I don’t know how or why God chose me to lead the Ambassador
team to Puerto Rico, but I’m so humbled and grateful. The last two weeks have
truly been unforgettable. Leading this team is probably one of the best things
I’ve done yet.
While in Puerto Rico, we worked with Campmento Del Caribe, a
Christian camp that runs kids camps throughout the summer and retreats
year-round. They do so much to reach the local Puerto Ricans and their hearts
are beautiful. Their summer camps actually don’t start until this week so while
we were there, we were a part of preparing the camp for the summer. We did
different projects like painting, cleaning & organizing, and some building
projects. We worked hard every day and played even harder. I could tell you
about the visit to the emergency room, or how badly we all smelled at the end
of the day, how the beach was in our backyard, or how many cockroaches I
killed; but more than anything else, I have to tell you about my team.
We were a small team. Only 6 of us. My co-leader Dennis and
I, two 15-year olds and two 17-year olds. I knew at training camp when we
started speaking in foreign accents and writing raps that we would get along
just fine!
Part of my original fear about leading this trip was getting
stuck with kids who didn’t want to be there but were forced by mom to go on a
missions trip. Not only did my 4 highschoolers want to be on this trip, but
they were serious about their relationship with God. They blew me away! Day 1
of the trip they were asking deep questions about the Holy Spirit and things I
never even knew existed when I was 15.
short two weeks on the field, I saw God literally transform these 4
highschoolers right in front of my face. They saw God answer specific prayers.
They heard His voice. God became real and they each felt His love for them, and
that’s ultimately what has now set them on fire for Him. It’s amazing how
life-changing only two weeks can be. I guess I forgot how impressionable an age
high school is. But then again, I feel like I’ve been deeply affected because
of these two weeks too.
The first week we were at the camp, there was a large group
of missionaries staying there as well. My four kids went to worship with them
one night and noticed a teenage girl sitting away from everyone else, crying.
No one was going to her to find out what was wrong or to try and comfort her,
so they went. After hearing this girl’s story, my team found out that she just heard
her close friend has cancer. They also found out that sadly, every person this
young girl was close to in her life has either died or abandoned her. Mostly
everyone else around her at school, and even at church, makes fun of her. My
team was utterly heartbroken for this girl and the life that she’s had. They
embraced her and started speaking some life and truth into her. They told her
how much God loves her and how worthy she is. They told her that Jesus will
never abandon her and that she is valuable and precious and that God has good
things for her life. They loved on her. They prayed for her. They took her down
to the beach and sang How He Loves over her and then they shouted declarations
into the ocean. Neither I nor Dennis was present for this at all. Neither of us
prompted these kids to do something like this. They did it all on their own,
because that’s the kind of people they are.
When they got back to the room and told me about what
happened that night, I got so emotional. I was so proud of them. God used them to tell this broken and hurting
girl how much He loves her. That girl’s life is changed because of these 4 kids
who decided to embrace her. That blows me away!
I share this one story just to give a glimpse of how
incredible my team is. God loved so well through them and used each of them
even more throughout our time in Puerto Rico. They may be only 15 and 17, but
they’ve said Yes to God and people’s lives are changed because of it. It’s
crazy how much God used each of them to touch my life too. I want to be more
like them.
To my Puerto Rico team: Thank you for being so hungry for Jesus
and for allowing Him to move in you. I’m moved and humbled by it. Thank you for
making me laugh more than I have probably ever. Thank you for loving me so well
and for allowing me to have a voice in your life these last two weeks. God is
going to blow you away with all He’s going to do in each of you. I can’t wait
to see how it unfolds!
And thank you to each of my supporters for continuing to
support me prayerfully, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. I get to do
this because of you and I don’t take that lightly. Thank you!
