Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing Puerto Rico

On Friday, March 15, 38 members of the American Baptist Rhode Island community traveled to San Juan Puerto Rico for a week of rebuilding homes and churches and establishing friends and relationships. 5 of the participants were members of the First Baptist Church in America.

After a day of relaxation and a day of worship, we were divided into three groups to serve the people of Puerto Rico.

Group 1 returned to Premier Iglesia Bautista Santurce where we attended church on Sunday to seal the roof, paint a Sunday School classroom, clean an area for offices for community outreach, replace doors and do electrical work. Group 2 went to a village where they sealed the roofs on 4 houses and a church and painted. And Group 3 traveled to Arecibo, on the northern coast to replace metal roofs on 2 homes and do other repairs. All 3 groups were greeted with hugs, thank yous and food (beans and rice) on a daily basis.

The take away:

  1. There is still much work to be done in Puerto Rico
  2. They are a gracious and giving people.
  3. Many are struggling due to the death of loved ones during or after the storm.
  4. Many are struggling because their family members have moved to the mainland to seek better opportunities.
  5. They have a deep and abiding faith and from that faith comes hope.

To learn more of to join the effort visit American Baptist Home Mission Society you don’t have to go as part of a group.

Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing Puerto Rico - March 2019

[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54514840_388687741712516_8546965059111223296_n.jpg]310Group 2
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54516515_388437405070883_3858991037003333632_n.jpg]220Sealing the roof at Premier Iglesia Buatista Santurce is cocmpleted.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54517860_259520261602009_1648332264074903552_o.jpg]190Replacing a roof
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54520745_388684755046148_3678305632626147328_n.jpg]170A new roof in Arecibo.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54521492_388687881712502_986843249643618304_n.jpg]230Thank you, thank you, thank you.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54521814_388864345028189_5941684124090630144_n.jpg]190At the retreat center, waiting for the day to begin.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54524720_259520088268693_5016234442646093824_o.jpg]180There are still blue tarps.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54728411_388684575046166_2629497382269616128_n.jpg]210Replacing a roof
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54729153_388684545046169_9057737039696363520_n.jpg]170Working at Arecibo
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54798580_259520358268666_4266525004658638848_o.jpg]150Sweeping the roof
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54800026_388437531737537_4187063638621683712_n.jpg]190Replacing a door
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54194679_385809472000343_4058711981249527808_n.jpg]370The ABCORI team
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_53767750_386254015289222_7982014836340948992_n.jpg]190Greeting during worship
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_53830327_259520191602016_9005476801056604160_o.jpg]140sealing the roof
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_53843055_386254035289220_1252523995224342528_n.jpg]190Worship
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54002543_386845151896775_714292639448432640_n.jpg]150Cleaning the church roof.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54435207_388687708379186_3207667389822926848_n.jpg]140Roof sealers
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54436433_259520314935337_8921019215528329216_o.jpg]140Beginning work in Arecibo
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_54436721_388688005045823_5971709660636381184_n.jpg]110These gloves may not recover
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190322_132441.jpg]170A new look for the children who have Sunday School in this classroom
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190320_100325.jpg]160Prepping for painting
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190319_184905.jpg]100Sunset
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190319_093844.jpg]140Scrapping
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190318_102611_1.jpg]110Power washing
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190318_090214_1.jpg]150Lower it gently
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190318_084836.jpg]140Clearing the roof
A Head Start program was located at the church and the roof was used as a playground.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190317_150639.jpg]200El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_mvimg_20190317_131550.jpg]190Premier Iglesia Bautista Santurce
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_mvimg_20190317_094844.jpg]210Worship
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190316_135541.jpg]130Iguana
These guys are everywhere and are responsible for 80% of the random power outages on the island as well as stopping planes when they hang out on the runways.
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190316_113301.jpg]150Old San Juan
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190316_104202.jpg]120El Morro - Old San Juan
[img src=https://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/wp-content/flagallery/rebuilding-restoring-renewing-puerto-rico-march-2019/thumbs/thumbs_img_20190316_102516.jpg]130Old San Juan

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