Sean Major-Campbell | Kingston on the mission field

VERY SPECIAL thanks to all who continue to facilitate hurricane-relief outreach. This is such a necessary ministry of compassion and care. Attending to the physical and psychosocial needs of survivors is so necessary at this time.

When we went to Whitehall, St Elizabeth, last Sunday, it was with a purpose that transcended meeting the need for food and water. That is why our team included medical doctor Winston Dawes, who saw persons with chronic diseases, mental-health concerns, and even did treatment for pain. It is noteworthy that he also did a house visit. There was also Mr Kirk Teape, who facilitated art therapy for the children.

A deliberate effort was made to engage people in their long, painful journey in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Elderly folks who lost roofs and whose household furnishings were washed out of their homes were also there.

Of significance was a celebration of the Holy Eucharist held at Holy Trinity, Whitehall. This was presided over by the Rt Rev Leon Golding, Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. A special moment was when the blessed sacrament was brought from the altar (with the service in progress) to a wheelchair bound lady in her home behind the church building. This resonated with the saying, “when the faithful cannot go to church, the church goes to the faithful”.

Bishop Golding observed the significance of COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, being held in Brazil. He affirmed the truth about human action on the environment and the importance of our stewardship of the Earth’s resources. The message shared with the people reminded them of the urgency regarding our working together and supporting one another. The unbiased role and function of the Church in serving everyone was in action.

Consistent with best practices, it was an ecumenical experience. People from various denominations were all welcomed. Just under 300 care packages were distributed after lunch was served.

We welcome anyone with skills and talents to come along with us. Just give us a call at 658-206-0710 so that your seat may be reserved on a mission trip. Please note that your religious or political affiliation or lack thereof is not a requirement. Volunteers should meet national qualification requirements if offering medical, nursing, and psychological care.

Wednesday, November 19 saw the Deanery of Kingston’s Mission Trip going into Clarks Town, Trelawny, with host church, St Boniface, Harbour View, led by Fr Kirk Brown.

We were accompanied by registered nurse, Lola Wallace, who saw many of the attendees. Here, a significant presenting concern was high blood pressure. It was not unusual to encounter men whose last visit to a doctor was “some time ago” or “one long time ago”.

The psychospiritual approach continues to prove helpful as many attendees for this psychosocial intervention present with theological questions and musings even when they are not necessarily involved with church. Many people recall early childhood teachings from Sunday school, too. The psychospiritual approach recognises that people’s religious or spirituality frame of reference is important and to be respected. They also ask for help regarding the difficult questions about the presence of God in times of hurricanes, earthquakes, and pandemics. Such questions are to be respectfully engaged. People are to be helped by appreciating that sometimes there are no easy answers and that we still have to face this reality.

In the interest of time management, another vehicle was commissioned into taking supplies from our active venue to other areas.

Special mention and ongoing support is to be encouraged for humanitarian organisations such as Samaritan’s Purse, Food For the Poor, World Central Kitchens, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Caribbean American Cultural Group (Port St Lucie), entertainers, and churches in general.

Please remember to send children’s cots and sleep mats. This reduces the chance of adults sharing the sleep space of minors. This is important given the increased vulnerability of children in disaster contexts.

God is love. God is in our loving, caring, sharing. We are not alone. In our doing community service, God’s mission of love is engaged, shared, and experienced. We need relationships. We need each other. Last week’s mission saw the distribution of 213 packages. Many also received a five-litre bottle of water and a litre of kerosene oil. Hot lunches were also served.

The Deanery of Kingston’s ministry also includes briefing preparation for volunteers prior to entering the disaster zone and debriefing after the mission. We are grateful to Dr Lataya Hall, clinical counsellor with the Center for Advancement, Restoration, and Empowerment (Miami) and Professor Wendel Abel, psychiatrist/therapist (Ferdies House) who did the sessions, respectively.

We continue to pray as we meet the great work at hand: Gracious God, grant us the wisdom to move away from some physical structures as we move closer in human community; to rebuild more churches without walls; and above all to know your loving presence in the power of love at work among us.

I close with an old saying, ‘Houses are made of sticks and stones, but homes are made of love alone’.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. (Master of Arts Pastoral Psychology and Counselling.) Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com