On February 17, 2026, amid blizzard like conditions in Great Falls, Montana, a team of believers from the Great Falls and Choteau Seventh-day Adventist Churches boarded flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica. They were joined by an additional volunteer from Arkansas. 

Rather than seeking to escape typical Montana winter weather, these church members sought to leave a lasting imprint on lives previously devastated by Hurricane Melissa. Their assignment was to help rebuild homes for two families whose lives had been upended by the October 2025 hurricane. In return, an imprint was made on their own hearts.

Hurricane Melissa brought widespread destruction to parts of Central and Western Jamaica. With sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, torrential rains, and flooding, the storm left many families displaced and struggling to recover. Homes were damaged or completely destroyed, infrastructure was compromised, and communities faced the daunting task of rebuilding in the aftermath. For one Adventist pastor, 70% of his church members lost their homes; particularly, the storm reduced two member’s homes to near ruins, leaving them in urgent need of both material and physical support.

Moved by compassion and guided by faith, the two Montana Conference churches raised the funds to cover the cost of materials, and the team traveled to Jamaica at their own expense. Their efforts focused on rebuilding two homes, one constructed with concrete block and another using wood framing. The work was physically demanding, drawing sweat from the volunteers in the unfamiliar tropical humidity and the hot Caribbean sun. Yet each block laid and each nail hammered was done with a spirit of dedication.

The construction process was more than just labor; it was an act of ministry. As the team worked side by side with local community members, barriers of culture and geography quickly dissolved. They shared meals, stories, laughter, and worship, and formed bonds that transcended culture and distance. What began as a mission trip soon became a deeply relational experience, filled with mutual encouragement and faith-building moments.

The trip turned out to be as much of a blessing for the volunteers as it was for the families served. Each member reflected on how the experience deepened his or her understanding of service. Witnessing the resilience and gratitude of the Jamaican people reminded the volunteers of the power of faith and joy in adversity. They returned home not only grateful for the opportunity to serve, but transformed by the relationships they had built.

As the team looks back on its time in Jamaica, one truth stands clear: in serving others, they encountered Christ in meaningful ways. And in the rebuilding of homes, they witnessed the rebuilding of hope.