Summer 2012 Puerto Rico Blending Trip: The People
Please read my previous post to find out more about the island of Puerto Rico.
Without a doubt, Puerto Rico has it all: nature and culture. Yet what I enjoyed the most was meeting Christians, young and old, and having a rich fellowship with them (despite the language barrier that we had since I don't really speak Spanish).
I also met a lot of college students who were affiliated with Christians on Campus. Their endeavor to reach the young people on campus, to bring the gospel to them, to fellowship, and to dive into the Word of God was too precious!
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From Puerto Rico with Love. |
I realized that even though we were so far apart geographically, we all, in Texas and in Puerto Rico, had been endeavoring to do the same thing: gaining young people for God.
Furthermore, even though we didn't speak the same language and weren't brought up within the same culture, there was always a prevailing atmosphere of love and joy among us. At the end of every day, we were happily tired (due to a packed schedule).
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The group in Playa Sucia, Cabo Rojo. |
So the crew from Texas was about 30 people. Obviously, it was not easy to arrange accommodations and transportation for all of us. On the first day, as we were walking out from the Arrival section of the Luis Munoz Airport in San Juan, some brothers had been waiting for us with vans. They were ready to help us with our luggage, provide us with snacks, and take us to the homes of Christians we'd be staying with.
Yes, there were Christians in the community, associated with Christians on Campus in Puerto Rico, who opened their homes for us to stay for the entire duration of our visit (8 days). The nights I spent with these different ones in the community were the moments when the Lord touched me concerning my heart for Him, my daily living, and my future.
I had heard before that Puerto Ricans were warm and hospitable people, but in this trip, the care of these Christians whom we just met for the first time exceeded cultural hospitality. It was a true exhibition of Hebrews 13:1, "Let brotherly love continue."
I would like to continue my story with each one whom I had the opportunity to fellowship in Puerto Rico in my next post, but I can tell you right now that it was truly a time of digging gold in the gold mine. These Christians were a storehouse of Christ. Their living exhibited what they were all about. They were all about Christ and the church.
I'm not done yet, everyone. The next post is coming soon!
I feel like when we are together with other Christians, the number of members is simply added, but the enjoyment of Christ is multiplied or raised to the powers.. The trip was genuinely full of enjoyment of Christ! Of course PR itself was really beautiful and enjoyable city, but the most precious thing we experienced there was totally the portion of Christ they have.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Se Eun. Our enjoyment of Christ gets multiplied when we're with the other members of the Body of Christ. This is because each one has a specific portion of Christ. When they're all combined, Christ becomes fuller and richer and more enjoyable. :)
DeleteThis experience reminds me of Ephesians 3:18. Check the verse out.
Wow! This is so sweet kat :) The various believers may come from different backgrounds and even speak a different language but Christ is like the glue that joins them together!
ReplyDeleteI like that, I.e., that Christ is the "glue" that joins man together. It's amazing the kind of impact experiencing the one accord among the believers in Christ can have on people. This testimony is a huge encouragement to me. Thanks for sharing your experience with us Kat.
DeleteI'm sorry that you've been having trouble commenting on my blog, Melissa. But I enjoy reading your comment that Christ is the "uniting bond of peace" that glues us all together (Ephesians 4:3).
DeleteFirst, I always wanted to visit Puerto Rico! Hopefully I will get to go one day. It sounds like your experience in visiting so far has been very rich. I really appreciate your comment about a care that exceeded hospitality when you visited the Christian families there. It's really true that when we encounter others who are filled with Christ, we touch something that goes beyond even our own hospitable attitude, and it is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I hope you get to go to Puerto Rico one day. And don't forget to contact these Christians over there that would receive you as family. Don't hesitate to contact me if you need help reaching the Christians in Puerto Rico.
DeleteThanks for reading my blog!
Sounds like you had a great trip seeing beautiful beaches and meeting local Christians. Hopefully our Christians on Campus club can take a trip there someday.
ReplyDeleteHi Teri, yes, that'd be awesome! The fellowship was so rich that it was so hard to go home.
DeleteBy the way, I accidentally deleted your comment on my other post: http://www.simplykatherine.com/2011/06/christians-on-campus-part-1.html
I apologize for that. Feel free to go back and drop me another comment. Thank you!
Nice, we were thinking of taking a blending trip there last year. Seems enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteOh yes it was awesome! You all should plan again to visit them soon, Beata.
DeleteThat's awesome! The saints really are a storehouse of Christ! Our Christians on Campus club visited Colorado over spring break and that was our experience.
ReplyDeleteOh really? Could you share some of your experience visiting Colorado, Logan?
DeleteSo sweet that we can enjoy the same God with believers all over the world! He is so rich and so full!
ReplyDeleteAmen. So sweet indeed that the Lord has brought us together to be one Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
DeleteSounds like you experienced Ephesians 1:17, discovering more of the "riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." It's great to get out of our comfort zone and fellowship with Christians in other regions of the world.
ReplyDeleteYes! That's the verse I've been searching for.
DeleteYou made an awesome point about getting out of our comfort zone, could you explain more on that?
Christians on Campus in Puerto Rico!?!? Rockin'! Praise the Lord for His ONE Body!
ReplyDeleteWe also enjoy your portion of Christ. It was encouraging to see so many college students that love Christ... in a very normal way.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neftali.
DeleteActually isn't it so normal to be college students loving Christ while in college?
So cool. Every time I have the chance to travel and visit other Christians I am encouraged in my christian life and pursuit. I look forward to further posts. :).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Timothy. Where have you visited to meet other Christians?
DeleteThanks for sharing your experience! May the Lord keep us all running after Him no matter where we are on this earth.
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord for the enjoyment in the Body!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your comments about the families. I always enjoy being part of the community when we travel. You enjoyed so much more than Puerto Rican hospitality. It sounds as if you were received like Paul said in Rom. 15:7 - Therefore receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of God. Your trip was a glory to Him and a testimony of college students loving the Lord Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your enjoyment!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading this blog!
DeleteI am glad you had fun and enjoyed the rich fellowship with other Christians in Puerto Rico. YOu know, I don't think I have ever gotten an e-mail from Puerto Rico. I would love to make some friends online from Puerto Rico. But anyway, there's nothing like fellowshipping with other Christians, doesn't matter where you are. Hope God will send you to more trips that are like these!
ReplyDeleteFeel free to check out my blog:
http://poetforjesus1977.blogspot.com
Thank you. Yes, this Puerto Rico trip was awesome. And you're right there's nothing like fellowshipping with other Christians, doesn't matter where. Do you happen to have some experience meeting and fellowshipping with other Christians outside of your country somewhere as well?
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