Heartbeats of ministry from our partner in Puerto Rico

Listen, Learn, Love:  I’m sure you have heard the phrase “Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care”. We have seen this prove true time and again in the context of mission trips. Taking the time to invest in relationships lays the groundwork for long-term transformation, usually even more so than most service projects. Having a mindset of curiosity paves the way for showing Christ’s love. I encourage you to have your team make a list of questions they can be ready to ask in order to build meaningful connections with the locals.  

Location: Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean and is much smaller than its neighbors (Cuba and DR/Haiti). Although many individuals speak English, the primary language is Spanish, so identifying any Spanish-speakers in your team and learning some phrases can be helpful. Hurricanes are prevalent in the late summer/fall, some of which have left the island crippled for months at a time. Asking about how people experienced hurricane Maria for example can be a great way to start conversations.  

Spiritual Climate: Although there are many churches on the island, we have seen how cultural Catholicism or legalistic Protestantism have left many Christians hurt or apathetic.  As a result, many young people are moving away from the faith and drug trafficking has become more prevalent. People will likely think they know what you mean when you identify as a Christian, but I would invite you to make sure that your team has practice focusing on God’s grace as they prepare their testimonies/gospel presentations.  

Ministry:  We highly value customizing each trip to match the needs of the community with the giftings and talents of the missionary team. Our local partners have an organization called Feed my Lambs that focuses on meeting the physical and spiritual needs of those on the outskirts who are often overlooked. In the past, ministry has included bringing groceries & prayer to home visits, using sports events or cleanup projects to build bridges with the community, and encouraging the local church through VBS programs or children’s ministry. We look forward to getting to know you and your team more so that we can plan how to make this week as impactful as possible!