Conditions are worse in our mission area!
Since our last newsletter in May 2020, things have certainly changed in Jamaica. Early in the pandemic's course in Jamaica, the government was very aggressive in closing down places where people gathered and they had forceable removal of infected people to quarantine centers and sealing of entire neighborhoods by police and army. Tourism, the bars, and the churches were greatly restricted. Since tourism is one of the main sources of income for the island, the economy suffered greatly.
As they got the disease rather well controlled, they opened up tourism and the bars and greatly reduced the restrictions on the churches. Well, the results were predictable. Cases have greatly increased and have certainly increased in our service area of St. Thomas Parish.
The outbreak in St. Thomas Parish
Well, it is hard to know if the rumors are true, but I heard this story from two different sources. Apparently a young man from St. Catherine Parish (on the other side of Kingston - over 2 hours away), came to his mother's church in Morant Bay (the place where we bank and buy most of our supplies) to a healing service. The man was infected with the coronavirus. The church was not one most of us would call "Christian". Apparently, that was the main source of the infection in the parish. Shortly after that, Church Corner in Morant Bay was locked down as was Bamboo River (a crowded shanty-like village), and Seaforth. Then about 10 days ago, a few people in Port Morant (only approximately 2-3 houses down from our associate, Audrey Lindsay) were found to be infected. In the last few days, we have reports of infected people in the small communities of Airy Castle, Winchester, Barking Lodge, Stokeshall, and Wheelerfield.
How are the Hospitals Doing?
Well, I asked Audrey Lindsay, our associate in Port Morant. She said the Princess Margaret Hospital in Morant Bay was full and would not take any more patients; likewise with the Public Hospital in Kingston. So, if you live in Port Morant and have to be admitted to a hospital, you would have to go to Montego Bay, an approximately 6 hour drive.
See Port Morant in lower right corner of the map (below) and Montego Bay near the upper left corner.
Recent Mission Activities
A few weeks ago, we learned that people were getting rather desperate for food. This was right as many shops were closing in Morant Bay because of the virus outbreak. We got one of our associates to go to a wholesale place in Morant Bay and purchase a large quantity of food which was delivered to church leaders in 4 communities - Port Morant, Stokeshall, Wheelerfield, and Rowlandsfield for distribution among the poor.
Soup Kitchen Support
In addition to the food distribution above, we are directly supporting two different church directed soup kitchens in the Port Morant area.
Responses from the poor in Wheelerfield:
Jamaicans speak and learn English in school, but in homes and to each other, they usually speak Patois (a Creole language). As you will see, it has elements of English. Also, even Patois hs its own slang. So, below, we will give you some actual conversations had between a friend, Jefa Hall, a leader in the Wheelerfield Church and some of the recipients of the food. Jefa will speak proper English. I will provide interpretations of the Patois.
Response from Ms. Nanna
Jefa: "Ms Nanna Goodday, how are you?"
Ms. Nanna: "mi sey lady mi no know wey fi sey. No sidung yah a tink wey me ago eat mi and de pickny. Den mi see one lady come gi mi one bag, mi say when mi open it mi glad bag bus , Ebry ting ina it. .All mi cuda do look up in a de sky an a gi tanks to Gad fi sen smaddy fi memba mi." (My lady, I don't know what to say. No, I was sitting and wondering what the children and I would eat. Then I saw this lady bringing me a bag and when I opened it, I was overjoyed. Everything was in it. All I could do was look up in the sky and give thanks to God for somebody remembering me.)
Jefa: "Then when she heard it came from Isaiahsixeight."
Ms. Nanna: "mi cudda know man them WHITE PEOPLE ( No Disrespect ) dem always a look out fi people. Dem, help school, house, and church. GAD BLESS DEM A MILLAN. May they continue du gud so gud falla them and them family." (I could have known that it was those white people because they always look out for people. They help schools, homes, and churches. God bless them a million. May they continue to do good so good can follow them and their families.)
Jefa: "I felt a warmth of fulfillment seeing the need and it coming at such a time as I listen to her ramblings of appreciation and thankfulness, especially at this time of the Pandemic where jobs have been lost, places closed down and persons afraid to go to their regular places of HUSTLE to make ends meet. May the Lord continue to Open the windows of heaven and Pour out his Blessings."
Response from Mr. Galen:
Jefa: "Good evening Mr. Galen ( single man currently unemployed based off the Pandemic ). We are doing some distributions of foodstuffs we received from the Isaiah 6:8 Team in Alabama."
Mr. Galen: Dat sounds like The White People Dem, me hear bout dem man. Dem go round doing all kind a GOOD WILL TINGS all wid the pickney dem a halladay time, dem mek some tings carry come say a dem teach dem. Dat good man, yes man. (That sounds like those white people. I have heard about them. They go around doing all kind of goodwill things like giving the children a holiday (actually Vacation Bible School), build some things, and come to teach. That is very good.)
Jefa: "Smiling 😁"
Mr. Galen: :Yes man me wi tek it man , Because right now NOT A TING in A de house fi cook." (Yes, I will take the food, because right now, there is nothing in the house for me to cook.)
Jefa: "He smiles broadly as he opened the bag , grinning from ear to ear as he sees the Oats and Milk."
Mr. Galen: "Mi ago mix dis yah now so drink. Boy mi glad fi dem fi real, Tank u man, Tank uno, Mi id a WONDA if mi a go just drink some tea and go sleep, cause right a now me neva see Dinna today. Gad Bless uno man. Tank u, Tank u. (I am going to mix some of this up now to drink. I am glad for real. Thank you! You know I was wondering if I just drink some tea and go to sleep because I had no dinner today. God bless you. Thank you! Thank you!)
Jefa: "It was a wonderful feeling to see and hear the appreciation of God's hands showing up in times of need. With the current situation / The Pandemic hovering around everyone's head. God bless you all as you continue to put smiles on faces."
Response from Ms. Shine:
Jefa: "Blessed day Ms. Shine, hope you are in good health. ( shes a single mother with 3 kids.)
Ms. Shine: "yes Chile, how you." (Yes child, how are you?)
Jefa: "I'm wonderful , just here sending out some Favour and Blessings in this time of Covid 19. I have a bag with some foodstuffs for you today"
Ms. Shine: "Waaah , tanks man God bless you to remember me again." (Well, thank you and God bless you for remembering me again!)
Jefa: "It's from the Isaiah 6:8."
Ms. Shine: "You mean the White People dem AGAIN?" (You mean those white people again?)
Jefa: "Yep".
Ms. Shine: "Boy , God really send them as Good Samaritans , CAANT FORGET last year them pay for the Uniform . Hope God will continue to Shine and let their baskets NEVER EMPTY. And today foodstuffs. Boy they are really helpful and know how to STOP A GAP. Tank you man from the bottom of my heart , May God Guide and Protect them always and Bless them and their families like rivers of waters." (Wow, God really sent them as good Samaritans. I can't forget last year they bought a school uniform (for a child). I hope God will continue to shine on them and their baskets are never empty. And today's foodstuff, they are really helpful and they know how to supply needs/lend a helping hand in a time of need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May God guide and protect them always and they and their families have blessings like rivers of water.)
Jefa: "Wishing that for real , take care and Enjoy.
Ms. Shine: "Oh yes I will gonna start now them come at the right time." (Oh yes, I will start cooking right now. The food came at the right time.)
Interesting Observations!
United States vs. Jamaica
- In the U.S. , the churches are complaining because the politicians want to close or restrict churches because of possible Covid-19 transmission.
- In Jamaica, the Jamaica Council of Churches is trying to get the government to restrict in person political campaigning because of possible Covid-19 transmission.
- In the U.S., working parents want their children to stay home to reduce their chance of getting Covid-19.
- In Jamaica, Pastor Courtney Spence, a farmer, makes his two sons accompany him to work in the field so they will not be around home and wander off to be with friends and be exposed to Covid-19.
Prayer Needs
- Please pray for God's mercy for those exposed to the coronavirus.
- Please pray that God will allow many to escape the coronavirus infection.
- Please pray that the Christian churches there will effectively minister to their communities.
- Pray that Isaiahsixeight, its leaders, its associates, and partner churches in Jamaica will minister effectively, with generosity balanced with good stewardship. My most stressful decisions are - how much to fund, how much is too much and how much is too little. We want to meet the needs but not be wasteful so that God is Glorified in all.
Created by Donnie Cantley, President of Isaiahsixeight