither one googles for Jamaica. However, there are cities in the US, Canada and the UK called Topsham, so I'm inclined to go with that one.

Kate Looks Good in Blue

I know some of you are waiting for the low down on Jamaica. It's coming. I have over 200 photos to sort through and stuff to write etc. On top of all of that, I had a lot of catch up to play with the children's homeschooling and the business.

Homeschooling Reason # 452

Kindergartners pledge

This woman should lose her job.

California needs Jesus.

"How do you teach a 5-year-old to sign a pledge card for lesbian, gay and transgender issues without explaining what transgender and bisexual is?" asked Sonja Eddings Brown, a spokeswoman for Protect Marriage California.

My question exactly.

The district said the pledge cards were intended for middle school and high school students.

I wonder what would have happened if one of those middle or high school students decided to NOT sign the card.

California is voting on overturning the gay marriage law on Tuesday. Pray for them.