What I Learned During My Mission Trip To Puerto Rico | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

What I Learned During My Mission Trip To Puerto Rico

It truly was a life changing experience and I hope that what I learned inspires you.

376
What I Learned During My Mission Trip To Puerto Rico
https://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2018/03/17/636568444090027516-1334303551_IMG_4036.JPG

This year, I spent my spring break on a mission trip in San Juan, Puerto Rico with 19 other students from Charleston Southern University as well as three chaperones. We spent four days doing hurricane relief work and we also were able to visit a local church and pass out food in the surrounding neighborhood one day. On the off chance that you didn't know, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September of 2017. When I found out that our school would be taking students to the North American Mission Board campus to help with hurricane relief in San Juan, I immediately was interested and I asked for more information. My main concern with the trip was that I would be going to a place I had never been with people I didn't know. As humans, we naturally have the fear of the unknown and that is exactly what I was dealing with. I finally decided to go on the trip and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Puerto Rico and for my leap of faith in deciding to go. I learned so much on my trip and so I thought I would share some of what I learned while I was there.

1. Your circumstances don’t have to affect your attitude.

The people of Puerto Rico have been completely devastated by Hurricane Maria. Some of their homes are unlivable, some areas are still without power, and a lot of their personal items are either missing or destroyed. What surprised me the most about my trip is that despite the suffering around them, the people we met were still smiling and laughing.

2. No matter how little you have, you always have something to offer to others.

A lot of the homeowners that some of our groups worked with were devastated and didn't have much, but still brought food to feed the workers with. Some other people in the neighborhoods surrounding the houses we were working on offered to come by and help rebuild or paint. These people put aside their own devastation and suffering to help others in their time of need.

3. Prayer is sometimes the best gift you can give someone.

Throughout our trip, one thing remained consistent with every homeowner and every person we met and that was that they gladly accepted prayers and we were always glad to pray with them and for them.

4. Life is better lived when you’re not busy worrying about everything.

I was really worried about this trip because I didn't know anyone there and I had never been to Puerto Rico, but when I put those worries aside and focused on why I was there, I was able to really enjoy my time serving the people of Puerto Rico. By the end of my trip, I didn't want to leave. To be honest, if I had the chance I would have stayed there for months and months and I would have enjoyed every bit of it.

5. Sometimes it’s good to unplug from social media and technology.

When we were in Puerto Rico, we had limited access to power outlets and we also were busy most of the time. This caused me to not pay much attention to social media while I was gone. Don't get me wrong, I stayed in touch with people back home and I took tons of pictures, but I didn't find myself as focused on what people were posting on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter while I was away. This was actually really good for me and it made me realize just how unessential social media is in our daily lives as well as how it can distract you from your bigger purpose.

6. God's plans for you are always greater than the plans you have for yourself.

If you had told me a couple years ago that I would be going to Puerto Rico to aid in disaster relief, I would have told you that you were crazy! I am so used to staying in my comfort zone, but when you take a leap of faith and actually do what God is calling you to do, you actually find a sense of peace and you find that you will actually enjoy all that you're doing. I wouldn't trade the memories and experiences that I got during this trip for the world and I am so glad that God gave me this opportunity to share His love through disaster relief.

7. The people you go on mission trips with can easily become some of your best friends.

Going into this trip, I had met most of my teammates once or twice at our mission trip meetings and that was all. I would never have imagined that I would become so close with so many of them and that I would genuinely miss seeing them 24/7 after the trip was over. The truth is that God handpicks your groups because He knows us better than we know ourselves and He knows what we need in a team as well as what we need in friends. He brings us together to not only get the work done but to also grow in our faith together and to challenge each other.

8. When you build your life with God as your foundation, you will be able to weather the storm, but when you build your life based on worldly things, you can easily find everything you know destroyed.

This was an analogy that my friend Cameron shared with us one night while on the trip. It really stuck with me because it was based around the two homes that we were working on: one that was built with concrete and the other that was built with just wood. The concrete home lost its roof, but the wooden home was completely destroyed. This is how it is when we build our life around Christ versus when we build it around worldly things.

9. Seeing God in nature is extremely moving.

For those of you who have been to Puerto Rico, you know just how beautiful the island is. Whether you're in El Yunque Forest, a random beach or just driving through the island, you will see God in nature. It is incredibly relaxing and moving just sitting there and looking at God's incredible and beautiful creations, knowing that the God who made these beautiful things made you and has awesome things in store for your life.

10. God breaks down language barriers for His glory.

One of the things that is intimidating about going out of the country to serve the Lord is the language barrier. I had taken some Spanish classes growing up, but I was definitely not confident enough to carry on an advanced conversation with native speakers. Luckily, God gave my group a teammate (Bruna) that spoke Spanish very well and that was willing to translate for us. Honestly, the week would have been extremely hard if we hadn't had Bruna to help us out and I am so grateful that I met her and that she is gifted enough to know multiple languages. Thanks to her interpreting, we were able to not only communicate with the locals but we were also able to understand the inspirational message that the pastor shared with us on Sunday.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181458
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8356
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453298
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23796
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments