Hey guys! I just got back from Brazil yesterday and I thought it would be a good idea to start a blog to keep you updated on my life this summer.
I arrived in Chicago on May 31 when I met the rest of the team, girls and guys (about 36 total). We spent Monday through Wednesday doing Sports Ministry training. The theme of this summer is Hebrews 11 and 12:1-3. We are discovering what it means to live by faith. We spent our training in Chicago discovering hinderances and sin that entangles and then throwing it off so we could run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We had different sessions on topics such as finding out your true motivation for playing soccer (is it really to play for the glory of god or is it for your own recognition/glory, etc). We talked about finding security in Christ as opposed to other things we fill our lives with. We talked about the power of sharing testimonies and the reason we even do evangelism. We had a session on Brazil- cultural norms, what to expect, etc. We also had soccer practice everday.
On Thursday June 4 we left for Brazil. It was a 10 hour flight but not too bad since we flew through the night. We arrived in Rio de Janiero on Friday morning and split up into two groups- half the guys and girls went to Goyana and the other half went to Teresopolis. Teresopolis is in the mountains and we weren’t warned how cold it would be! We stayed at a hotel which was beautiful. For any Nacho fans, “It had lush gardens,” a built in pool, sauna, and soccer field in the back where we trained with a professional Brazilian coach.
Saturday we got started with our main mission, working with a ministry called Project Grow. The pastor we were working with, Marlon, had a vision of kids coming to Christ through soccer so he started this ministry where kids get to come and play organized soccer but they have to take classes and also receive biblical teaching (they were going through a fruits of the spirit cirriculum). You have to understand- the people in Brazil thought we, as the Chicago Eagles, were a professional team from the states, so it was huge for us to come and spend time with these kids who have nothing. Our job was to basically draw kids to come check out Project Grow and share the gospel with them and spark excitement in them so they will continue to come to Project Grow. We had a platform to influence them through soccer, and just plainly because we were Americans. So we spent 3 days with kids from an extremely poor section. It reminded me a lot of Ethiopia. We would go and do clinics with them and there would be about 15 kids to start. As soon as we pulled out a soccer ball kids came from everywhere to play. Our bus picked them up and brought them to church services and it was awesome to get to know those precious kids for a few days.
We also did some match ministry. We played outdoor games and foot sol games- foot sol is so much fun (especially playing in a professional foot sol stadium!) We played games against Brazilian teams and then shared a testimony and the gospel with the team. I experienced a little bit what it would be like to be famous. The kids would come to watch our games and wanted our player cards autographed. So a swarm of kids would come and just as I’d be free to walk away more would come out of nowhere. We took about 20 pictures before and after games…being famous got old after a while!
We spent a few nights training church pastors and leaders on what sports ministry is and how they can start doing it. Soccer is life here in Brazil- when a game is on tv Brazil stops to watch the game. So to use it to reach people only makes sense. We showed them practical things they can do to use soccer to minister to people. The church we were working with was going through a rocky period so we were hopefully an encouragement to them to keep pressing on.
The last day in Teresopolis was a special day. We went to a house where a couple takes in kids who have been abused or neglected in some way. If someone notices kids are being mistreated they will turn them into the government and the government will send them to this couple. They take them for 3-4 months and treat them as God would have them be treated, until the kids get adopted or if their family has true transformation in that time they can go back. We saw a video of what some of the kids looked like when they got to the house- skin problems, mal-nourished, deformities, HIV. Then they showed what the kids looked like after receiving love and proper care. They have had 160 kids over the course of 8 years. We got to play with the 8 kids that were there.
I was asking the mom questions and was in tears as I found out the girls I was playing with were sexually abused, burned on their fingers and toes with irons, had marks on their faces from being hit…the kids were right there showing me their marks. The parents talk with them and pray with them to receive emotional healing as well. It’s one thing to hear about children being mistreated but to look them in the eyes knowing what they’ve been through is overwhelming. I commend these people for their ministry and it makes me think about how I don’t want to do anything else in life but stand up for the oppressed as God calls us to do. What’s the point of drowning in riches here on earth when there are so many people in this world suffering…who need us and need hope in Jesus Christ. This earth is so temporary- we’ll be gone before we know it, and God is going to ask us what we did when we were here on earth with what he gave us. I want to be able to say I served Him wholeheartedly everyday of my life. To me nothing else matters!
I can’t write my first blog without mentioning the food- life is all about food. I’m kidding…but the food was amazing! So much fresh fruit and vegetables..I could live on just that. We went to this really nice restaurant on the last night- they had top notch steak and would come by and cut off a piece onto your plate and would just keep coming with all these different kids until you couldn’t eat anymore. They had grilled salmon and sushi…and then grilled pineapple…amazing.
After a week in Teresopolis we traveled to Rio de Janiero for a week. We worked with another ministry at a very poor and forsaken place, doing clinics just like in Teresopolis, trying to draw kids to come. Our days were packed full from morning till night, but we did get to go to the beach a few times. We saw the Rio Harbor which is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. We had a baptism service at the beach for one of the Brazilian girls who gave their lives to Christ last year when the Eagles were in Brazil. It was awesome to have worship, devotionals and just time to relax there. And I fulfilled one of my life goals- drink coconut milk straight from a coconut in a tropical place! It actually wasn’t very good but I can say I did it atleast. We visited the Christ the Redeemer statue- one of the 7 monumental wonders of the world..that was amazing.
One specific thing God is teaching me personally is to be okay with having a behind the scenes role. I am so used to being a leader and normally I would have spoken in front of people, lead drills, prayed outloud, shared my heart in big groups, etc. But God is dealing with a lot of pride in my heart and I’m so glad He is. Instead of being in the front, speaking to a large amount of people, I would be in the back, sitting with kids, making them feel special and loving on them- things that no one would notice or recognize. God is purifying my heart and motivations and showing me that the greatest leader is the greatest servant and when I go back to school and have to be a leader on my soccer team I want to lead with pure motivations and servanthood, not to be recognized for what I’m doing.
I am so happy to be back in the States. I loved Brazil but just as they are lacking so many material necessities, America is lacking so many spiritual necessities. We have given earthly possessions way too much value. I think traveling is opening my eyes to the reason that scripture says, “Do not store up riches on this earth.” What’s the point? Where here on earth for such a short time- it is our destiny to love God and others and tell people about Him. That’s it- that’s why we were created. So often we lose sight of that fact and we focus in on ourselves and the material things we need…a nicer house, a nicer car, more money…but for what? It’s never enough. In Hebrews 11 it talks about many people who did heroic things by faith and at the end of the chapter it says, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” Maybe those who live by truly stepping out in faith will never receive their reward on this earth, but I believe God has riches stored in heaven for those who truly serve Him…riches that last forever and ever.
Today I’m going right into the heart of Chicago to start our first soccer camp. I am so excited for this because the emphasis is not soccer. Soccer is what is drawing the kids in but the mission is Jesus. I have such an excitement and sense of urgency, just realizing how many people need Christ. It is our destiny and responsibility to communicate the message of Jesus Christ to people. We have the opportunity to influence people to pass from death to life. So I pray that I will keep this sense of zeal and urgency even when I’m tired and worn out- knowing that pouring into these kids will have an eternal impact on them.
Wish I could say every little detail about Brazil and what I’m learning but I just wanted to give you all a little update. God is so good and I’m so thankful for everyone who made it possible for me to come. I’ll put up pictures when I can..we have a photographer with us and I’m not sure how we’ll get ahold of those pictures. I’ll update this again and let you know how my first week of camp went!
