- How to be a blessing: Puerto Rican people go above and beyond to help out visitors and give their best anything to new comers. I often asked myself, am I here to serve them or them me??
- Being bold is important: We did street evangelism once, but honestly having conversations with normal, everyday people was where I found the hardest time of being bold. But some of the best conversations came from stepping forward and me deciding to be bold.
- Share! It’s important to be honest and open with where God has brought you in your life and the story He’s given you to be able to share with others. You never know how it will affect the person next to you. “When tempted to hide, share.”
- Prayer changes things: Though people were out serving us constantly the only thing we had to offer back was prayer, but almost every person we prayed for cried and felt the Lord’s love. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYERS IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
- Be loose: Relax, go with the flow, allow things to change, and don’t be stuck to “plans.” Have some flippin’ fun!!
- Rich and intelligent people need Jesus too: We weren’t confronted with poverty in Puerto Rico, like we were in other countries, and I found that most conversations I was having with “Christian” and Non Christian wealthy folks were just as in need of Jesus as those in obvious poverty. It may not be physical poverty but there is definite spiritual poverty in those who “have everything.”
- Be a missionary where you live: I went on the Race because I wanted to serve, but I realized in Puerto Rico that sometimes our hometowns, our families, our nation needs missionaries just as desperately as other nations. The Great Commission isn’t excluding where you live.
- Luxuries won’t always comfort you: We basically lived in America for our last month, and something I hit head on was that everything I had been missing on the Race didn’t make me feel any better when I got them. Jesus is truly what we need. He’s the only thing we need.
- Being a good person isn’t enough: Had a conversation with a guy on the street one evening and he didn’t attach himself to any religious beliefs but simply believed in being a good person, doing the right thing, and living a good life. What saddens my heart is though the thoughts of “just being good enough” seem positively oriented that they will truly fail us because we are slaves to sin without Christ. And even in Christ being a good person isn’t enough. It will never be enough, and we aren’t good at our core anyway. The best news in Christ is that He gave His life because He knew you could never “be good enough,” He died so you didn’t have to be or work for you salvation.
10. Get on folk’s level: sitting on the street with a homeless person in one of your best outfits is humbling, but it speaks volumes to those who live there. Be the light of Christ, in whatever way that might be. Don’t ignore a homeless person, they are people too.
“We were created for God, made in His image, and our chief end is to serve Him, admire Him, worship, and ENJOY Him forever.” – Tozer
