DARLISTON, Westmoreland
What began as an initial relief response following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa has blossomed into a transformative, multi-agency mission project for Darliston Seventh-day Adventist Preparatory School.
The initiative first took root following preliminary damage assessments conducted in November 2025, shortly after the storm. In response, international non-profit Restore a Child—in partnership with the Palm Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida—travelled to the island in March 2026. Upon seeing the devastation firsthand, the team immediately stepped in to replace the school’s damaged front entrance doors, an act that quickly revealed how much more assistance the campus required.
Determined to make a lasting impact, a collaborative mission team organized a return trip from July 18 to 24, 2026. An 18-member volunteer team, including 10 youth Pathfinders from the Palm Springs Soaring Eagles Pathfinder Club, travelled to Jamaica under the spiritual leadership of district pastor, Pastor Omar Palmer, to support and uplift the community of Darliston.
Volunteers from Restore A Child and the Palm Springs Soaring Eagles Pathfinder Club, Florida distributes backpacks and essential supplies to local children and families gathered for a back-to-school distribution event at Darliston Seventh-day Day Preparatory School. :: Photo credit: Contributed
Pastor Omar Palmer highlighted the selfless dedication behind the youth involvement:
"The Pathfinder club chose to forgo their summer trip to Disney, deciding instead to channel their resources toward coming to Jamaica," Pastor Palmer shared. "We decided to return to Darliston to address the ongoing needs. Our church members, Restore a Child—our longtime partner led by Norma Nashed, which operates orphanages worldwide—and Advent Health Prestige Care, a mental health organization operated by my wife, Sheryl Palmer, all rallied together to fundraise. We came back to Jamaica determined to do even more."
During the week-long mission trip, the volunteer team executed major structural, aesthetic, and community upgrades across the school and surrounding areas:
Volunteers cleared roads for improved playfield access, graded the area, and added fresh topsoil to the back playground. Additionally, they completely paved the front quadrangle, creating a dual-purpose space that now serves as a secure parking lot and a dedicated play area for the students.
Two primary classrooms inside the school underwent complete interior resurfacing and retiling. The team also installed interior and exterior lighting and replaced additional doors throughout the campus.
The team hosted a Back-to-School giveaway, distributing more than 150 school supply packages containing bags, books, and essential items to children across the Darliston community.
The Palm Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church mission team gathers in a newly tiled classroom at Darliston Seventh-day Adventist Preparatory School after completing extensive restoration work on the campus following storm damage. :: Photo credit: Contributed
"We are deeply grateful to Pastor Omar Palmer and the Palm Springs Soaring Eagles Pathfinder Club for their incredible work at Darliston Seventh-day Adventist Preparatory School," said Mrs. Keisha Allen, Education Director of the West Jamaica Conference. "From tiling classrooms and installing lighting to donating doors and clearing roads for the playfield, their efforts have vastly improved our campus ahead of the September term. The back-to-school supplies they shared also brought immense joy to our wider community. We treasure this partnership and look forward to working together to uplift more schools across the constituency."
Reflecting on the journey's spiritual impact, Sheffian Romany, Associate Pathfinder Director of the Palm Springs Soaring Eagles Club, shared that the project served as a powerful reminder of God’s active presence. She noted that showing Christ’s love and offering encouragement to families facing hardship brought genuine hope, adding that seeing lives touched through compassionate service strengthened her faith and demonstrated how willing hands can make a lasting difference.
For the young volunteers, the intensive physical labor proved to be a deeply rewarding spiritual experience.
"Our Pathfinders felt renewed and deeply energized. To see those young people working inside Darliston Prep late into the night at 11:00 p.m.—lifting tiles and giving everything they had while singing and praising together—was a remarkable experience," Pastor Omar Palmer added. "To Pastor Rose and the entire leadership team at the West Jamaica Conference: we are your partners, and we will continue to do whatever we can for the glory of God."