Hurricane Melissa Recovery: Standing With Jamaica & the Most Vulnerable

Your prayers and support make all the difference.

On the Ground in Jamaica

12:30 PM, October 31: THANK YOU LORD! We are deeply grateful to share that all of our residents and staff across Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica are safe following Hurricane Melissa.

In Montego Bay, our Blessed Assurance home endured the most severe impact. The property was completely flooded during the storm, with residents and caregivers sheltering on the second floor—the only part of the building above water. When the floodwaters receded, our team found devastating damage to the property, roads washed out, and no access to running water and electricity.

Two of our leaders, Fr. Ernest Chikwata and Br. Bekezela Mapfidza, walked nine miles through debris and flood-damaged terrain to reach Blessed Assurance. They found all 33 children and adults with disabilities, and their caregivers, alive and safe.

We thank God for their protection—and for the courage of our staff, who never left their side.

Now, as we move into recovery, we need your help.

During the hurricane, the buildings at Blessed Assurance were completely submerged, “There was so much water and wind,” said Rev. Deacon Louis Dalmas Agan, who stayed with the residents through the storm. “When the neighbors came to check on us the next day, they didn’t think we had survived.”

🎥 Watch the video of Blessed Assurance during the storm →

How We’re Responding

Our team across Jamaica is continuing to assess conditions following Hurricane Melissa and are working to restore stability and essential services for residents and staff.

Safety confirmed: All homes in Jamaica have reported that children and staff are safe following the storm.
On-site care: Caregivers remain at each location, ensuring that residents continue to receive the attention and support they need.
Damage assessment: Teams are documenting structural damage, power loss, and flooding across several communities to prioritize repairs.
Restoration efforts: Coordination is underway to restore communications, electricity, and access to supplies where needed.

Through it all, our mission remains steadfast—no one under our care will ever be abandoned.

How You Can Help

Your gift today will allow us to respond immediately—repair homes, replace supplies, ensure food, medicine, and safety after the storm.

GIVE EMERGENCY RELief today

Over 500 Jamaican individuals with disabilities, children affected by HIV, and teen mothers with their infants receive life-giving support from Mustard Seed Communities. Beyond providing a home, MSC Jamaica actively manages community outreach initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and fostering education within local communities.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kristen Dawn, Director of Communications
kristen.dawn@mustardseed.com

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Individuals find loving homes

80

Children in Dare to Care Programs

12

Teen moms & infants at Mary’s Child

150

Children in Little Angels Learning Centers

Caring Homes for Individuals with Disabilities

Primarily centered on caring for children and adults with diverse disabilities, our residential programs in Jamaica address a spectrum of challenges, including schizophrenia, autism, hydrocephalus, and cerebral palsy.

My Father’s House

Kingston: Serving as Mustard Seed Communities’ headquarters in Jamaica, My Father’s House is a vibrant community featuring a residence for over 40 children with diverse physical and cognitive abilities, alongside administrative offices and community outreach programs. The central chapel hosts Mass and devotional sessions three times daily.

Blessed Assurance

Montego Bay: Blessed Assurance houses 35 residents and provides another meaningful location for mission trips to Jamaica. The property also features on-site accommodations for volunteers, fostering a welcoming environment for those contributing to our mission.

Gift of Hope

Mandeville: Gift of Hope offers a nurturing home to children with disabilities aged 2 to 34 and also serves as the latest destination for mission trips, providing opportunities for volunteers to contribute to our critical mission of caring for the most vulnerable.

Sophie’s Place

Gordon Town: Nestled in the mountain vistas of Gordon Town, Sophie’s Place is an apostolate providing a home for more than 20 children with disabilities. Engaging in a collaborative project with Kingston’s University of Technology, residents attend daily sessions with occupational therapists on the university campus. Sophie’s Place also offers accommodations for visiting mission teams, a chapel, and a Little Angels preschool.

Widow’s Mite

Moneague: Widow’s Mite stands as the inaugural residential home for abandoned children with disabilities developed by MSC outside of Kingston. Today, Widow’s Mite passionately cares for over twenty children, embodying our commitment to extending support to diverse communities.

Jerusalem!

Spanish Town: Spanning eight acres, this dynamic space serves as a residential care haven for over 150 children and adults with disabilities. The Village section of Jerusalem! is dedicated to older teenagers and adults, featuring several houses that form a close-knit neighborhood. The emphasis on training encompasses construction, home economics, farm work, and formal education, preparing residents for a semi-independent way of life. The Dare to Care program for children affected by HIV, a Little Angels preschool, and impactful agricultural initiatives are also important parts of the thriving apostolate at Jerusalem!

Jacob’s Ladder

Moneague: Jacob’s Ladder stands as a distinctive apostolate dedicated to the compassionate care of adults with disabilities. Situated on 150 acres of land, Jacob’s Ladder addresses the critical gap in facilities for individuals with mental and physical disabilities beyond the age of 18 in Jamaica. Envisioned to be a permanent home for 400 young adults, this apostolate currently accommodates over 90 residents, with ongoing construction to expand housing capacity. The expansive property also serves as a hub for our sustainable agriculture program, exemplifying our commitment to holistic care and self-sustainability, and is a beloved place to serve in our mission volunteer program.

WE impact jamaica’s communities

Residential Care for Children Affected by HIV

Dare to Care, an extraordinary initiative to care for children affected by HIV, was born in 2000 with the establishment of its inaugural home, Dare to Care. Over the years, this pioneering program has evolved and expanded to encompass three homes—Dare to Care, Matthew 25:40, and Martha’s House—providing a nurturing haven for close to 80 children from diverse regions of Jamaica. From its humble beginnings of caring for seven children, Dare to Care has become a symbol of resilience and compassion. Matthew 25:40, founded in 2002, focuses on meeting the specific needs of boys living with the virus, ensuring individualized care. Despite facing challenges, such as a devastating fire in 2009, Dare to Care remains steadfast in its mission to provide unwavering support. Martha’s House, initially established in downtown Kingston in 2006, has been rebuilt on the Jerusalem! campus, symbolizing the program’s commitment to overcoming obstacles and creating a brighter future for every child under its wing.

Residential Care for Young Mothers

Mary’s Child, a unique apostolate, provides crucial housing and support to twelve teen mothers and their babies, making it one of the only residential facilities of its kind in Jamaica. Actively engaged in empowering young mothers, Mary’s Child not only offers a safe haven for the transition into motherhood but also provides essential life skills through educational, professional, and personal development training, including computer courses, home economic classes, and parenting lectures. Emphasizing spiritual growth, the program incorporates daily meditation, midday rosary, and weekly Mass, aligning with the holistic approach of other MSC apostolates.

Education and Nutrition

Mustard Seed Communities, guided by our commitment to care for the most vulnerable, established the Little Angels Learning Center to create a standout school system. Officially recognized by the Ministry of Education on September 2, 2002, Little Angels provides top-notch education not only to our residents but also to children from local communities. Managed by the Ministry of Education, our curriculum includes religion, music, Spanish, Computer Studies, and Physical Education, fostering the holistic development of our students’ mental, physical, and spiritual selves. With regular field trips, exposure to cultural heritage, and a strong focus on spirituality, Little Angels exemplifies our dedication to true education, echoing Proverbs 2:6: “True education is that imparted by Him with whom is wisdom and strength.”

Mustard Seed Communities prioritizes nutrition across all our communities, recognizing its vital role in the well-being of those we serve. In Jamaica, the Little Angels preschools incorporate nutrition as a cornerstone, offering students two nutritious meals daily. This commitment to proper nutrition extends to our residents, including children and adults with disabilities, where the right food and medicines contribute significantly to their improved quality of life.

Sustainable Agriculture

We are committed to achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability across all our programs. Our key sites for agricultural projects, Jerusalem! and Jacob’s Ladder, play a vital role in this mission. The farm at Jerusalem! not only serves as a therapeutic space for residents but also generates income. With fish ponds, egg-producing chickens, a vegetable garden, and a flock of sheep, the farm addresses in-house protein needs and contributes to the community’s income through surplus sales.

Jacob’s Ladder, blessed with ample open land, boasts a flourishing agricultural expansion with over 40 pigs and multiple greenhouses. Recent enhancements, including a completed water catchment system, ensure a reliable water supply. These initiatives not only meet the present needs of residents but align with our long-term vision of Jacob’s Ladder as a lifelong home for over 400 adults with disabilities.

Training and Community Outreach

At Mustard Seed Communities, our commitment extends beyond the care of our children to uplifting vulnerable and marginalized communities. In Jamaica, we actively engage in various outreach programs, including the Christmas Treat initiative aimed at alleviating poverty. Additionally, our efforts include training programs like the Pottery Shop & Apprentice program at Mahoe Drive, contributing to skill development and empowerment.