GO Week: Puerto Rico

By Samantha DePriest

Over the last many weeks, we have taken a journey around the world with our High School GO Week Mission teams. Stories have been shared of how our students have visited and served in communities within an hour of our campus, some several hours away, and even others across the oceans. Our student mission teams have experienced different cultures, languages, foods, and ways of life. Trinity students have witnessed how people around the globe are living with much less resulting in a sense of gratitude for what they have been blessed with. They have been inspired to step out of their comfort zones to try new things and meet new people. They have learned that no matter your age, you can make a tremendous impact in someone’s life. They have been engaged in service and given opportunities to share the love of Christ.

Our final story to share is from the largest GO Week team who spent the week in Puerto Rico made up of 75 students and 7 TCS staff. For the second year in a row, High School Principal Mrs. Kimmy Jones led the mission team. Mrs. Jones shared, “Team Puerto Rico was able to serve and learn together being the hands and feet of Jesus to the people in the community of Santurce and at YWAM (youth with a mission) . Students and staff on this team worked to provide land clearing, cleaning, painting and other facility improvements to prepare the space for the upcoming youth camps and church services. We walked the streets of impoverished communities to share the good news and to invite those in the community to church. Children that resided in a local government housing complex had an opportunity to attend and participate in a day filled with crafts, games, music, and fun that was planned and organized by Team Puerto Rico. What a joy it was to engage the hearts and minds of these children in a way to shine bright for then to see His good works through our interactions.“

The trip itinerary was made up of ministry days and a day and a half of fun. The large group of students and TCS staff was divided into two groups who took turns serving at the local church in Santurce and at the YWAM Base. At the local church, TCS students helped with several projects including painting, yard work, repair work, and more. Both groups helped with these work projects in the mornings and had an informal time with the children in the afternoons. Games, sports, and crafts were enjoyed during their play time in the afternoons. TCS students brought soccer balls, frisbees, jump ropes, bubbles, face painting and more to play with the students. At the end of each day, the mission teams gathered together to enjoy dinner and devotion time.

On the Saturday, before returning back to the states, the mission teams enjoyed a ride out to El Rey Marina for a catamaran cruise out to the uninhabited little island of Icacos for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear water. Lunch was served on the boat followed by deep-water snorkeling on a reef before heading back to Isla Verde Dinner at the hotel and devotions.

Sunday was a day filled with culture and history. Students attended a local church service and then headed to Old San Juan to explore El Moro, a walking tour of the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, shopping on Fortaleza Street, and then to the airport.

Devotion and worship time on the beach at night.

Student and staff reflections from GO Week mission trips are evidence of the heart changes that take place within our service teams.

Senior Emerson Dalton serves on BETA Club and cheers for our Varsity cheerleading squad. Emerson shared, “Puerto Rico was such an eye opening experience! I'm extremely grateful I got to be a part of it. Watching how 8 people got saved has changed my perspective on life, giving me a great realization of the positive effects of life and giving me a dramatic impact on MY life! I will continue to thank God daily for what he has given me. Also the snorkeling was so fun like what?!”

Our students attending a local church service.

Senior Connor DePriest plays varsity soccer, football, basketball, and volleyball, and serves on Student Council and BETA Club. Connor shared, “I was truly blessed to have the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico. It was so good to see how the people were impacted by us inviting them to church and by us playing with the kids. It made me realize that such little things to us can be huge for them. My advice is to never be afraid of sharing the good news even if you don’t speak the same language.”

TCS sophomore Feyi Ajayi serves on Student Council and BETA Club. Feyi shared, “My trip to Puerto Rico was unexpecting and an extraordinary trip. I learned to further love and appreciate my privileges and not take advantage of them. Puerto Rico showed me that language barriers should not cease one's desire to help those in need and reveal the word of God to those who haven't heard. In Puerto Rico I had the chance to meet kids who have a different lifestyle than me. I bonded with the kids and they told me their life stories and shared their sense of humor. I had the privilege to play and laugh with the kids and continue to place a smile on their faces. I attended service at a Spanish speaking church and was given the chance to worship the same God, Jesus Christ. Puerto Rico taught me, humored me, and showed me what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus.”

Abigale Smith is a senior at TCS and participates in Jack and Jill of America and NAACP, serves on the TCS BETA Club and Student Council, and competes on our Track and Field and Cheer teams. Abigale shared “Puerto Rico was definitely an eye opening trip for me. It made me way more grateful for the little things in life and it taught me so much about having a strong community around you. I am so thankful that I got to spend my 18th birthday serving the Lord and going snorkeling!!”

Jessalyn Sutton is in her junior year at TCS and competes on the TCS golf team and serves in CFA Leadership. Jessalyn shared, “It was awesome to see how a language barrier didn’t stop us from loving the people and the people loving us.”

Davis Peavy is a junior and shared, “I had an amazing experience in Puerto Rico. I got the chance to impact locals in the community by handing out pamphlets as well has helping with some basic needs around local churches like maintenance and raking leaves. It was an amazing experience and God grew me as follower on what it’s like to get out of your comfort zone. My favorite memory was when a group of us stayed and sang and worshiped on the beach for what felt like a few hours. At one point we had close to 20 people and not all of them were from our group. I can’t wait to see what happens next year!“

Cooper Baker is in his sophomore year at TCS and serves on BETA Club, and runs track and field and cross country. Cooper shared, "I truly had an experience of a lifetime in Puerto rico. Being able to help out children in need really made me feel the reality that our world is living in. I loved being able to play with them and share wonderful experiences with them. Serving at YWAM, Youth With A Mission, was a blast! The people were so nice and friendly, welcoming us with open arms. The overall mission trip to Puerto Rico really changed me as a person."

TCS Staff member Mrs. Bragg serves as the 11th & 12th grade Skills Development Teacher and Student Council Advisor helped lead students on the GO Week trip. Mrs. Bragg shared, “It is always a blessing when young people are introduced to missionaries in various locations because students see first hand how passionate missionaries are about being the hands and feet of God. Working alongside missionaries is the best way to train up new ones. Joshua Expeduitons partnered us with some inspiring missionaries and that was not by accident. Today, we may not know what the future holds for our TCS students, but rest assured we know who holds their future. #buildingupmissionaries”

TCS GO Week students playing with the children at YWAM.

Nathan Huff is graduating this May and competes on the varsity baseball team and leads the Trinity student section. He plans to attend Georgia Southern University in the Fall. Nathan shares, “I'm very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to witness Go Week in Puerto Rico. Being able to serve others in the eyes of the Lord was such an honor and a privilege to have. One of my main memories of this trip was walking around the streets handing out flyers inviting people to the local church. While I was handing out these flyers a lady stopped me asking if I could pray for her. She was a older lady that lived alone and she began to get sick, so all I did was pray for her and her health then invited her to the church service that Sunday. I wasn't sure if she was going to show up, but she did and it made me realize that just one prayer can change a person perspective of life and I thank God for giving me that opportunity.”