DALLAS—Eight Dallas Baptist University students who recently returned from a mission trip to Sao Paulo and Jundiai, Brazil, found themselves awed by the faith of the Christians they encountered there.
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Melinda Dilahunty of Dallas Baptist University enjoys craft time with a child during a mission trip to Brazil. (PHOTO/DBU/Courtesy of Melinda Dilahunty)
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“Each ministry that we worked with was different,” DBU senior Monica Zuniga said, describing the Christians they worked alongside.
“One ministered to college students, the other to homeless people and another to children living in the slums. Although they were different in service, they all had one thing in common: I have never seen men and women who were so passionate about their calling and ministry that they would give up everything in order to advance the kingdom. …
“I was amazed at the faith of these people we met and the success and blessing the Lord has given them in order to ultimately advance and bring glory to the kingdom of Christ. I hope to one day use everything the Lord has given me to do the same.”
Partnering with a missionary from Memorial Baptist Church of Sao Paulo, the team worked with projects designed to strengthen ministries of the local chur-ches and or-ganizations. Their daily projects varied, and the people whose lives they touched were even more diverse.
A construction team helped to build a local mission house that will be used by future mission teams that serve in the city.
Josh Hughes bonds with a boy during a Dallas Baptist University mission trip to Brazil.
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The DBU team also hosted an English party to practice English and build relationships with students at the University of Sao Paulo, and they worked with Mission CENA, an organization that ministers to the poor and homeless in the community.
DBU Student Government President Jacob Seif recounted an experience he had while serving at Mission CENA.
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“There was this one little boy who never left my sight. I had him on my shoulders most of the day. We ate together and laughed to-gether. I couldn’t even speak their language, and I never even got his name. But that’s not the point.
“It didn’t even matter. We could just skip the small talk and get right to the purpose of the trip—sharing Christ’s love to the overlooked citizens of Brazil’s most depraved slums.”
The team also worked with a children’s ministry in Jun-diai, serving alongside members of a local church. The DBU students helped provide food and games for the children and youth—all the while forming relationships and ministering to them, as well.
Before leaving, the team attended the Sunday morning service of the church in Sao Paulo with whom they had worked.
“The church members expressed their gratitude by giving us Portuguese Bibles and gathering around us for a time of prayer,” said Jon Dooley, director of the Baptist Student Ministry and leader of the trip.
“Many even exchanged contact information with our students in order to keep in touch in the coming months. It was a joyful time as those present embraced us in tears, while they expressed their sincere gratitude for our work there.”
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