BLACKNESS, Westmoreland
Beyond their extensive work at Darliston Preparatory School, the mission team from the Palm Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida fulfilled a deeply personal promise to local resident Alecia Pennycooke Cheddan. When members of the mission team first visited Blackness, Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland in March 2025, they witnessed the severe devastation left behind by Hurricane Melissa. Among those hit hardest were Mrs. Cheddan, her husband, and their four young children, who lost everything in the storm.
A two-bedroom, one-bathroom house was donated through the support of the West Jamaica Conference and volunteers from several churches across the territory to provide shelter for the family. However, when team members from Palm Springs visited and asked Mrs. Cheddan how they could assist her family in rebuilding their lives, her request was grounded entirely in self-reliance rather than a temporary handout: she asked for a chicken coop so she could sustain her household and start a small business.
Pastor Omar Palmer, district pastor of the Palm Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church, recalled the emotional encounter:“We remembered that very famous picture of her baby out there on a mattress underneath a coconut tree,” Pastor Palmer shared.
“When we asked what she needed to help her family, she told us, ‘I am not asking for things; I just want to be able to help my family.’ She said a chicken coop would help, and we promised her right then that we were going to do that. When we returned to Palm Springs, we literally asked everyone in our congregation who had Jamaican dollars at home to bring them in, knowing that every bit would help purchase at least
one chicken.”
Determined to deliver on that commitment during their July 2026 return mission trip, the collaborative team—working alongside international non-profit Restore a Child—provided all necessary materials and fully constructed a sturdy 12x8-foot chicken coop. Additionally, they gifted her 100 chicks along with 18 bags of feed—enough to nourish the flock for their entire six-week lifespan. The sustainable project empowers Mrs. Cheddan to feed her family, generate income, and reinvest in growing her poultry business in the months ahead.
Expressing her deep appreciation, Mrs. Cheddan shared her gratitude for the life-changing support:“Words can never be enough to express how grateful I am,” Mrs. Cheddan said. ”Palm Springs SDA and Restore a Child provided my family with a ray of hope. I will never forget their kind gesture, and my family and I are truly appreciative."
Pathfinder Director, Nover Ferguson-Brown highlighted the practical, empowering nature of the project: “Living out the proverb that it’s better to teach a man to fish, we watched the mom fill with gratitude as her oldest son jumped right in to care for the flock,” said Nover Ferguson-Brown. “Seeing this family empowered for the future warmed all of our hearts, and we are grateful that we could make a lasting difference.”
Pastor Ziggario Richards, district pastor for the Coote Savannah District of Churches, also commended the mission team for their heart of service.
“I am truly grateful for the assistance given to the Cheddan family,” Pastor Richards stated. “They have been through a lot, and it warms my heart to know that there are still people in the world who genuinely care for those in need.”
Reflecting on the overall mission trip, Pastor Palmer emphasized that true ministry knows no geographical boundaries and encouraged others to lend a helping hand wherever a need exists: “We hope the projects we completed will have a great impact and lasting benefit, and we look forward to what we can continue to do as a church,” Pastor Palmer reflected.
“Believe it or not, I don’t know anyone from Darliston personally. I’m not originally from the West Jamaica Conference; I’m from Central Jamaica. But it’s not about where I’m from, it’s about where the need is. We went and did what we could, and as a church, we are committed to doing whatever else we can to help.We encourage others from everywhere to assist as as much as they can. It is a phenomenal experience to just give a little bit—as we say in Jamaica, ‘Every mickle mek a muckle’; and ‘One one coco full basket’.”