February 9, 2023
Re: Jamaica Missions (Phase 2)
This past January Brothers Keepers in cooperation with Little Chapel UMC of Ocala and Mt Zion UMC of Reddick embarked upon a successful mission trip to Jamaica WI. The group was able to donate more goods to various communities in Jamaica than our last two mission trips combined. This was only possible because of the extraordinary generosity of people in Florida, New York and Virginia. While there, we ministered in schools, prisons and Hebron House (a shelter for pregnant teens and women rescued from sex trafficking). We also distributed goods to students and inmates in various institutions.
This year, prior to our outdoor service in one of the most impoverished and violent sections of the Island (Majesty Gardens) I requested to meet with the leaders of the gang that control that area. Thankfully, my request was granted. This meeting followed a similar format to our engagement with gangs here in the U.S. After praying for them I inquired if there was anything that BK could do to help them transition from illegal activities to legal options for their financial sustenance. The leader of the gang then took me to an area where there was a poorly constructed chicken coop. He expressed the desire to start a poultry business for the community. By the end of that conversation, we agreed to help with the construction of chicken coops, pig pen, and plotting out a vegetable farm. Following that he took me to another area where eight family’s homes were destroyed by fire on Christmas day. I met the mothers of that community and promised them that we would at least begin the work of framing their homes with cement blocks (to make them less vulnerable to fire). I also told them that I would give them duffle bags of clothing and other items for them and their children that evening following our worship service. The service that night was wonderful, and we had an awesome response to the altar call. Afterwards we kept our promise and presented the mothers with the duffle bags of goods. We are now planning to take a small crew of carpenters to Jamaica by the end of March. We are asking for volunteers with carpentry skills, the time and desire, to join us for the 2 ½ days we have committed to do this work. We also need to purchase lumber, cement blocks, chicken wire, and tin. we have estimated the cost for materials will be $7,000.00.
Anything you can donate toward helping us to meet that goal would be appreciated. There are two ways to give; via Zelle: littlechapelumc1@gmail.com (Please write Jamaica Missions in the comment section), or via paper checks mailed to Little Chapel United Methodist Church, 2381 SE 73rd St. Ocala FL 34480 (memo: Jamaica Missions). Of course, all donations are tax deductible. If you are interested in joining us the last week of March, please contact Rev Kirk D. Lyons directly at klyons926@aol.com for more information. I thank you in advance for considering to be a part of our ongoing ministry to the people of Jamaica.
Sincerely,
Rev. Kirk D. Lyons Sr.
Brothers Keepers Fellowship
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love"
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
