It has been a truly amazing week. This week a ministry based out of Napa, California came to the island with a group of 70 from a Church youth group in Nashville, Tennessee. Global Passion Ministry and Cornerstone Church have made a huge impact in Puerto Rico. We witnessed many lives that were touched and forever changed through this adventure.
Our role was to make sure everything ran smoothly and that the team was where they needed to be at the specific times. We also served as a representation from CCPR.
The week started on Tuesday morning when we went to the local projects area to do VBS in Spanish. The students from Cornerstone Church taught lessons, played games, did skits and shared the gospel message. This was the first time any church had come into this community to do anything like this. The first day there were 13 lives given to Jesus! To see these local children laughing and running around with these teens from Tennessee was amazing. For many of these children this was the first time they have seen Jesus in a physical, tangible way. After VBS we took the students to a local park to clean up trash and sticks. For many of these students and leaders it seemed like busy work. They didn't fully understand why they were cleaning a park. Even with that being said they did it with excellence. They would soon start to understand why they were doing it.
The second day we went back to the community to do another day of VBS. These children were so excited to see the students come back. The number of children from the community grew. After VBS we came back to the community to clean it up. Some of the residence living inside of this community could not understand why a church would come to clean up their community. They could not grasp it. One woman said and I quote, "No church has ever done this. Why are you here? Why are you doing this?" Our reply, "We are here to do what Jesus taught us to do and show you Jesus is a tangible way. We do not want to only preach the gospel but be the gospel." After this we had parents who could only speak Spanish trying to talk in broken English. One woman said, "Thank you for what you are doing for our children." There were tears in the eyes of parents as they watched their children playing and having fun as they saw Jesus is a real way. What is even more amazing is some things that took place, might I say transferred over. One woman bought a group of students treats from a food cart. Another mother started following a group and picking up trash with the group and still children began to follow the groups and join in in the clean up. It was really neat to see the love of Jesus that this group brought being transferred over to those being ministered to and them acting out what we had shown them.
Day three we went back for the third and final day of VBS. Saying goodbye was difficult for the kids both ways. A group of teen girls had hung out for the 3 days and on this last day made some of the teens from Tenessee matching necklaces. They wanted to show their thanks too. After VBS we took the group to the local hospital in Dorado to do more clean up. Again, some people in the group did not fully understand why we were at the hospital cleaning. That is until someone started asking questions. There was a person who heard that a church group was coming to clean up the hospital grounds. This was so shocking to them that they took off of work to come down and see it for themselves. They told Pastor Efren that they had never seen any church do this. They asked why is a church doing what our own people are not willing to do? Again we were able to share that we are not only called to preach the gospel but live it out and this is why we are here. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. Their reply was, "Wow, you really are a different church."
After we got back to where the team was staying there was a de-brief. It was amazing to hear what some of these kids said. "I just love those kids.", "I would do it again even if I got bit by a five year old." Teen boys were crying after hearing God's calling on their life. It was truly overwhelming to see.
Day four we took the team to Rincon, This was a key trip as this was the first time CCPR officially was coming into the city of Rincon as a church. This was our time for first impressions.
Most of the team cleaned up trash on the beach. Another team of 14 helped put in a new parking lot for Church Without Walls and I took a team of 10 to a recreation center for the elderly. The kids I took with me helped clean, handed out food for lunch and played bingo and pool with the older people their. The elderly people loved it that these kids came. As I was talking to one of the nurses the same topic came up as the past three days. The question was posed, "Why are you here?" "You are a church?" I shared with her that we are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus and we do not want to only preach the gospel but live out what Jesus teaches us. She again said, " No church has ever done this. You are the only church doing this. I have not been to church in seven years. I want to go but no one here practices what they preach. You are. When you plant your church here I am coming." I also talked to the director and a very similar conversation took place. We were welcomed back anytime. God truly gave us favor this week.
The rest of the week was off days for the team. We went to Old San Juan on Saturday so the kids were able to explore the old city. Jennifer, Bridger and I enjoyed time in a cafe for 2 hours talking to Darryn and Renee. They are leaders from Global Passion. We were able to learn a lot from them as we asked many questions.
Sunday was an off day. After church some of the group went to the beach and others stayed at the house. The evening was hard. Our kids made friends and it was hard to say good bye. There were lots of tears and exchange of numbers. We are so blessed for this team to take our kids in as their own. They had invited Blake and Dallas to stay at the house all week with them and they did so. It was such a great opportunity for Blake and Dallas. It was our pleasure to serve along side of an amazing group of people.
We have learned a lot over this past week and God has re-directed us back to what our original call was. Live the gospel more than preach the gospel. I think my fire is burning hotter than when we first moved here and now I have direction and a vision of what it looks like here in Puerto Rico when we actually are the hands and feet of Jesus. We will be sitting down Tuesday evening with Pastor Efren and his wife Monica to talk about our vision and how we can keep this momentum going. We are excited to move forward with this call!
Here are a few photos from the week.
