This Scottsdale Christian Academy group was amazing! There is something beautiful about each and every team that we lead in the field, and I would say that this Scottsdale group was incredible because of their passion and desire to grow. They jumped into everything we threw at them wholeheartedly, they were honest and open in debriefs, and always hungry for more. Most nights they spent their free time at the end of the day worshiping and continuing to share what the Lord was revealing to them on the trip. It was truly inspirational!
We got to stay at a location that AIM hasn’t stayed at for a long time. It was a little out of the way, but it was a beautiful camps with beautiful views. It’s truly amazing all of the partnerships that God has put into our path to make each mission trip unique and special.
We had 3 teams within the group, so every day was a mix of several ministries, and all were beautiful in their own ways. Monday morning was spent in orientation and rest, since the team had arrived at 1:30am that morning. The afternoon saw them doing a variety of painting projects and community outreach, and even though they were tired, they got a lot done and worked unto the Lord.
Tuesday saw the team potting plants in a community garden, painting a church, and doing outreach ministries in different areas around Puerto Rico. One team was supposed to serve in the Boys and Girls club each day, but due to some uncontrollable circumstances regarding security, that ministry was cancelled. The team was disappointed, but they recovered quickly and put their whole hearts into the backup ministries that we pointed them to.
Wednesday saw the team working in the local butterfly garden, painting 2 different churches, helping Pastor Tolentino prepare for his Cuba mission trip, and getting out into the community to share the gospel. Helping prepare Catacumba church for their Cuba trip was a beautiful ministry of preparing clothing, medicine, hygiene products, and other necessary supplies for the people of Cuba. The team never got to meet the people they were serving in this ministry, but they did so with all their hearts, and I believe there will be celebrating in heaven over those who receive Christs love through those acts of compassion.
Thursday was finishing up the painting at both churches, doing some street clean up in the community, and more outreach opportunities. It was hot, and everyone was dog tired at the end of the day, but they worked beautifully and completed every task asked of them, and they did it all with a smile. God really worked through this team to touch the people of Puerto Rico.
My favorite story from this trip is from Day 1. I was leading a team doing a prayer walk in the community, and we had prayed over the community, including a homeless encampment, but hadn’t encountered a single person. We finally encountered a group of men sitting under a canopy smoking and talking. They were scary looking dudes, and I wasn’t sure about approaching them. We went a little ways past them and grouped up in the shade to pray and ask the Lord what to do next. One of our group felt he clearly heard that we needed to go back and talk to the scary dudes. So, we sent one leader and a few students to do that, while the rest of us prayed for them. The scary dudes were scary, but they were super appreciative for what the team was doing for their community, and eager to have the team pray for them. It was a true testament to the fact that God can soften the hardest of hearts, and even scary need Jesus, and he is ACTIVELY seeking them out.
This trip was a little different because the team lead the devotional time. Teachers lead three of the days, with students leading the other 2. All of the devotional times were special, but the student lead times really resonated with the group and those devotional times were especially meaningful and powerful. As Paul said to Timothy, “do not let others look down on you because you are young!”. These students were young, but I learned as much from them as they did from me. It was a beautiful experience.
Thank you for partnering with me in this beautiful ministry! We are not only reaching people all over the world with the love of the Lord, but we are reaching the teens that go on these trips and encouraging them to even greater acts of faith when they get home.
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