cesargonzalez - Puerto Rico

Guaynabo
, Puerto Rico - July 14, 2007

God is so good!!!
Cesar was raised in Puerto Rico and God opened a door for him to work there this summer.
How great is that!!!

On July 14, 2007 Cesar lead a group of 24 participants from Eden Prairie, Minnesota to the city of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico for a 9 day mission project.
During this trip they visited several nursing homes, a hospital for children, an orphanage, the hallways of the general hospital, the streets of Rio Piedras, a ministry called Teen Challenge, and more.
During the 9 days in Puerto Rico they shared the gospel of Jesus, they prayed for the sick, they prayed for people's needs and much more.

The pastor (Jorge Suarez) that they worked with was so excited to show the Island of Puerto Rico to the students.
During their off time they visited the famous Rain Forest - the mountain called El Yunke, the beach of Luquillo and Old San Juan where they walked around the old fort of El Morro.

During this trip they believe at least 10 people accepted Jesus as Savior of their life. Five kids at the home for abused children (Angel David, Jesus, Ashley, and 2 other boys), a lady at the bus station and a man (Elias) that Jorge prayed with while doing street evangelism, Jose, our bus driver and Yelitza (a girl that Lauren led to the Lord on the airplane between San Jose and Chicago).
The salvation of our bus driver made a huge impact in the life of the participants because they saw a change in Jose from the beginning of the trip to the end when Jose came to church with us.

At the Children's Hospital they had a chance to do two VBS lessons and visit with the kids that were in bed because they were so sick.
Only about 5 of us could go in this part of the hospital at a time.
Cesar played the guitar and sang with the youth from Minnesota.
As each song ended, the little girl with a big smile on her face, kept point at the guitar because she wanted us to keep singing.

At the orphanage for abused kids we had a chance to do two VBS lessons and play with the kids.
Pastor Caryl had a chance to share the "Evangicube with some of the older kids.
The staff at this orphanage told Cesar that this was the first time a group like ours had come to visit the kids.

On the street of Rio Piedras, in the mist of people walking by us on the crowded side walk, Sammy saw an old lady on the side of a building asking for money.
Sammy ask Cesar if she could buy this lady some food, so she and Pastor Caryl went to McDonald's and purchased a burger for the lady.
Sammy and Pastor Caryl were able to pray for this lady and her son.
On this same sidewalk, Pastor Jorge was able to stop a man and ask him about his spiritual life.
After talking with this man for a while, Pastor Jorge was able to pray for him for salvation and invite him to church.

Teen Challenge is a ministry in Guaynabo that gives prisoners a second chance.
Young men that have been sentenced to prison for selling drugs and other crimes are given the chance to clean up their life during a period of 18 months.
The facilities do not look like a prison, but they have to stay there and complete the rehabilitation program with limited visiting privileges to see family.
Cesar took about 6 of the boys and adult leaders to this ministry.
As they walked in, there were about 30 men praising God in song.
Our guide was named Julio Machado Morales.
He now is a member of Pastor Jorge's church, but at one time he was an inmate at Teen Challenge.
He shared part of his testimony that afternoon and mentioned that it took him 3 ½ years to leave Teen Challenge but now he is a changed man.
After what could have been a 15 year jail sentence, Julio came to Teen Challenge and met Jesus.
Now Julio has his own Pest Control business (Julian Pest Control Services) and is married and has a 7 year old boy named Julian.

God did many other amazing things during the 9 days in Puerto Rico.
The youth from Grace Church range from 14 year olds to 18 year olds.
They are a very mature bunch of youth.
Cesar was very proud of them.
May God continue to bless them back in Minnesota.