Puerto Rico - La Isla del Encanto: People

 

So I've described some of the beautiful places I saw and yummy food I ate while in Puerto Rico in the last two posts. Now, I've saved the best for last!

 The most enjoyable part about my trip to Puerto Rico was hands down the people I met and got to spend time with during my trip!

During my time in Puerto Rico I met a lot of awesome believers. Like this blogger (who also went on this trip) put so well, whenever we were together the atmosphere was just filled with love and joy!

"We know that we have passed out of death 

into life because we love the brothers." 

- 1 John 3:14

 

Like 1 John 3:14 shows, when we meet other believers who have received the Lord as their Savior and life, there is something within us that can't help but love them! Regardless of where they are on the earth or what kind of culture they grew up in, we all share a common life, God's life!

This was most definitely the case with the other Christians in Puerto Rico! It was such a loving impression to be so warmly received into their homes where we stayed during our trip. And when we had a time to fellowship with the students in the Christians on Campus clubs on different university campuses in Puerto Rico, it was such an encouragement to hear how they were enjoying and pursuing Christ in the same way we were in Austin.

The believers in Puerto Rico have found a place on my heart. Though I saw some amazing sites and ate some delicious food, the part of Puerto Rico that will continue to bring me fond and joyful memories are the precious believers I met and found to be my family away from home. The believers all over the world truly are the excellent ones on the earth.

"As for the saints who are on the earth, 

they are the excellent; 

All my delight is in them." 

- Psalm 16:3

Photo Credit: [P. Limanjaya, J. Hernandez, L. Dean, E. Roman]

Puerto Rico - La Isla del Encanto: Places

I just returned from an amazing trip to Puerto Rico! I went with a group of students and staff from Christians on Campus student organization at UT. We got to participate in a conference our first weekend there and then we toured the island while spending time with some other believers living in Puerto Rico the following week.

This trip was abundant in unforgettable experiences, so I will be making a series of posts to share some of them with you. :)


Some of my overall impressions of Puerto Rico included

its lively people, 

rich tasty food 

and 

beautiful scenery. 

In regards to scenery, though only 110 miles in length and 40 miles in width, the island of Puerto Rico has no shortage of places to visit and things to do. Some of the things we did and saw while on our trip included...

view from the walls of El Morro

an elegant street in Old San Juan

walking down the streets of Old San Juan and seeing the massive multilevel fortress, El Morro

view from the top peak

one of 70 kinds of orchids

stream that flowed down the mountain

hiking up the stunning tropical rainforest, El Yunque

the lush canopy of El Yunque

one of the islands we sailed to

Catamaran sail

relaxing on the Catamaran then snorkeling in the majestic blue waters of the Caribbean

getting some sun

hanging stalactites

one opening of the cave

roaming around the immense expanse of the Camuy cave

beautiful view from cliff

precariously peering over the edge

never ending blue waters in the horizon

 admiring the memorizing view from the bluff in Cabo Rojo

daunting rocks at the bottom of the cliff

happy riders on the beach

rolling waves along the trail

and taking a charming horseback ride along the beach.

The sites we saw were definitely breath-taking and unlike any place I've been to before. But it gets even better. Stay tuned for the next post on some of the delicious food that we ate while in Puerto Rico...





[photo credit: R. Hutchinson, R. Chen, J. Hernandez, A. Hernandez, L. Dean]

Thanks for posting your awesome photos!