Juana Diaz, PR

June 23-30, 2018
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PUERTO RICO #1 BLOG

Juana Diaz- Friday

Hello from Friday night in Juana Diaz,

Today our squads went out to enjoy a well deserved off day with their youth groups!

Some people went to a water park. Other groups went to the beach and snorkeled. Everyone had a great time relaxing and enjoying the wonders of Puerto Rico after a long week of hard work.

Tonight, groups begin to pack up, as they will head home tomorrow morning. The goodbyes will be hard, but the friendships that have been made here will last a life time. God has brought us all to make wonderful relationships this week!

Please pray for our groups tomorrow as they go on their way to travel home! Thank you all for the support for our participants.

As Always,

Olivia and Claire

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Juana Diaz-Thursday

Hola from Juana Díaz,

It was a warm Thursday here in Puerto Rico. Our students headed off early to visit their sites for the last time. They were excited but sad. This is what they have worked towards to all week.

Mission accomplished! All of our sites were finished today. Our participants completed all of their roofing, siding, foundations, paint jobs and porches. Each group’s jobs were a little different, but still similar as they helped and witnessed to families and surrounding communities. Our participants have changed lives this week and it is something they should be very proud of!

As our participants are proud about their work, Jeremy turned that pride into a lesson. We should only give the credit to God. For none of this would be possible without the God who first loved us. He reminded us that when we go home, we need to love everyone we meet as much as we have grown to love our homeowners. Many of the homeowners also joined us for our closing celebration. We were so happy to see them for one last time!

Our participants are very excited to have tomorrow to explore the Island of Puerto Rico with their church group. Please pray for our groups as they go on their travels. Send them encouraging messages through prayer and ServeMail !

As always,

Olivia and Claire

Thank you so much for following along with us! Make sure you’re following us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Mission Serve news.

Juana Diaz – Wednesday

Hola from Juana Díaz,

Wednesday was very warm for us here today. Luckily, God sent some rain to cool us down! Our worksites are almost done as they will finish up tomorrow. Just in time for their off-day, Friday! Our participants have worked so hard to get where they are. They truly have worked for their time off. They have made live lasting friendships with one another and their homeowners. A few of their homeowners joined us tonight for supper and worship.

Tonight in service, Jeremy delivered a message about our actions matching our words. Jeremy said, “You cannot make the impact that you want to make if your lives don’t match your words.” This concept is one of the very reasons we are all so passionate about mission trips. We want people to not only hear about Jesus, but see it through us and our work on these projects.

Tomorrow, we will be having our Closing Celebration in one of the local churches we worshiped in on Sunday. Many of our homeowners will be attending this special worship service as well! We are all so thrilled to have met these wonderful people. Now we will get to worship with them. God is so good!

Thank you all for your prayers and support. Please continue to love on these participants through prayer and sending them positive messages through ServeMail!

Blessings,

Olivia and Claire

 

Thank you so much for following along with us! Make sure you’re following us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Mission Serve news.

Juana Diaz – Puerto Rico

Hello from a Tuesday night in Juana Diaz!

We sent our eager squads out this morning for another day on the sites. Some of our sites are combined this week. For instance, one site has 2 squads with people on the roof, on the interior, the foundation, and building a porch. Our students are working together harder than ever before. Team work is a big thing this week in Puerto Rico!

Friendships are blooming and connections are being made this week. This is not only happening between our participants, but also between them and their homeowners. Students are getting to know their homeowners and build relationships. On our sites we have some of the most hopeful and grateful homeowners!

Later in the afternoon, we all gathered for dinner and then set up for our Concert of Prayer service. The message Jeremy gave tonight was centered around “What has God done for you in your life?” and “When do you see or experience God’s grace in your life?”. The message was very moving and allowed the students to reflect on their life and where they want to be in life. We also took up offering for Hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and in the states. Participants were very focused selfless tonight in worship!

Now, our students are heading to bed to rest up for the work they will do tomorrow. Don’t forget to send them positive prayers and ServeMail to know you’re thinking of them!

God Bless,

Olivia and Claire

Thank you so much for following along with us! Make sure you’re following us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Mission Serve news.

Juana Diaz-Monday

Good Evening from Juana Diaz,

This morning we sent our squads off for their first days on their sites. Our squads were all spread out over Juana Diaz, working hard, and doing different tasks. Some sites are painting, pressure washing, putting on tin roofs, fixing the foundation, building porches, and more. Today has been a very productive day on our worksites.

Not only was there amazing construction progress, but our squads also mingled with homeowners, neighbors, and other locals. Delta squad met the neighbor of their homeowner’s house today. It turned out that the neighbor needed $4,000 worth of electrical work. Our only electrician was actually on Delta squad and fixed it for her right away for free. How awesome is our God?!

Later on at worship, Jeremy spoke a message relatable to the Delta’s neighbor story. He used the story to talk about how God puts us where we need to be and tells us where to go. We just have to open our eyes and hearts to listen to where God wants us. He uses us the way He wants. Our lives are in His hands!

Tomorrow morning our week will role on and our workers will be up and ready to go! Don’t forget to send them some encouraging ServeMail this week.

Your Summer Staff,

Olivia and Claire

 

Thank you so much for following along with us! Make sure you’re following us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Mission Serve news.

Juana Diaz – Sunday

Buenas Noches from Juana Diaz!

This morning our students set off to local churches for Sunday morning services. We had the privilege of getting an awesome opportunity to worship in both Spanish and English. A few of our student participants and band were able to help lead worship as well! The services were very powerful and set a positive mood for the rest of the afternoon.

Our afternoon consisted of group photos and squad meetings. Participants met who they will be working with for the rest of the week. The squads consist of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, and Juliet. After getting acquainted with one another, participants broke into their youth groups for some well deserved free time!

Members from several local churches joined us for dinner and our worship service. As usual, our band Kevin and Jordan started off worship on a great note with songs such as Good Good Father and Reckless Love. Our speaker Jeremy, continued our journey through Acts. He spoke an extremely moving message about keeping our eyes and lives focused on Jesus. Jesus is joy and peace!

Tomorrow morning, we will wake up bright and early to head off to our first day on sites. Please keep our participants in your prayers as they are hard at work this week. Also, don’t forget to show them support by sending ServeMail!

In Christ,

Olivia and Claire

Thank you so much for following along with us! Make sure you’re following us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Mission Serve news.

Juana Diaz – Puerto Rico

Greetings from a warm Saturday night in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico!

Yesterday, two churches from Alabama and Virginia arrived and got settled in Juana Diaz for the night. Today, we welcomed another two churches that traveled from Virginia and Georgia.

We had a fabulous night of worship lead by our band, Kevin and Jordan. Also, our speaker Jeremy Jones delivered a powerful message about adapting to our surroundings and being grateful for what we have. He connected his message, not only to the hard times the Christians before us had, but the current hard times the people here in Puerto Rico have. We are spending the week around homes that have been destroyed by natural disasters and are covered in blue tarps. This helps all of us open our eyes and realize how fortunate we are.

Our students are now ready for to go to bed and visit local churches in the morning. They are also ready to start their week of putting on roofs and witnessing to the community!

Please pray for our participants as they work hard this week. Also, don’t forget to send your friends and family ServeMail to let them know you are thinking of them!

Your Summer Staff,

Olivia and Claire

Thank you so much for following along with us! Make sure you’re following us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest Mission Serve news.

WHY PUERTO RICO

This project is full.

What is Juana Diaz like?

Juana Diaz is a city on the southern border of the island of Puerto Rico. What makes this project so unique is that it offers a full overseas missions experience without the added costs of passports, immunizations, and high-price airfare. Puerto Rico is United States territory, making this project one of the most convenient and affordable options for an overseas experience.

Population: 47,308
Poverty Level: 52.7%

sources: citypopulation, datausa

 

What is Mission Serve’s relationship?

Mission Serve Juana Diaz is only possible through the relationship we have built with Iglesia Bautista El Mesias, Victor Morales, and the City of Juana Diaz. The incredible hospitality of Iglesia Bautista El Mesias will make your group feel welcomed immediately to Puerto Rico. Pastor Victor Morales has led the construction of over 500 homes in the city of Juana Diaz through a variety of missions organizations. We are looking forward to our third summer serving alongside Victor, his church, and the City of Juana Diaz.

 

What kind of work?

  • Building Homes from the Ground Up
  • Roofing
  • General Construction

Project Coordinator

Jeremy Jones
jeremy@mthebron.us
(334) 301-2054

Construction Coordinator

Victor Morales

Speaker

Jeremy Jones

Band

Kevin Boyer

Local School

Puerto Rico is an island filled with adventure. Your group can go snorkeling on the coast or explore the rain forest. You can also spend your off day on a variety of beaches near Juana Diaz.

Being a year removed from the experience permits one to better determine the trip’s long term impact, and it has been a good one. The growth in faith and piety of those who participated has been sustained and continues to this day. Every participant found the experience life altering. I highly recommend this mission trip to any church’s student ministry.

David Gilbreath

Pastor, Eatons Baptist Church

Questions?

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