La Perla is one of the most dangerous places on earth...
Located outside San Juan's original fortress' walls, it is a fortress of sorts itself. The violence within its one square mile is astounding. Controlled by drug lords and their heavily armed militia, the sale of narcotics takes place in open air, unhindered, around the clock.

Desiring to give back to the community, Tommy Tenney and his fearless band of oddball brothers decided this would be the perfect place to bless an unsuspecting impoverished soul.

Scouts sent to the neighborhood first had to receive permission from the drug lord to enter. In notorious La Perla, there is only one way in and one way out - ironically (and perhaps symbolically) the road out passes through a cemetery.

Permission to enter was granted, and Tommy's assistants soon found someone in desperate need of help.

Her name was Wilma, a single mother of 7 children who was expecting her 8th. Just months earlier, Wilma had tried to escape La Perla to find a better, safer place to raise her family. She rented out her 2-story house and made moved to a more promising part of Puerto Rico.

But in searching for a better life, things only got more difficult. When she discovered she was pregnant with her eighth, her husband left her. Penniless, she was forced to return to her home in La Perla, only to find her tenants had destroyed her house.

Apparently drug addicts, they had stripped the house bare to sell or pawn anything they could. This included all the appliances, furniture, the doors, the windows (and the window sills), and all the copper electrical wiring.

Her house was an empty, unlivable shell.

Wilma has since been living in a small one-bedroom apartment with her 7 children. This apartment has no electricity of its own - only a wire from the neighbor's house that powered her two coverless fans and single hotplate. Wilma has to cook for her children at the neighbor's home.

Wilma had hit rock bottom. No income, no way to repair her home, no hope. Trapped.

So together, Tommy, Luke, and Gregg decided to help.

We surprised Wilma with a brand new stove so she could cook for her kids. Then we led her to her destroyed house and told her some good news -we are going to repair the entire house by the time she gives birth to her eighth child!

Tears were flowing as she thanked us. Tommy shared the great news of Jesus' love for her. We prayed together, and by the end of our time together, she was thanking God.

People from local churches in San Juan and Carolina have offered to donate construction labor and supplies, furniture and appliances for the whole house, and an air conditioning unit to keep it cool.

To continue being a light and witness, we are considering planting a church with Puerto Rican leadership in La Perla. Two brothers there are continuing to venture in almost daily to oversee the work and share God's love in practical ways, bringing the message of Jesus to all who will hear.

We will return to La Perla when Wilma gives birth, and will celebrate with her all that God is doing to restore her life.