Carmel UMC

After a slightly bumpy ride we made it to Puerto Rico. We had our first taste of the island with some tasty pinchos. This week is shaping up to be a good one.

After lunch we got to see some of the wonderful creations made by our Lord. He truly makes wonders.

As we settled in for the night we got to share some good food and have our first team meeting. We know that God will work this week in great ways. We hope that we can be ready for this great adventure.

After a long day, we gather for our first meeting of the week. We are discussing the Pelican Guide and everything that will be taking place throughout the week. We are excited for what God has in store as we prepare to serve together.

After a bible study where we talked about being baptized in the spirit we prepare for Sunday service. We will see what God has in store for us.

We are worshiping together with First Baptist Church of Humacao, lifting our voices in praise and thanking God for His goodness. It is a beautiful time of fellowship, worship, and celebrating His faithfulness together.

Our team leader is greeting the church congregation, sharing words of appreciation and introducing our team. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the church family.

One of our missionaries is sharing their testimony about how they gave their life to God. It is a powerful and encouraging moment as God's faithfulness and transforming love are shared with the congregation.

The church is praying over the missionaries and the entire VBS team as we prepare to serve throughout the week. It is a special moment of unity, asking God for wisdom, strength, protection, and that every child will experience His love.

Before beginning our week of service, we are spending some time exploring Old San Juan together. We are enjoying the beauty and history of this special place while sharing fellowship and preparing our hearts for the week ahead.

Today we are gathering in a different place for our meeting. We are reflecting on what God has spoken to our hearts throughout the day, sharing our experiences, encouraging one another, and growing together in our faith.

VBS day 1. Today we start the VBS with close to 50 kids. We are having some fun playing and learning with the kids. We know that the Lord will work great things this week.

We are now doing crafts with the kids. Making a lamp so we can remember that Jesus is the light of the world.

Jesus is the light of the world. The little kids got to learn about how Jesus is the light and how we can share it with the rest of the world.

We had the opportunity to help a member of the church community paint her house. We are grateful to be able to serve wherever God places us.

We are gathering together once again to reflect on the day, share what God is doing in our lives, and encourage one another. It is a meaningful time of fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth as we continue serving together.

We are starting the day strong. As kids start arriving for day 2 of VBS we spend time using the universal language of dance. The joy of the Lord brings us together.

Our missionary team is ready for another day of serving with joy and purpose. We are thankful for the opportunity to share God's love, work together, and impact the lives of the children and families in our community.

We are spending time with the kids playing some games. Even in the hot sun we can feel the presence of God.

We are continuing the painting project, working together with dedication and grateful hearts. Every brushstroke is an opportunity to serve others and reflect God's love through our actions.

We got to be the hands of God and bless a member of the church. “Panchi” as she is nicknamed was so grateful that we were able to help, but truly it was us that were blessed.

We are gathering together once again to worship, reflect, and encourage one another. As we share what God is doing in our lives, we are reminded of His faithfulness and strengthened for the work ahead.

We had a lively competition of jumping jacks with the kids. We were able to share a fun moment and remind us that we must be like kids to reach the kingdom of heaven.

We had a fun game with the kids where they had to try and get as many balls into the basket. It was organized chaos and a great way to interact with the kids. Even in the chaos we are reminded that God is always in control.

We are enjoying a fun time of making crafts with the children, encouraging their creativity while building relationships and sharing God's love in a meaningful way.

We are working side by side, passing concrete blocks from one person to another to make the work easier and more efficient. As we serve together, we are showing God's love through our unity as one body, encouraging one another and reflecting Christ in everything we do.

After the church bible study, worship and sharing our testimony, the church members prayed over us. It was truly a great moment where we could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is another reminder that the spirit is one, no matter the language or culture.

The members of the church are presenting the missionaries with a special gift as a token of their gratitude. It is a heartfelt moment that reflects the love, kindness, and fellowship we have shared together in Christ.

Today was our last craft with the little kids. It is always a joy to see their joy and see how God allows us to enjoy the simple things in life.

This week we have had the opportunity to serve along side the church members to entertain the kids and just love on them. It is a blessing to be able to serve along side these wonderful people during this week.

We wrap up this week of VBS work with tired bodies but full hearts. We feel we made lots of new bothers and sisters in Christ. We are grateful to have been able to serve this amazing community.

It’s hard to say goodbye to these kiddos that have become part of our everyday. We just hope that the seed of Jesus sprouts in these kids and we can say we were a small part of it.

We had the chance to visit the rain forest. It is truly amazing to see God’s handy work. Its great to see the manifestation of His glory.