Last week, as we walked the hillside property in Jamaica that now holds the Adventures Base, Brother Noble—the man who entrusted this land to our care—paused to tell us a parable.

He spoke of a single seed of corn.

“If you keep it safe in a drawer,” he said, “it may last for years. But it will never fulfill its purpose.”

A seed must be placed in the soil. It must surrender. It must die. And then—it multiplies. In that hidden place, it becomes something far greater than what was first planted.

Brother Noble believes this base is that seed. And he sees this moment as just the beginning.

For the past three weeks, we’ve stewarded that seed. We’ve stood in unfinished spaces, prayed over raw ground, and imagined what God might grow here. Bit by bit, a foundation has taken shape.

Today, the Jamaica Base is ready. It can house 32 volunteers. The kitchen works. There’s electricity, showers, toilets, and security. What was once just land is now a place of readiness—for restoration and hope.

And now, the story turns outward.

This week, a generous donor gave $50,000 toward the work in Jamaica. That gift reflects deep belief in what God is doing—and a bold willingness to invest in what’s next.

As we prepare to leave the island, we’re asking a simple question:
Can we match that generosity—together?

In March, we return to begin long-term recovery following Hurricane Melissa. What is given now will shape how prepared we are when teams arrive and the work intensifies.

Our goal is $300,000—to sustain the Jamaica Base and fund long-haul relief. Every gift given before we go helps move that vision forward.

Would you consider giving this week—investing in the growth of what God has begun?

[Give to the Jamaica Relief & Recovery Fund]

Thank you for standing with the people of Jamaica. The seed is in the soil. Roots are forming. And we believe the harvest will be abundant.

For more than 50 years, Ms. Myrtle James has lived in the same neighborhood. Though she has no immediate family, she’s never been truly alone. Her community knows her, loves her, and when Hurricane Melissa struck, they protected her.

As the storm raged, Ms. Myrtle and her neighbors took shelter in a nearby school. Water crept through the walls. Fear grew as winds howled and structures gave way. After the storm, neighbors returned to assess the damage and brought news to each family.

Ms. Myrtle’s home had been destroyed—her roof torn back like a tin can. Nothing was salvageable.

At 85 years old, with limited mobility and no home to return to, she could have given in to despair. But her faith held steady.

She thanks God for the breath in her lungs and the sun on her face. That, she says, is enough. Her joy hasn’t left her. Her love for Jesus still radiates hope.

Her neighbors have not left her either. Together with the New Testament Church of God and Adventures Relief, the community is rebuilding. The first Adventures in Missions team cleared the site last week. This week, a second team will begin construction on a new 16×24 home—one that will include something she has never had before: a bathroom and kitchen of her own.

This is more than a house. It’s a life being restored. It’s dignity returned to a woman who never lost her joy. It’s a community showing what it means to truly love your neighbor.

Stay tuned to see how you can get involved to help Ms. Myrtle.

This week, we are overwhelmed with gratitude.

In Jamaica, just two weeks after Hurricane Melissa made landfall and decimated large areas of the island, our community of prayer partners and generous donors has already given over $37,777—so close to our $40,000 goal!

Because of your generosity, our scout team was able to mobilize and bring medicine, first aid, batteries, and flashlights to communities that had not yet seen outside help. They also spent time listening, praying, and meeting with local pastors and families to see firsthand what help is most needed and determine which supplies we can pursue to rebuild churches and homes in the coming months.

They met mothers comforting children, pastors leading through heartbreak, and men determined to rebuild. With each small act—a hug, a stuffed animal, a prayer—hope was rekindled. Many residents shared that our team was the first to arrive since the storm. The damage is great, the needs are many, but the faith of the Jamaican people remains unshaken.

Meanwhile, in Western North Carolina, our team and volunteers from Low Country Community Church pressed forward through the season’s first snowfall. While snow brings joy to many, it also reminds us of the harsh winter ahead for families still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.

Two more homes moved closer to completion this week, and our team worked diligently to winterize our basecamp, which is made up of campers with above-ground water lines. Our missionary families are preparing for winter in those same campers—pressing on with joy and resolve.

Even as temperatures drop, hope is rising. We’re preparing for our Thanksgiving and Christmas outreaches, where families will gather for food, gifts, and encouragement—a tangible reminder that they are not forgotten.

Together, we are watching the Kingdom move into chaos, bringing restoration from the mountains of North Carolina to the shores of Jamaica.

Thank you for your continued prayers, giving, and partnership.
Every gift, every prayer, every act of love—matters deeply.

Let’s keep bringing hope home and abroad.

We’re rejoicing today—our scout team has arrived safely in Jamaica!

Despite a few travel hurdles, all four men made it on time and hit the ground running. They’re there not to lead with answers, but to listen, learn, and love as they meet with local pastors and church leaders in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

This week, we met virtually with the Church of God pastoral network, which oversees more than 360 churches across the island. Their faith humbled us. Their resilience moved us.

• Over half of the churches in St. Elizabeth Parish have been completely destroyed.
• Half of the island remains without power, and many communities are still marooned—isolated by flooding and debris.

Even in exhaustion, these pastors lifted their hands in worship. One leader said something that captured the heart of the Church in Jamaica:

“Our walls may have fallen, but our worship has not. The Church will rise again—not because of wood and nails, but because Christ still reigns.”

Their words echo the very heartbeat of Adventures in Missions. We believe the Church is not confined by buildings—it’s carried by people who refuse to lose hope.

One of the greatest cries we heard was for temporary gathering spaces—safe places where families can come together, find refuge, receive prayer, and rebuild hope. In Jamaica, the Church has always been the first to respond and the last to leave. These spaces will help communities heal—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Reality on the Ground

The scale of devastation is staggering.

• Over 90,000 families have been directly affected by Hurricane Melissa, many losing their homes, crops, and access to clean water overnight.
• Over 120,000 structures lost their roofs.
• 5 million tons of debris—nearly half a million truckloads—cover western Jamaica.
• Still, many communities remain in darkness.

Yet through it all, hope is not gone. The Church is standing strong, shining light into the darkest places.

Hear from one of our Jamaica ministry partners here.

How You Can Journey With Us

This is not just their story—it’s our story. Together, we can bring the love of Jesus to families who have lost everything.

PRAY – for the pastors and churches leading recovery, and for our team on the ground to have wisdom, safety, and divine connections.
GIVE – your generosity fuels this mission. Every dollar helps us equip local churches, build temporary structures, and send volunteers where the need is greatest.
GO – we’re already preparing to send volunteer teams in the coming months. If God is stirring your heart to serve, now is the time to say yes.

Stay updated on our scouting trip to Jamaica this week by following @adventuresrelief or @adventuresinmissions on social media.

It’s been just one week since we started our Hurricane Melissa updates —and already, your generosity is making a powerful impact.

Because of supporters like you, we’ve raised over half of our $40,000 goal to equip local churches with the resources they need most: food, clean water, medical supplies, and emergency shelter.

Pastors and volunteers across the island are stepping out in faith, serving their neighbors in the midst of loss. Together, we’re not only rebuilding homes—we’re rebuilding hope.

What’s Next

As our local partners continue responding to urgent needs, our Adventures Relief team is preparing to send assessment and logistics teams to support recovery efforts next week.

We’re also compiling a Volunteer Interest List for those who feel called to serve alongside Jamaican pastors in the coming months.

Every act of generosity—every prayer, every dollar, every “yes”—becomes part of Jamaica’s recovery story and a testimony of Jesus’ love in action.

Thank you for being part of this movement of hope.

P.S. We’d love for you to follow along and pray with us as our team travels to Jamaica next week. Stay updated on stories of hope and progress by following @adventuresrelief or @adventuresinmissions on social media.

Volunteer Interest List ->

Each day, updates from our trusted ministry partners in Jamaica grow more urgent. After Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic destruction, emergency rations are nearly gone. Families are desperate for food, clean water, baby formula, and fuel.

One pastor shared through tears,

“We’ve never experienced anything like this before. Hurricane Gilbert was a Category 4, but this… this is different. We have nothing. Everything in our homes is gone—roofs are gone, and even the grocery stores were ruined.”

Entire communities are still cut off, with power and communication limited. Families are rationing food, parents are putting their children first, and babies are without formula. Yet even in this hardship, the Church is rising up to meet needs—one meal, one prayer, one act of love at a time.

Yet through it all, faith remains. Our ministry partners on the ground continue to serve tirelessly—handing out hot meals, solar lanterns, and hope, while covering their neighbors in prayer. The Church is being the hands and feet of Jesus in the middle of chaos.

Thanks to early generosity from people like you, over $5,000 has already been raised, allowing local churches to meet immediate needs. But compared to the scale of devastation, that’s only a fraction of what’s needed. Thousands of families are still waiting for help, praying for food, water, and hope.

How You Can Help Right Now

Your generosity today can bring life-saving relief to families who have lost everything:

$50 keeps a family fed and hydrated for seven critical days $100 powers community kitchens and charging stations through local churches $250 supplies construction materials and transportation for recovery teams reaching remote areas

Every dollar given goes directly to local partners bringing both physical relief and spiritual hope across Jamaica.

Our Adventures Relief team is preparing to travel to Jamaica to assess needs firsthand and strengthen partnerships for the long road ahead. As we go, your giving fuels their hands—and extends God’s compassion to the suffering.

Even when everything seems lost, God is near. Through your prayers and partnership, hope is breaking through the rubble. Thank you for standing with the people of Jamaica when they need it most.