Residents mourn death of ‘good men of God;
The shock and horror at the gruesome death of the two missionaries has been overwhelming for many residents of St Mary, especially those in and near the Stewart Town community.
Several persons, who spoke to the North Coast Times have all described the men as “friendly”, “kind” and “good men of God.”
For 14 years, building houses and arranging for the service of the medical needs of vulnerable Jamaicans were just two of the critical acts of service American Christian missionaries, 53-year-old Harold Nichols and 48-year-old Randy Hentzel, carried out before they were killed in the northeastern parish of St Mary on the weekend.
Hentzel was found with blood coming from his mouth and his hands tied on Saturday, April 30 on a dirt track in Albion Mountain at about 2 p.m., while Nichols was found a day later at around 4 p.m. in a pool of water with what appeared to be a head wound.
The men were said to be on route to the Albion Mountain area that morning to check on the foundation for a house being build for an indigent woman.
BAD FOR THE COUNTRY
Horace Brown, the owner of Sir B Auto Parts and Accessories located in Stewart Town, St Mary, has reacted with shock at the death of the two men. Stewart Town (also called Huddersfield) was the home of Harold Nichols and the base for part of their missionary activities.
“I would have known them for a while,” a shaken Mr Brown said. “It is very shocking and it is a mighty blow for us a country. Even if you rob them, why kill them? You are damaging the reputation of the country,” he added.
Mr Brown explained that that it was only a few weeks prior he had suggested to Harold Nichols, who is the liaison for the outreach group, TEAMS for Medical Missions in St. Mary, to do a medical clinic in the Stewart Town area. He said that Nichols told him he would see what he could do.
Nichols and Hentzel both worshipped at the Boscobel Bible Fellowship located on the first floor of a building owned by Mr Brown.
Paul Hemmings, who is the pastor of the Boscobel Bible Fellowship and the Highgate Gospel Chapel, is also in a state of shock at the murder of his two friends who were members of his church. “I’m still in a state of shock and denial at this foolish and senseless act,” Pastor Hemmings said.
He said that Hentzel was an active member of his church, who had helped him in his ministry. Hentzel had also helped him to set up the branch of the church in Annotto Bay. Hentzel also taught at the bible school run by the church in Highgate and Annotto Bay.
Nichols was also very active in the church, according to Pastor Hemmings, as he had often preached there and had also engaged in beautification of the church building.
“This is just the nature of the work we do as we are exposed to certain situations daily,” he added.
THEY WERE GOOD FRIENDS
Secretary of the Kings Fish Tour and Real Estate Limited, Hyacinth Brown also joined those expressing shock at the deaths, especially of Randy Hentzel.
Mrs Brown explained that her company was the agent that had rented Hentzel his last accommodation at Jamaica Beach in Tower Isles, St Mary. Hentzel was staying at the property with his five children and his wife. He left with them in the middle of February this year as the children were returning to school.
Nichols had even come to do business at the company on behalf of Hentzel when he went away.
It is believed that Hentzel had only returned to the island late last week, and was to reside in the Huddersfield area.
FOR THE CHILDREN
According to a resident of the Stewart Town area, Adrian Ximines, his three children are also mourning the loss of Nichols and Hentzel as “no one could tell a bible story to the children like them…From the news come in last night (Sunday), a just pure cry them a cry. Mi not even send them to school (Monday) to tell yuh the truth. Nichols and him wife give them (his children) breakfast when me can’t even afford it. When is birthday, they give them cake and present. And me mean like several kids in the area; sometime 40 or 50,” Mr Ximines explained, while noting that Nichols also built a house for him.
He noted that Nichols’ wife, Teri, is not taking the news well. “We have to just try and cheer her up, because she just down. Is a wicked act and me just shaken. Anuh likkle house these people build.”
COMMUNITY IN GRIEF
Nichols and his wife lived at a house in Huddersfield, near to Stewart Town in St Mary.
Earl Anderson who also spoke to The Times was a beneficiary of Nichols’ kindness. “He was my good friend and I would always go to help him, sometimes even working without pay. Right now the whole community in grief and them didn’t deserve this,” he said.
In the meantime, Bruce Farrell, councillor of the Oracabessa division, and pastor of the New Testament Assembly of Hamilton Mountain, is hoping to consult with the stakeholders to plan a vigil for the two men. This, he hoped, would send a strong message condemning the violence.
Farrell noted that the men’s outreach group operated a medical clinic every other month at his church, while they went out into the various areas to assist others in building houses.
“Their work goes further than just the Boscobel area. They would have gone to areas such as Jacks River, Mango Valley, Hamilton Mountain, Days Mountain and elsewhere… They are quiet and jovial and I just can’t understand, because this killing seems so senseless,” he said.
