Puerto Rico is an amazing place!!!! I got to visit here just this past summer and had an amazing time serving alongside of a youth group from Hilton Head Island. Below is a blog written about our time spent in Puerto Rico. Amazing things can happen when you choose to give up 5 days and go on a mission trip and serve people somewhere else who need you. Click here to check out our future Puerto Rico trips!!!
From June 11th through the 16th I had the privilege of getting to hang out with a youth group from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We spent the week serving in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The group was made up of 7 girls from the youth group and 4 leaders that accompanied them. I had an amazing time getting to hang out with these girls and seeing how missions can make such a huge impact in such a little time.
Removing ourselves from our daily comforts opens our eyes. Not being able to sit down, drink a coke, flip the TV to our favorite sitcom and relax after a long days schooling is something that not many of us experience on a day to day basis. But for these 5 days, comfort was thrown out the window. We did not have beds, so we slept on the tile and marble floors. Heat and sweating all the time became the norm. But it is during these times, when we sacrifice our comforts, that we learn and grow so much in who we are in God's eyes and receive new eyes to see the world around us.
On Sunday, we joined in on the church service where we were staying. For these girls, it was their first time outside of the U.S. Everything around them is new. Language, culture, smells, heat, and people. But the people of the church were so welcoming and loving that we all felt at home instantly. During the worship service, things we so impactful that a few of the girls started crying. Not tears of sorrow, fear, or worry. But tears of joy. Happiness. Peace. The girls were at home. They felt connected and were moved by the spirit. In this moment they learned so much more than could ever be taught in youth group during summer break.
Seeing something like this reminds me of why I do what I do. Why do I seek to see a younger generation learn who they are in God's eyes? To see people share the love of God that they have received with people who may not know the love yet? To see freedom brought to those held captive by the humdrum of daily life?
Because there is so much more to life than just "I".
There is so much more to the world than just America.
Our last day of ministry (Wednesday) was a day in which we
challenged ourselves to really "go for it" -- to set aside all anxiety
and fear and potential embarrassment and put everything on the line.
I'm happy to say that the group met and exceeded this challenge.
We began the day by spending the morning at a nearby
orphanage in San German, where the group had the opportunity to play
with children from less than a year to eight years old.
Some played an interesting game of "tag" in which they helped
little girls lock the boys in the bathroom, while others played with
balls and dolls.
Today was our first full day of ministry. Already, we are starting to see how God is moving -- in this group, in this church, and this community.
We began with a trip to a nearby park, where we spent the first hour of the day in prayer, pressing in to hear from God. Then, the group split up into teams to minister to anyone at the park.
Hello there! My co-leader Dustin and I arrived in Puerto Rico yesterday
afternoon and were greeted by this scary-looking rain cloud. Apparently,
it rains just about every day here.
VIVA PUERTO RICO! We have been here for 24 hours, and have been awake for nearly every hour. Thankfully, we safely arrived on the island with everybody in one piece with only one suitcase left behind. We left the airport and stopped at our temporary home for the week in Caguas. Driving through the town of San Juan and into Caguas was a whole new sight for most of us; Puerto Rico is different in so many ways! We have only been here for one day, and have built many great relationships with people of the area. For example, last night we went to the Relay for Life in San Juan. There we were able to play games, dance, sing, and walk for cancer with people of the church and community. Slowly we are adapting to the ways of living down here; such as, the showers have been moved to the hose outside and chasing lizards has become a regular activity for us. The locals are very excited for us to be here, as are we. We can't wait to share our experiences and what God has planned for the rest of the week and, as always, prayers are greatly appreciated.
Hello everybody!! The whole team has made it safe and sound to
beautiful Puerto Rico. The excitement for what the week holds is
bubbling over as everyone has made their way to Cabo Rojo where we
will be staying for our stint here in Puerto Rico.
In store this week is time being spent evangelizing in the plazas of
various cities, visiting an elderly home and doing yardwork, working
at a summer camp, and visiting a retreat center and doing landscape
work and other things needed. Everyone is excited about the various
opportunities that we have for the week.
Look forward to an update on how the week is progressing. We hope
things are going well where you are!!
Kaitlin tells us about her group's time of Covering Prayer. Listen to what God did in their prayer time while the other teams went out to minister in the community.
g. For these girls, it was their first time outside of the U.S. Everything around them is new. Language, culture, smells, heat, and people. But the people of the church were so welcoming and loving that we all felt at home instantly. During the worship service, things we so impactful that a few of the girls started crying. Not tears of sorrow, fear, or worry. But tears of joy. Happiness. Peace. The girls were at home. They felt connected and were moved by the spirit. In this moment they learned so much more than could ever be taught in youth group during summer break.
Today was our first full day of ministry. Already, we are starting to see how God is moving -- in this group, in this church, and this community.
Both groups arrived safely in San Juan on Saturday night. We returned safely to the church in Cabo Rojo to get a little rest at 4am of Sunday morning.
Hello there! My co-leader Dustin and I arrived in Puerto Rico yesterday
afternoon and were greeted by this scary-looking rain cloud. Apparently,
it rains just about every day here.
