It’s been a busy time in Jamaica these past several months. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the brotherhood, CBMC has been able to respond swiftly to the many needs that have arisen due to Hurricane Melissa.

One of our first tasks was to provide generators for the two sisters and their families who live in Argyle Mountain. Due to their remote location, it was likely that they would be without power for a considerable amount of time and back in early January, Bro Leroy and Sis Loraine made the long trek from May Pen with generators and an array of solar lights and chargers for them. Power was just restored to Argyle at the beginning of April, so it really eased the burden for these families living through long months in the dark.

 

Along with Sis Jennifer in Broughton, these two sisters—Maxine and Janetta—suffered the worst damage to their homes among the believers, losing entire portions of their houses in the storm. CBMC is partnering with Christadelphian Meal a Day’s annual summer build project to rebuild the damaged portions of these three homes. This is a three stage project. Bro Marlon, a general contractor and member of the Round Hill ecclesia in Jamaica, is working with his crew to lay the foundations and get the three sites ready. In June, two teams of believers from overseas will head to Jamaica with Meal a Day to build up the walls, which will no doubt be an exhilarating—and somewhat sweaty—experience. Bro Marlon and his crew will then complete the projects by installing the roofs. Each of these rooms that were destroyed were wooden construction with zinc roofing. We’re rebuilding with concrete, leaving these sisters and their families with a home that is both more comfortable and better able to weather the next storm that rolls overhead.

 

We’ve provided funding to many others brothers and sisters to repair damage, reconnect homes to power grid after their electrical lines were brought down by felled trees and replace mattresses ruined by water, among a number of other initiatives. CBMJ sent a one-off payment to every believer to help defray the increase in cost of living caused by the hurricane.

 

Sis Jennifer lost all of her personal furniture, as it was her bedroom (and kitchen) that was destroyed when the wind ripped the roof away and the walls collapsed. After spending a couple of months on an uncomfortable little mattress on the floor of her daughter’s room, she got a beautiful new bed to sleep in. Her joy was palpable when she called me to ask that I pass along her thanks to every one of her brothers and sisters who contributed to make it possible. And finally, after several months of collecting a scant amount of rainwater in small barrels dotted around her yard, a 650 gallon water tank was available for purchase locally. She called me again once it was installed and told me “I was jumping for joy, I was jumping for joy!” To be without a reliable water source even for a few days is something many of us have never experienced. To live that way for months would be unbelievably difficult and, through our collective support, is something we’ve been able to relieve for this sweet sister.

 

Some words of thanks from the various brothers and sisters and their family members:

• “We appreciate all the brother and sister who come together to help us.”
• “Thnx…God bless you all……n i pray a special touch upon the Christadelphian ministry and that your storehouse will never run dry as you stay routed and grounded in God….”
• “I just want to say thank you guys again and much appreciated.”
• “Please tell them thanks with love for me.”
• “Grace and peace be unto you. I pray you are doing well. I want to sincerely thank you for your generous support and heartfelt kindness toward me…your love and willingness to give have truly been a blessing. In my time of need, God used you as a vessel of His provision and care, and I am deeply grateful…May the Lord richly bless you… replenish all that you have given, and continue to strengthen you in your walk. I thank God for you.”

And a special word of thanks from Bro Nathan and myself. Navigating all the chaos that Hurricane Melissa brought has been a lot at times, but to be able to respond to all the various needs without having to worry at all about finances has been such a blessing. Thank you. Our community is such a gift from God.

~Sis Antonia Giordano (CBMC-Jamaica Link)

Thank you

Outstanding generosity from the brotherhood following the appeal for disaster assistance has brought in over US$300,000 (Cdn$400,000) to meet needs in Jamaica.  We do not anticipate a need for additional funding and we will be able to meet current needs. Thank you to all for your generosity!