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Mondays with Mike: Meet the PCA Team Headed to Puerto Rico

Dear PCA Families, Students, and Supporters–

Happy President’s Day! We are incredibly blessed to live in a country where your children can learn and grow in faith, virtue, and skill. Wherever you are today, I celebrate with you.

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the third quarter? Simply amazing. With winter break at the end of this week, we’re also heading into a very full season for your kids.

Just this past week, I had a front-row seat with some amazing Middle Schoolers—worshiping in chapel, diving deep in small groups, and even celebrating a championship win! I also had the opportunity to share a vision for PCA’s Next 1,000 Graduates as we navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. Check out some pictures and links below!

Missed the State of the School? Here is a recording we made just for you. Please let me know your thoughts; happy to meet 1-1.  Click on the image above or click HERE to watch. 

Six students stand in a line, some with heads bowed, in a room with onlookers seated on red chairs. One student holds a microphone.
Middle School Prayer sendoff for our Korean exchange students.
Basketball team in white uniforms huddles near the hoop. Scoreboard shows "Home: 26", "Period 2", and "3:58" remaining. Basketball is in mid-air near the hoop.
Halftime team huddle at Saturday’s championship game–PCA down 6 before coming back. 

Missions Team Getting Ready for Puerto Rico

A lot is happening at PCA! Basketball playoffs tip off next week, and we just wrapped up indoor track and swimming seasons with our athletes competing at state meets—well done, Eagles! This Wednesday, our fine arts team will present an Informance (think “informational performance”) as they prepare for a competitive festival in March. And this weekend, our Upper School Missions Club heads to Puerto Rico!

Before they go, I sat down with a few of the students to hear their thoughts, hopes, and experiences. I encourage you to listen below! Scroll down for highlights, reflections, and some great photos from last year’s trip.

Meet Some of PCA’s 2025 Missions Team

A person with red hair and a black jacket smiles in a portrait against a gray background.
Christian, Junior (Class of ’26)
A person with long brown hair smiles slightly, wearing a white top and a necklace, set against a neutral gray background.
Maeve, Junior (Class of ’26)
A person with long blond hair, smiling, wearing a patterned top against a gray background.
Lucy, Sophomore (Class of ’27)
Person with long hair wearing a blue top, smiling in front of a gray background.
Molly, Freshman (Class of ’28)
A man with short brown hair and a beard is smiling slightly, wearing a dark collared shirt against a gray studio background.
Mr. Nick Watson, Missions Club Co-leader and Kaleidoscope Assistant Director (Alum Class of ’19). Mr. Watson has also coached, volunteers, and helps lead PCA’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddles. 
A person with long brown hair smiling against a gray background.
Senorita Emily Fontaine, Missions Club Co-leader and Spanish Teacher. Ms. Fontaine’s vision and leadership has been pivotal in renewing PCA’s Student Missions after COVID. 

Podcast Summary

Over winter break, 20 PCA Upper School students and their chaperones will head to Puerto Rico for a missions trip focused on service, faith, and leadership. This episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at their preparation, expectations, and past experiences—offering powerful insights into how God is shaping our students through this opportunity.In this conversation, you’ll meet four students: Maeve, Christian, Molly, and Lucy, who share what’s driving them to serve, what excites them, and what challenges they anticipate.

Some are returning for the second time, eager to build on past experiences, while others are stepping into their first missions trip, trusting God to stretch them.

You’ll also hear from Mr. Nick Watson, a PCA alum and co-leader of the trip, who reflects on how these trips ignite faith, build resilience, and develop leaders.

Listen in as they talk about:
✅ Moments that deeply shaped their faith—like powerful worship nights and eye-opening service projects

✅ The real impact of missions—not just on those they serve, but on their own spiritual growth

✅ Lessons from past trips—how joy can be found in unexpected places, and how true service is about relationship, not rescue

✅ How YOU can pray for them—covering their travels, their work, and their faith journey.

Would you commit to praying for these 20 students and their chaperones as they prepare to go? Let’s lift them up in prayer as they step out in faith and serve!

Group of people in casual clothing posing with garbage bags in an outdoor area with overgrown plants and old buildings.
Last year’s PCA crew working on clearing out an abndoned building that Christian (picture center back with white hat) describes in the podcast.
A group of people wearing blue shirts gather in a room, facing a speaker on stage. The room has dim lighting and a screen with a logo and text in the background.
PCA students learned about ongoing ministries and joined them in reaching their current communities. Here PCA students join the Dreamcenter Esperanza team in loving their neighborhoods well with the gospel and help. In this podcast, this is the group that goes into the poorest neighborhoods and sets up hot dog stands (free) and offers prayer while the students prepare the hot dogs. 
People gathered indoors, some singing, with song lyrics projected on a screen. A woman has her arm around another person. Multiple people are standing near a table with trays.
Worship and small grop time is part of every night. Here you see PCA students (including Maeve from the podcast) leading, supported by YouthWorks staff. 

To hear past episodes, share with your loved ones and friends, follow, and even review us, check out our PCA Podcast on these platforms:

BeanPod
Spotify
Apple
YouTube