The greatest attraction

 

This month we finished up our ministry at Hogar Crea – a Drug Rehab center in Ponce, Puerto Rico. We were blessed to work with approximately 40 young and old men being rehabilited from drug abuse. We did bible studies, led worship, washed dishes, played basketball and most importantly listened to the men. Every day we spent with these men we poured our hearts into them and they poured their hearts back into us.

 

 

 

 

What is the greatest attraction in Puerto Rico?

 

I’m not talking about the beach, the cliff jumping, the mountains or even the bioluminescence bays

 

 

I’m talking about the…

 

Young man who was left to fend for himself on the street selling drugs after his parents were killed..

 

or

 

The man’s face as it filled with tears when he talked about not seeing his family in 13 years..

 

or

 

The man that voluntarily checked himself into drug rehab before he relapsed..

 

or

 

The young man that looked into our eyes and said “I want to be like you guys…I’m going to ask Jesus into my heart tonight”..

 

or

 

The young man that hugged us goodbye so tightly because he didn’t want to see us go..

 

 

I’m going to talk about the honour..

 

To be able to feel the strength in these “addicts” that are outcasted from society..

 

and

 

To be able to see the layers of pain in these men’s eyes..

 

and

 

Being invited to a family day in the park to meet all these amazing men’s families

 

 

I’m going to talk about the impact…

 

of the love of Jesus we shared that transended language, race, age and culture

 

and

 

The tightness and cringe in my heart as I looked into all these men’s eyes and walked away with a broken heart..

 

and

 

The joy i felt as these men expressed how we changed their lives simply by how we loved each other and them

 

and finally

 

The happiness I felt after saying goodbye and seeing these men drive away for the last time… after one last waterballoon fight..

 

 

 

That’s what I did for the month. I could tell you about the mountain I climbed or the cliff i jumped off or the ocean… but what I really want to talk about is the people I was given the privillage to love.

 

Dios Te Bendiga

 

<3