Puerto Rico: Hurricane Relief Session 4, 2026
July 29, 2026
For our first morning in Big Yellow House we were awoken by a rooster. Our first meal we had scrambled eggs, french toast, and fresh fruit, during the time of eating we looked over the amazing volley ball court, and as we headed off to old San Juan we observed the fantastic view of the stunning water shining off the sun.
As we entered the memorials of old San Juan we learned from our expert tour guide (Alvin) that San Juan is a very historic place, we learned that the original name is Paseo La Princesa. We also learned about the first female mayor of Puerto Rico, Felisa Rincón de Gautier “Doña Fela”. Later on we went to Castillo el Morro and witnessed the beautiful view of both the fort, field, and the ocean.Thanks to our amazing trip leaders we went shopping (souvenirs). Another fun fact is that the piña colada originated from Puerto Rico.
When we left this magical place we had an amazing lunch, it was chicken, rice and beans with tostones . On the way back to the big yellow house, some people were daydreaming while others were chatting. And to round out this perfect day we went to the beach near by to see the epic sunset and the amazing fish. Then after our walk home we finally sat down for dinner for another fantastic meal with our friends – we are so excited for tomorrow which will be our first construction day (community service).
From, Sawyer M, Noah WL, and Joseph C
July 30, 2026
Today, we woke up bright and early at 7:30 as we were greeted downstairs by a fabulous spread of fresh fruit and pancakes. After our incredible group leaders led an activity, the two vans drove us 20 minutes to our worksite for the day. Our goal was to complete a wall for Ashley and Alfredo. The couple had lived four years in a minuscule, one-room house with their three kids. There was a quick orientation before we started to work, led by Angel and William, two men who have been working with Global Works for more than 25 years. The crew quickly got to work building a cement wall enclosing their home and approaching the roof.
We were assigned to a variety of a different tasks ranging from shoveling rock and sand to pouring concrete to passing heavy buckets down the line with the end goal of pouring cement into the mold. After two job rotations and eleven rounds of concrete creation, we headed up the hill to Maria’s home. The crew ate chicken stew with rice and salad for lunch and enjoyed the long break from the exhausting heat.
We promptly resumed our construction, finishing off four more loads of concrete. After several hours in the sun, we finally completed the wall, our goal, for the day. Covered in cement, we enjoyed a much-needed rest (with some beach time) back at the Big Yellow House. That evening, dinner was pasta with a delicious meat sauce, and, of course, more salad. We rounded out the day with a satisfying group meeting, sharing surprising fun facts and entertaining jokes. We went to bed proud of our work and looking forward to the next adventure.
By Jesse, Penelope, and Jane
July 31, 2026
We started off the morning with a yummy breakfast consisting of waffles and some fruit. After we played a fun game called “puerto puerto” before the vans rolled in to pick us up. Then we headed over to the worksite – meeting a new dog named Chimuelo, which means “toothless” – on the way. Then we started working on taking down the wood planks on the house. Then we headed to a delicious lunch consisting of chicken, beans, and rice. During lunch, our instructors introduced to the “who has the ball” riddle. Halfway through lunch, it started down pouring, so we ended work early and went to the Big Yellow House. Once we were back, we had a little down time. We just chilled and talked and some people took a nap. Once that was done we all called our families. Then finally we got to go to the beach, while some went for a walk most went to the water to play in the waves. When we got back we got all showered up and clean to then go out for some delicious dinner. We had some lemon chicken with plátanos and some salad. We the went to go for our nightly meeting to talk about the next day and what activities we will be doing. Then we chilled out for a bit got ready for bed and hit the bunks. It was great day!!
By Magnolia, Sammy & Gilbert
August 1, 2026
As we began our third workday of the program, we woke up to a warm plate of French toast, eggs, and sausage. We played a tournament of rock paper scissors before packing into the van and heading into the rainforest in Patillas. We met our service leader, John, along with the rainforest projects’ director, 3T.
After a long and muddy hike, we reached the clearing where we began our service project. Almost immediately, it began to downpour. With our clothes soaked, we began to cut down weeds and overgrowth within the rainforest. In addition, we filled a ditch that was eroded with water and attempted to find a drain pipe. After hours of hard work in the rain, we took a rest and enjoyed a lunch consisting of spaghetti, meatballs, and salad.
Once we had signed the guestbook, we trekked down to the nearby swimming hole. We swam with tadpoles in the beautiful water. soon after, we made our journey back to the Big Yellow House. we recharged with a yummy dinner of chicken, fries, and salad. after hyping it up all day, we did karaoke together with a special appearance from the Jackson 5! ( I want you back) . We finally concluded our night with a debrief and team meeting regarding tomorrow’s project.
By Kai, Logan, and Cate
August 2, 2026
This morning, we woke up at 7:30 to a nutritious breakfast. Shortly after, we played a great round of Duck, Duck, Goose to wake us up. We then headed off to the original site for our last day of work; however, this time we helped to build a patio and staircase for a different house up the street.
Following a long day of work, we had a hard-earned lunch (and our last with Maria). We finished the staircase, then came back to the Big Yellow House. We started to pack our suitcases, and some of us rested while others took a quick trip to the beach.
After the sun had set, we played games of UNO prior to our dinner with Maria, Edgy, and Camille. Finally, we wrapped up the eventful day with another game of volleyball and the handing out of souvenir bracelets to remind us of the service we’ve done and the community we’ve helped.
By Lily, Nolan, and Miles
August 3, 2026
Today we woke up at 7:30am to a delicious breakfast with pancakes, fresh fruit, sausages, and eggs. Then we packed our bags for the week and left at 9:00 after a quick game of poison dart frog. We drove to El Yunque Rainforest where we spent our time in a swimming hole, basking in the morning sun. After our swim, we dried off and headed to the kiosks. We ate lunch at a lovely beachside restaurant with yummy food and even yummier virgin piña coladas.
After we finished up, we walked along the strip and shopped for souvenirs to bring home to our eager families. We got some refreshing ice cream and hit the road! Then, we settled into our hostel for our last night in Puerto Rico before heading on over to the beach. We took turns paddle boarding and playing in the water before returning to the hostel for a pizza dinner.
After our filling meal we had our evening meeting before an exciting salsa dancing lesson. After we learned how to dance like a pro, we laid down our heads one last time on this beautiful island of Puerto Rico! We had a great week here.
By Sage, Trenton, & Clay
