Mt. Bethel Christian Academy
Serving In Puerto Rico
February 18, 2017
Community: Rio Piedras
Partner: Iglesia Metodista Emanuel
Staff: Samuel Perez Figueroa
Puerto Rico... Here We Are!!!
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 19, 2017 8:00 AM
After a small delay on the flight plan, the team arrives safely at the beautiful Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.
The team is greeted at the local host church by Pastor Ingmar, his wife, Coral and son. After dinner, the pastor and his wife share with the team the vision of the school and church.We head back to lodging, where the team settles in and goes to get a good nights rest.
Everyone is anxious to see what God has planned for us during this week and for the church and school. Keep your prayers with us as we walk in this journey God has allowed us to be part of.
One Church: MBCA & EUMC
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 19, 2017 8:17 AM
Sunday... the day we have separated to worship the Lord as He commanded. And as his one and only church, the mission team joins the local congregation in worship to the only and living God... our God. It is a beautiful day, both cloudy and rainy with some sunshine that sneaks out and brightens this great and joyous morning the Lord has given us.
After breakfast, the team has it's Bible study and then joins the church for Sunday morning service with Pastor Ingmar preaching to the congregation. Let's see what God has to say to us this morning to His church.
Receiving to Give 
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 19, 2017 3:52 PM
Wow!!! What an amazing service. God spoke to His church in every moment of the worship devotional. Especially when Pastor Ingmar, filled and lead by the Holy Spirit, spoke the Word of God from Matthew 16:5-12. The mission team and local congregation received what God wanted them to absorb for this week to give back to the community and children. Batteries are charged up!!!
Getting Things Ready
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 19, 2017 4:29 PM
Cleaning and preparing our work area for this week. As tough a job it is, the mission team is just showing immense showmanship towards working and making this place better for the Glory of God. And the fellowship they have is to be admired. God is definitely moving in this trip.
We are also grateful that Charlie made it safe to Puerto Rico today. He was received with much love, excitement, and with arms opened from the team.
More Prep 1
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 19, 2017 4:37 PM
Just showing more of the hard work the team is doing. This part of the mission crew: Working Hard.
More Prep 2
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 19, 2017 4:48 PM
This part of the team just finished their labors. Faze 1 ready... Faze 2 here they come. For now: Patience.
Meeting... Beach... Refreshed.
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 20, 2017 9:05 AM
After working the afternoon and having a great dinner, the team heads to the beach for the team meeting. The students lead the worship and message, showing their maturity and growth in God; changing from children to young adults in Him.
When the game plan for the next day was discussed, the mission students are rewarded with being allowed to get into the refreshing beach water. They enjoyed the water for a while and headed back to lodging for a good night sleep.
Tomorrow will be a brand new day. Let's see what God has in store for the mission team.
Monday Morning: School Work
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 20, 2017 9:41 AM
The mission team continues to move forward early in the day with the school projects they began the afternoon the day before. Part of the team heads early to the school to start painting one of the classrooms with more need. Later, the other part joins the rest to clean the school building inside and outside. Everyone is working graciously. Their efforts to make everything look great is remarkable. More awesome food, great fellowship, good tunes, and a spirit of joy all around. God is great!!!
The Great Labor Continues
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 20, 2017 10:17 AM
The mission team committedly continues to work tirelessly at the EUMC school building inside and outside. They are showing true dedication and learning the meaning of leaving their comfort zone to do what God's has commissioned them to do. The morning has been great, now to see what the afternoon brings.
the Bridge of Love
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 21, 2017 7:18 AM
After lunch, a small crew of the mission team stays behind to finish the classroom at the school. The rest of the team heads out to the "Puente de Amor" homeless ministry. Here the team helps the ministry's volunteers for the people who will coming in. By the time the meals where given to homeless, the rest of the mission team joins their fellow brothers and sisters for the Bible Study. God spoke to everyone there.
the Bridge of Love
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 21, 2017 8:34 AM
The mission team with it´s leaders and the ´Puerto de Amor´volunteers with some of the ministry´s homeless. God keeps talking to His people at every moment. God is good all the time, All the time God is good.
Rewards: Ice Cream Meeting
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 21, 2017 9:07 AM
It´s a beautiful evening to be out and celebrate. When the days labor finishes and the team has their dinner, they are rewarded with local made ice cream at Georgetti´s Ice Cream Shop at the new Rio Piedras Plaza. It turns to a beautiful and great opportunity for the mission team to have their devotion and team meeting. God keeps using this team to speak to each other and encourage each other for what is ahead. Tomorrow is a new day with new challenges and this team is ready for it. God is truly amazing.
Rewards: Ice Cream Meeting
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 21, 2017 9:31 AM
Beautiful puertorican night with Mt. Bethel Christian Academy!!! God is in the details.
Tuesday: Bible School at CMET
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 21, 2017 10:06 AM
Mt. Bethel CA wakes early in the mornming today to full fill their calling. The mission team does it´s Bible School for the children. With much enthusiasm the children arrive and participate with what the team has spent time preparing for them.
Today the story revolves around Daniel and the lion´s den. Great music, an awesome story, and an arts and crafts help understand today´s leasson. The children at Centro MET had an awesome time.
The day is just beginning. Let´s see what else is in store. God is just awesome.
Bible School at Centro MET
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 21, 2017 10:14 AM
Just pure joy and laughter from two different cultures worshipping and learning about God.
Extended School for All
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 22, 2017 11:05 AM
The afternoon has cooled down and the great and refreshing Caribbean breeze blows into the school courtyard. Just perfect weather.
Centro MET has an extended school program for the kids who´s parents work until after 3 o´clock. The mission team happily and gracefully played with the kids until they were all picked up. The school children were excited to have played with their new friends.
Meanwhile, there was a group of the team preparing next day´s Bible School inside the sanctuary.
It was a moment where everyone allowed themselves to share with one another about the selflessness of God{s love for us. Just an awesome moment.
Night Life in Old San Juan 
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 22, 2017 12:11 PM
After dinner, the mission team embarks on an evening journey to the old city of Old San Juan. The night is full of a couple carnivale cruise ships, meaning the different local art and crafts vendors come with all types of merchandise to the streets. As the team visits the city, they get a history lesson from the different spots stopped by an awesome and loving tour guide. It is a night full of types of excitement.
The team heads back home later on that night to finally shower and get some rest. Let´s see what God has ion store for the team tomorrow. He has been too good for us.
Wednseday: BS CMET 2
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 22, 2017 1:15 PM
War!!! The Phillistines versus the Israelites, David versus Goliath. The ultimate showdown between two ntions. This was today´s Bible story. The school children loved how the team approached this in re-enacting the fight between both. The team and children bonded even more so through this. It just shows how God is allowing both groups to grow closer together as one.
Here we see the Israelite team lead by Saul.
Wednseday: BS CMET 2
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 22, 2017 1:16 PM
Here is Goliath and the Phillistines.
On Top of the Roof: Rio Piedra
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 7:57 PM
God has given the mission team another beautiful night. The farewell dinner at Emmanuel UMC was one of many emotions. Laughter, smiles, tears, and a sense of accomplishment between the mission team of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy and the volunteers of Emmanuel United Methodist Church is shown in the great final dinner between both groups. It is ultimately achieved and God was in control in every moment.
To finish of the day, the team heads to the roof of their lodge to have their team devotion. What an awesome message was prepared for the team. God kept speaking to His people in every moment.
Tomorrow the team gets to have their day of and enjoy the beautiful culture of Puerto Rico in Arecibo.
The Indian Caves of Arecibo
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 8:25 PM
Time to explore what the rest of the island has to offer. In the morning the team gets to enjoy the beautiful Indian Caves on the waterfront coast of Arecibo. It becomes a great moment for the team to explore, relax, and just have fun inside an old Taino Ceremonial Site. Water splashes inside once in a while. Just an awesome experience.
After the tour ends, a couple blocks away they are shown the recently completed and enormous bronze Columbus statue that is seen from a far.
The Indian Caves of Arecibo
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 8:49 PM
View from the top of the ridge.
La Poza del Obispo
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 8:58 PM
After a great and satisfiying lunch at the Barranca Bakery, the team enjoys the rest of the afternoon at the beach of "la Poza del Obispo" in Arecibo. The sun has been covered by the clouds, giving more shade and breeze to the day. The natural small pool gets splashed by the waves that hit the rocks and the waves themselves come in to refresh the water and the people. Just loads of fun.
The team also built a sandcastle and turned two of them into mermaids. Some got their sun tan groove on. God is great in allowing such fun to happen while being safe.
The Indian Caves of Arecibo
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 9:02 PM
The coast at the Indian caves. Exploring the local "wildlife" on the reef.
Final Team Meeting
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 9:14 PM
The team does it's final team meeting. Ater having dinner with Pastor Ingmar, his wife Coral and the kids at the lodge; they all say goodbye to eachother with joy and satisfaction. The team gets to play one last time the kids.
Later on tonight, after a great shower, the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy gets to do their last devotion of the week and their affirmations to one another. The moment turns into something special and full of God's presence as everyone speaks with encouragement. God did truly use everyone this week for His glory alone.
See Ya'll Later
by Samuel Perez Figueroa | February 24, 2017 9:31 PM
It's early Friday morning. Most of the team hasn't slept, since they stayed awake preparing for their departure and cleaning the lodge. Even still at this hour, most are full of energy. So pumped!!! But after all is cleaned and organized, it's as if they were never there. And still their presence will fill the room with their deeds.
The team is taken to the airport where they say their final goodbyes to their PPM leaders who humbly guided them this week. The joy of the mission team still shines in their faces as some look back at the PPM leaders. Now they all return home to rest and share and practice what they learned and saw this week.
God is an awesome god. He reigns in heaven above with wisdom and power; and in our hearts. To Him be all the glory of this week of missions.
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