Rio Journal 2007

It is hard to believe that we’ve been back in Nashville for over two weeks already, as it we were just there. Though it has been wonderful to be home and to see family, it has been challenging as well. It’s always a struggle reinserting myself back into daily life after a mission trip, but for some reason this time has been much more difficult.

It is truly humbling to be used for God’s purpose, be that at home or around the world. Knowing you’ve been used while feeling unworthy to be used fit perfectly when describing my emotions from our trip.

One of the things I will remember is what an outstanding job each of our team members did while there. From players getting up to talk and share about their faith for the first time in their lives, to Tony and Josie doing an outstanding job leading, I was impressed time and time again.

I’ve come away from the trip with a couple of personal reflections. There really aren’t answers right now, more things for me to think about, pray about, and work through. In what ways should we, as a team, be involved in ministry in and around Belmont that we haven’t done in the past? In what ways should I, as a coach, minister to our team that I haven’t done in the past?

Thank you to all of you that supported us and our trip. Whether through prayer, transportation, finances, or communication, each piece of support meant a great deal to us and is yielding eternal significance in the lives of many people. Thank you to all of the parents that entrusted your daughters to us and allowed us to take them to Brazil for this life changing experience.

Last, but far from least, a special thanks goes to BW for leading our trip. After beginning to talk and pray about this trip four years ago, it was amazing to see it all take place. Thank you for all the work you did in preparation for our trip, and thank you for the example you continue to set here at Belmont. It was an honor to minister alongside you as your brother in Christ.

This trip is another beginning in our lives of God working in us and through us. I don’t know where my (or our team’s) journey will take me, but I know that He does.

There is a chorus by Steve Green (from Philippians 1:6) that seems appropriate now in light of God working in and through us:

He who began a good work in you, He who began a good work in you, Will be faithful to complete it, He'll be faithful to complete it, He who started the work, Will be faithful to complete it in you

Deane

Posted by Tony at 10:57 AM | Permalink

It’s strange coming home after such a life-altering trip. I view things so differently now, and it makes me see how much we take life for granite and don’t understand how blessed we are. In this time of reflection I am still taking in all that I saw and experienced in Brazil—still finding it hard to grasp. I feel like I’ve changed a great deal emotionally and spiritually, and my eyes have been opened to what is most important in life. Everything about Brazil is beautiful—the people, the culture, and the land. However, there is so much suffering and despair that goes unnoticed. These people certainly live in a paradoxical world. Yet, while they endure so much toil to survive, they remain the most loving and giving people I’ve ever met.

This trip was an experience of a lifetime, and I am so lucky to have spent it with my best friends and teammates. I know we are going to be so much closer now, if that’s even possible, and we will always have this great memory we can share. So many great things have come out of this trip and I am so fortunate to have been given the chance to go and experience a different culture.

It’s difficult summing up this trip in just a few words, because I feel like it’s something you have to experience for yourself to fully understand. However, if I can pass on any words of wisdom, it is to love your friends, love your family, and have faith. It may seem cliché, but when you have nothing left, it is what is most important in life—love and faith.

Posted by Tony at 11:56 AM | Permalink

Brazil. AMAZING! It is hard to find the words that can express how grateful I am for receiving such an awesome opportunity. Being able to travel, share about Christ and play volleyball in Rio, Brazil was a once in a lifetime experience. Playing volleyball is one of my favorite activities, but to use the simple love of a sport to connect with others even with a language barrier was incredible. No matter where we are in the world, who our parents are, the language we speak, or the food we eat, there are always similarities and a way to connect. As much I enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Rio, the people we were able to meet was the greatest joy of the trip. There were so many interesting people, ranging from the missionaries, interpreters, the children we met at schools, or the many people we played against. Each person had an original life story that made each encounter wonderful and unique. In conclusion, I feel my mind and more importantly my heart is much fuller after spending ten unbelievable days in Rio, Brazil.

Josie Hackworth

Posted by Tony at 09:09 AM | Permalink

Looking back on our mission trip to Rio, I am starting to realize just how lucky I really am to have been given such a wonderful opportunity not only to experience all that this wonderful city has to offer but also to experience it with some of the most important people to me in the world. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience to witness the breathtaking beauty and at the same time, tough realities of Rio with my teammates and best friends. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this trip possible, to name a few: Betty Wiseman, Sharon and Ray Fairchild, Marsue, and all of our wonderful translators. And to everyone else who had a part in making this dream a reality, I cannot express to you enough how much it has meant to all of us. God bless you all…

Posted by Tony at 08:45 AM | Permalink

To try to write one page on my final thoughts from our trip to Brazil is impossible. All I can say is, it was an experience of a lifetime; Rio, the people we met there and the things we did will always have a special place in my heart. I will never forget any of it. It has changed my life in ways that I never would have thought and has opened my eyes to a life that i never knew existed. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, good and bad. The sights are permanently engrained in my memory along with the testimonies and conversations of my teammates. It was a time spent with not only my team, but my best friends, and to be able to experience this with them is the best thing i ever could have asked for. It brought us closer as a team but even closer as friends. Thank you to all of our interpreters, to sharon and ray for allowing us to have this opportunity. Thank you to Marsou who made sure that we had teams to play and places to have a great time. Thank you most of all to BW. With out her none of this would have been possible. Belmont and it's athletics are lucky to have her representing us.

Obrigada!! :)

Emily

Posted by Tony at 08:51 AM | Permalink

I arrived home yesterday (Thursday) in my “scrubs”, having gone directly from the medical clinic to the airport in Rio to fly home. I find adjustment a bit difficult following three weeks in Rio. However, it was wonderful to be at home last night and sleep in my own bed. Needless to say, I spent hours doing laundry.

My experience with the medical team was indescribable! I spent about 7 hours a day sitting in a room welcoming anywhere from 5-10 people at a time to share the gospel. Most times there were children present with parents. On one occasion a young mother had two babies nursing (one on each breast) while another child leaned on her lap. Nursing babies in public is just as natural as feeding from the bottle in the states. The people were so excited to hear me share about God’s love for them and his desire to have a relationship with them through his son, Jesus. Time after time, the room was filled with the sound of people praying with me, in Portuguese, to receive Christ. That beautiful sound continues to ring loud and clear in my ears as I reflect on my time working with the medical team. The smiles on their faces when they left said it all. One lady said, “I have always wanted someone to help me understand about God and Jesus. Thank you for helping me to have Jesus in my heart.”

The only way I can describe it is to say “I experienced a revival in that little room.” There were four of us doing evangelism in separate areas of the little church where the clinic took place. Each person who came for medical care sat with one of us for a time of sharing the gospel before getting to see the doctor. They came for medical care, but got unexpected spiritual care as well.

This morning I asked God to help me adjust back into my routine at Belmont. It is always difficult to get back into the swing of things after a mission trip. Paperwork seems kind of insignificant, but God reminds me that my work here is ministry also. What I do in this office is just as important as my three weeks in Rio. He planted me at Belmont a long time ago and has been faithful through the years to give me precious lives to influence. This is my daily mission field and it is good to be home!

I am enjoying reading entries from our volleyball team as they process and reflect. I’ll let you read for yourselves how God worked in and through the lives of the volleyball team and coaches. It reaffirms my call to continue to do Sports Evangelism at Belmont and to be “on mission” every day of my life!

Posted by Betty Wiseman at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)