The following members of Prairie View United Methodist Church were a part of this group: Judy Cox, Peggy Warner-Pallos, Ken Nelson, Curt and Sara Lout, Ken and Ruth Pourier, Pastor Mark and Lisa Johnsen. Also joining this group were Josie Pearson and her grandson Wyatt Pearson from Spearfish United Methodist Church and Tana Triepke from First United Methodist Church of Devils Lake, North Dakota. Photos courtesy of Pastor Mark Johnsen.

A team of twelve volunteers, from Prairie View UMC, Spearfish UMC, and Devils Lake UMC, traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico to assist with disaster relief efforts from Hurricane Maria. The Volunteers in Mission (VIM) team rebuilt the homes for Carmen and Marie.  

Stephaine Acosta served as the interpreter for the group and greeted them when they arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after only a few hours of sleep. The journey to Puerto Rico was delayed and challenging with snow, wind and mechanical difficulties. Stephanie shared her testimony and stories about Hurricane Maria. Before Maria she was working at a school and had her own place and a car. Since the hurricane she lost her job, her home, and her car, and had to move back in with her parents.

Iglesia Methodista Los Angeles United Methodist Church hosted the Dakotas team. “It was our retreat for the week,” says Pastor Mark Johnsen, who serves Prairie View United Methodist Church. “We were a travel-weary group. Sonia and her staff supplied beds, cold showers, food and fellowship. The first evening we had a chance to drive thru old San Juan and walk along the trails at San Juan National Historic Site.”

After a good night’s rest, the team was ready to get started on our projects. Rubin, an UMCOR civil engineer, and some of the project managers divided the Dakotas travelers into two teams. Gerard, project foreman, led one group as they constructed 22 trusses for the structural system of the roof of Carmen’s home that was in a reconstruction phase.

The team works on Marie's home.

Luis, another project foreman, would be the leader of the group that started rebuilding Marie’s home. “Prior teams had completed the new floor on high concrete piles for Marie’s home. Our team was to construct exterior and interior walls, install exterior siding, and install windows,” said Pastor Mark. Felix, Marie’s son, who is an electrician, a supervisor and trainer for the government, insisted on bringing food. He supplied hot rice and beans to thank the team for their service.

Three days were spent at the project sites located at Carolina-Los Angeles, which was a suburb of the municipality of San Juan. “We worked about 6-7 hours a day in 89-degree, 75% humidity weather," said Pastor Mark. “The foremen kept reminding us that these were winter temps. So, we shared about our Dakotas winters.” 

Pastor Mark described that each evening the team held meetings to report accomplishments and have a short Bible study. They attended church services with Pastor Edwin Perez and his congregation. “The service was in Spanish. Most of the group did not speak or understand Spanish. The music was upbeat,” Johnsen said. “Because the words of the songs were on a screen, we were able to sing-along in Spanish.”

The Dakotas group also dropped-off the supplies at a school. “We met the principal, several teachers and students. All were very appreciative. We enjoyed lunch at the beach and then drove to Stephanie’s home town,” shared Johnsen. They handed out sandwiches, chips and cold water to all who were in need at the city park in downtown Guayama.

The team builds trusses for Carmen's home.

The team headed to the beach, which in Puerto Rico is not far from any spot you may be. They swam and waded in the warm waters of the Caribbean. They enjoyed touring a coffee farm at Hacienda Munoz in rural Puerto Rico, and walking along a river to a waterfall.

The VIM team connected with their Puerto Rican colleagues and left a blessing at the work sites says Pastor Mark. “It was surprising how well we could communicate with each other. The project leaders were so patient in teaching us new skills. At each work site, we left messages in the walls or on the trusses.  We wrote Bible verses and 'God Bless this Home,’ ‘Made with Love,’ along with our names and states. We met so many others during the week: Cetta (Marie’s sister) who lived next to the new house. She supplied us with coffee each day. Rene, an architect, and Igsy, a project foreman in-training. All were affected by the hurricane in tragic ways but were such thankful people. They worked hard each day to try to make Puerto Rico a better place for all who live there.”

Anyone interested in hearing more about our trip or seeing the photos, please contact Pastor Mark Johnsen.