From Our Mission Field to Our Home: Our Unexpected Welcome

From Our Mission Field to Our Home: 

Our Unexpected Welcome

The boxes were still unpacked, and the to-do list felt a mile long. But as we settled into our new home in Puerto Rico, our minds weren't on finding the perfect spatula or figuring out where to purchase appliances. No, our immediate concern was the quickly approaching Christmas holiday. How could we possibly make it feel even remotely normal for our three kids in this brand-new, unknown land?

My wife and I embarked on a mission. Armed with very little money and absolutely no idea where to find anything, we set out to buy Christmas presents and a few festive decorations. Our first stop? A place called "Fallas." For those unfamiliar, Fallas is essentially the Puerto Rican equivalent of a Dollar Tree. Let me tell you, the line was an experience in itself – unequivocally exceptional! But amidst the throng, we managed to snag some basic ornaments, a few sparkly earrings for our daughter, and braced ourselves for what felt like an hour-long wait- no, nevermind, it was an hour-long wait.


Our meager haul continued with a mini skateboard for the boys to share, a kickboard for all three, some tiny stockings, and a handful of other small trinkets. It was a modest Christmas, undeniably humbling. Yet, as we watched our children's faces light up on Christmas morning, surrounded by the un
familiar sounds and smells of our new island home, it became clear – this was one of the best Christmases we could remember. The joy wasn't in the extravagance, but in the shared experience and the feeling of being together in this new chapter.

The blessings continued into the New Year. We were warmly invited to a New Year's Day celebration hosted by some wonderful people from Pastor Leo's church. It was a party that painted a vibrant picture of Puerto Rican culture. Imagine a feast overflowing with every local delicacy you could dream of, the sky bursting with fireworks, and music that made your soul want to dance. Most of the faces around us were strangers – we'd been on the island for less than a month – yet we were embraced like family. It was an incredible experience, a testament to the warmth and generosity of the Puerto Rican people. Looking back, we knew the Lord was already providing exactly what we needed: connection and a sense of belonging.

It wasn't long before we acquired our first "island vehicle," and oh boy, was it an island vehicle! Picture this: a multi-colored (definitely not our design choice), bare-bones, two-door, manual transmission, 1988 Isuzu Trooper. It was a sight to behold! But we embraced its quirks wholeheartedly. I immediately got the windows tinted, which added a much-needed touch of… something. Soon, window stickers started accumulating, each one a little badge of our island adventures.
 Eventually, we even splurged on some all-terrain tires, ready to tackle whatever the island roads threw our way. We absolutely loved that truck. My wife's cousin affectionately dubbed it the "MM" or "Missionary Mobile," and it couldn't have been more fitting. We drove that trusty old Trooper all over the island (but those are stories for another time!). That little 1988 Isuzu played a
surprisingly major role in our first year.

Finally feeling a bit more settled in our little house in Arecibo, we began to actively seek ways to connect with our new community and minister. Pastor Leo invited me to a men's retreat, and it was there that I met Armando, who quickly became one of my best friends on the island. Our connection was instant, and his family soon became like our own. Armando and his wife, Jeane, were absolutely critical to our survival, both practically and emotionally. We needed their friendship and support more than they could ever know.

Shortly after our families connected, we started meeting in our home for Bible study. Armando's family was exposed to biblical truths in a way they had never experienced before, and they saw a faith in us that, honestly, we didn't always feel ourselves. Our relationship blossomed beautifully. Beach trips, shared meals, and all the normal things friends do became the fabric of our lives. Then, we met Nelson and Sonya, a lovely elderly couple in our neighborhood. We nervously extended an invitation for them to join our Bible study, and to our delight, they accepted. And just like that, our first little house church in Puerto Rico was born.

Nelson and Sonya were in awe. They couldn't believe we were encouraging them to ask questions and share their own interpretations of scripture. They later confided in us that they had never been allowed to do so before in their faith journey! And they had so many questions! They quickly became dear friends, and our afternoons often involved leisurely walks through the community, inevitably ending up at Nelson and Sonya's kitchen table, sharing coffee and crackers with sweet guava paste.

Our family needed Nelson and Sonya more than they needed us. Having been so close to our grandparents back in Michigan, Nelson and Sonya became like surrogate grandparents to our children, filling a void we hadn't even fully realized. It didn't take long. The vibrant culture, the warm people, the unexpected friendships – Puerto Rico was no longer just a mission field on a map. It was becoming home. And as we look back on that whirlwind first few months, we are filled with gratitude for the unexpected blessings and the beautiful tapestry of relationships that made our transition so much richer than we could have ever imagined.

Learn more about our ministry at www.theexchangemin.com 


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