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)

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.

Posted by Tony at 03:43 PM | Permalink

The time spent in Brazil was nothing less than amazing. While we played volleyball and served the lord, our team grew much closer. It was certainly a trip that I will never forget and always cherish. While in Brazil, I was able to realize a lot. Not only did my coaches and teamates shine in the wonderul opporunity, but i was able to see how a different culture lives, an oportunity that many never get to truly discover. The volleyball play ended in a word of prayer, which was absolutely amazing to see. Personally, I love children and going to the schools to play with the kids was my favorite. Its strange how you often come to realize so much by traveling to another country. The plan of God was exposed in each of our lives throughout the trip. It sure is amazing what Christ can do with a volleyball team. Brazil was an amazing oportunity and I am extremely greatful for the blessing. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers while we were away. It was certainly an amazing 10 days.. and Brazil will always have a special place in my heart.

Posted by Tony at 03:41 PM | Permalink

Jennifer, OJ, Teresa and Robert, Edgina, Skinny, Salu, Cicaida, Sharon, Medium, and Norma....
I never thought I could get so close to strangers. But here I am at home, occasionally wiping my eyes because I can't go back to Rio to see them anytime soon. My "life" has started up again; summer classes, responsibilities, weddings...and all I can think about are flash images from public schools, late night talks at our hotel, a certain girl named Gabriella. I am here, but not really here. I have dreams of the school for special needs, and of riding the bus with everyone around me, of a crowd of kids asking me for my autograph.

I can't really talk about what happened in Rio with my family yet, because I can't put it into words. It's mostly feelings that I took back with me, and it's hard to convey feelings to people. I can't even look at our pictures yet.

This trip has made me question my relationships with others, my future, and what should be important in my life. I beleive it will directly affect my career choice. Again, I am reminded how big our world is, and that it takes many different kinds of people to 'keep it spinning'. To borrow a saying of Deane's, I feel so empty, but also so full: I gave everything I had in Rio, but was filled up with memories, feelings, and love from the translators and children we met along the way. I honestly think I am a different person than when I left for Rio. I wonder how the rest of the girls are coping and adjusting. It was a culture shock for us to come back to the US. I wonder just how much this trip changed their lives. By the end of our trip, I know I was ready to stay there for another few months. I didn't want to leave. I tried to memorize everything I saw on the way to the airport so I could take it back with me. It didn't work.

This experience was irreplaceable. To everyone who donated money and made this trip possible, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Know that these trips have the power to change lives, open eyes, and draw hearts closer to God. In just ten days.

Thankyou for this opportunity. It will not go to waste and will never be forgotten. :)

God Bless,
Brittany

Posted by Tony at 03:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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.

After some cereal and coffee this morning I pulled up themjournal and read all the entries, my first time to see and read all the team's comments and your responses. My heart is still overflowing with gratitude for all God did in the lives of our team.

I had a surprise call from "Edge" (translator) when I returned to my room. He was in the lobby waiting to take me to see Pastor Douglas, avpastor I worked with three years ago with a basketball team. Bob & Theresa took Edge and me to the favela to see if we could find Pastor Douglas and "Maria". So many of you have heard me talk bout Maria, a young woman who prayed with me to receive Christ during that last trip. I wrote a special story about her and have wanted to see her again. I brought an enlarged photo of that moment in her life captured by Paul Chenoweth three years ago. My prayer was that I could find her, remember the experience with her, and give her the photo.

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.

I now know why I had this "off" day in Rio by myself. It was a divine appointment and I am so grateful to God for this special blessing. I walked three blocks to McDonald's and had a late lunch. Now, Í'll settle in the room, read, pray, and have some down time before going to the airport tomorrow morning with Sharon to greet the medical team from my church. It will be good to welcome some of my dearest friends to Rio and share ministry with them.

I was glad to read that the team arrived safely, in spite of the close connection in Houston. God is good. He even holds planes for us in airports. Wish I could hear each team member sharing with family and friends their experiences.

Blessings from RIO!,
BW

Posted by Betty Wiseman at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

I will leave for the airport in an hour or so to meet the team. How exciting to know the day has arrived for us to be on our way to Rio!

This morning has been a real blessing as I have had some extended time to "be still" and "be quiet" and "uninterrupted" in God's presence to commune with Him. I was reminded that God ordained this trip with this particular team long before it was revealed to me. I am just the instrument for putting it in place and making it happen. How blessed I am!

As I prayed for each individual member of this team I refklected on what I know about each one's personality, gifts, and abilities. I prayed for a life-changing experience for each one. I prayed that each would be open to God's leadership in his/her life. I prayed for divine appointments for each of them where they will share God's love and His amazing grace. They can't know just yet what the events of the coming days will mean to them. I prayed that each of them would become more intimate with Christ as they become totally dependent on Him for resources these two weeks. I prayed for their spirits to soar!

My prayer for myself is that "He would become greater and I would be come less" and thiat I would be stripped of my own pride and ego and humbled so that God could use someone as insignificant and ordinary as me.

To God be the glory for the coming days of ministry in Rio, Brazil!!!
BW

Posted by Betty Wiseman at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)