A couple of intrepid souls have braved the clogged roads and downed power lines to make the drive from the Kingston area to Westmoreland to check up on family members. Whilst the updates we’ve received over the last week are that brothers and sisters are “ok”, it tells us nothing of the loss and trauma that many have endured.

Bro Keith travelled to Broughton, the journey taking twice as long as it did before the storm and brought back news of devastation and an ecclesial member who lost her home. Sis Cureen took supplies to Argyle Mountain, where the hurricane took the doors and windows of her father’s home and almost everyone in the community lost their roof. The photos show the small and immaculately kept meeting hall from our first visit to Jamaica in 2015. The video shows how it looks today.

If you’ve been to Negril, there’s a chance you’ve met Bro Ray at the Golden Sunset. He’s an immense character and has been wonderful to get to know over the past decade that Nate and I have visited Jamaica. All we’ve heard from his niece, Jenny – herself such a constant, cheerful presence at the Golden Sunset – is that they are “alive”. That’s all we know. There are several others no one has been able to reach and about whom we’ve received no word.

Even those who fared fairly well through the storm are now dealing with disruption to work and school and the constant, nagging worry about extended family members who have sustained much worse damage. It’s been a week now with no power, water or internet for many. It may well be many more weeks before services are restored.

Recovery from this storm – physically, emotionally and financially – will be such a long road. Please continue to pray for our dear ones in Jamaica.