JAMAICA – Scenes emerging from Jamaica reveal heartbreaking devastation. In communities like Montego Bay and Black River, entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Before-and-after photos reveal what looks like the aftermath of a bomb. Hurricane Melissa has left behind a trail of destruction that will take years to rebuild. Dozens of lives have been lost and thousands of people have been displaced and are without power. They are now facing the long road toward recovery. Yet even in this darkness, hope is rising because faithful friends like you are providing help in Jamaica.
Arrival in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa
After what seems to be divine favor that got us on the very first humanitarian flight to Jamaica, our Global Disaster Response Team, led by Senior Director Diego Traverso, landed safely in Kingston. Within hours the Lord began to open doors. Our team encountered Pastor Mary from Trumpet Call Ministries International. They consider this a divine connection that could only have been orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Mary had come to Kingston to gather supplies to bring back to her hard-hit community in Montego Bay. Our team immediately mobilized to travel with her and begin distributing aid. Miraculously, her church building—just barely away from the water—sustained minimal damage. This means it can become a critical hub of hope and relief. We are thrilled that in under 24 hours we identified our Base of Operations to help in Jamaica!
As our team drove they passed nearly 60 miles of downed power lines, a sobering sign that much of the island may be without electricity for an extended time. Along the way, they encountered families who had not eaten for several days. These people were hungry, weary, and desperate for clean water.
Last night our team and the pastors entered the darkened streets and called out into what felt like a ghost town, “Solar lights! We have lights!” Almost instantly, people began emerging from the shadows, reaching out for relief. What started as a simple act of compassion became a beacon of hope—a symbol that light always overcomes darkness.
Our Plans for Continuing Help in Jamaica
Our immediate mission is to establish our base of operations at Trumpet Call Ministries International in Montego Bay and begin coordinated relief efforts.
Focus areas that we hope to help in include:
- Installing a clean water system to restore safe drinking water access
- Expanding the church kitchen and developing a feeding program for the community
- Conducting medical relief operations for those in need of care
- Securing a warehouse space to manage relief goods and logistics
- Engaging local volunteers and partners to strengthen capacity and outreach
As we continue our efforts, we also hope to connect with other local partners across Jamaica. And our second team is on the way to Kingston with even more relief supplies, equipment, and personnel to bolster our response capacity.
Please keep our teams in your prayers, and consider giving a special gift to help disaster victims at this crucial time.
