Personal Reflections-Jaye
What an amazing experience this trip was. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to go to Brazil and share my faith through my passion for the sport of volleyball. Thank you, to all of you who made this trip possible. The volleyball team is very grateful. Without your support, none of us would have the memories that we now have.
As I sit and reflect on my time spent in Brazil, I am overcome with many emotions. I have had so many thoughts running through my head and emotions running through my heart since returning to the United States. I find myself thinking and daydreaming frequently about Brazil.
Through experiences with the Brazil trip, God has shown me so many things. One lesson I learned was patience. I am usually a very patient person, except when it comes to time and being punctual. I am the type of person that is always early to arrive and I also prefer to follow a schedule. In Brazil, punctuality became less of a priority for me. The “laid back” culture of Brazil led me to question my priorities. What is the hurry in life? Why not sit back and take it all in every once in a while? I asked myself these questions over and over when we were traveling from place to place. I did not want to miss anything.
The most rewarding thing for me on this trip was the smiles on all of the children’s faces. It did not matter how tired I was physically or emotionally, whenever I saw a smile on a child’s face, everything was worth it. I don’t know anything about the home life of the children we played with. But to see them smiling, running around, and having fun was incredible. I will never forget the little boy I played with at one of the last schools we visited. I wish I knew his name. We were playing with a little bouncy ball and every time he threw the ball to me and I caught it, he had a huge smile on his face. His smile is unforgettable. I am glad that I had the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful smiles in the world.
One thing that hit me the hardest emotionally was driving by the biggest favela, or slum, in South America every morning. The first time I saw it, I couldn’t hold back the tears. It was a daily reminder of how blessed I am and how much I take life for granted. Every day is a gift from God; it is a blessing to wake up with a roof over my head each morning.
Right now, I am having culture shock. It baffles me that our culture in the United States leads us to believe that everything has to be the biggest and the best. Why can’t we be happy with the simple things in life? I think that we can all learn a lesson from Brazil. That lesson is to be happy with what we have and to make the most out of life. Life is an incredible gift from God. A part of my heart stayed in Brazil when we left, and it will always be there. I hope that we had as much impact on the lives of those we worked with, as they had on my life.
It was difficult leaving the team at the airport yesterday. OJ brought me back to the hotel in a taxi that got stuck in evening traffic. I just sat and prayed for a safe flight for the team. I went to bed early, following a hamburger on the roof, thinking about being in Rio alone. That didn't seem to bother me because I slept eleven hours.
To make a long story (morning) short, I FOUND MARIA and had a sweet reunion with her and her daughter. She lives near the new church that was born out of a seed planted by our team 3 years ago on that little hilltop with the small outdoor basketball court nearby. Maria's daughter was there and yelled "Betty" when she saw me. And, there stood Maria!! What a heavenly moment for me! Her smile said it all. After a period of time she went inside her home and brought our her newborn son, Marcos. I held him and prayed for Maria and her three children, along with Pastor Douglas and the new church start that stood nearby. The smile on Maria's face will remain vivid to me for years to come. She took the photo and the other gifts I brought her. It was difficult to say "goodbye" again, but God had granted me the desire of my heart - to see Maria again.
Hello everyone. We are back in TN. It was a very rewarding experience for everyone. We started out the evening very interesting in that we left the Sao Paulo 1 hour behind schedule. This made our arrival time in Houston at 6:40 am, our departure time was at 7:20 am. They held the plane for 10 extra minutes for us. We ran through the airport, customes, etc. to get there. We made it with one minute to spare. We were all awake after that. We are glad to be home.
Good Morning Everyone!! What a week it has been!!!! The girls, the people, the translators, the leaders (who put this all together) just Amazing.
WOW! Is it really over? Words fail me as I attempt to bring closure tonight to this journey. Part of me feels like we just got here and another part feels like we have been here for weeks. I feel empty and yet so full. I’m exhausted, yet energized as I release the team to a free evening without schedule. The girls are at the hippie fair across the street getting some last minute souvenirs before our tourism day tomorrow and departure for the states tomorrow night. They are free now, free in the spirit.
God may have saved the best experiences for the last day. We went to a school this morning in a favela (slum) and the entire school was waiting for us, surrounding the outdoor court. Preschoolers to middle school children turned out to welcome us as we stepped off the bus. They were waiting, waiting for the Americans and greeted us with smiles as wide as the ocean. How beautiful they were!!! The screams turned to clapping, then to hugs and kisses as the team took time to reach out and touch each one. I just knew this would be a special day to end the mission journey. They even had us line up on the court while they played our national anthem. It brought tears and great joy to hear it in another country. Following our anthem they played the Brazilian anthem.
We played, hugged, signed autographs, danced, and loved on those children. We took enough photographs to filled up all our cameras. There is no way to describe the morning at this school. Following our time with the kids, we then took a walk into the favela to see for ourselves where these children come from. I won’t attempt to talk about that. The only way I can describe it is to tell you I can still smell the place as I type this closure. You have to be there to have any idea how these people live. And, that favela is just a small dot in what is a typical Brazilian landscape, slums on top of slums, mile after mile. The bus was very quiet as we drove away.
Following a light lunch we proceeded to the last stop in our trip, a small school for children of special needs. There we saw children with multiple handicaps and many needs. Our hearts were broken as we observed children with muscular dystrophy, extreme autism, and many other needs. I watched our girls kneel beside these children, touch, hug, love, and give attention. I saw our tears from broken hearts. We were truly humbled. We met with mothers who stay at the school for support and encouragement from one another. They answered our questions, along with the staff and teachers. They told us not to feel sorry for them. Their children are God’s gift to them and that He has a purpose in giving them these children. We gathered to pray for the children and their families prior to leaving.
Saying goodbye to our local leader, Marsio (Marsue), and our translators was a very emotional time. Looks like it would get easier for me after all these years, but it is always the toughest part of the trip. There is a special bond between teams and their lay leaders and translators that is very unusual. I won’t even attempt to describe it. This team has made some very special new friends.
I’m not doing this justice tonight. I feel so inadequate to even share my thoughts. They seem so trite compared to how it really is. My heart is full and overflowing, but empty at the same time. The team gathered in my room for debriefing and processing prior to our meal. Each member shared from the heart. I feel so blessed to have led this team. They are an amazing group of people. They have touched my life deeply, making a lasting imprint while joining the other athletes who have served in the past twelve years in Sports Evangelism. I can’t say enough about Deane and Tony and their leadership. These two are men of God who have shown their players what it is to take a stand for Christ. I have watched them, time after time, follow the girls’ testimonies with a clear explanation of the gospel and how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The more they shared, the better they got. I listened as the girls opened their hearts and talked about how Christ makes a difference in their lives. Each player had her own special ministry. I am so proud. I am blessed. I just wish parents and families and people at Belmont could witness what I have seen these past ten days. I am confident we will see all this make a difference in what is already a championship team. 
I am always amazed at the different ways God uses our gifts. I am a pharmacist, and my primary job here is pharmacy. Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t do anything else. God has taken these girls’ talent of playing volleyball and brought them to minister through a sport that people in Brazil love. The kids are simply in awe of these players, and the teams they have played have been excited to have a team from the United States to play. Quite a few people from these teams have noticed the girls smiling all the time, and there is nothing like a smile. It speaks a thousand words that these girls can’t say because they don’t speak Portuguese. 
I'm here to tell about my experience with the team as a translator. It has been very different than the usual medical clinics that I work. At the beginning when Jennifer told me that I was going to work with a volleyball team, I thought it would be harder than usual because they are athletes. I didn't know how it would be because up until now I've been working only with teachers, doctors, dentists, and eye doctors helping them to share the Gospel.
Esta sendo uma semana muito legal e muito interessante estar com essa equipe de volleyball de Belmont. Esse grupo e muito especial e muito dedicado ao que elas fazem – jogar volleyball. E muito bom ver como elas se dedicam a esse esporte sem reclamar de cansaco. Como e bom ve-las compartilhando a Palavra de Deus e dando seus testemunhos. Realmente Deus tem abencoado essa semana com elas aqui no Rio de Janeiro. E bom tambem ver como elas estao curtindo e aproveitando a estada aqui. Realmente sao meninas de Deus e creio que Deus ainda tem grandes coisas para fazer na vida de cada uma delas. Como e maravilhoso o nosso Deus, como Ele faz as coisas. As vezes ficamos sem entender qual sera o proximo passo do nosso Deus. Louvado seja Deus por isso. Realmente nao tenho palavras para expressar o que estou sentindo por estar aqui com elas essa semana. A unica coisa que posso dizer e que tento fazer o melhor que posso para fazer a obra de Deus cada vez melhor. Muito obrigado pela dedicacao e pelo amor que voces tiveram com cada pessoa aqui no Rio. Muito obrigado mesmo! Que Deus abencoe cada um de voces. 
It has been a very cool and interesting week to be with this volleyball team from Belmont. This is a very special and very dedicated group in what they do the best, to play volleyball. It is good to see how they dedicate themselves without complaining. It is also good to see them sharing the Word of God e sharing their testimonies. God has really blessed this week with them down here in Rio de Janeiro. It is good to see them enjoying and digging this week. They really are people of God and believe that God has yet much more great things to do at their lives. How wonderful it is our God and how He does the things happen. Sometimes we cannot understand which will be God’s next step. Praise Him for that. I don’t have words to express what I’m feeling for being with them during this week. The only thing I can say is that I’m doing the best I can for God’s work. Thank you so much fellas for ya’ll dedication and for the love ya’ll had with the people in Rio. I really thank ya’ll. May God continue blessing each one of you. 
The pure amazement that has captured us all on this wonderful experience is nearly indescribable. Since our arrival in Brazil, we have had many amazing opportunities. Driving through the city on our bus, we look out onto a beautiful ocean. On the other side, we notice something beyond description. Hundreds of houses are literally stacked on top of each other occupying an entire mountainside. As we go into schools to be with the children, the main goal is not to play amazing volleyball. Ministry is at the center of all of our hearts, waiting for an opportunity to share our faith. Although language may be a barrier, a smile can be understood in any language. A simple smile and hug can truly change the day of a child. Through the playing of volleyball, we have been able to share our love with these children. As we continue on this trip, a desire is shared among all of the girls, a desire to do more, to help more people, and to continue sharing our faith with the people of Brazil. Although the favelas may not always be safe, we all look forward to the day of which we will enter the community. Not knowing what is behind the walls, we can only imagine the life that is yet hidden to the remainder of the city. This trip has been extremely rewarding, having the opportunity to experience so many wonderful things is a true blessing from God. Volleyball may be a reason for the trip, but the main purpose of this is to spread the amazing love of Jesus Christ and doing that through a game of which we all love is an experience of which we will all cherish. 
This trip has been the most amazing experience of my life. We have seen the gorgeous beaches and sunsets that make you never want to leave. We have seen the slums that break your heart and make you want to do whatever you can to help. The favelas look so sad during the day, but at night with all of the lights, the favelas look almost beautiful. It seems that their poverty is masked at night just as their reality is masked by dreams of opportunity. We have met the most amazing people who have helped us to understand the Brazilian culture.
Good Morning Everyone!! We are leaving today at 7:30 am to take a 2 hour drive to tour the Brazilian Olympic Center. We hope that we will get to interact with the Brazilian National team, and share our faith. God will open those doors. The girls are very excited, because it is not to often to see players at this level, the Brazilian National team is ranked #2 in the World. They are also very excited to meet and to share their faith with them. After, the visit at the Olympic Center we will then get ready for our last match of the trip. We will be playing the number one club in Rio. 
Today was another excellent day for our team. After breakfast at the hotel, we went to church at Recrieo. I’ve only worshipped in other countries a few times, and each time has been both unique and powerful. Today was no different. 
After a quick bite to eat, we headed to our afternoon playing site. We played against Vasco Barra, another prominent club in the area. We played two games, winning both. After the match, we exchanged gifts with the Vasco coaches and players. Emily shared what Christ meant in her life, and did an outstanding job. After the share time was over, our team had the opportunity to interact with the Vasco team and fans. The rest of the consisted of enjoying another team meal and seeing many partake in the “sport” of shopping. Today was the least physically taxing day we’ve had.
Bom Dia!!! Today we are going to a 1000 member church. We will have to get there early for it is standing room only. We look forward to worshiping and praising God in a different culture. It will be an amazing experience for all of us. After we go to church, we will then go and play a club team called Vasco Barra at 2:30. This team is ranked 3rd in their league. The other day we played Flamengo, who was ranked 2nd in their league. But you know, it is not about the ranking or the competition. It is about spreading the word of God to others. Volleyball is our tool to use. Believe me when I say these girls are using this gift / tool to its fullest.
I’m not quite sure how to describe what I have experienced so far in Brazil. It has been breathtaking in so many ways from the loving people to the warm hearts of the children. I have been completely overtaken with the culture and beauty of this great country. We have seen so much in so little time, and everywhere we go we are welcomed with open arms. While there is so much beauty on this land like the incredible mountains there is much suffering on the other side that saddens your heart. However, what’s remarkable is the fact that despite all of the pain that these people endure, they always seem to be smiling and a loving life. It makes me wonder what we Americans are doing that we don’t have that joy and zest for life! I have definitely grown spiritually on this trip as well. I gave my testimony for the first time ever, and the emotions that followed hit me like a freight train. We have touched the lives of so many while we’ve been here, including mine. Today we played volleyball on the beach and it was so much fun! Some of us stayed on the shore while Colleen and Cary were rolling around in the waves like crazy people. Needless to say it has been a fabulous adventure. I have had such an incredible experience so far and I can’t wait for what’s to come. 
There is information and emotional overload for me as I try to collect my thoughts to put in this journal. I have not had time to even look at the entries on this journal. I’m just trying to keep us on schedule and in the right place at the right time. I can’t tell you how proud I am of this team. I’m so blessed to watch them give of themselves so beautifully and unselfishly. I can tell you this – they are tired little babies, having worked day and night since our arrival. They are like the energizer bunny – they just keep going and going.
8:00 p.m. We have just returned from a game with a local club. It was amazing to see how God took tired and weary bodies and gave strength for the occasion. I watched as the team rallied from within, from reserves they didn’t even know they had, to play and have fun, interact, and share Christ. Cat stood before her teammates and the crowd to share from her heart how she has learned to trust God is some very difficult times. It was refreshing to see her speak of God’s love and how she had discovered that love in a new way. Tony followed with his genuine passion for his friend, Jesus Christ, and how important it is to have a personal friend who understands all our needs. He shared with the crowd how to have that relationship and prayed with them to receive Christ. It was a powerful moment to bring to a close another day of ministry. 
Bom Dia!!! (Good Morning!!!) The past three days has been amazing to witness. The girls are doing awesome, having fun, learning Portuguese, winning kids and adults over to Christ. It is truly amazing to see the interaction between everyone with our girls. There are no words to express to you on what we are witnessing. Each time the girls get up to speak, everyone is hanging on every word. Everything that I have witnessed so far, I know that God is with us. 
Today the team will be playing in an outdoor tournament on the beach. The goal is when people stop to watch the tournament play, that we can tell them about Christ and invite to church. We look forward to spread the word of Christ to people we come in contact with on the beach. After the tournament, we will then take a little rest and get ready to go to the American School.
Last night the Ladies played a very competitive team. We played a full 5 games. The match went back and forth for a very long time. It ended up that we both had two wins and it came down to the final game. Our girls came out strong and took a 5 point lead. Hang on!! The Brazilians did not give up. They came back to tie the game. The game then went point for point to 12, then our girls received their second wind and was able to overcome. After the match, we began our ministry!! However, who knew that while we were playing we were ministering to those young ladies, to the people in the stands, and the coach. They were amazed in how we constantly had a smile on our faces, calling our own errors (nets, touches, etc.). We had earned a lot of respect. We presented the team with towels with John 3:16 embroidered on it in Portuguese, and presented the Coach with an NCAA Game ball (with our signatures). Everything was well received to where the word spread about our message. Brittany and Deane were witnessing to a soccer player who wanted to hear the message. Just AMAZING!!!! God is Amazing!!!
Each of us has had different experiences so far, and each of us has been touched by certain people or children. I have literally fallen in love with Brazil, with its simplicity and its beauty. My closest ties so far have been with the translators; Jennifer, Norma, Igor, Skinny, Terresa and Robert. They have treated me with so much respect and love. I can’t believe we have such good people who can speak two different languages with such feeling. They feel like family already. 
I experienced something tonight that I will never forget. A boy came up after we left the gym and wanted a hug and a Brazilian greeting (a cheek kiss!). I talked for a short time, then said “Chow!” and started walking away. Teressa called me and a translator back, because he wanted to talk about God with us. He had seen us play and heard our testimonies. His sister, who already had a relationship with God called him as he was about to leave. Immediately he picked up the phone and told her that people from America were talking about God. She said “I know, that’s why I called you”. That is why he hurried after us.
There is so much more that is happening, it is overwhelming. More will definitely be shared at home! See you soon!
Hi, my name is Ednan Pessoa. I am a Christian and also I have translated for Belmont players. It has been such a blessing to experience this wonderful work! God has been using volleyball to reach out to Brazilian young people! Many Brazilians have had the opportunity to see god’s love in those American Players. Not only can the Belmont players play volleyball very well, but also their kindness, happiness have been a testimony to those who do not know Jesus yet. Praise god for this Christ-like volleyball team!
The past two days have been life changing for me. I’ve never felt so many different emotions all at once. Not only are all of the schools in Rio in dire need of help, but the whole entire community is as well. Even though there are people living on the streets, children covered in dirt, and sewage floating in the ocean water, beauty is everywhere. Once I was able to look past some of the distractions, I began to see how blessed I was to be here. At both of the schools, I fell in love with each and every child. Every one of the children was crying out to be touched, loved, and just paid attention to. One boy in particular has completely changed my life. His name was Choby. I noticed Choby because he was alone most of the time and just looked like he was used to not having any attention or love. I reached for his hand and we sat down to listen to Tony give his testimony. As Tony was speaking, Choby grabbed my hand and just held it. He held my hand so tightly and he slid over so we were closer. At that point, I was struggling to hold back my tears. As Tony finished, Betty took over and offered the children the opportunity to live a life with Jesus Christ.
I looked at Choby and put my hand on my heart and said “Jesus Christ”…and as I did that he started to cry and put his hand on his heart like mine, and said “Jesus Christ”. Choby accepted Jesus Christ into his heart. When Betty told me that she was wanting to take the volleyball team to Brazil, I was so excited that I made a packing list 3 months in advance. I am truly witnessing the power of God in every activity we do here. Never before have I seen so many children, and never before have I felt the Holy Spirit working constantly through me. God has sent each and every one of us here for a reason and I feel blessed to be a part of such an amazing team.
Wow! My experience so far in Rio has been incredible. My eyes have been opened so much. I LOVE Brazil and everything it has to offer. The food is incredible; I am definitely not going hungry. I have even tried new things, like chicken heart. It wasn’t bad, though I’m not sure that I’ll ever eat it again. The city is gorgeous. One of my favorite things to do here, so far is to sit on the roof of our hotel and look out over the ocean toward the mountains and loose myself in thought. God continues to blow me away. Rio is so different than anywhere I have ever been. I love the Brazilian culture and people; it is much different than I am used to. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone when it comes to my personal space. 
I love being in the schools and spending time with the kids. Playing tonight was also fun. The team was very good. It was a good experience to play against people that are older than us. The people here are so open to what we have to say. It is amazing to be sitting among them while someone is talking and to see how attentive and drawn they are to hearing what we are going to say. It is evident to me that God is working through us. I have realized, in a very short time how much I take my life for granted, especially the little things. Most of the people in Rio have so little compared to what we are used to in the United States. Every time we are driving from place to place my heart is torn by the sites I see. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve God here in Rio. I am truly blessed. 
Good Morning everyone. It is a beautiful morning here in Rio. We will begin our day around 10 am, the girls are getting a well deserved rest from yesterday. Yesterday was an amazing day, seeing the girls interact with the kids and the team we competed against. The love that they showed would touch anyone's heart. The kids are amazing themselves, they were so excited to see us that at the end of the day they were wanting the teams autographs, pictures, etc. One little boy was crying because we were leaving, that tells you how much of an impact these young ladies are having on these kids. 
The first day in Rio has already been an amazing experience. Before I left BW told me by the end of our trip I would feel a huge change in my life. I was slightly skeptical. However, at the end of day one I feel a gigantic rush in my heart. Looking into children’s eyes at schools, taking in incredible sites, and already wishing I could be in Brazil for more than ten days. I recently graduated from Belmont with my master’s degree. I can tell you that in my six years at Belmont this has been my greatest educational experience. Our world is connected in many ways, and being here in Brazil demonstrates that relationship. I am truly blessed to have Jesus Christ in my life, and blessed to be apart of such a wonderful involving experience. 
Today in Rio, we visited two schools where we had the amazing opportunity to play volleyball and share this unforgettable experience with the Brazilian children. In the end, I think I got just as much out of our time with them as they got out of me. These children weren’t just any children but had a certain enthusiasm to whatever we threw their way. They couldn’t ask enough questions or spend enough time with us. As we left the second school they chased after the bus for 3-4 blocks until reaching a busy intersection. As we watched them out the window of the bus sending off their finals waves and blowing their last kisses, my heart went out to them and I knew that I would always have that image of those children to look back on. What a wonderful experience and its only day 1!
We will depart the Hotel at 8:30 am to perform a clinic and speak at 10 am at E.M. Burle Marx School and 1 pm at E.M. Menezes Cortes. We are anticipating working with ages 5 to 8 years old for these two schools. After the completion of the clinics we will then journey to Academia B.T. to compete against a Coed Club Team. This will conclude our first day beginning at 8:30 am and ending approximately returning to the hotel at 11 pm.
