From the front lines of Puerto Rico recovery
May 20-26th, I was able to take one of the students from Liberty University (Cam Morrison) with me to Puerto Rico to love on the pastors there and ask how they were doing with energy and emotions. Before we left for PR we opened an opportunity for others to give through Kingdom Footprint. Individual donors and one of the churches that went with us to PR last summer gave over $750 dollars for us to use to bless and love on the pastors.
I was so grateful to have Cam with me. To have a travel companion is great, but to take one who already knew the area we would travel, some of the church members, and some of the pastors was just fantastic. And to have the funds to use to bless the pastors and their families by taking them to dinner, or their children for ice cream, giving gift cards to help in just even a small way. The most beneficial thing was to sit and listen to their stories and hear their heart for their country and people was an incredible blessing. Much is happening in PR, and the churches, pastors, and ministers have not lost hope. People are more open to receiving help, and the sharing of the Gospel, than any time that the pastors can remember. The Holy Spirit is moving on the island and the faith community is making the most of every opportunity to serve and share.
Through the support of our monthly donors, and the help of two friends, we were also able to take a video/powerpoint to all the pastors for them to use with groups this summer and fall. The video will be used as an orientation for teams coming to the island to serve with the churches.
Here is the link to the video: https://vimeo.com/270995339
As we spent time with the pastors, we also traveled all over the metro area and to the area most affected to the southeast of the island. So much damage, it's hard to explain, there is so much that still needs to be done, it is impossible to comprehend. The situation on the island is much better than what I was able to witness in November. However, it seems like hopelessness is set in on the people of PR. And an attitude of settling for, recovery to only 75-80%, appears to dominate the communities and is now all that they expect.
Please continue to share with others the needs, and pray for PR as one of the effects of the storms has yet to be measured. 300 schools will not reopen in August for the next school year. Another prayer concern is for one of the Pastor Jose Ponce wife is in her third battle with cancer. Also, one of the pastors who was a leader within the pastoral community and is a chaplain in the army received orders to move to El Paso so pray for the family in their move and the pastors in their loss of their friend.
