Surrender – SCA Puerto Rico 2024

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

I am finally home from an amazing time in Puerto Rico these last 2 weeks. The first part of the trip was leading a team from Scottsdale Christian Academy on their annual mission trip. This group was sophomores, and they were an amazing team.  They worked hard helping families whose houses still had not been fully repaired from Hurricane Maria in 2017.  They spent time seeking out and ministering to the people of Caguas at shopping centers, the town square, and schools.  They ministered to residents at a long-term care facility.  And they grew closer together and bonded as a team. 

If you have heard me talk about short term missions at all, you have probably heard me say that short term missions is not about where you go, or who you serve.  Or at least, it isn’t ONLY about them.  Yes it is good to serve others, in fact it is one of the objectives of a short term trip, meeting a felt need.  But my belief is that short term missions is far more valuable as a discipleship tool, and in that way, this trip excelled. 

One of the biggest challenges on this trip was it’s very fluid nature.  Due to a variety of circumstances, not a single day went entirely according to our plans (and sometimes, we didn’t even have a plan).  It rained when we were supposed to paint outside,  residents weren’t home, ministry partners were unavailable.  And yet, God was glorified.  In fact, many of the participants reported that the uncertainty of it all was a struggle for them, but they were able to see at the end that the very uncertainty that made them uncomfortable, also gave God freedom to lead us in different directions. 

Students reported hearing from God for the first time.  They said that they felt closer to God as a result of the trip.  Some said that they might be called to ministry.  Students who were reluctant to share at the beginning of the trip, were fighting for opportunities to share by the end.  The first few days it was difficult to get a volunteer to pray for a meal, but after final debrief the students voluntarily stayed late to continue praying for one another for more than an hour. A group of students has already followed up on what they learned on this trip by forming an after-school devotional group. 

One of the highlights of this trip, was a skit Gladys (my amazing trainee) did with one of the girls.  She handed her large boxes, each with a different name.  Anxiety.  Peer Pressure.  Depression.  Loneliness.  Addiction.  Pride.  When the boxes were stacked up higher than her head, she told her to walk towards God.  She tried, but she couldn’t see where she was going.  She stumbled and dropped her baggage, but she had to pick it back up, and it was even harder because instead of it being piled on her, she had to try to pick it up herself.  Then, she left them all at the altar.  It was easier to walk her path then, but like many of us, she was exposed.  She had grown accustomed to the baggage.  So one by one, she went back for them.  Whether it’s habitual sin, pain, unforgiveness, abuse, or any number of other things, we grow accustomed to our baggage, and we keep going back for it even after giving it up to God.  But that’s NOT what God want’s for us.  Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest!”  So, we passed out cards, and the students were able to write down the baggage that they carry, that they keep coming back to pick up, and put them in the fire.  Because once it’s in the fire, you can’t come back for it without getting burned. 

God was truly at work on this trip, and He is continuing to work on the students now that they are home.