A Cliffside Church and a Coded Book: Our Island Immersion

A Cliffside Church and a Coded Book: Our Island Immersion

Well, folks, buckle up because once we got our hands on Jack's Ford Ranger, the island of Puerto Rico truly opened up to us. My wife and I were eager to explore beyond Jack and Dama's property and get a real feel for what life could be like here.

Our initial focus was the west coast. We spent a good chunk of time driving around Aguadilla, specifically looking at communities that might be a good fit for our family. It was exciting to see "For Rent" signs and actually tour potential future homes. Many of the properties we looked at were near the old military base, and we found several rentals in nice communities that were surprisingly well-priced. Things were definitely looking promising on the housing front.

Throughout this initial exploration, Jack and Dama were their usual hospitable selves, but largely let us do our own thing. They were fantastic hosts, providing a base for us, but this week felt very much like our own independent reconnaissance mission.

However, our connection to the island wasn't solely based on physical exploration. Back in Michigan, our friend Danny, a former missionary, had put us in touch with a pastor in Manati, a town about an hour and a half's drive from where we were staying. This connection felt a little serendipitous, to be honest. We scheduled a meeting with Pastor Leo and his wife at a local sandwich shop called El Mason.

Pastor Leo and his wife were a breath of fresh air. While not quite as… unique as Jack and Dama, they certainly weren't the stereotypical image of pastors we had in our minds. Their casual attire for our meeting immediately put us at ease. We felt an instant connection as we shared our vision for Puerto Rico and the calling we felt God had placed on our hearts. Little did we know at the time, but Leo and his family would become incredibly important figures in our eventual transition from Michigan to Puerto Rico. Leaving that sandwich shop, we were on cloud nine, feeling like the Lord was clearly guiding our steps.

The next couple of days were filled with further exploration. We discovered some truly stunning beaches and soaked in more of the vibrant Puerto Rican culture. Our nights, however, remained a bit… rustic. The makeshift shed/bedroom continued to be our ant-ridden, sweaty sanctuary.

Sunday rolled around, and it was time to visit Church Without Walls. Following Jack and Dama through winding roads and up a ridiculously steep driveway, we couldn't help but marvel at the adventure we were on. But nothing could have prepared us for what we saw when we finally arrived. The name wasn't a metaphor – Churc
h Without Walls literally had no walls! Perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the breathtaking Caribbean Sea, it was a truly stunning and unique place of worship. The day itself was a blur of meeting church members, sharing our story, and trying to absorb everything. It was overwhelming in the best possible way, though the specifics of that day now escape my memory.

The following day brought an unexpected turn of events, orchestrated by the ever-generous Jack. He informed us that someone from his church had heard about our less-than-glamorous sleeping arrangements and had offered us a place to stay! Without a second thought, we accepted. A real bed, in a real house, free from biting red ants? Yes, please! The funny thing was, neither my wife nor I remembered meeting this couple at church. Nevertheless, we packed up our few belongings from the shed and prepared for a move to Mayaguez, where Jack would drop us off.

This also meant saying goodbye to the use of Jack's Ford Ranger. So, in the parking lot of a local grocery store, we had what felt like a clandestine exchange. Like drug dealers passing off goods, our luggage and ourselves were transferred from Jack's car to the vehicle of our new hosts, Dave (not his real name – this will be important later) and Sara (also not her real name). And just like that, we were off on another adventure with complete strangers to a part of the island we had never seen before.

Arriving at Dave and Sara's home, a large white house near the ocean, felt like a luxurious upgrade from the wooded lot. Sara greeted us with a warm smile, and while Dave and Sara themselves were a bit older and gave off a slightly… peculiar vibe that I can't quite put my finger on, we initially felt comfortable. That comfort level, however, began to shift as we started noticing Mason symbols. A lot of them. We were aware of the Masons through stories and rumors, and suddenly our initial ease turned into cautious curiosity.

We shared our story with Dave and Sara, explaining our journey to Puerto Rico and our mission work plans. They were surprisingly enthusiastic and supportive. Dave even tossed me the keys to his Jeep Cherokee, telling us we could use it whenever we needed! Another vehicle! Our faith in God's provision was being continually reinforced. Similar to Jack and Dama, Dave and Sara largely kept to themselves, engaging in conversation mostly when we were all at the house.

Our days continued with exploring the island, searching for potential communities, looking at more houses, and observing the needs around us. But every evening, we would share dinner with Dave and Sara. And then, one evening, the inevitable happened – the topic of the Masons came up.

Now, if you know anything about the Masons, you likely know they are a rather mysterious organization. To our surprise, Dave began to share a significant amount of information, explaining that they are "not a secret society but a society with secrets." He went on to describe how people become members and even started detailing some initiation rituals, much to Sara's visible discomfort. Apparently, Sara was involved in the female equivalent, the Order of the Easter Star, and she repeatedly

tried to dissuade Dave from sharing.

Ignoring her warnings, Dave then pulled out a book – a coded book using a cipher. Sara became even more agitated, exclaiming, "You are not supposed to share this with outsiders!" But Dave persisted, attempting to teach my wife and me how to read it. I honestly can't recall anything he taught us. My mind was racing, trying to be polite while also being acutely aware that I was being given information I probably shouldn't have, and I was unsure of the potential repercussions. Frankly, we were a little freaked out.

The next few days spent with Dave and Sara were undeniably unsettling. However, we did manage to connect with Pastor Leo and his wife a couple more times, and these interactions began to solidify into a working relationship (more on that in a future post!). Despite the strange turn with Dave and Sara, this week had truly become an island-wide adventure, fueling our excitement for what the Lord had in store for us in Puerto Rico.

As our departure date drew closer, Leo and his wife, having learned about our change in lodging, asked how we planned on getting to the airport. We had initially thought Jack would take us, but that was now quite a distance. With no other options, Leo and his wife generously offered for us to stay the night at their house in Manati and take us to the airport the following morning. Again, without hesitation, we accepted their incredible kindness.

So, we packed up our things once more and hopped into Leo's car when he arrived to pick us up. We had a wonderful evening at their home, deepening our connection, sharing more of our vision, and learning about the incredible work God was doing through their church. A true friendship was blossoming. The next morning, after another round of packing, we headed to the airport, our hearts full of confidence in our calling and buzzing with excitement to share our whirlwind experiences with our kids and loved ones back home. Stay tuned for the next chapter!

To learn more about our ministry go to www.theexchangemin.com