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Windham Presbyterian

Serving In Puerto Rico
July 28, 2018
Community: San Juan
Partner: Iglesia Casa de Adoracion y Restauracion Shammah
Staff: Alissa Danielson, Taylor Schatz, Juan Martinez, Mariangely Colon

We have arrived!

by Taylor Schatz | July 28, 2018 2:09 PM

Windham arrived around lunch time, so we headed to the beach to have a delicious meal of pinchos (bbq chicken shishkabobs). We explored the boardwalk, and now are heading to our lodging for the week. We're tired, but so excited! 

We have arrived!

Hola New Hampshire

by Luke | July 30, 2018 8:00 PM

Windham is in the house down here in the PR, and it has been nothing but a joy to be introduced to the Puerto Rican culture and all the kind people. This first sunday was an experience for all of us at a local church based out of a friendly Pastora's garage. The service was very small in number, but extremely large and spirit (and noise). The spanish and english songs filled the neighborhood with compassion and praise. Christy, Elle and Grace were even brave enough to sing one of our own songs for the congregation. 

After the service, Pastora and some of the local missionaries invited us to go on a prayer walk around the neighborhood. Now, at first for us New Englanders, we had no idea to expect or what we were getting ourselves into. Pastora explained to us that we will be going door to door and asking people if they need prayers and sing with them. It took us a while to warm up, but once we did, we were welcomed into homes of the locals, and even sometimes offered food and drink because they were so grateful of us. Although it is often hard to understand the spanish, the joy and spirit of the word we are spreading has no language barrier. 

For the first day of work we started off by landscaping the church parking lot. The lot had not been treated in 4 months and was overflowing with oceans of vines and weeds. After Pastora served us a Wonderful lunch (the food here has been amazing... Especially if you like chicken and rice), we headed out to the local rehab hospital and elderly home. The locals were again pleased to see our faces and hear the word of god. The people are mostly so happy and feel so blessed regardless of their situation.

Hoping that Windham continues this awesome run down here in Puerto Rico! Keep it real up in the NH.

-Luke 


Sunday

by Mariangely Colon | July 30, 2018 8:03 PM

Today we got to meet a beautiful small church with a big heart warming and purpose in this community. We got to see how rejoicing it is to just praise with all our hearts!

Sunday

Prayer walk

by Mariangely Colon | July 30, 2018 8:08 PM

Great to have good experiences with church members, but when we go out to pray for people we don’t know around the community...it’s a different experience. So with that said, the outcome was just awesome, we got to pray for people from outside the gates, to inviting us their homes, even singing at their porches. Just an experience non of us will forget for sure.
Prayer walk

Yard work

by Mariangely Colon | July 30, 2018 9:41 PM

Today we worked on Elba’s property, she provides an area for the church members to park and it’s been 4 months since she last had the chance to clean it. We teamed up with the church to be an extension of them and impact the community, this was one of those opportunities.

Yard work

Sharing

by Mariangely Colon | July 30, 2018 9:52 PM

Today afternoon we visited a rehab facility and a home. They visit was impactful, team got the chance to divide in couples to different rooms and pray over the lives of those recovering from difficult situations. We got to see how two lives received Jesus has their savior. 

Visited the home “Hogar Plenitud Dorada”

which was welcoming 

Sharing

Buenas!!

by Joe Shields | July 31, 2018 5:26 PM

My team and I once again began our day of service with a delicious selection of food from Pastora's house, my favorite being the delicious sweet bread!! After being pampered we began work on a neighbor's home which needed a fresh coat of paint on the exterior after years of wear and tear. We worked all day to power wash, remove all the previous cracked paint, and apply a new coat. By the end of the day we completely finished and the final product is beautiful! We also began powerwashing the roof of another house that has some leakage issues, we will finish that project up the following day. Today was another beautiful day in Puerto Rico, bringing the sun and warm tropical weather (but don't worry parents we used sunscreen). We're all ready to go back tomorrow to eat more sweetbread and get back to work!

Before

by Taylor Schatz | July 31, 2018 9:00 PM

The home before we started working 

Before

After

by Taylor Schatz | July 31, 2018 9:01 PM

What we can accomplish by working together for the Lord is incredible! Heres a look at the "after"!
After

Work day

by Mariangely Colon | August 1, 2018 5:15 PM

So while some of the team was painting the house, a neighbor that saw us was wondering if we could help another neighbor that have had 3 strokes in the pass and was not able to do the yard for a while. It was a lovely day helping out this community for sure! 

Work day

Day 5 - Wednesday

by Grace | August 1, 2018 9:37 PM

Today was beyond phenomenal.

Personally I've never been a "go out in public and pray for people" kind of person, but today changed my view. I found myself sitting in the back of Pastora's yellow pickup handing out clothes, toiletries, sandwiches and waters to the homeless, as well as offering to pray over anyone who came over to our group. I prayed for several people out there on the street, as did the rest of my team. Being able to share God's love through something so simple was amazing. The whole experience was eye opening to how simple serving others can be. It's not always about building houses and making drastic physical changes to a community - a prayer and a sandwich can go a long way. 


As our week begins to come to a close (our last work day being tomorrow), I know I can speak for my team in saying that we are beyond blessed to be here in Puerto Rico. The people we've met have made just as much (if not more) of a difference in our lives as we have their's. I hope that our team can finish strong and enjoy our last day with the members of the local church as we wrap up the week's projects! I thank God each day for sending me here where I've been able to help the community, meet new people, and try new things (including but not limited to learning to play hand drums in the traditional style for church services, learning songs of praise in a different language, cinnamon coffee, and a block of cheese in the bottom of my hot chocolate - trust me, just try it) I've had so much fun over the past week and look forward to what tomorrow may bring!


¡Adiós!

Grace :)


Homeless Ministry

by Taylor Schatz | August 1, 2018 10:23 PM

Connecting with the homeless by providing things like toiletries and prayer. 

Homeless Ministry

Full of emotions

by Mariangely Colon | August 2, 2018 9:43 PM

This was a day full of emotions. First we did the parade, with this banner up front, kids music and costumes! We had Joe, Luke and Aaron on this cool animal costumes (wish kids loved and took pictures with) and the girls handing out church info and a beautiful energy for the kids. 

Then in the afternoon with helped some neighbors with painting and roof cleaning for treatment later. We won’t be able to finish many things this community needs, but one thing we are certain, we have impacted their lives with our testimonies and created a strong connection within the church and the community. 

Many things to come for all of them!!!

Full of emotions

Missions.

by Mariangely Colon | August 3, 2018 8:33 PM

The team and myself have experience other mission opportunities close to home and others outside of our usual environment. Something we have learned this week, is that even when a week is not enough to finish helping a whole community in need, the relationships built are intentionally long lasting, the love of God was shared with homeless, and kids faces lighted up and hearts were reached. 

That, it’s what this team represented this week. You guys rock! 

Missions.

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Comments

Barry & Sandee Hebsch

August 2, 2018 4:08 PM

It's been such a blessing to read your daily updates - thank you for all you are doing for the needy in PR! We are so thankful for your faith and desire to serve in this way!

Karen Kasper

August 2, 2018 1:58 PM

Reading the comments from the physical and spiritual works that you have performed this week in Puerto Rico brought me to tears. You are all terrific and God has not only blessed the lives that you have touched in Puerto Rico but you are also a tremendous blessing to us at WPC. Safe travels.

Cynthia Dwyer

July 31, 2018 7:02 PM

Mi Espanol es mal, pero yo es feliz. Hope your Spanish is muy better. God hears no language differences in our prayers. Be safe.

Jillian O’Connor

July 31, 2018 12:34 PM

Have so much fun you guys! Praying for you all everyday, good luck! love reading about it

Christy Donahue

July 31, 2018 7:40 AM

Loved reading about the first few experiences! Praying for your team :-)

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