January 2002
I just returned from a month long trip to Puerto Rico. It was great. We accomplished a tremendous amount of work.
 The woman I stayed with has no idea what one scoup means. At every meal I ate twice as much as I needed. The only drawback was the chickens waking me at 2 am. Three of my friends came down for a week each. We worked at
Bario Abrero on the food pantry building and renovated another part of it which will be used for Bible studies and worship. We bought a large supply of food for the pantry. I need to figure a way to get regular funding for that program. The need in that community is so great. People are excited about the presence of the church in the neighborhood. The youth from the host church is very active in the Bario. they came and helped us clean up then went out in the community to pass out tracts and talk to the people, inviting them to come.
We also did more work on the building for Casa Central Montana. I learned how to apply stucco to the walls and ceiling of the new building. Hopefully it will be nearly  finished by July when our summer team arrives.  I plan to buy a Quartro.
 It's a 10 string (5 pairs)  guitar type instrument native to Puerto Rico. the neck is wider so my stubby fingers can fret the strings easier.

Worship there is a very moving experience. We had worship Tuesday night, Thursday morning (5am), Friday night and Sunday. Always good participation from the congregation. Always different people helping with worship too. One night the pastor, myself and and our friend Virgilio played an instrumental  for the other team members. It was entitled
Jesus Jesus. A song from The Emmaus Community. Leo (the Pastor) played lead. I played rythum and Virg played the flute. I have never played so well in my life (and probably won't again). Eveyone was moved.

on my last night I spoke to the congregation on my role there as a missionary. I view myself as a match, lighting little
fires in their church, but they are the flame that really cooks things . I also mentioned that in the month I was there I hadn't been angry or upset one single time. Can you imagine going a whole month without anger?

March 2002
During March I went back to Rural Missions on Johns Island in South Carolina. this has become one of my yearly
trips. The team changes from year to year but the mission is always the same. Last March we dug and poured the footings of the house for Mrs. Jackson. this year we finished the house. she moved in Easter weekend. It took a whole year and countless teams to get the job done. Mrs. Jackson cried and hugged us every time she came thru the house.
Miracles do happen.I see them all the time.