We were excited to return to Puerto Rico after two years and to work with the missionary team in Mayaguez and Ponce again. We had a group of thirteen volunteers including the original nine who had been in 2023. The group included Pastor Bill & Deb Aufdenkamp, Jay & Betty Johnson, Kerry & Julie Zimmerman and Tammy Nelson from Elbow Lake, Michael Wilshusen from Missouri and Lori & Leon Dawkins, Jerry Schmidt, Shawn & Dave Schneeberger from Trinity Lutheran in Fergus Falls. Ashley Lehr, our main volunteer missionary contact worked hard with the missionary team to put together a work project list for the church property in both communities. There were a wide variety of projects requiring various skill sets and abilities with something for each of us. We all have many different talents that can be utilized to accomplish God’s mission and purpose. We found out immediately that our group was going to work very well together and have an amazing week as each one found a project to begin working on from the start.
The first two days were spent in Mayaguez where we built a three tiered platform for the altar, refinished the pulpit, replaced the pressure tank on the roof, changed locks on the doors, cleaned out the laundry room, organized various items and put them in tubs, repaired some leaky plumbing, installed a light, mirror and towel holder, power washed all of the exterior floors & steps and cleared/trimmed a lot of the bushes/trees/itchy vines that were overgrown and out of control.
The next day was spent on projects in Ponce where we did some extensive deep cleaning of the facility (since their normal maintenance person is hospitalized), tore down and re-built a zinc metal sheet dividing wall, built a rock climbing wall, installed some shelves in a kitchen, sanded and stained seven picnic tables, installed a sun shade over part of the outdoor patio, repaired some leaky plumbing, fixed a hole in wall, moved some heavy duty exercise equipment and repaired/painted a doorway. We also had the opportunity to meet several parishioners from each of the churches during a bible study and supper following a midweek Epiphany service in Mayaguez and a Sunday service, bible study and dinner in Ponce.
It was not all work and no play for the group, however, as we had several evening and cultural day activities. We had inspirational group devotions each morning and evening with music provided by Leon and Jay. Leon was our master chef for most of the delicious suppers he prepared. We took an evening boat excursion to the Bio-Luminiscent bay, one of the few in the world, attended a winter league baseball playoff game where we cheered on the Mayaguez team to victory, toured the Hacienda Buena Vista, a plantation that grew and processed/milled coffee, corn and other grains, enjoyed the beautiful waterfalls and pools at Gozlandia and saw a couple of the Puerto Rican beaches.
Overall, it was a positive, productive and amazingly rewarding experience for each of the team members as we were able to support the missionary team in Mayaguez, Ponce and San Juan allowing them to focus on their ministry efforts of establishing relationships and growing the congregations in those communities. It was clearly evident that God does not call the equipped, he equips the called as we experienced first hand. We were blessed to be a blessing by providing the hands and feet for God’s mission in Puerto Rico.
To God be the glory!