My Mission Journey: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In June, I got the amazing privilege of traveling with a team of 20 people from our church to take the message of Christ to the people of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We were evangelism team that just happened to be doing medical missions while we were there—through an eye clinic, medical clinic, pharmacy, and dental clinic.

My technical responsibility on the team was in the pharmacy. But my real responsibility was to take the gifts I've been given and the ministry I already do full-time through BBC and use those on the mission field. My job was to tell stories—stories of life change, Jesus, poverty, healing, and redemption. (And to love on some Brazilian babies on the side.)

I blogged every day. I snapped pictures every day. And, in the midst of all that, my life was changed by what I saw and experienced. You can go back and read all the updates, see the pictures, and watch the videos that I posted throughout the week (starting on June 10).

I write this now (one month after we've returned) because it's taken that long to process. And I'm not finished. It'll continue to drip into my thought processes, my language, and my reactions for the rest of my life.

When I say, "My world was wrecked," you can go ahead and consider those four words the grossest understatement of the century. 

Here...let me try that again: "Jesus took my heart out of my chest, beat it into submission, and then broke it into the shambles. Then, he put it back together. Then, he took my mind, including everything I've ever known and been comfortable with, rearranged it all, confused the old, and replaced it with new. After all that, he took my soul and ravaged it, changing every ideal, perspective, and preconceived notion I'd ever held on to."

Does that do it? Nope. Still doesn't cover it.

Bottom line: it was well-organized trip. I never once felt fear or unsafe. It was one of the most geographically gorgeous places I've ever seen. It was home to some of the most beautiful, kind, genuine, warm-hearted people I've ever known. And, on top of it all, it really wasn't as physically hard on my body as I thought it was going to be. 

So why did I come back a broken person? Why did I have to be sent home from work two days after I returned because I couldn't hold it together? Why did my emotions furiously bubble over with the mere mention of the insignificant in my own culture? Why did I lie awake in bed every night for two weeks trying to understand what I was supposed to do with all this new information?

I still haven't figured it out. 

I prayed two things every morning when we climbed on the bus to head to the slums: 1) God, break my heart for what breaks yours, and 2) let me see you bigger today that I did yesterday. And because God heard and answered, I experienced some serious—I mean S.E.R.I.O.U.S.—sanctification. 

Before I left, my good friend Meredith said, "You're not going to understand this until you get there, but mission trips are just as much for the people going as the people you're going to serve." 

That didn't sound right the first time I heard it. It sounded so selfish. But, now, I understand. The people there were the catalyst for change in my life, and I hope I had something to do with the change in theirs. The giving and taking went both ways. 

I'm the queen of words (and not always in a good way). But, for most of what I experienced in Rio, I still have no words. Just let it be known:

• My life will never be the same.
• There is no such thing as an ugly Brazilian baby.
• The weather in Brazil is to die for.
• This is only the beginning for a lifetime of telling God's story around the world. 
• If you like feeling bloated because of all the sodium-infused meat, go to Brazil.
• I caught a glimpse of what heaven is going to be like one day.
• Outside of time with my family, I've never felt more ME than I did while I was there.
• I've never seen the bride of Christ look more beautiful.
• The legends are true: Speedos are in abundance on the beaches of Rio.
• My new life goal is to learn another language, thanks to Portuguese.
• Christ was made known and his name was lifted high among nations.

Sweet Terazina, a leper at the colony we visited. I bought this pottery she painted.