Ed and Celeste Hobelman
Jun 16, 2025
Greetings in the powerful, wonderful Name of Jesus!
We spent January through April at beautiful Little Bay Hideaway, in Little Bay, Jamaica.
If you have checked out my Facebook page, you'll see more pictures than a normal human should be taking. It was undoubtedly the most beautiful place we've stayed, to date, in Jamaica.
It's a blessing there were a few 'inconveniences', otherwise, we'd never have wanted to leave!
While there, we did make some good connections.
There is a Christian College within a 30 minute drive, right in Savanah la Mar, the capitol of Westmoreland parish. We spoke with the Academic Dean and college President, who both seemed interested in working together.
Unfortunately, after a Board meeting, God seems to have other plans.
When we present to a Pastor or Educator, we try to communicate as effectively as we can,
the need for the Body of Christ to work together, across denominational lines, to build the kingdom of Christ and to save the children through Christian Education.
There are three aspects that we believe are included in the 11th Commandment, what is known as the Great Commission. They are LifeStyle Evangelism, Discipleship and Christian Education, using the system and curriculum of ACE. ACE is perfect, as it is truly 'no child left behind'.
The system in Jamaica offers elementary through 6th grade. They graduate 6th grade then start high school at 7th grade through 11.
Google will tell you that 80% of the graduating 6th graders cannot read, or read well.
If they can't read they cannot continue to high school, they are too young to get a job, so about the only option left is to join a gang. We've had many of these students come to the ACE Learning Center in Golden Grove and learn to read, progressing on to work in the PACEs.
Summer before last, at the ACE Supervisor Training, we discovered that none of the ACE Learning Centers on the island go all the way to high school.....except for ours in Golden Grove. We were shocked!! They go through sixth grade. When asked, 'why', the response was that the parents saw the value in good quality Christian education, but only to prepare them for public high school. It is going to take nothing short of a miracle to change this cultural mindset.
We even reached out to the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to give what we fully believe to be the solution to a very serious problem on the island.
Have had no response as of yet.
*Please help us pray that God works in a mighty way to make this change a reality.
We returned to Indiana May 1. Upon our return, Doug and Joy (daughter), started the process to sell the farm, and before the first of June, sold it and bought another house in the little town of Colfax. We are turning one of the garages into a cozy apartment. Right before the big move, we spent nearly a week in Muncie at the Ball State University, attending the ACE International Student Convention. That was beyond wonderful! It was like drinking from a fire hose! I hope we will be able to go next year.
We are (still) learning about patience. God knows what He is doing, we trust Him to let us in on His heart's desires when the time is right.
There are a couple of other things that have blipped across our radar lately.
As it unfolds, or not, we will try to keep you updated.
While in Jamaica, the internet was non existent, so rendered us unable to do any newsletters.
We have mentioned Fiji in the past. We should know by the end of July if that is an open door or not.
Thank you for all of you who have prayed, given and communicated your wisdom for The God Size Vision. Being a visionary is both a blessing and a curse.
Lately we've been praying that Jesus put His heart's desire in us, so we can pray it back to Him. I know He will answer.
Please ask God how He wants you to join Him in what He is doing.
Much love to each of you.
Ed and Celeste Hobelman
PO Box 214
Colfax, Indiana 46035
Jamaica ph # 876.406.6385
Indiana ph # 765.484.3359
YouTube: The God Size Vision
PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NJ2EPYEBFFTKS
