OUR BEGINNING
BURMA MISSION 2016-2020’s
Send Me Relief Ministries was founded in 2016, inspired by a visit to Lashio, Burma (Myanmar) with Fr. Donald Lum. The Catholic community was in great need—parishes, convents, orphanages, and people of all faiths (including Baptists and Buddhists) were suffering.
OUR WORK IN BURMA:
Built a children’s home
Provided roofs, beds, desks, walls, and dining areas
Supported churches, mental health facilities, orphanages, convents, and schools
Launched the "Loaves & Fishes" feeding ministry, providing food to people of all faiths
Funded local priests for physical and evangelistic needs
Mission End: However, a decades-long civil war devastated Lashio. Communications were lost as nearly all residents fled the area. The government halted all foreign financial religious donations and blocked American passports from entry. Our mission in Burma was forced to end.
CURRENT MISSION & PARTNERSHIP:
MISSIONARIES OF THE POOR
Send Me Relief Ministries serves at the direction of MOP. We provide support financially, medically, spiritually, and with labor help in every possible way.
ABOUT MISSIONARIES OF THE POOR (MOP):
Mission: To serve the poorest and most in need
Members: Over 400 servants worldwide including priests, brothers, and sisters
Commitment: Members take vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity and receive no pay
Location: Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica—not the resort areas, but one of the poorest and most dangerous cities in the world
Order: Missionaries of the Poor is now a recognized order with an office at the Vatican in Rome
WORK IN KINGSTON
MOP operates several monasteries and convents that serve as residences for the priests, brothers, and sisters. Numerous centers are scattered throughout the city. The majority of these sites were abandoned, dilapidated structures that have been restored into functional facilities at minimal expense. The centers are staffed primarily by Brothers and Sisters who provide care that otherwise couldn't be provided - meals, clothing, hygiene, medical and dental care, a bed, safety, as well as a spiritual environment.
SPECIALIZED CARE CENTERS
Care provided for residents with genetic disorders, mental illness, Down’s Syndrome, pregnant mothers, HIV patients, blind, deaf, and nonverbal patients. One facility serves children with cerebral palsy who are bedridden with immovable joints. Most of the residents were abandoned, or their families could not care for them.
Total Care: All patients are unable to care for themselves, provide hygiene, eat, or prepare food. Many are in diapers.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
MOP provides food and spiritual direction for the surrounding neighborhoods
The National Prisons (men and women) are provided with periodic meals and evangelization
MOP is active in evangelization throughout the community
OUR LEADERSHIP
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Carl Califano
PRESIDENT
- 35+ years in Christian missionary work in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean Islands
- Graduated as a metallurgical engineer
- Oversees the direction and structure of Send Me Relief Ministries
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Thomas Stanley, M.D.
VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER
- Medical doctor
- 30 years involved in pro-life ministries
- Speaks to schools and pro-life groups
- 25+ years serving medical clinics in Asia and the Caribbean
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Bill Love
SECRETARY OF LABOR
- Graduated as a clinical social worker who worked in addiction counseling
- Carpenter/contractor for most of his life
- Involved in Kingston St. Anthony’s Orphanage from 2001-2009
- Now helping MOP with construction and maintenance
The ministry is grounded in biblical scripture that serves as the Living Motto of the Missionaries of the Poor:
OUR BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS
"When you have a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to pay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
LUKE 14:13-14
PROGRAMS WE SERVE
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer Him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whenever you did to one of these least brothers of Mine you did it for me...'"
MATTHEW 24:34-45
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Overview: Medical care is provided by Dr. Tom, and dental care by Dr. Terry Deeter to residents of the centers, the religious community, and the people of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Services Include:
Physical exams, maintenance and urgent care on an ongoing basis.
We also provide prescription and non-prescription medication, medical supplies and equipment.
Newly built medical/dental clinic with exam rooms, equipment, and a pharmacy
How to Help:
Donations help pay for medicines, supplies, equipment, wheelchairs, and some hired nurses.
We welcome volunteers with medical backgrounds
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Program Overview: Numerous monasteries, convents, and centers present ongoing construction and maintenance challenges. Bill is active in all sorts of construction and maintenance projects.
Projects Include:
Building out offices and other rooms in the centers
Design, build and installation of many cabinets throughout the many MOP sites.
Restoring an incinerator
Design and building of pews for a new chapel
Building and maintaining residences for the MOP community
Caskets are made for anyone in need in poverty-stricken Kingston.
Brothers are trained and all projects are designed to be replicable so the work can be ongoing.
How to Help:
Donations pay for some of the work that must be contracted out as well as materials and tools.
We welcome volunteers with construction backgrounds.
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Overview:
MOP conducts weekly meal and food distribution to the neighborhoods surrounding the centers. Send Me Relief Ministries has pledged to fund this vital program.
How It Works:
Regular food distribution to families in need
Serves people of all faiths in the community
Provides essential nutrition to the poorest neighborhoods
How to Help:
Donations for food supplies
Volunteers are welcome
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Overview:
Send Me Relief Ministries helps provide meals and evangelization to men's and women's prisons (population 4000) during holidays, with hopes to extend to a quarterly basis.
What We Provide:
Simple meals including barbecue chicken, potatoes, green beans, dessert, and drink
These provide the best meals of the year for inmates
A chance to experience Christ's Love
How to Help:
Financial support for meal preparation
Carl is very involved in facilitating this as well as the feeding program
Volunteers are welcome
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Overview: Father Ho Lung has granted permission to reach the community with the pro-life talks and Value of God’s Gift of Life presentations
Our Commitment:
Educational outreach on pro-life values
Support in the fields of medical care and construction
Providing counseling assistance
Offering scholarships for educational needs