I recently returned from a mission to Puerto Rico. This US territory was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and they are STILL struggling to recover from its affects two years later. I had the joy of leading two Lott Carey teams of committed volunteers who toiled most days in 90 degree heat with nary a complaint. The first week, October 5 through 12, there were 11 from Alfred Street Baptist Church. The second week, October 12 through 19, we had 10 individuals. Nine were Alfred Street members and the tenth was a friend and fellow missionary from New Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, DC.
Team One arrived midday on SATURDAY October 5th. We had the pleasure of sharing communion during World Communion SUNDAY with our host church, Iglesia Bautista de Metropolis (Baptist Church of Metropolis). The church is located just outside of San Juan in the area known as Carolina. After we were served communion the young children came forward and were given grapes so that they could be symbolically included in the communion sacrament – this was a moving moment for me. After church service we played tourists, walking the streets of Old San Juan including El Morro, the fort which was built to protect the island from invaders. We ate a delicious meal at a local Cuban restaurant and settled in for a good night sleep in anticipation of a week of serious work.
MONDAY morning, after devotions and breakfast we hopped in our van and headed to a farm. Yes, you read it right – we went to a farm for our first mission assignment in Puerto Rico. The farm is owned by a young man named Eric who transformed a former dump into a viable farm where he grows fruits, vegetables, and flowers. He sells these items exclusively to local citizens to ensure that they have the opportunity to get farm-fresh items at reasonable prices. Eric, who is a member of our host church explained to the team that every hour we work on the farm was equivalent to an entire workday for him. That was enough incentive for the team to spend 4 hours clearing a plot of land where he will plant sweet potatoes in the near future.
Later in the day we headed into San Juan to visit Iglesia Metodista San Pablo (San Pablo Methodist Church). The church and Pastor Milka provide breakfast and evening meals to the homeless population three times a week. Pastor Milka told our group that she struggles to find funding to feed the 50 to 90 people who come in regularly for something to eat or to pick up donations of clothing, shoes, and toiletries. With weekly church offerings hovering around $200, she relies heavily on donations to keep things going but vowed to continue until God tells her otherwise. The mission team was so moved by her testimony that we pooled our pennies and donated $450 to her on the spot. She was visibly moved by this gesture and spoke how God continues to affirm her calling and ministry. We ate dinner with those individuals who came in and helped to clean up before we departed. Kudos to the team for heeding the movement of the Holy Spirit.
While visiting the church I saw a lady who immediately captured my attention. She bore an uncanny resemblance to my deceased mother. When I had the opportunity to talk with her I found out her name was “Ruth” and she traced her ancestral history to slaves who came to the US from Africa. Her ancestors disembarked the slave ships in Virginia and were taken to North Carolina. She told me I reminded her of one of her nephews. What do you think…doesn’t she look just like Ruth C. Hammett?
Missional Journey 