Mission Trip in Rio de Janeiro Essay

It was a hot, searing day as the sun beat down on my skin. The lush green palm trees provided me shade as I sat and observed my surroundings. Children, barefoot and dirty, wearing tattered and stained clothes were running around laughing and playing. Their joyous giggles put a smile on my face and warmed my heart as I watched them.

At church, in addition to my participation in the worship services, I volunteered at our church’s soup kitchen, medical camps and elementary school for underprivileged children. These experiences opened my eyes to the deprivation of love and care in the world and a dire need of God’s grace for people at large so they could receive forgiveness, healing and restoration in their lives.

During the week in Chicago, I grew closer to God, learned how to be a better leader, and learned to put others before myself, which is what helped me become a better person. Serving others that had situations worse than I could imagine was life changing. The idea I could make such a tremendous change in someone’s life while doing activities I enjoyed, opened my eyes to the potentials of serving. After the week ended and I returned home, I wanted to do more for the people around me who were less fortunate. Going into freshman year, I made the decision to volunteer at Urban Vision. I help kids who have newly immigrated to Akron and the United States find items at a holiday shop for their families and themselves. Many of these kids went directly to the necessity aisle, (i.e. toilet paper, laundry detergent, and soaps) to get these items for their families, even though there were plenty of toys for the kids themselves. These kids helped me realize I should be grateful for everything in life, from shelter over my head to the clothes on my

Sao Paulo is Brazil’s financial center and is well-known for its breathtaking views, its abundant cultural institutions and for their rich architectural scene. However, there are many negative issues that are ravaging the lives of the citizens in this city. For starters, Sao Paulo has terribly congested traffic, a significant amount of crime and gang violence, a lack of quality in the medicine-health field, a high amount of air pollution, and also water shortages. However, these are not the biggest of their obstacles. Sao Paulo’s most pressing issue of the moment is the informal housing that is plaguing the city. This essay will first analyze Sao Paulo, Brazil’s informal housing issue, then will compare Sao Paulo’s unique obstacle to similar

The name Brazil comes from Pau Brasil. There are around 145 million people living in Brazil, most of them near the coast. The population is growing rapidly and half of all Brazilians are under the age of 20. By the end of the century, it is estimated that Brazil’s population will have reached 180 million. Brazil borders on ten other Latin American countries.

I found this chance to help people a way to get to know the people in my youth group, but I learned so much more than I thought I would. What amazed me the most out of everything on this trip was the willingness of kids my age to help those around them. During that week in Denver, I also had the chance to meet some of the other youth from other cities in Missouri. A lot of them whom had remarkable stories. Their reasons for helping out during this mission trip were much greater than my own, I was astounded. They had told me about their past, the struggles and valleys that they had gone through that lead them to help those who are going through the same situations or worse. One story struck me the most. One about a boy and a past fight with drug abuse. He said that one day he felt this indescribable jolt and he just lost it. He broke down and asked himself what he was doing with his life. After asking around and seeking help, he went to the local church one Sunday. That was when he met the youth leader that helped him through his

I volunteered at the Little Lights Urban Ministries. I had the pleasure of working with adults and kids but, majority were adults in a low income community. Little lights was founded in 1995 by Steven Park. Little Lights is located in Potomac Gardens public housing apartments in Washington DC. It all started off with Steven tutoring one child in an uptown neighborhood. Then he met his wife Mary and things started expanded. They started allowing 15 kids come over after school to do homework and bible study. Sometimes they would order pizza or buy chicken to feed the kids if they stayed over late. A couple of years later they was blessed with the main building and somebody donated a van for transportation. Steven then start his nonprofit and

After searching for hours over the internet and sending many emails, I chose the Washington United Youth Center (WUYC) to volunteer at . It was simply perfect; there were many eager students at the school, located in a poor area, waiting for help. It pleased me to see many students

When I was in 7th grade, I felt God pull me to sponsor a child through Compassion International. After searching through the children in need, I chose a young girl from Ghana named Priscilla Okaikor Okai. I have now been sponsoring her for over five years. This sponsorship means that I pay $38 per month for Priscilla to go to school, have proper meals, clothes, and attend church to learn about God. Another aspect of

When my family and I got to the houses where the families were living I noticed that everyone was overjoyed to see us. This put a smile on my face, I didn't understand how people with so little could be so happy. As we gave them our clothes and candy they almost started crying with joy and thankfulness. Kids started sharing their candy with other kids and some didn't even keep any for themselves. People with absolutely nothing were sharing what they had for the happiness of others. This made me realize how lucky I was to have the life I have and to never take anything for granted. I learned from these kids to always give to others and treat others how you'd like to be treated. This trip to Mexico helped me realize that one small act of kindness could make someone's day, year, or even

For this mission trip I will be traveling to Puerto Nuevo, Mexico with nine other people to help fill a small orphanage with the necessary supplies they will need. While doing this we want to spread the Word of God to the children and workers of the orphanage. We will be focusing on those are eighteen and younger, and will be making sure we give them an abundance of supplies, so the orphanage can use the supplies we give them for years. Once we fully supply the orphanage, we will be there for the children. We want to make them feel safe in an unsafe environment and introduce God into their lives to let them know that he will always be watching over them.

When I was thirteen years old, I joined National Charity League of Tustin. At the time, I did not really know my place in helping the community, but I did know that I wanted to make a difference in any way possible. The first event I did for NCL was the Ronald McDonald House. That is where volunteers come to cook meals for the seriously ill children who are getting treatment, and their families. While volunteering there, I talked with and befriended some of children at the residence. Their radiant happiness made me reflect on the times when I felt that something bad was happening to me. All the “problems” I thought I had in my life could not compare to the true misfortune of others. It made me realize that if these children can stay happy even

The Word of God contains numerous scriptures pertaining to servitude. The last shall be first, well done my good and faithful servant, and even the purpose of the Lord’s Christ, to serve and give his life a ransom for many. At one point in time or another, we have all had the opportunity to minister to those weaker, less fortunate, confused, tired and heavy laden, or just people in our path. From the miniscule of helps to the grandeur of provisions, anything we have done to the least of these, we have done unto our Savior (Matthew 25:40). My pearls of serving others have carried me to the uttermost parts of the world in the form of mission trips with ample opportunity to share the gospel. Our marching orders known as the great commission is laid out in Acts, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." God hollered and I answered, “Here am I, send me Lord.” It would seem my mantle is foreign

I would wear shorts and a t-shirt in this weather in Guatemala City. I would wear sneakers or flip flops if I were at the beach. I would bring a sweatshirt in case the nights are colder. I would wear shorts and a t-shirt to Mexico City in April. I would wear flip flops or walking shoes, depending on what I am doing. I would wear capris and a tshirt and a sweatshirt in San Jose in March. I would wear sneakers.

Stretching over 2,500 miles form east to west and 2,700 miles from north to south, Brazil is the world’s largest tropical country. The only nations that are larger are the lands of Russia, Canada, China and the United States. Brazil has more then 150 million people spread unevenly over its huge land area, making it the fifth most populated country in the world. (Encyclopedia.com) More then two thirds of Brazil’s people live in the cities and towns and more then 29 percent of them are in the ten cities with more then a million people. These include the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo with more then 15 million people and Rio de Janeiro with more then 9 million people. The rural population is mostly concentrated on the East Coast or