CHRISTINA Lewis knew her faith and trust in God could make even the impossible, possible. But the 17 year-old St Andrew High School graduate could not conceal her surprise when she found out she was selected for a full tuition waiver to her dream college - the United States Naval Academy.

She told the Sunday Observer that her decision to apply for the coveted scholarship was influenced by the fact that three of her nine siblings had also received similar scholarships to attend the academy.

Christina (second left), the latest member of the Lewis family to receive a US scholarship, poses with United States Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson (third left) and her three siblings - all former scholarship recipients - Noel (left), Priscilla and Kathryn (right) at the United States Embassy last week, where she was presented with her letter of appointment from the United States Naval Academy.

"I am still a bit in shock that I got through. But I just feel blessed and I am still telling God thanks," said a bubbly Christina.
Christina, who is scheduled to leave the island in a few weeks, told the Sunday Observer that she was prepared for any challenges that life may throw her way. And with the pep talk given to her by her siblings, Christina can't wait to be off.

The Lewis family - all 12 members - were still amazed at the fact that all of four siblings had been selected for this scholarship over the years. The eldest of the four children, Noel, has since graduated and is now serving as a helicopter pilot in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Meanwhile, Priscilla will complete her engineering studies from the academy in 2007, while Kathryn will complete her medical studies at the US Air Force Academy in 2008.

Parents Neil and Janice Lewis, retired JDF officers, were just as pleased, but said they expected it, because apart from praying about it, they had always encouraged their children to work towards getting scholarships to fund their university education.
"When they were younger we told them that they must get scholarships to go to university, and so they had to bring home nothing less than a 95 per cent when they were in school," Janice Lewis said.

US Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson (second left, second row) poses with all twelve members of the Lewis family. The parents of geniuses - Neil Lewis is (second left back row) and mother Janice is (fourth from left in back row)

"I am overwhelmed," said Neil Lewis, adding that "this is an awesome blessing from God".
He expressed his appreciation to the United States for the scholarships, which he said were not only highly valued, but highly valuable. "We feel very privileged for having gotten four of them," the proud father added.

On Wednesday, the 10 Lewis children and their parents were hosted by the American Embassy as US Ambassador Brenda LaGrange presented Christina with her letter of appointment to the academy.

"I never dreamt that I would ever have such a moment where we are being hosted by the American Embassy," Janice remarked.
Janice explained that she and her husband found out about the availability of the scholarships through their involvement in the army.

At first, the couple tried to influence their son, Noel, an Ardenne High School graduate, to study at the academy. But Noel was not at all keen on the idea. A visit to the academy, however, made him change his mind, and he decided to apply for the scholarship.

"We loved the fact that it was a very disciplined place and we wanted to be able to send them to a school where the discipline we instilled in them could be maintained," the mother of 10 explained.

After Noel was awarded a scholarship, Lewis said her second child, Priscilla, 21, also applied for a similar scholarship. Priscilla, who like Noel was a graduate of Ardenne High, had always followed in her brother's footsteps, the mother confided.

As they awaited the response to Priscilla's scholarship application, Janice said the entire family prayed and fasted. Their prayers were answered yet again, and soon after Priscilla enrolled at the academy.

When the third sibling, Kathryn, also a graduate of Ardenne, said that she wanted to study medicine at the US Air Force Academy, the family was only too happy to embark on further prayer and fasting, never doubting for a moment that she too would be successful.

A former Spelling Bee champion, Kathryn was denied her opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Championship because it was the year following Jody-Ann Maxwell's victory, and the US changed the rules.
This time around, however, Kathryn was confident that nothing would deny her of the opportunity to accomplish her dream. Today, she is presently the only student at the academy on a scholarship, Janice told the Sunday Observer.

Some people would have thought that three is enough, but not the Lewis family, who believe that with God's help they can get anything they want.

So when Kathryn decided that she wanted to study architecture at the US Naval Academy, the family did what they do best - they fasted and prayed. So confident was Kathryn in her ability to be granted the scholarship, that she decided that this was the only school she had an interest in.

"She wanted to go nowhere else, and so she prayed and she fasted and the Lord came through, again."
But even as she basked in her children's success, Janice said at times she still marvelled at the family's good fortune.

Twenty-four years ago when Janice married Neil Lewis, whom she met while they were both serving in the JDF - she as a purchasing officer and he, an aircraft mechanic - she never dreamt this was where life's road would take her.

After marriage, Janice took the decision to quit her job and remain at home to take care of the children. Today, she said that decision paid off tremendously. In 2000, Janice took another bold step when she started to home school the younger children. Two of them have since passed their GSAT examinations for the St Andrew High School for girls.

And Janice told the Sunday Observer that if her younger children wanted to follow in the footsteps of their older siblings then the family would support them in achieving their goals.
But Gabriel, 13, a student at St Andrew High who is next in line to apply for a scholarship, wants to become a teacher. She is still undecided where exactly she wants to study.

Meanwhile, mom Janice joked that soon the family would not have to look outside to find a professional in most major fields. "We now need a lawyer and an ophthalmologist," she said.

As Janice relaxes and talks about her family, a warm smile fills her youthful features. She told the Sunday Observer that she had never regretted the decision to stay home and take care of her children. In fact, Janice said she felt humbled and bless.
"Now I see where it has paid off," she added.

Reminiscing on her childhood, Janice feels that she has come a long way since she lived with her parents at Greenwich Road - a volatile inner-city community - before the family moved uptown. She said she never dreamed that one day she would become the proud parent of 10 very brilliant children. Today, she shares a happy home in Coopers Hill, St Andrew with her husband and 10 children.

But if one should start wondering what it is like to live in a household with ten children - six girls and 4 boys ages 23 to three years old - Janice said her family would have had it no other way.

"Home is a fun and enjoyable place. We are a very close-knit family - very loving and very happy," she said.
Janice admitted that it could have been different, but she said the family's love for God is what has kept them tightly bonded.

"When we got married we took a scripture which says a three-fold cord will not quickly be broken. We believe that Christ is the third person, and so we teach our children to believe in him and I can say that all of them are Christians."

Like most mothers, Janice said she was looking forward to her children's weddings. And as a baker of wedding cakes, she plans to do a special one for each of her children on that special day.
"I am looking forward to help them plan for that special day," she said.

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