By Candlelight

A letter from Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and José Manuel Capella-Pratts, serving as regional liaisons in the Caribbean

Fall 2024

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When people talk about the Caribbean, they often think of parties, music, exotic music and beautiful beaches: a paradise that invites them to a quiet, relaxed life full of leisure. That is the image that is projected in the advertising media in order to feed the tourism industry, which is so necessary for the economy in the region. However, the experience that local people live contains other realities hidden under the cloak of a pleasant life, among these, is the harsh reality that life in the Caribbean is seasoned with the horror of the hurricane season.

Drawing by José Manuel

This year the season started early, with the development of the first storm: ​​Beryl. Quickly reaching Category 5 hurricane designation, Beryl broke multiple weather records in late June and early July. Leaving destruction in its wake, Beryl severely impacted the islands of Grenada ― the ministry area of ​​our sister denomination, the Presbyterian Church in Grenada. Beryl also left destruction in portions of Jamaica, home to our sister denomination, The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. (For notes from PDA’s response, click here pda.pcusa.org/situation/hurricane-beryl/).

During the month of August, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were visited by Tropical Storm Ernesto, before continuing its path towards the North Atlantic as a powerful hurricane.

Note that Puerto Rico is politically a U.S. territory (we could discuss this colonial reality at length another time), but that does not automatically make it a wealthy and prosperous land. Nearly half of the population lives below the poverty line and the inequality gap grows every day. The rising cost of living and difficult working conditions are gradually overwhelming a middle class that is at risk of disappearing. This vulnerability of the population is exposed every time the island faces a natural disaster. Ernesto passed as a tropical storm, not a hurricane. The eye of the storm passed close by, but it did not touch the island. Even so, the winds and rain caused serious flooding, landslides in mountainous areas, and loss of essential services. The island’s infrastructure will not be able to withstand a direct hit of another hurricane without collapsing.

NOAA Satellite image of TS Ernesto annotated by José Manuel

As with other islands of the region, Puerto Rico’s location in the middle of the Caribbean Sea frequently exposes it to the pathway of these phenomena. This causes the population to collectively suffer the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Health authorities reported that calls to the “PAS” emotional support line doubled as Tropical Storm Ernesto approached. Memories of hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake, the effects of which are still being felt on the Island, are still very fresh (for PDA information related to recovery in Puerto Rico click here: pda.pcusa.org/situation/puerto-rico/). One of the aspects that has not yet recovered properly is the electrical grid. So, on August 9, like thousands of people on the island, we suffered a major blackout due to the passage of Ernesto.

For Vilmarie and me, the experience of the blackout served as an opportunity to exchange thoughts and reflections. Around our table, by candlelight, we talked and prayed while Vilmarie painted in watercolors and I drew with a fountain pen and colored pencils (art in our lives has become a practice of spiritual nourishment, in times of calm as well as in difficult times). Part of our reflective dialogue revolved around the metaphors of light and darkness in the Scriptures. We recalled, first, the parable of the 10 young women (Matthew 25:1-13). Those who were wise made provision so that there would be no shortage of oil to keep their lamps burning all night.

Watercolor by Vilmarie

It is important to be aware that in biblical times there was no such thing as electricity and artificial lighting. So, darkness reigned everywhere in the absence of sunlight. With this awareness, Jesus’ teachings take on a deeper meaning. Especially his words in the “Sermon on the Mount”:

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People
do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16, NRSV

Hurricane season is not over yet … and the dangers of hurricanes in recent years have extended to the southern regions of the U.S. mainland. We pray to the Lord for all the lives found in the paths of hurricanes in the Caribbean and surrounding areas, and that everywhere, the Church of Jesus Christ may be a light that dispels the darkness.

Receive a warm hug from the Caribbean region,

José Manuel & Vilmarie