Seventh-day Adventist volunteers are building new homes for families who lost everything when a deadly tropical storm ripped through the small Caribbean island of Dominica last year.
The Dominica branch of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency is overseeing the rebuilding efforts as two teams comprised of 50 Adventist volunteers each take turns traveling to the island for one-week assignments from the U.S. Virgin Islands and nine neighboring islands.
“ADRA is making good on its promise to assist the government with housing for the displaced,” said Priscilla Prevost, the local ADRA project coordinator.
ADRA began discussions with the government to assist in building homes just days after Tropical Storm Erika devastated the island of about 72,000 people on Aug. 27, killing more than 30 people, including an Adventist believer. The storm triggered mudslides and destroyed roads, bridges, and homes.
Prevost said ADRA and the volunteers have begun construction of three three-bedroom homes and five two-bedroom homes. ADRA expects to complete the first three homes in April and five more by July. In all, 25 homes will be built over the next year.
“The government is providing the land and infrastructure and ADRA is providing labor and funds,” Prevost said.
Dominica’s prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, visited Adventist volunteers at a construction site in late January and thanked them for their work.
Silton Browne, president of the Adventist Church’s North Caribbean Conference, which is supplying many of the volunteers, said church members had no option but to help.
“Our heartfelt prayers and concerns are with the people of Dominica still suffering the effects of this devastating storm,” he said. “Because we know Jesus loves us, we must let them know that His love compels us to help.”
Adventist volunteers sprang to help in the aftermath of the storm, with ADRA provided daily meals to about 120 people in two shelters.
Erika also sent shockwaves through the Adventist community, which scrambled to assist all those affected by the tragedy. In addition to the church member’s death, 10 Adventists lost their homes, and two Adventist Church-owned buildings suffered flood damage: a grade school in the capital, Roseau, and a church building in the west coast village of Dublanc.
Five months later, 373 families remain affected by the storm, Prevost said.
Herman Ravariere, who leads a volunteer building team and serves as elder of the Peter’s Rest Seventh-day Adventist Church on St. Croix, said he was glad that he could help with the new homes.
“We think Dominica is a great place, and we’re glad that we can help a little bit,” he said.
You are right its been like this for ever this 72000……its looks like our population is not growing.
Those who are responsible need to do things better. Find. a better way to conduct the census.
Can anyone tell me where they are building these houses? It definitely looks like the west coast from Colihaut towards Portsmouth. Anyone?
Commendable effort by the Seventh-day Adventist church.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me”’Matthew 25: 35, 36
Thank You ADRA! May God continue to shower you with his richest blessings!
I am Catholic but I never see the richest organization in the world help like the other churches do rather every land they can get from the poor people believing that when they give the Catholic church their lands they would be free of their sins and would go straight to heaven. They only receive and give. Just how i see it.
Why so close to the road?
God bless Adra. They go all over the world helping others. The are the most honest and respectful agency in the world. They are always true to their word. God is going to bless them tremendously. Way to go Adra. Love and blessings.
Thank you ADRA. Little is much when God is in it. Would really like to see other organisation assist in some way or the other to house our displaced persons affected by TS Erika. May God richly bless you. That is so positive.
“Because we know Jesus loves us, we must let them know that His love compels us to help.”–News Article
This is a true statement! When it is the Love of Jesus that is in our heart, we will share it without thinking of anything else. that is because it is never we, ourselves, who is doing the work of Love, but it is Jesus–by the Power of Holy Spirit– who is doing His work through our physical members.
May His strength and vitality be in abundant for all those who will be participating in those projects –God be willing!
Thanking the Team for supporting, in building the houses in Dominica for the people who have lost their houses in the storm Erica.
God blessing
Thanks You
This is some good news for the families and Dominica as a whole..Action always speak louder than words..!! Thanks to ADRA for their commitment and support.
Why can’t the Catholic Church and the larger churches do the same. I would think that their resources surpass that of the Seven-day Adventist.
Why is it that media houses all over for the past 30-40 continually publish that there are only 72000 people in Dominica. REALLY? Whoever is responsible for going out and carry out census on homes are if not wasting time and money with this. I live here …ok ..so far we can admit that there are more vehicles and than people but with the influx of Chinese, Indian, Haitian and Spanish citizens who have long been naturalized, married, have businesses and homes and children …the census in 2016 still reads 72000. Can somebody do some real counting please?
Maybe the 772000are just Dominicans. But I’m in agreement with you.
I wish you all god’s speed but please don’t follow the model of the P.M.’s hotels and future hospitals by putting RED galvanize on the roof. Remember you all are doing this in the name of GOD and not in the name of RED corruption. This is for love, not for color segregation
Geeeeeezzzzzzzzeeeee must you spread your distasteful bitter politics in every post?give it a rest!!!!!
@Floridian diaspora February 17, 2016
You know nothing about Love; otherwise you would be writing with the theme of Love–concerning that news article– not those words of futility, which you have posted above–it is uncalled for
In these days and time people need some form of enlightenment which will help to build their of Love –stop throwing the things of darkness all over and over again.
????????????????????? you again Floridian Diaspora. Cannot even say a simple thank you to ADRA. What is your problem??? You seem to be the one in NY who is obsessed with hating the PM and the Labour Party. My Goodness what has this man done to you or even the country??? Time to grow up in your mind, heart and soul. Time to love Jehovah first and foremost. He is love and when you love him because he first loved you, then you will love yourself and others. Our Father cannot hate no one because he sent his son to die for us all including you Floridian Diaspora. Jesus loves you. I am irked that every time you make a comment, it is so negative. Do you sleep well? I guess you don’t since you must be looking day in and out to make a negative and political remark. Man/Woman you are stressing you too much… hurting yourself. I look forward to see some more positive remarks from you. Jesus loves you. Your comment is so off here … just tell the people thank you. Little is much
You are very stupid, and petty your talking about a roof, for God sake this is shelter to protect you against the elements, who care about color. red, yellow green brown purple black blue. The Prime minister I am sure have no time to think about color when he’s trying to help this country to grow and create jobs for people . Get a life do something constructive say something positive for once. After hotels are in place. this is room for better airport, better hospital better health care, who the hell cares about the dam color of the roof.
Don’t make everything political.