Local Surfers Bring Joy, Relief to Puerto Rico

Photo By Staff Sgt. Evan Lane | SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Members of the Agua Salá Ministry take a group photo during their La Comprita charitable surf competition, Nov. 11, 2017. Agua Salá, founded by Yossua Lugo over six years ago, is a religious outreach program focusing on helping improve Puerto Rican communities through donations and charitable works. Members of the ministry teach regular surf lessons to children, and host the monthly competition. Proceeds from the competition’s entrance fees and merchandise sales go directly to food and clothing donations. Each month a different community around Puerto Rico is selected by Agua Salá for help. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Evan Lane)  

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

11.21.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Felix Colon-Gonzalez and Staff Sgt. Evan Lane

65th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Around Puerto Rico, lives are returning to normal. Nowhere is this more obvious than on the iconic beaches rimming the island. On Nov. 11, kids and adults surfed for charity across the crashing waves of Aviones beach, in Piñones, Puerto Rico. Yossua Lugo’s organization, Agua Salá Ministry, resumed its monthly La Comprita surfing competition there.

“This is the first competition since the hurricane,” said Lugo. He was smiling while talking about his work and church. “It’s been great to see people back on the beaches.” Held on the last Saturday of each month, the competition brought many families to Aviones. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their first few days back to the sands. They brought snacks, music and a lot of laughter back to the water.

Agua Salá provides a uniquely two-pronged approach to helping communities around Puerto Rico. The first is funded by La Comprita and other donations. La Comprita’s entry fee is simple: bring either $10 or the same value in food and canned goods. This month’s competition brought in roughly 70 surfers across all ages and skill levels, ready to drop in and ride the waves.

Members of the Agua Salá Ministry use those proceeds to help a different community each month. November’s assistance went toward Isolote, Arecibo. Isolote is a coastal community that was hit hard by Hurricane Maria, and all the help the surfers bring in is well appreciated according to Lugo. Funds go toward purchasing food, water, clothes and school supplies for residents of Isolote.

The second facet of Lugo’s ministry is ongoing education. Prior to Hurricane Maria, Agua Salá Ministry was teaching surfing out of a nearby schoolhouse. The school was temporarily closed for repairs, so the surfers moved outdoors and taught underneath the palms at the beach itself.

In addition to regular classes, children can come learn to surf after each month’s competition. Seasoned surfers help teach kids how to catch waves. They help them focus their energy through the sport and charitable work.

“We use these events to reach out to the surfer community,” he said. Before Lugo started his work six years ago, there wasn’t any religious movement for surfers on Puerto Rico. Now he and his surfer friends go out and help feed, rebuild, paint, clean, and educate– whatever is needed.

“It’s important to get back to work, back to play,” said Lugo. It is a significant part of the healing process after something as devastating as Hurricane Maria, he continued. As he finished explaining his charitable mission, Lugo grinned as he looked over the wave-riding competitors. It was clear that he had found a truly unique way to support Agua Salá’s hard work through play.

• Date Taken: 11.21.2017
• Date Posted: 11.21.2017 16:23
• Story ID: 256178
• Location: SAN JUAN, PR