Personal Narrative Trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil Essay Example
Personal Narrative Trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil Essay Example

Personal Narrative Trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (837 words)
  • Published: January 17, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Brazil, the largest country in South America and the world's largest by geographical area, has a population of 192 million people. It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas. In summer 2011, I was eagerly anticipating my upcoming trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil. This trip would not only be my first mission trip with others but also my very first international flight. Finally, on Saturday, July 16, 2011, we reached Brazil's airport where we collected our suitcases and were welcomed by pastors from the churches we would be collaborating with.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we proceeded to have lunch. Subsequently, we returned to our rooms to freshen up and prepare ourselves for a welcoming ceremony scheduled at one of the churches that evening. The following day held significant importance, partic

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ularly for me! Our plan was to venture into the streets of Sao Paulo and engage in street evangelism. Incidentally, each of us took a handful of English-Portuguese tracts and distributed them to the individuals we encountered on the street. Additionally, we visited some houses where we distributed tracts and utilized an evangecube to share the story of Jesus.

In the morning, we successfully converted over 20 people to Christianity. Afterward, we took a break for lunch before returning to church in the evening. The first three days in Brazil without my loved ones and companions were quite disheartening, especially because my phone was not working. By the fourth day, I longed for home. At first, I was hesitant to try their cuisine since it was my first time experiencing food from another country. However, I soon discovered that thei

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meals were similar to ours. They have a substantial lunch and a small dinner. Our daily meal typically consisted of rice and beans with beef and salad.

On Monday, July 18, our team went out in the morning to engage in street evangelism. Our goal was to guide as many individuals as possible towards accepting Christ. The following day, we continued with our street evangelism efforts, but in the evening, three preachers from our team visited different churches and addressed the congregations. Once the services concluded, we requested them to order pizza for us. On our way back to the hotel, I was deeply saddened by the distressing scene outside. From the window, I witnessed individuals sleeping on the ground or atop trash bags. Moreover, I witnessed them rummaging through the bags, desperately searching for something to eat.

As we traveled along the road, I witnessed numerous people lying on corners and the ground. This sight evoked intense emotions within me, causing tears to stream down my face. The overwhelming scene shattered my heart into countless fragments; I struggled to comprehend what I was seeing. The urge to disembark from the bus and offer assistance overwhelmed me. Upon arriving at the hotel parking lot, I got off the bus and made my way to my room. Consumed by devastation, I had no appetite, longing only for some sleep. However, before laying down, I humbly knelt to offer a prayer. My supplication focused on wishing for these suffering individuals to experience improved circumstances and encounter someone who would guide them towards understanding the boundless love of God.

On July 19 and 20, our

tasks were numerous. We needed to prepare all the crafts for the vacation bible school, inflate the soccer balls for the sports event, deliver a package of food to a needy family, and engage in some street evangelism. On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to assist in delivering the food to the family in need and even demonstrate my evangecube to them. From July 21 to 23, our focus shifted towards the children. These three days were solely dedicated to them as we organized a three-day Vacation Bible School.

During the VBS, I was filled with joy as I witnessed many young children dedicating their lives to God. The VBS concluded with an exciting sports event between the Brazilians and Americans, where I especially enjoyed watching the American men compete against the Brazilian boys and men. Throughout the week, over 100 individuals accepted Christ, and personally, I guided at least 30 of them. On Friday, July 22nd, the Brazilians organized a farewell ceremony for us at church to symbolize that we were not only friends but also brothers and sisters united in Christ.

While in Brazil, myself and everyone else had no desire to leave as I went through significant changes and developed a strong urge to stay there. The idea of returning to the United States did not interest me; instead, my goal was to spread God's message throughout Brazil. However, upon my return home, my perspective on life underwent a complete transformation. This journey made me realize how often we complain about what we lack in life. Not only did going to Brazil provide me with a glimpse of life beyond

the United States but it also deepened my understanding of others' perspectives on worshiping God. This experience had a profound impact on me, fueling my commitment to continue missionary work.

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