"Being resilient is so much easier when you're surrounded by the right people."
Cristina was raised by a strong Puerto Rican father that migrated to New York City from Santurce, Puerto Rico in 1953. An important part of her upbringing and story was being raised by her father who had left his motherland....brought to this new land by his mother....a strong, independent woman - Cristina's grandmother...Abuelita.
In making this difficult decision, Abuelita left her homeland in order to ensure that the generations after her would be okay and would have a more promising future...and that strong faith left a burning ember in her heart.
Upon visiting the island for the first time ever recently, and returning home, she discovered that despite the joy and beauty of the island, Puerto Rico’s poverty level is one of the highest in the USA. "I feel honored to give back to the motherland of my father and see the island bless those that need to be SEEN."
Cristina
Matt and Cristina discovered a unique connection with Puerto Rico during important new phases in each of their lives. Having visited the island separately over the past year, our families unexpectedly fell in love with this little "Island of Enchantment," with its natural beauty and richness, understated paradise of lush mountains, breathtaking beaches, rocky headlands, and oceans dazzled in dozens of blues. And even more importantly, the joy and love of its people.
Puerto Rico would be the perfect GIFT of leisure, rest, and healing for a family enduring cancer or disability. What better place than an Island whose natural beauty brings rest, and its PEOPLE's deep resilience brings HOPE.
Puerto Rico
Meanwhile, for the last several years, Kim and Matt had been looking for a small property in Puerto Rico to take family and friends to visit, envisioning decades of memories together with their loved ones. Matt was intent that Puerto Rico was the "Hawaii of the East" and an affordable undiscovered gem, not far from home but often forgotten.
Through most of the duration of Kim's cancer treatment, Matt put this dream on hold. However, after Kim passed away, Matt felt it was time to put fears aside and make this dream happen. What was the bigger picture in all this? Matt didn't know how God and Kim were guiding it at the moment.