The End is Here, yet is still only the beginning

"Wow, it's already been a whole month", I sit and think to myself as I sit in my kitchen at home. It was truly an amazing trip and it's humbling to see the way God worked in so many ways of the course of our time in Puerto Rico this summer. Here's a bit of recaping to start off.

Since my last post, we have talked about missions, discipling and what it looks like to do both. We had a wrapping up prayer during World Vision where four of us prayed in a different language. We prayed for missionaries, the students on Project, the campuses, Puerto Rico and then each of us prayed for our home country. Palmer talked about discipling and what that looks like. We went to El Yunque National Rainforest (I got plenty of pictures uploaded to Facebook). It was breathtaking to see a vast majority of the island from the summit. We watched the USA beat Ghana and tie Portugal. Had the largest turnout for our biweekly soccer game at the University. Talked with several students and even saw about 9 of them coming to the church on Sunday which was amazing. Finished painting the classrooms at the school, and saw some of the folks from the school connected with the church also. And we had final D-group, where we spent almost an hour and a half discussing how we can be intentional on campus next year, be used by God and being plugged into a community at JU. And of course that hassle that is final room clean and flying back (which certainly stretched my patience at times).

So, spending a month in Puerto Rico is a lot of time and we certainly learned a lot. Here are some that we all learned as a group then I'll discuss a little more on the personal side. We learned to look at the bible as one giant story. I've heard it put that way before, however I've never seen it articulated so well before. We learned the value of Christian community and what real accountability looks like. Many of us learned to open up for the first time, and even a few for the first time truly understood the Gospel. We were better equipped to Evangelize, to study the bible and developed a better mission mindset, both in foreign missions, domestic missions and missions in the workplace. The way I have seen my guys grow, and many of the other folks leaves me speechless and in awe of God at times.
For me personally, I learned a lot of patience. Caring for and investing into the guys you're leading, and trying to be an example 24/7 can be exhausting. I've learned how to not let my anger get to me in a group setting where I can't get away and calm down (and still learning). I discovered more how much I need to get into the Word. Learned what it is like to disciple and to lead a D-group. And I learned to let go of the past, to not let it nominate my reactions and to forgive others even more. It was amazing.

So, what is Puerto Rico Project? Is it just a mission trip? Is it just a vacation? What is it really? To me, it's not a vacation, and it's more than just a mission trip. It's a month out of our busy college lives to where we can be developed in our walk with God, be equipped to talk to others about our faiths then also go out and do it. Learn what it's like to be in Christian Community and to grow closer to God. It is the great commission of going out and making disciples. Not only do we go out and begin that process with the Puerto Ricans. We also continue that process with us, of being discipled and discipling.

Come out next week on Wednesday at Wakulla Springs Baptist Church at 7 PM to hear even more of the amazing things God did in Puerto Rico.

Past week and a half in Puerto Rico

Well, it's week and a half in Puerto Rico. A lot of community service, some interesting times on campus and stuff like group dates and one on ones. All the while leading a group of other guys in a room and leading a D-group. Been interesting. For one, I've learned how much I really need God. How little I trust in Him, how little I can really do without Him. I've reached my breaking point a few times it has seemed, between anger, that feeling of helplessness and also frustration. Yet, I have learned some amazing things in regards to the bible, my faith, and about other people. 

I sitting in Starbucks now writing this as our room is on a group date with some of the girls. The rest of the guys are with the girls doing a photo scavenger hunt right now. Because of the uneven number of people, I get to be the judge which means I get a moment of relaxation in Starbucks to type this up. Project is a lot different than last year, especially being a leader. Last year I was learning a lot about my faith, my walk with God and getting to know other people. This year, the focus is the other guys in Project and they're spiritual walk. I have a whole new level of respect for the Campus Outreach Staff because they do this for a living, not just a month. It is a very time consuming task. Constantly pouring into these guy's lives. There have been times when I want to throw a chair and storm off, other times I've just wanted to cry because of the pain I've seen. Yet, it is one of the most amazing experiences. Despite our dirty room, small feuds over food, and when to go to bed, I've seen these guys open up, experience the Gospel, some for the first time, or some begin to experience freedom for the first time from different sins. It's awesome. I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

To slight change in direction, here's some of the stuff we've been learning and doing. We've really been learning a lot about seeing the Gospel throughout the bible, not just in the New Testament, and how the bible really is one giant story, which is awesome. Never have I read something like Ruth and seen Christ in it, and a foreshadowing of what is to come. That has been pretty amazing for a lot of people on Project and it's been really cool. Learning about who God is, where we place our identity. This week we're focusing on the value of Christian community which is amazing.

I hope to update more tomorrow cause there's so much more, and I can't wait to talk about it.