First week recap and pictures

Here is the link to the video From this past week's recap.

I've also uploaded several pictures to my Facebook and I'm in the process of putting

First couple of days in San Juan

Well, it has definitely been a little hectic that past couple of days since reaching San Juan. It was a great flight, and it was really funny watching Katie react to the turbulence as we approached the Island. Also, one of the things that we do on Project is group dates. It is when a guys discipleship group ask out one of the girl groups. It's designed to teach the guys how to better treat girls like ladies (not that they don't know how) but also for the girls to encourage the guys in it also. However, it's a competition between the guys on who can come up with the most creative way to ask the girls on the group dates. Well, we got the flight attendents involved and asked the girls over the speaker system in the plane as we passed the Bahamas. It was awesome.

So over the past couple of days we've done a lot. From learning more about the Word, to learning about the singapore culture, it has been amazing. I definitely enjoyed working with some of the guys with their testimonies and how to tailor it to have a clearer presentation of the gospel through their experiences. Today we did evangelism in the Condado area, where we are staying. I was a little nervous to do it cause it didn't go so well last year for me when we did it in Condado. However today it was amazing. I got to talk to a guy who was a Christian and it was fun getting to practice my Spanish and he seemed to enjoy it also. Then Zavia and myself got to talk to two older ladies that were super friendly and actually challenged us to use our spanish to help improve it. It was amazing seeing one of the ladies heart for God and her love for Christ.

This year I'm a room leader and lead two other guys in a small Discipleship group. It was a little tough at first how to relate to the guys and a little discouraging after talking with some of the other group leaders because it seemed that their groups were connecting really well, talking and seeming to be more of a group while mine wasn't. It took some time to get to introverts to open up more but today during D-group, after not really getting anywhere with the plan for the day, I just was like "screw this plan, let's just talk with them. It was pretty amazing to see them open up and we had some  pretty good conversations and I was really thankful for that.

One a different note, it has been pretty good getting a chance to talk with some of the other guys on Project and really growing closer to them. David is one of the Air Force guys from Embry-Riddle and  him and I really connected well and had some amazing and deep discussions in Starbucks, I really enjoyed it and even though we've only known each other a week, I'm really thankful for him already. Along wit guys like Derek and Kyle, who I've also had great conversations with. I really glad Eric is one Project again. He is the leader's group leader and him and I have been close since last summer.

Monday we went to Cuevo del Indio, which is the rock formations off the coast. I managed to get sun burn on my neck which has sucked the past couple of days but overall it was fun. On our way to Cueva Ventana, we got pulled over for going 71 in a 55, but Will, who worked almost two years in PR says they don't give greengos tickets so we were good, actually turned out to be quite funny. I'll upload pictures from Cuevo del Indio and Cueva Ventana tomorrow.

It has finally begun

So, Puerto Rico Project has finally begun. A lot of the leaders traveled down on Monday morning, which was an interesting day to say the least. However, Tuesday morning was when everything finally started. We began leaders training at 10, at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, so it was kinda the officially beginning of the Project for us. We discussed a mutltitude of things that will help us be better Discipleship Group Leaders, Room Leaders and being intentional about impact the other students we will be leading. We also learned a bit about ourselves and the other leaders so we would be able to lead better and help the other leaders also. It was a lot of information but it was a pretty good time. I'm pretty sure all of the leaders (minus the Campus Outreach Staff) have had a chance to share their testimony in front of the group which was definitely fun getting to learn more about the other student leaders and how God worked through their lives to bring them here.
Last night was our first leader's D-group. It was definitely create to get to sit down with the other D-group leaders, all which I am close friends with, so it was nice getting a chance to catch up with some of the Embry-Riddle folks. We really started to tighten that bond and discussed how we can better serve each other as we lead this summer in Puerto Rico. I'm excited to lead my D-group especially after talking a while last night on planning for our first one and what not. Everyone else is starting to get here so it starting to really hit that PRP 2014 is starting this year. So PRP2014, here we go!

Two Weeks Out

Now that the semester is over, I think it's finally sinking in that we leave for Puerto Rico in only two weeks. It's weird to think I'm finally going to be back. All the amazing memories from last year are coming back and it makes me excited to go back to the Island (for all you Lost fans, that was not a reference to that island). However, things are going to be a little different. I get to go back as a leader, which is exciting, but at the same time really nerve racking. I posted this in the Facebook group for the PR leaders and I think it sums up what I'm thinking:

This summer, we're gonna have the amazing opportunity to pour into the lives of fellow students, both younger, our peers and possible even older. It can seem a little scary to have that challenge before us, especially when I see my own shortcomings every day. I ask myself, "who am I to be able to do this". Then I realized, we can't do it. Maybe at first we can, but in PR, you really get to know people, and they will see right through us and see the mask we have on. That's when God reminds me of the promises He spoke through Jesus in Matthew 19

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'". God can use us to impact their lives in ways we can't even imagine, because it's going to be God working through us, not us doing it by our own strength. When we cling to Jesus, dive into the Word more and more each day, and starting living out those verses like Galatians 2:20, 5:16, Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-2, 12-17, it's going to have an amazing influence on everyone at Project. When the folks we're leading see us, are they're still going to see our brokenness, our struggles, fears, insecurities? Absolutely, however they're going to see a sinner redeemed, being a light pointing back to the awesomeness of a loving God.

As we prepare to go to San Juan this summer as leaders, to take our focus on our own strengths, leadership skills, etc, for they will fail. But rather put our focus on Christ and His purpose on earth, and amazing things will happen.

It's going to be exciting to see what happens. I'm ready to see how God works through all of us this summer. I know I'm going to be spending these next two weeks in thoughtful prayer with God preparing for this amazing month we're gonna spend in Puerto Rico, along with finishing raising support for the trip. I'd encourage y'all to pray for myself and the other leaders that we would be prepared to allow God to work in our hearts, and pour into the lives of the students we are leading.