2017 Mission Trip: Puerto Rico
Day 1: Update
Welcome to Puerto Rico!!! It's been looong day of traveling, but somehow we are all in an intense game of four square at 9:30pm. I think we will soon miss all the luxuries back home....its going to be interesting not being able to flush toilet paper for a week. |
Day 2: Update
Mission trip update: Working at our first site today, painting a house in Ponce. A few of us walked through the neighborhood this morning serving breakfast to the locals. Everyone is working hard....so proud of all of them!!!! |
Day 3 Update
Just when we thought it couldn't get any hotter.... Today we continued painting the house of a local elderly couple....the house is looking great. The group worked hard today...again. We are almost done, and will hopefully finish tomorrow. A local youngster stopped by to hang out with us today...it was great to interact with the people down here, both young and old. In the afternoon we all took a stroll through Pence...it really is a beautiful city. Everyone is doing great...the group seems to be bonding very well...which makes this trip even more special. I am truly blessed to have Judy cook and Rick nelson here...they are wonderful mentors for our youth. Day 5 Update
Today we finished our work in Ponce. The morning started with us finishing the house we've been painting all week. After lunch, we visited a local community center and had the pleasure of playing with a young children's summer camp. I absolutely love watching our young adults interacting with children...it's inspiring! After our work day, we hit the beach...we swam, looked for sea glass, and even caught a quick nap on the beach. I know I've said it several times, but I am tremendously proud of our kids...they are amazing in every way possible. Tomorrow is our day off....going snorkeling!!!!! Keep us in your prayers for a safe return on Saturday |
Day 4 UpdateGreetings from PR...
Today was certainly a special day! Our morning began with us returning to the house we've been painting....we are almost done! After lunch we walked the streets of Ponce, handing out food, talking with families and praying with them. It was a unique and special experience for both us and them. In the evening we visited a beach-side boardwalk. It was fun, funny, and beautiful (see pics and previous videos). Tonight was a special group devotion night....we spent some time talking about the importance of family....they were then given letters written from their parents. Tomorrow is our last work day....time flys when you're having fun! Day 6 Update
Today was our day off. We got to enjoy the beauty of Puerto Rico. First, we visited a beach in Cabo Rojo. It was absolutly stunning. Following a few hours at the beach, we traveled to Lajas for a snorkeling adventure. First we snorkled around a coral reef for about an hour. We returned to the dock and had dinner right on the boat..when it got dark we headed out to the luminescent bay where we swam in the pitch dark. The beauty of this is that the algae in the bay would glow with every move you make in the water...it was certainly a "one in a lifetime" activity. |