This year my thankfulness has much greater dimension than it sometimes does. I’m counting my blessings against the ongoing recovery efforts down in Jamaica as a result of Hurricane Melissa. Pam and I have dear ministry friends down there who have suffered deeply. Back on October 28, the full brunt of a category 5 hurricane smashed into western Jamaica. Westmoreland, St. James Parish, and Montego Bay—where Bethany has served for several years through Jamaica Link—got absolutely hammered. The mountainous regions recorded upwards of 40 inches of rain. And because the storm was slow moving, it sat over Jamaica for more than 12 hours.

The 160 MPH winds blew the roofs off of churches and schools like they were cheap paper plates, wreaking havoc with the contents- textbooks, Bibles, chairs, pews, and school supplies. It’s as if someone took the contents of a classroom, put it in a giant blender and hit “chop.”

Many homes experienced the same loss. Houses with concrete walls generally survived, but many roofs were likewise ripped off and the contents completely drenched and tossed about. And wooden homes—those most impoverished people have—were simply erased. Where homes once stood are piles of debris like matchsticks.

But the body of Christ is activating! Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Arm & World Relief, along with dozens of Christian charities of every denominational stripe are sending aid. Our Bethany mission committee has generously allocated and sent $7,000—$2,000 to help Jamaica Link Ministries purchase, transport and distribute much-needed emergency supplies to our ministry partners, and $5,000 to help Mt. Stewart Baptist Church replace its roof. Pastor Dwaine Llewellyn and his wife Arlene are close personal friends and we have served together for years. Dwaine and I talk a couple of times a month. In fact, if you ever walk by my office during the week and hear a “Ya mon” on speaker phone in a beautiful island accent, I’m probably talking to Dwaine. Right now the church is meeting under a tarp outdoors, but rebuilding that roof will give the congregation a place to worship again and a shelter for the mountain community. The church members have already cleared and cleaned the site in preparation for future construction. (church pictures, right)

But the damage went far beyond buildings. Jamaica’s electrical grid was shredded. JPS, the national power company, is estimating six months to a year before power is restored in these remote mountain regions. For Jamaican believers, the psalmist’s words are their only solace: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

In the midst of all this, Pam and I have been keeping track of a young man we met years ago named Nicholas. Fifteen years ago he was a student at Cornwall Mountain Elementary School, where we were leading tutoring teams and an after-school Bible club. He and a group of mostly older boys were in remedial classes, and he was often angry, sullen, and openly disruptive. The system had completely left him behind. At the time, we honestly wondered what would become of him. It wasn’t looking promising. But God wasn’t finished with Nicholas. Somewhere along the way, grace got hold of his heart.

Today he attends Mt. Stewart Baptist—the very church Bethany is helping restore—and he serves there as a lay minister and musician. Recently I saw on Facebook the pictures of his destroyed home. Pastor Dwaine confirmed that he lost everything. His clothes are stored in a plastic barrel sitting in the dirt where the house once stood. He escaped with only seconds to spare when the walls collapsed around him.

And yet even now, after losing everything, he continues to post songs online to encourage others—declaring his dependence on God and celebrating His faithfulness. Below is a simple testimony of faith he wrote and recorded on his phone a few days after his house was destroyed.  His worship is stronger than ever. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)

Pam and I feel led to help. One of the things I appreciate about Jamaica Link right now is their needs-match program—pairing churches and families here in the U.S. with specific pastors, congregations, and individuals in Jamaica who have lost everything. It’s not just donating to a general fund—it’s entering someone’s story, shoulder to shoulder, and walking with them through the rubble toward restoration.

We don’t know how much of Nicholas’ rebuilding we’ll be able to cover, and likely will need help, but our hearts go out to him—the young man we first met as a restless teenager and now partner with as a brother in Christ. We sent our first check this week to get him started.

So when I sit down for Thanksgiving this year, my gratitude will be shaped by people like Nicholas… by the resilience of believers who worship with nothing left in their hands… by the reminder that gratitude isn’t merely something we feel—it’s something we demonstrate. As Paul wrote, “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need.” (2 Corinthians 8:14)

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Lord, make us grateful people.
And make our gratitude generous.