Hello from Juana Díaz!

Today was the very last day of the work week. It was a satisfying day of finishing worksites but everyone was so sad having to say goodbye to their homeowners. Squads made friends with not just their homeowner, but their neighbors. They have made so many new friends within and outside of their squads. The relationships made here will never be forgotten!

Tonight, was our closing celebration. We recognized everyone who helped make this week possible such as cooking team, band, coordinators, runners, construction captains, squad leaders, and volunteer staff. Without them we could not have completed this project! Jared also gave a message about caring what you have learned and felt here back home with you. He wanted to remind everyone that they do not have to be on a mission trip in order to spread the gospel and be one with the body of Christ. Every day should be an opportunity to serve others!

We are preparing for the bittersweet goodbyes that tomorrow brings as everyone heads home. This is week has been one that no one will forget. We are so grateful for all of the prayers that you all have sent our way. Please continue to keep Juana Díaz in your prayers as well.

We hope everyone had a fantastic Friday!

Your Serve Staff,
Olivia and Justin

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​Happy Thursday from Juana Díaz!

Today was back-to-normal work day for all of our squads. They woke up, had breakfast, and piled in their vans to go to their worksites. They have all worked super hard to ensure that they can get their projects done tomorrow!

Tonight, Jared talked about being the body of Christ. We each have to do our part, but together with God we can accomplish amazing, powerful things–things we could never accomplish on our own. Our goal should be to find what God wants for our lives and how we fit into his Kingdom and then strive to be the best version of that. Working solely for His glory and His kingdom, leading people to Him.

Our participants are preparing for their last full workday tomorrow. They have seen these houses through from beginning to end and have worked hard to create new homes for the people of Juana Díaz. Tomorrow will be a hard goodbye to our homeowners. However, it is exciting that most homeowners have promised to come to our last worship service! What a great day it will be tomorrow!

We pray you have all had a blessed Thursday. We also ask that you continue to keep Juana Díaz in your prayers as well as our participants. Don’t forget, you can show your support by sending ServeMail!

Your Summer Staffers,
Olivia and Justin

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

Hello from Juana Díaz!

Today was our half work day/half off day! Our participants worked super hard on their sites up until lunch. After lunch on their worksites, everyone headed back to the church to get ready for their activities with their youth groups.

All participants truly earned this time off! Some youth groups went to the rainforest, beach, snorkeling, Old San Juan, and more. It was a great work day and a great fun day. The fellowship with their personal youth groups is also very important which is why it was such a needed day. Everyone said they had a blast!

Tomorrow will be back to the grind of another regular workday. Each squad so excited to continue working on their projects and get their site finished! Some sites will finish tomorrow and move on to helping more sites.

Please continue to pray for our groups as they work hard to complete their projects. Also, don’t forget you can show your love and support through sending ServeMail. Hope you all had as exciting of a Wednesday as we did!

Your Summer Staff,
Olivia and Justin

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

Happy Tuesday from beautiful Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico!

Today was our second day on worksites. Our participants were up bright and early, pumped to work as they have adjusted to the early take off to sites! Everyone loaded into their vans with smiles on their faces ready to work and serve this community.

A lot of work has already been accomplished so far. We have a church to clean and fix electrically, many roofs to build, interiors to fix up and more. The work needed is abundant but our students have not let up! They are working so hard to complete their projects and it is only Tuesday!

Tonight was the concert of prayer. This is a great opportunity for our students to be in worship and prayer with God, one on one and also in fellowship. The reverent atmosphere tonight was amazing and you could truly feel God’s presence. As our work load grows, bumps come in the road, or we are just tired; it is nice to know that we have a Christian community to pick us up and help us keep going. Tonight was a wonderful reminder of that.

Tomorrow will be a half work day and then our squads return early. After lunch, they get to do some exploring of Puerto Rico with their youth groups. It is going to be an awesome day! This off-time is something our participants have surely earned!

Thank you all for your support and prayers that you have sent to this community and to our students. Please continue your prayers and sending ServeMail to show them how much you care!

Hope you all had a blessed and beautiful Tuesday.

Your Summer Staff,
Olivia and Justin

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

Buenos from Juana Díaz!

Today was the first day on worksites!!! We began our morning with the Great Send-off which consisted of gathering together in prayer lead by our local pastor Victor. After his prayer all of our squads got pumped up and headed off to their sites!

Our worksites are spread all throughout Juana Díaz and two are in a neighboring city named Ponce. We are looking forward to the impact that our students are making in this community and the impact that this community is making on us!

Tonight, Jared spoke about faith and exactly what it means. Faith is letting go and letting God take full control on your life. He said the answer to growing our faith is found in Hebrews 12:1-2 where we are directed to “throw off” sin that hinders our relationship and fix our eyes upon Jesus.

Tomorrow our squads hangout for another day on their worksites. They are super excited to continue their work week and grow their friendships with each other and their homeowners!

Please continue to pray for this community and our participants this week. Also, show your support through sending ServeMail!

Hope you all had a blessed Monday.

Your Summer Staffers,
Olivia and Justin

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

Hola from day two in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico!

Today has been a Sunday full of blessings. This morning our youth groups split up and went to four different local churches. These churches were so welcoming to our groups and fed them after worship. The youth groups that visited the church who is allowing us to use their facilities for worship all week actually brought food and served the church members. We love the servant hearts in this community and in our students!

In the afternoon our participants got to meet their squads and assign leadership roles. We have a total of 14 squads which means there are 14 houses getting impacted this week. God is so amazing!

After supper, Jared spoke on the most radical thing Jesus did in the Bible. He pointed out that at the Last Supper Jesus could have said anything to the disciples as His parting words, but Jesus made a point to focus on being a servant to others. Jesus desires for all of His disciples to be servants to everyone and love everyone. This message was great as we go out into this community, we can remember to truly love people and try to help the best we can.

Tomorrow our squads will head out for their first day on their worksite. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin their journey for this week. Also, please keep this community in your prayers as well.

You can continue showing your love and support to each participant by sending ServeMail too! Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday!

Your Summer Staff,
Olivia and Justin

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

Hello from Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico!

We are so happy to report that everyone has arrived in Puerto Rico safely. All of our groups are ready to get some sleep but excited to get this week of missions and fellowship started!

Today we all joined in sharing our first meal together. After dinner, we headed to our local church Iglesia Bautista el Mesias. We are so grateful that they are lending us their church for worship this week.

Tonight, our rocking band lead us in worship. Jared, our speaker, then spoke on surrendering everything to God and being willing to do His will. He read from Mathew 4 and 14 about Jesus calling the three fishermen to be fishers of men. He pointed out that they dropped their nets without question and followed Him. Jared asked us, “what net do we need to let go of in order to be all in with Jesus?” This was a great message to get us to think about over this week as we become more daring in our faith.

Tomorrow, our youth groups will head off to four different host churches. These awesome and welcoming churches will also provide their lunches! Our students will also get to meet their squads tomorrow and get to know one another better. It is going to be such a great day of making new friends!

Please pray for our students and leaders as they take on this week. Also, show them your love and support by sending ServeMail which will go into their Mission Serve mailboxes.

Hope you all had a great Saturday!

Your Summer Staff,

Olivia and Justin

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