Earlier in the week the team decided it wanted to do “a little bit extra” for Mr. Patricio. His plight had gotten to all of us. The team, along with a couple of fiends, opened their hearts, pooled their pennies, and collected $2,100. We ventured out on SATURDAY morning to find a Home Depot and purchased gift cards for him to get additional supplies to continue working on his home.
We then drove to Loiza which is an enclave where black Puerto Ricans have lived and flourished for centuries. We were treated to oral presentation of the history of the region at the Corporacion Pinones se Integra (Copi) cultural center. It was wonderful to see the vivid colors and depictions of the African-Puerto Rican culture.
After we ate lunch, we headed to the airport for our flight home.
AFTER WE LEFT Puerto Rico I received wonderful news about Mr. Patricio. It seems he made another trip to Home Depot after we left and is excitedly continuing to work on his home.
FRIDAY was a “chill” day for the team. It was a chance for us to wind down before returning to the “States” the next day. Our first stop is El Yunque National Forest to snap some photos.
We then went to the Fuego Restaurant at Luquillo Beach for lunch and to really chill out.
We went back to Ms. Anna’s home on WEDNESDAY. We had purchased primer paint and some additional tools prior to returning as we thought it would be beneficial. We split the team into two groups, one to tackle the exterior and the other the interior. We decided to apply the primer paint to the exterior walls before we painted it. We also had to scrape the walls and ceiling inside the house, prime them, and paint them.
I learned that several of the missionaries working on the exterior had a fear of heights but did not allow that deter them from climbing up ladders to accomplish their assigned tasks. I also learned that one individual was allergic to latex but continue to push through their discomfort. By the end of the day we had completed more than half of this project.
We had a wonderful surprise WEDNESDAY evening when we learned we were invited to dine at the home of Ms. Carmen. Team One painted the exterior of her home the week prior and she still wanted to show her gratitude to us. It was an enjoyable evening and the food was off the chain.
THURSDAY we were determined to complete the painting project for Ms. Anna. A heartwarming moment for us was interacting with Ms. Anna’s grandson who has cerebral palsy. Even through his health challenges, he could tell all the people coming in and out of the house were there to do a good thing and he would smile and communicate with each of us.
We ended our day by visiting Pastor Milka at the Iglesia Metodista San Pablo (San Pablo Methodist Church). This church provides meals and other services to the homeless population in San Juan. Between the two Alfred Street/Lott Carey Mission teams we blessed her and the church with suitcases of clothing, shoes, toiletries, and personal care items. We also presented her with a total of $1,000 in cash and gift cards to continue her work in the community. She was overwhelmed by the outpouring. Towards the end of our visit we prayed with her and God touched my heart to lead us in singing Blessed Assurance. Little did I know this is also the theme song for the church as they celebrate their 99th year of ministry. Pastor Milka in turn sang this song to us in Spanish.
On MONDAY we went to the home of Mr. Patricio. He has lived in the same house for decades, raising his children and caring for his extended family. He gets both electricity and water by running lines from his neighbors. He petitioned FEMA for assistance for more than two years seeking aid to repair his home which suffered damage during Hurricane Maria. After repeated denials he gave up trying. A social worker, doing a wellness check on him just weeks prior to our arrival found him very despondent. He even shared with the social worker that he had contemplated suicide. The social worker made the decision to try another method to help Mr. Patricio and enlisted the aid of missionaries like the Lott Carey/Alfred Street team. Using funds available to team, we were able to purchase supplies for him. And then we showed up to help him repair the damaged.
The man our team encountered was quite different than the one described by the social worker. Mr. Patricio was outgoing, friendly, funny, and engaging. He told the team what he wanted to accomplish, showed us how he wanted it done, then stood back and allowed us to perform the tasks. When we didn’t do it the way he wanted it done, he made fun of us, showed us the correct way, then stood back encouraging us and nodding his head in admiration.
By the end of our work day we knew we had accomplished more than work…we had restored his faith in humanity, and we had gained a friend.
We started our TUESDAY working on the farm run by Eric. He asked us to help him get a field ready for replanting. Although temperatures exceeded 100 degrees it was rewarding work. We took the opportunity to walk through his greenhouse to view some of the plants he has been cultivating at the end of our time with him.
The second half of our day the team split up. Half went to the senior citizen center and the other group went back to Mr. Patricio’s home to help him lay the remaining flooring. When we arrived we noticed he had already completed some additional work but was patiently waiting on US to finish the work we didn’t complete yesterday.
Toward the end of our work day Mr. Patricio jokingly inquired whether we would be back on the job the next day. We spent a little time with his horses and taking our last photos before we headed back to the guest house.
We worshipped with our host church, the Iglesia Bautiste de Metropolis on SUNDAY morning. During the worship service we presented the church with $2,500 in gift cards to aid the victims of Hurricane Maria. These monetary gifts along with suitcases packed with clothing, linens, pillows, personal care items, and school supplies were graciously given by the two missionary teams members and the Alfred Street Missions Ministry.
We spent the remainder of Sunday playing tourists.
FRIDAY was the final full day Team One spent in Puerto Rico. This is a “transitional day” meant to allow the missionaries time to de-stress and unwind before they head back to home. We pile into our van and head to our first stop, El Yunque National Rain Forest. The lush greenery is a welcome scene as we traveled the winding roads up the mountain. El Yunque has an elevation of more than 3,000 feet above sea level. Unfortunately many of the walking paths washed away by Hurricane Maria had not been restored so we do most of our tour in the van.
We left the mountain around noon and head to Luquillo Beach which is a popular spot for both the natives and tourist. We dined on succulent, fresh-caught lobster and other local favorites. During lunch we showed our appreciation to our hosts, interpreters, and chauffeurs, Lizy and Nicky.
This 2 lb was topped with seafood.
After lunch we headed to the beach to close out our day AND our week of service.
SATURDAY is a bit of a logistical challenge because Team Two will arrive before Team Two leaves for the airport to return home. It is also a somewhat emotional one as I have grown very fond of Team One. As I head to the airport to pickup the incoming team, Team One heads out to pick up Church’s fried chicken for lunch. When the incoming team finally arrives at the guest house they are enthusiastically welcomed and graciously served by them. We only have a short period of time together since Team One must head to the airport and Team Two has to change clothes because they have a work assignment to tackle today. After a quick photo both teams get into their respective transportation and head out.
Alfred Street Puerto Rico Mission Teams 1 and 2
While Team One heads to the airport, Team Two heads into San Juan to the home of Ms. Anna where we do some prep work in advance of painting her house later in the week. Even though these missionaries left the comforts of their homes very early this morning, and with just a brief respite after traveling, they pick up tools and go about scraping peeling paint on the exterior of the home with gusto. The team keeps at this task until the sun starts to wane. We look forward to returning later in the week.
We headed out early TUESDAY morning for a painting project. We were told that the benefactor of our labor, Ms. Carmen was the widow of a former pastor. She greeted each of us with so much grace and told us she was happy that we came. She pampered us with a wonderful breakfast of omelets and then prepared freshly made tamales and fish for lunch. She kept us hydrated by making mango, papaya, and guava smoothies as she watched us go about our task of painting the exterior of her modest home. She even cut sugar cane for us to munch on and pulled avocados from a tree in her yard for us to take home.
Ms. Carmen posted the following comment on social media, “God worked miracles. Yesterday there were Angels in my yard, with rollers and brushes in their hands. They painted and laughed. They made jokes, got up if they fell and laughed. Yesterday the Glory of God manifested in my life once again. Thank you Alfred Street mission Team. A team of Angels for sure. Love you”. By days end not only had we completed our task but we gained a friend and loved-one in the process.
A view of Ms. Carmen’s house after we painted it
WEDNESDAY our team split into two groups so that we could tackle separate projects. Both involved painting but one was an indoor project and the other required scraping and painting the exterior of a home. It was always obvious to us just how grateful people were. They not only fed us well but they were very hospitable hosts who made us feel like we were family.
Below are pictures of the group working on the outside of Ms. Antonia’s home. We always took the opportunity to pray with and for the people we served. In the picture on the lower left Ms. Antonia spoke a word of prayer and praise to one of our missionaries. She really did not want to let us go!
The pictures below depict the group working on the interior Ms. Josephine’s home. We laid hands on her and prayed for her before we departed. She cried and thanked us for taking the time to come and serve.
THURSDAY morning we visited a senior citizen daycare center. We were told we would participate in their scheduled activities and were warned they were very competitive and didn’t like to loose. Most of their activities were games designed to engage them physically and mentally. We had a ball and, for the most part, they beat us each time fairly. By far this was the most fun we had.
The sign over this missionary’s head below translates, “I’m old, so what?”.
We ended our day finishing up the painting projects for Ms. Antonia and Ms. Josephine we began on Wednesday. What a blessing it was to serve.
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.
Group picture of all twenty-one of the 2019 Puerto Rico missionaries
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 