Dear Family and Friends,
I have exciting news to share! God has opened the door for me to spend my Spring Break (March 6-22, 2008) in Sao Vicente, Brazil. I will be going on a mission trip with Campus Crossroads, a student church on the campus of UNC.
The trip is being coordinated through Young’s English Club, a school started by a group of Christians in Brazil. Learning English is considered an expensive luxury in Brazil. Young’s offers this opportunity at an affordable cost (even free in some cases), while exposing them to Christ’s love in a safe environment.
The students are always excited to get the opportunity to meet people from the US. They love to practice their English as well as learn about American culture. We will be spending time at the school tutoring English and giving the students a rare opportunity to practice conversational English with native English speakers.
I am working with the leaders of Young's English Club to utilize my skill in dance and public health interest to reach women, the center of family life and education, to form discussion groups related to women's health and safety through dance. I'm excited because they are seeking a grant to cover the building costs as well as using the money to directly benefit these communities as I volunteer my time!
We will also be spending a lot of a time with the children in the favellas or slums. Many of these areas have no utilities or sanitation and are full of hurting and poverty stricken people. Brazil’s economy suffers greatly compared to that of America. A large portion of the Brazilian population lives below the poverty level. We will be sharing the love and hope of Christ with these children.
While we are in the favellas, the students from Young’s English School will be our translators. This will give the students an opportunity to practice their English as well as to hear the message of Christ. Some students have accepted Christ as a result of translating the gospel in this type of situation.
Another portion of our time in Brazil will be spent in the public schools. There is no separation of church and state, so it is possible for us to go and share with students in the schools. The last time Crossroads went to Brazil, they had the opportunity to share with thousands of students. God is doing great things in Brazil and I feel honored to spend spring break being a part of that.
There are 22 people on our team. I know our team will make a difference in Brazil and I also know that this trip will change my life. Everyone I’ve ever known to go on a trip like this has agreed that God used it to teach them so much and to draw them closer to Him.
Please pray for the safely of our team. Pray also that the Holy Spirit will prepare the hearts of the people we will meet in Brazil and that He would guide us and gives us wisdom as we seek to share the love and hope of Christ.
The cost of the trip is $1500.00 per team member. The team is doing several fundraisers to help raise the money. But we are also trusting God to lead some of you to contribute financially. Please pray about how God would have you be part of what He will accomplish in Brazil this March.
Thank you and God Bless,
Joy Williams
**If giving financial support, please make check payable to Campus Crossroads with “Brazil Mission Team” in the memo section (for tax deductible purposes) and mail to: Crossroads Ministries, 126 FPG Student Union, CB # 5210 UNC CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Attach a note with my name on it so the funds will be allocated properly.
**If you would like more info about Campus Crossroads, visit www.campuscrossroads.org .
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In August 2008 I will travel to Bamako, Mali to engage in a professional dance workshop and to work alongside the Bloodline medical project with Michelle Bach-Coulibaly. Children and Youth from the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area are working with me to make a cultural exchange successful through letters, pictures, and dance works on video, where they will accept similar objects upon my return. We are all excited at this new endeavor for the Carrboro area.
I did a similar project in Colombia, where I exchanged dances from the US (Swing and Hip-Hop) with traditional dances from Colombia. I now teach the traditional dances of Colombia at Dancentre in Chapel Hill and here at Dance Chapel Hill. Fortunately, during my year plus time in Colombia, I undertook social projects where I directed and performed dance pieces based on my observations. Please view my Colombia Project Video to view a short segment of this video draft.
If you are interested in learning more, please view the links below. Donations are still being accepted! Thank you!