Saving Saipan: Joylynn Jones and Church 360 ‘take action to do right’

Editor’s note: Saipan Tribune’s latest series will feature everyday heroes who are taking part in recovery efforts and assisting those in need after Typhoon Soudelor devastated Saipan. 

“I have never seen such destruction,” Joylynn E. Jones said. “ I never thought the damage would be as intense as it was.”

Joylynn Jones, fourth from left, poses with volunteer family members and friends during the soup kitchen›s serving hours last week.  (Contributed Photo)

Jones, 39, is referring to Typhoon Soudelor’s wrath, which battered Saipan nearly three weeks ago. 

“One of my neighbors left their house right before it literally blew apart,”she added. 

Before sunlight made the devastation visible, Jones and her family were able to pick up debris around their Kagman home in the eye of the storm. When daylight broke, they immediately realized that the island would need immediate assistance to recuperate. 

“We started calling folks in the States right then to ask for help,” Jones said. 

Jones and her family, in collaboration with their church and other organizations, opened a feeding center on Aug. 15 at the Kagman Community Church, serving food to those in need. So far, the soup kitchen has provided meals to hundreds of residents and expects to serve 1,000 meals daily. 

The Jones family and other individuals from Church 360 and the Kagman Community Church also visited three shelters in the village to meet victims’ physical needs and provide recreation for Saipan’s youth. 

The efforts, she said, will hopefully provide some comfort to hundreds of residents over the next few weeks. 

A Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team from the mainland and Guam will arrive soon to assist Jones at the feeding center. 

“The only way Saipan will recover is by neighbors helping neighbors. We need to be kind to each other as well as patient as we are all in this together,” she said.

The reality of the typhoon’s aftermath was evident when Jones heard her neighbor’s story of being in their house with children, as the wind ripped the roof away.

“Finding out that no one died in the storm was incredible. We truly experienced a miracle,” she said. 

“I got involved because it was the right thing to do, and I love helping people. I also wanted to share God’s love in a very tangible way,” she added. “I am so thankful for people willing to take action to do right, when it seemed that no other aid was coming!”