PAPA's Ministries

02/24/2026

March 11-18, Merlin, along with Arthur Smith and Crew will be building a small house in a place called Darliston, Lennox Big Woods in eastern Westmoreland. It is in the direct line where Hurricane Melissa passed over Jamaica.

The Big Woods no longer exists and with that, many homes were destroyed. This house won't be a big one nor a permanent residence but allows the homeowner to move out from under her blue tarp and have a roof over her head until a more permanent structure can be built up around it.

Carol and many, many more like her, hope that you don't forget about the needs in Jamaica even as the News outlets have moved on to other issues.

PAPA's has another team headed down in July to assist in the recovery of Western Jamaica. Please keep us all in mind as we work to help alleviate some of the stress one person, family at a time.

If you can assist financially, that would be awesome too. PayPal is one way to contribute. Another is via the Advance Program of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Links to both can be found on our website: papasministries.org

Thank you for your consideration.

02/14/2026

Hey Friends, Look at what is happening at our Bloomfield Primary School . Principal Mr. Wong is getting it done.

01/04/2026

Hi Friends, Hurricane Melissa update: after a couple of delays due to material shortages Arthur Smith's Roof Guys got the new roof on Bev Condappa's Clonmel Basic School. We are grateful. Here are a few clips. PAPA'S Ministries and Miss Condappa are grateful for your financial support that enabled this to happen.

12/02/2025

Just a reminder that December 2 is Giving Tuesday. PAPA's Ministries is a 501c3 Organization that continues to work in Jamaica. If you are still thinking about giving, we would like you to consider supporting us.

We are continuing to raise funds for Jamaica's recovery efforts from Hirricane Melissa.

Donations can be made by going to our "Donate Now" page on our website,
papasministries.org

Thank you.

We are you guides as "Pastors And Priests Available for Service." We are a Christian missionary team developed to come alongside the church at home and abroad.

11/20/2025

GIVING TUESDAY is coming up on December 2.
Please consider PAPA's Ministries in your giving plans.

The needs in Jamaica right now are great. Along with our normal month to month projects that need funding, we are gathering Recovery Funds to assist our brothers and sisters that have been challenged by Hurricane Melissa.

For those who have already given towards the Recovery Efforts, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are making a difference.

Thank You,
Your Friends at PAPA's Ministries.

The attached photographs are of the Clonmel Basic School.
Clonmel, St. Mary, Jamaica.
Repair Costs including labor approx. US$2000.

11/02/2025

PAPA's Ministries has made its first disbursement of funds to assist with perishables. Still no electricty in many areas so a lot of food spoilage. If you are able to assist, donations of any size can relieve some of the stress our Jamaican friends are dealing with.

This is PAPA'S ministries PayPal link

Thank you in advance.

Help support PAPAS MINISTRIES by donating or sharing with your friends.

10/29/2025

Jamaica Disaster Funds
As you all know by now, Hurricane Melissa has made a real mess of things in Jamaica. Parts of the island have been decimated.

We don't have damage reports from Portland or St. Mary Parishes yet but know that most have had extensive damage to roofs, crops and fruit trees. Supply lines have been set back and most families have gone through their meager food supplies even before the storm finally hit. When we know exactly what needs to be done, PAPA's will be organizing teams to be able to assist.

In the meantime, there is a need for food and medicine as shortages will be an issue and when it is available it will be expensive as most of Jamaica's Break basket has been destroyed. It will be a while before building materials for significant repairs will be available.

So, PAPA's is seeking funding that 100% will be used to assist with food, clean water, cleaning supplies and repair materials. You can donate on our website, papasministries.org or via PayPal at the link below.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RUNQZN9U7883Q

You can also send donations to:
PAPA's Ministries
1857 S County Rd 50W
Brownstown, IN 47220.

We can begin sending funds to those in need as soon as the internet is up and running again.

Thanks,
Merlin & Kay

Help support PAPAS MINISTRIES by donating or sharing with your friends.

09/02/2025

The PAPA's Ministries Team wants to thank each and every one of you for your years of support. It is your faithfulness that allows us to continue providing Tuition and Housing assistance to two University Students. Kymani is a Junior studying Criminal Justice at University of the Commonwealth Caribbean and Shakira is studying Culinary Arts at the Maritime University in Port Royal. They are very appreciative.

Your faithful support also provides medical assistance to four Servants of Christ who cannot afford life-saving medicines.

PAPA's also provides assistance for School Uniforms, Books, Lunch and travel funds for students in Primary - High School. Education is "free" except where it isn't. The cost of getting one's child through school is very high for those who simply don't have the funds.

PAPA's funds provide for travel expense reimbursement for Local Preachers serving the Fruitful Vale and Bloomfield Methodist Churches.

Through your funds, PAPA's is able to provide seasonal fresh vegetables to the neighborhood of Frazierwood (Highgate) via our Friend, Brenton Belnavis. He grows tomatoes, Sorrel, Pineapple. What he sells in the market provides for his own needs as well as primary school needs and Holiday treats for local children.

So, thank you again for your faithful support.

05/25/2025

It has been a good week working in Bloomfield, Portland, Jamaica. Our team has worked well together and accomplished a lot in a few days. Jenny Burton, Jamie and Jamison Philpot, Cindy Norris, Odane Roberts, Kay & Merlin Pratt & assisted Members of the Bloomfield Methodist Church in repainting the church, including those tiny window frames. It sure looks nice.
Thanks Team.

01/23/2025

Well, let's start when Odane had the opportunity to come and hang with Mom and Pop's Pratt for 5 weeks, arriving on December 7. Thanks to your continued support for Odane's education, he is working for a Global Tech Company in Kingston but is able to work remotely and so enabling the visit here. For six years now, he had been hoping for enough so to make a snowman, go sledding and enjoy a real snowball fight. With 10 inches of snow, he got his wish and was able to check all three boxes. I am posting a short video clip of him and our daughter Judy enjoying the snow together and then his first attempt at a snowman. We got home today from Jamaica and "snowman finish".

01/23/2025

Jamaica, January 2025

Kay and Merlin journeyed with Odane back to Jamaica 1/15-1/22. It was a quick trip to visit friends, plan for a Spring 2025 Team Trip, visit with students that PAPA's Ministries Support at the University Level. While not set in stone, we have been asked to return in May so Kay can continue teaching about death, dying, grieving and healing across the Port Antonio Circuit. I will do some more follow-up work with Community Development as part of the Circuit's Missional Outreach. We are also planning on working at the Bloomfield Methodist Church.

The Bloomfield Methodist Primary School still has a Temporary Principal, now there for a year and probably through the rest of the School Year. It was nice to sit down with Mrs. Dyal and Board Chair, Garfield Bowyer to discuss future plans including a Computer Room.

We delivered new Large Print Bibles to Bloomfield and Fruitful Vale, a Portable Recording Studio for recording Fruitful Vale Oral History and the early stages of development for young people looking to get started in the music business.

Here are some pictures of our week.