Jamaica On Hurricane Dean’s Hit List
My prayers have been with Jamaica as Hurricane Dean threatens to hit the island by Sunday August 19, 2007. I have been in prayer since Tuesday when I received the first Hurricane Advisory in my email box. My petitions included other parts of the Caribbean already affected and places like Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba who are also likely to get some pounding as well.
I began receiving these email advisories from the National Hurricane Center in Florida when I first lived away from Jamaica a few years ago. It is both heaven and hell. First they satisfy my need to keep in touch with what is going on at home, both good and bad. Since I cannot get the weather reports first hand without staying signed in to a Radio Station like Power 106FM, I opted to receive emails instead. At the same time though, not being home to get the real Jamaica version, is well…hellish.
Thanks though for the updates I have been receiving from my very informative readers and father who is alone at home (Mother is here with me). They have been helping to both relieve my mind, and keep me on my knees. I am already picturing the frenzy of activities as people rush out to do last minute shopping. That is one miserable exercise. Last time I did that was in 2004 with the coming of Hurricane Ivan. I’ll never forget the rush at the Supermarkets, and my own 2 hours in a line!!
Hurricane Dean is a category 4 hurricane according to the NHC and is expected to reach category 5 when ‘he’ arrives at St. Thomas (the eastern tip of Jamaica). For those of you who have been keeping up with the CBF Mission visit to Panama; Pastor Oral White who preached at the Youth Revival is pastoring in St. Thomas, Jamaica.
All the other members of the team from Kingston & St. Andrew, and St. Catherine including Dave who lives in a very water-friendly area will be the first to feel the effects of of this powerful hurricane.
Hurricane Ivan never made it to land, and so didn’t do as much damage as we had previously anticipated. But being without electricity and running water for a month or more afterward is no fun. Some of us older ones can recall Hurricane Gilbert.
I confess at the time I thought Gilbert was one of the most exciting things to ever happen. I sat peering through the wooden window panes (wouldn’t do that with glass!), watching breadfruits and coconuts zoom past. It is a splendid display of raw power to see these very tall and strong trees bending to the force of the winds.
No It’s not the thrill I’m missing now. I have seen the destruction, visited members who did not find these experiences ‘fun’ after they lost everything. And so I continue to pray and also wonder. Jamaica cannot stand up to even a storm right now. Nonetheless, maybe it will get the JLP and PNP noisemakers to do something useful like clean up together. What a great example of unity to set before the Jamaica General Elections arrive!
What on earth do we really pray for in these moments of impending disaster? Have you ever asked yourself, why should God let a category 5 hurricane miss Jamaica but allow an Earthquake measuring 8.0 to hit Peru?
Still let us pray that God’s will be done…
Marvia
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August 18th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Thanks for the prayers Marvia.
We spent most of this afternoon doing any a few last minute preparations for the hurricane. I think we have everything covered…hopefully.
You take care. Peace and God bless.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Great to hear that Yannick,
Please give my regards to everyone. I recall the trauma of Ivan because it came in the night. Dean is supposed to start making his presence felt Sunday afternoon.
It’s going to be a long night. Still trust. God is with you.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
All i have to say re hurricanes missing Ja and earthquakes shaking Peru, you cant ’study’ God so nuh badda! His ways are higher than ours….
I could say we are ‘blessed’ but that is another story….. waters i don’t want to swim in …
Bless
August 28th, 2007 at 1:23 am
We have to get in every now and again.
We could never see what has happened to Jamaica and how we have been spared as anything less than a blessing.
However, we must not let it get to our heads like some others as to believe and act this to be so over and against others, or more than others.
Can you still see my head?