The Tarrant Baptist Church/Freedom Come Ministries International Boots on the Ground trip to Manchester on July 20, 2024, was exciting and spiritually sobering. The visit was to seek out those badly affected by the passing of Hurricane Beryl. Well-packaged non-perishable food items, cleaning and sanitization agents, as well as cosmetics products, were loaded onto the bus.
The journey was safe, with heavy rains at some points, but we worshipped, gave thanks, watched, and prayed. As we approached Manchester, it was looking okay from a distance, as if it were not really affected, but as we journeyed deeper, traversing wide tracts into the bushes, and met face-to-face with the individuals and heard their stories, it became clear that many were badly impacted. The needs were enormous in Blenheim Town, Blenheim, and New Field: some residents needed roofing, zinc, tarpaulins, and general materials to fix their homes. Most needed electricity, water, and basic amenities.
The Bible says in Hebrews 13:16, “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” Several families came out of their homes to receive the Gospel message and prayers. This was the first visit they had received from a church group, and it was appreciated. We are motivated to press forward with such outreach in a very strategic and deliberate manner.
FARMERS WERE IMPACTED
We spoke with some farmers whose plots and acres of land (with yams, potatoes, cabbage, sweet pepper, plantains, banana, avocado, ackee, and sorrel) were far from the main roads. We gave a care-package bag to Farmer George Clarke and offered him a lift back to his farm. He told us to leave him along the main road as our vehicle would not be able to reach his property, so we all jumped out to escort him home. It was a LOOONG trek through the bushes!
The farmers were saddened by the fact that many of the crops were not ready or fit to be harvested before the passing of the hurricane, although a few were able to reap some crops just after, like sweet potatoes.
By the grace of God, others had some fruits still pegged to their branches—from enormous jackfruit to fragile mulberries, now mature.
We could see many produce in the fields rotting, like tomatoes and dasheen, and avocadoes scattered beneath trees that had been ripped apart. That was one of the most curious things—seeing the huge branches tethered so perilously to their main trunks, looking like they had been shredded with a giant fork.
Overall, it was a very sobering experience. We prayed for and with the farmers, asking for the mercy of the LORD upon their lives, salvation, help, and deliverance, and encouraged them to continue farming as the LORD will shower mercy and blessings on their needed and hard work, noting that they are helping to feed the nation.
As the church, we will persist in praying for Jamaica’s farmers and seek God’s divine provisions as we continue to cultivate and plant crops round about us, too, doing the back-yard, front-yard, side-yard, and no-yard gardening.
We will not suffer; we will not beg for food; the LORD is our Provider. We will not beg for food, in Jesus’ name! Amen!
