Taking a Sabbath day was much needed & greatly enjoyed today! Centering our hearts for a morning on Who we're doing this for, and remembering that we are not alone in the family of Christ, was both a humbling & unifying experience. Joseph's home church, Misión Vida, graciously welcomed us today and even provided a translator for the sermon. Afterwards, they made & served us a delicious lunch. It was the best way to spend a Sunday morning! Then we all headed down to the main part of Aguadilla, and did some shopping, ice cream-eating, and some of us even swam in the ocean during a torrential downpour! The water was so warm, it didn't bother the swimmers one bit!
Daily Prayer Request - that the projects would be able to be completed with grace, patience, and energy!
Worship was a beautiful experience. Some songs sounded familiar, and some were new - regardless, it was an honor to worship the Lord alongside our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters.
Andrew & Maegan Samuelson shared their testimony about how God used their past lives to bring them together, and how they have seen God's hand in sending them on their first mission trip as a married couple.
The pastor of Misión Vida, and his wife (both in the middle front), were so welcoming to our group and thanked us for all that we have done for their community. We told them that WE have been the ones who have been blessed!
After church, we all headed upstairs to their Fellowship Hall and enjoyed a delicious home cooked lunch.
Our lunch consisted of a perfectly seasoned plate of chicken, rice & vegetables. We started to smell the aromas about 20 minutes before the service ended, so we were anxious to get to enjoy it!
Many of the church members joined us for the lunch, and it was wonderful to get to know them a bit better (since many spoke great English).
Our fearless Somos Gente leader, Joseph, and Penny & Alvin Timm became fast friends on this trip.
After church we changed into our beach clothes and headed to downtown Aguadilla. A small group of us were even able to FaceTime some loved ones back at PBF!
Gary McFarland can now confirm that parcha colada ice cream (strained passionfruit) is well worth the trip to Aguadilla!
Debra Widdowson & Joseph snapped a great shot in front of the town's sign right along the boardwalk.
Gary McFarland graciously helped Jack James recover a plastic head that he found in the rocks along the beach. Nobody else wanted to touch it!
Meet "Dylan" - the new best friend of Penny Timm, Val Williamson, and Debra Widdowson!
Day 4
We knew today was one last big push to get projects done around Somos Gente due to the rain that was on the way. Sometimes days like this can be tough - nothing new and exciting, and lots of hard work in the heat. But God, who is full of grace, allowed us to laugh together through it all and even steal away to the beach for a refreshing break. We were all reminded that even on days that seem "mundane", we are still called to serve Him with everything we got - and that is a beautiful calling not to be taken for granted!
Daily Prayer Request - we would love to see God provide ways for each team member to have alone, quiet time with Him each day.
Today it was imperative that we finish the painting projects around Somos Gente because of the rain that was on its way. Walt Beardsley and Aaron Layman worked steady to get the stairs done.
Jack James & Debra Widdowson enjoyed a quick moment of shade to work on the stair & banister railings.
There was a small leak in one of the unused bedrooms, so Steve Mercer worked with a couple others to assess where the leak was coming from and come up with solutions.
In order to get to the area of the roof where the leak was, Jack James had to lower down heavy pieces of an old satellite dish in between the 2 main buildings.
Debra Widdowson, Val Williamson & Dan Morse "rolled" with the punches as they finished up the beautiful paint job.
The work in the room buildout was able to go forward regardless of the rain, so the walls started materializing before we knew it.
Teresa Brooks worked many hours on organizing the cluttered tool & supply room. Her best find of the day? An old water cistern that was supposed to be thrown out, but could be used as a lawn tool holder!
The afternoon called for a quick trip to the local beach for a chance to cool off before the rain came.
The team had Barrio Playa Añasco all to themselves!
Pool noodles once again proved to be a great way to float around in the warm Puerto Rican waters on a hot day.
Jack James found a new little friend that quickly became "attached" to him.
He also wanted to give Steve Mercer a kiss on the nose before they left!
The team was blessed to have the Somos Gente volunteers cook an incredible dinner again for them. We ate it so quickly, nobody got any pictures! It was a traditional Puerto Rican dish called Asopao de Camarones, and it consisted of rice, shrimp, broth & spices.
How many men does it take to get the last bit of paint applied, in the dark, before the rain comes?!
Day 3
Today was full of little victories! The house-painting project was completed, an Añasco resident's landscaping was cleaned up, the big room was framed out, and some of us even got to put our toes in the sand! We started the day by reading John 13:1-17, and challenged ourselves to find ways to "wash each other's feet" as we served. It was beautiful to see the ways people rose to the challenge - everything from clearing & washing a team member's dishes after breakfast, to sacrificing their own free time to help finish another project. We ended the evening in Rincón, a neighboring town known for its surfing & beaches, and all enjoyed the change of pace.
Daily Prayer Request - that the rain would hold off when we're trying to finish our painting projects and when we are hoping to enjoy the beach!
Teresa Brooks was wise to keep her entire face covered from any paint debris that was floating around during the power wash.
Walt Beardsley power washed all of the old paint off of the local house so that there was a fresh, clean surface for the new paint to be applied.
Andrew Samuelson knew that laughter would help pass the time as he hand-rolled the new orange paint coat on the home.
Tall people worked on the upper parts of the wall, and not-so-tall people worked on the surfaces below the windows. Teamwork makes the dream work!
A well-deserved break in the shade was all Andrew Samuelson needed to get some more language lessons from our translator, Betzaida.
Our crew worked so hard to produce such a needed and beautiful product for this Añasco resident. From left to right: Andrew & Maegan Samuelson, Penny Timm, Teresa Brooks, Isaac Campbell, Walt Beardsley, Joe Brooks (the floating head in front).
Alvin Timm and John Doornink were determined to get each measurement exactly right when framing out the big room at Somos Gente.
Tess Doornink ensured that her teammates had a full supply of lumber to choose from as they continued their work in the room buildout.
Val Williamson & Debra Widdowson scraped all railings and walls to prepare for the bright new turquoise paint to come.
Añasco's Citizen Services asked us to help an elderly man clean up the weeds that had become unmanageable on his property. Steve Mercer, Jack James and Josef (Somos Gente president) were up for the challenge! Here they are with the grateful home owner.
The grass and weeds were so tall to begin with, Jack James had to hone his ninja-like machete skills before they could pull out the weed whackers.
In thanks for their hard work, Franchesa (the Director of Citizen Services) treated the team to piraguas - a Puerto Rican shaved ice dessert that is common in the town square.
Joe & Teresa Brooks were able to meet up with friends they had met at a Mariner vs Pirates game last year! They had made the Puerto Rico connection, and promised to meet up the next time they were "in town". Here's the result of that chance meeting!
The beach in the nearby town of Rincón - peaceful, beautiful, and a reminder of God's artistic vision.
Sun-kissed and smiling after a delicious meal in Rincón, Maegan, Andrew & Michelle were happy to be at the beach!
Day 2
Our first full day of projects was busy, HOT, varied, and extremely fulfilling! To be called to such tangibly helpful work is such a gift. The team divided themselves between two off-site projects in private homes, and a couple of larger projects at Somos Gente (painting and a room buildout). The original plan was to go to a local church in the evening, but it was unfortunately canceled at the last minute, so we pivoted and took a quick trip for ice cream instead! All in all, it was a wonderful day of hard work, team bonding, and full bellies. We are truly blessed to be here.
Daily Prayer Request - for the supplies that we need last-minute to be readily available in various stores close by.
Before we headed out for the day, the leadership team (Dan, Sarah, Steve & Michelle) met with leaders in Añasco. Josef (President of Somos Gente), Franchesca (Director of Citizen Services), Betzaida (Board Member of Somos Gente), and Milmar (a bilingual translator) helped us plan out the projects.
Penny Timm worked her fingers to the bone scraping the paint off of the walls of a local house that needed a new coat.
Maegan Samuelson worked on the tall edges and parts of the wall that were hard to reach.
Tess Doornink was intently listening to what her husband, John, was instructing the team to do to be able to frame out the new rooms at Somos Gente.
Alvin Timm took a beat to map out what the electrical needs would be for the room build-out.
Sarah & Aaron Layman made sure the chickens were still enjoying their coop that the team built for them last year.
Aaron Layman didn't mind the backsplash of the power washer on a day that registered 90+ degrees on the thermometer!
Our team was asked to go into this house and clean it out. It is the home of a young man, Manuel, who lost his parents years ago. He was too proud to let local volunteers come in and assess what needed to be cleaned and thrown out, but he was open to our team coming alongside and helping him make some big changes.
Val Williamson, Aaron Layman and Steve Mercer tackled the kitchen. The counters & cabinets needed to be demoed, appliances removed, and the floor cleaned.
Manuel's house had no running water, and he was currently using large plastic jugs filled with rainwater to flush his toilet when needed.
Gary McFarland, Joe Brooks, Isaac Campbell & Jack James worked together to move & dispose of a broken refrigerator.
There was no piece of debris that was too big for Isaac Campbell to haul away!
Andrew, Maegan & Penny were all smiles after a day of hard work in the hot sun!
This team helped Manuel immensely! Some of the team shown here (from left to right): Jack James, Val Williamson, Gary McFarland, Joe Brooks, Manuel (the homeowner), and Steve Mercer.
Debra Widdowson & Walt Beardsley were happy to be done with work and were ready for dinner!
Joe & Teresa Brooks were still smiling (and speaking to each other) after a long day of manual labor!
Dinner was delicious and consisted of homemade pollo guisado (a traditional Puerto Rican chicken stew served over rice) and a fresh salad. The team devoured it!
Betzaida (in the white shirt) led a beautiful team of Somos Gente volunteers in cooking & serving the dinner.
Our last-minute trip to Don Frappe was clearly a highlight for Dan Morse & Andrew Samuelson!
There were soooo many combo choices for the team to choose from - every flavor of smoothie, frappe, and gelato sundae. It was great to end the day with a sweet treat!
Day 1
The first day of a mission trip is bound to bring both expected joys & unexpected headaches. Our first day was no exception! Even though 4 of our team members ended up getting extremely delayed, we all ended up making it to Somos Gente safe & sound. It was wonderful to be back in what has become a "home away from home" for some of us, and to introduce the others to the beauty of Añasco, Puerto Rico. We are excited for what God has in store for all of us!
Daily Prayer Request - that out entire team would be kept safe from ANY sickness or injury so that we may accomplish the work we have set out to do.
Even though eveyrone teases Michelle about her affinity for pillows, they appreciate them greatly when they lay their head down at night!
Every square inch of Sarah Layman's rental car was FILLED with food & supplies for the upcoming week.
Each team member needed to secure their own way to the airport on Tuesday evening. A small group decided to go full "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" through downtown Seattle.
Gary McFarland chose a beautiful way to enjoy the sunshine on the way to SeaTac.
Having a paper boarding pass in hand made the trip feel real for Maegan & Andrew Samuelson.
Steve Mercer + Zach & Aaron Layman = a car filled with laughs on the way to the adventure!
The whole team got to spend time together waiting for the flights out. 15 people flew though Miami, and 4 flew through Charlotte. The "plan" was to all end up in San Juan within 5 minutes of each other...
Penny Timm knew that she was headed for a loooong journey, and was ready to take it on with grace & a sweet spirit.
Not everyone's seat neighbor was as enthusiastic about the flight as Dan, Andrew & Maegan were.
Val Williamson, Gary McFarland and Debra Widdowson were hydrated and ready to fly!
Once they landed in San Juan, the back row of a 15-passenger van proved to be a great napping spot for Joe Brooks and Andrew & Maegan Samuelson.
Alternatively, Steve Mercer sought the comfort of the seat back in front of him for some quick R&R.
After dinner, the group went on prayer walks around the surrounding neighborhoods and passed out some of these devotionals to any women they met.
One of the men they prayed for gifted them with some of the pitangas he grows in his yard - they are a pitted fruit that taste like a combination of a tomato and a sweet pepper.
Meanwhile, the 4 faithful team members who flew through Charlotte - John & Tess Doornink and Zack & Aaron Layman - finally got into Añasco 10 hours after the rest of the group because of multiple delays. We got to welcome them in time to say goodnight!
