Jamaica: Hurricane Matthew!
Hurricane Matthew missed Jamaica in October 2016, while visitors met with the ecclesias and attended the CBMJ planning meeting.
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They called Matthew — ‘The Monster’ — however thankfully the category five Hurricane veered east of its projected route towards Jamaica, missing the Island completely. Nevertheless, since the storm path was so wide, most areas of Jamaica were overcast during Sunday, October 2 to Tuesday, October 4 and received various amounts of rainfall, but no flooding as in other countries. As was reported in the news, Matthew continued northward, causing terrible damage and sadly, loss of life on the Island of Haiti.
Upon arrival in Kingston, Brother Keith Kinlocke met me at the airport and we enjoyed our time together, as he drove me to Brother Leroy and Sister Lorraine Johnson’s home for overnight. Lorraine supplied a tasty meal and we had a great evening together around Bible readings and discussion with their two sons, Lorenzo and Okeimo. During our time in Jamaica (September 30 to October 7), we attended the CBMJ Annual Planning Meeting, Saturday October 1st at the May Pen Hall. Among many items on the agenda, the draft 2017 Calendar of Events was reviewed, with discussion centering around the April 2017 Easter Youth Camp and hopefully Truth Corps assistance mid-year. More short term and long term fieldworkers are being sought to help the Jamaican Brotherhood — for example, during the latter part of 2016, Brother Andre George from St. Lucia will be on the Island from October 14 to November 4. Also, Brother Nigel and Sister Devonna Small (from New Jersey) will also be visiting several ecclesias from October 15 to 21.
On Sunday, we enjoyed fellowship with the Spanish Town Ecclesia at the Remembrance Service. Due to the hurricane warnings, we spent most of Monday and Tuesday with Brother Keith Kinlocke (recording brother of Spanish Town) and his family — Keith and I reviewed many matters with respect to the CBMJ and the ecclesias. We then travelled to Port Maria, Tuesday afternoon, for two days with members there. On Thursday they took me to Port Antonio for a Remembrance Service with our 93 year old Sister Enid Hall. She went to an emergency shelter on Monday, October 3rd for the night, as a precaution, and returned the next day to an undamaged home. She lives in isolation with her son Winston and daughter-in-law Jakelyn on the north-east shore — thankfully, this coastal town was saved from the tremendous force of Hurricane Matthew! No property damage or personal injury took place on this eastern end of the Island, as was anticipated. Our last day was spent in the company of Brother Melvin and Sister Gerzel Gordon at their home in May Pen. It was a pleasure to share time around the daily Bible readings with them, as well as Sister Shaddae Bonnick, baptized on August 7th.
We thank our Jamaican brothers and sisters for their warm hospitality and accommodation arrangements on our behalf.
Written by CBMC Jamaican linkman, Don Luff
Submitted by Jan Berneau, CBMA/CBMC Publicity