In 1967 the Diocese of Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island established a committee to examine the possibility of the creating a missionary initative focused on Latin America. The members of this committee included Reverand Andrew Macdonald (chair), Reverand Preston Hammill, Reverand Floyd McGaugh, and Reverand Clifford Murphy. The group made several recommendations in consultation with the Bishop and the Diocese decided to proceed with adopting a missionary program.

A permanent committee was formed in 1968 consisting of the original 1967 members as well as Sister Mary Angela Keefe and Maril Burge. The initative was to be called the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) and the group adopted a stylized lamp as its logo. Due to limited resources and experience, the group decided to take a collaborative approach, signing an agreement with the Scarboro Foreign Missionary Society. It was also decided that LAMP would focus its efforts on the Dominican Republic. LAMP was inaugurated at a liturgical celebration at St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown on 27 May 1968. The first LAMP missionary was Reverand Andrew Macdonald.

The primary goal of LAMP was to act as a missionary-sending organization. To that end, the organization sought to attract new missionaries, provide orientation to potential candidates, and help returning missionaries re-integrate into life back home. LAMP also seeks to educate the people of the Diocese of Charlottetown about LAMP activities and the work of their missionaries. Membership in LAMP is open to men and women of all ages and backgrounds in the Diocese of Charlottetown who share in the organization's philosophy and objectives.

Between 1968 and 2004, LAMP sent 19 missionaries to Latin America. Personal stories about their experiences can be found in LAMP's history entitled "You Walked With Us Awhile: Thirty Six Year History of PEI Solidarity with the Caribbean and Central America." In 2007 LAMP remains an active organization.

Frank Ledwell was born 14 April 1930 at St. Peter's Bay, Prince Edward Island. Ledwell was the fourth of seven children of Thomas Ledwell and Anna (Gillis) Ledwell. He married Carolyn Duffy in 1970 and the couple had six children: Jane, Patrick, Emily, Thomas, Daniel, and Christian. Frank was a writer and an active member of the Island arts community. He was also a professor of English at the University of Prince Edward Island. He died in 2008 at the age of 78.