Serving in Puerto Rico
Tú puente a Puerto Rico
The following is a list of questions we are commonly asked when considering a mission trip to Puerto Rico. If you have a question that is not answered here, please send us an email or use the form. We'll respond to your question and post it on this page if applicable.
1. Do I need a passport? No. Puerto Rico is a US Territory and only requires a government issued photo ID card (just like any other domestic flight).
2. How do we organize what we want to do? Eddie and Heather Crosby have partnered with IBTdR and their pastoral family to be long-term short-term missionaries with the church. Working with Pastor Madera, we can be involved as much or as little as you would like. We can plan your mission trip 100% (with your input and direction of course), serve right along side you, or stay back and take care of the facility while you are gone (such as laundry, meals). Maybe you know exactly what you want to do? We can help you make it happen.Your mission trip would be completely independent of any organization and pre-set schedule - let God work how He wants to work, and be blessed by His Hand.
3. No one from my church speaks Spanish. What do we do? If your group comes to Puerto Rico, you are partnering with IBTdR. At least one member of IBTdR can go with you on your service trips to translate, however it is not unlikely that more would come. Eddie and Heather are also available translators.
4. Where would we stay? The church is the third story of an old drug rehabilitation center. Walking up to the church, you come to the "front door" which is on the second level. The second level has a small office, a hallway storage closet, and 2 large rooms divided by a closet door. Between these 2 rooms there are bunk beds that sleep 22 adults, and plenty of extra floor space. Opposite of the entrance way towards the back of the second room is a full bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. At the front door there are also steps that go down to the first floor. There is a completely separate room that is normally used for child care during church service but can also be a place for people to sleep (no beds though). It has a second full bathroom with sink, toilet and shower. There is also a laundry closet. As of 2011 there is now a washer and dryer thanks to generous donors from two different church groups. Farther down from this room is the kitchen area. The room is divided three ways - an eating area, a kitchen area and a pantry area. The eating area has tables with chairs. The kitchen area has an old, but working, gas range. Since 2010 several items have been donated to the kitchen, including a griddle, a microwave and coffee makers. There is a refrigerator/freezer unit and lots of coolers. Next to the kitchen area is a stand alone bathroom, also with a sink, toilet and shower. At the entrance to the kitchen is a staircase that goes back up to the second floor, which leads to the back entrance of the main living quarters.
5. How much does it cost? IBTdR does not charge a dime for your group to come and stay at the mission center. Pastor Madera, nor his family, nor the Crosbys charge anything for their services to your group. We are all in the same race together. Please pray about a love offering you would be willing to make, as any facility use always comes with padded utility bills and does add a heightened cost to the church and Madera family. Any love offering that you feel led to give to the Maderas or those who help you is always appreciated and humbly accepted.
6. Is Puerto Rico a third-world type place? What should I expect? Like anywhere in the world, Puerto Rico has its good and its bad. We've heard all kinds of concoctions of the mind that are fed by ignorance and media/movies.. Aren't there a bunch of tropical diseases we have to be careful of? I read that there are men with machine guns in the mountains because drug traffic-ing is really bad. What about all of the guerilla warfare that happens in the rural areas?.. There are several things you should know about Puerto Rico before you come, but those are not any of them.
- Strangers will greet you with a hug and a kiss.
- You cannot flush your toilet paper into the toilet.
- There is no air conditioning at the center, but being high in the mountains makes for a comfortable 60-degree evening temperature, and there are lots of fans.
- Puerto Rico runs on island time.. do not be offended when you are told to expect something to start at 8 and it does not start until much later, etc. This is cultural, not negligent or insulting.
- Windows are made of screens, not glass. All windows have little shutters that can be opened an closed with a crank.
- Depending on when you come, it may rain.. a lot.
- At the center there many banana trees, some with leaves bigger than a full grown adult!
- Common "critters" you can expect to get friendly with: coquí tree frogs, lizards, snails, the neighbor's roosters, and the occasional crab. Yes, it is in the mountains, but it's the rain forest!
- In 2011 2 of the 3 showers had flash heaters installed on the faucets. This will bring the water temperature for the showers to a nice luke-warm. There will not be any HOT showers, there may be cold showers, but you'll be happy just to rinse off after a long day.
- Although not in Aibonito, a short 30 minute drive down the mountain into Cayey brings you to a Wal-Mart and a few familiar fast food restaurants, but...
- Mama Ludy's and traditional Puerto Rican food is so good you won't want to get that other junk!
- Keep your travel dates flexible and you may be able to fly round trip for less than $200.
- IBTdR has one 15-passenger van available for use. Driving in Puerto Rico is a bit of an... adventure.
Questions and Answers
