Gazing over the edge looking at Iguazu Falls from thousands of feet above brought a flood of emotions to my mind. This was our last full day in Brazil and I was already feeling emotional, but something about this moment made me realize just how impactful this trip has been to me. As the water rushed over the rocks and tumbled down the cliffs, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of God’s abundance on this trip. Before coming to Brazil, I had very few expectations, but I knew I needed a change in scenery. After a difficult semester and many highs and lows, I was burnt out in more ways than one. Even though I knew it would be an amazing three weeks of activities and cultural experiences, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to enjoy it all with how drained I was. Also, three weeks is a long time to spend everyday with people you don’t know very well, so I was hesitant to get excited. Little did I know how close we would become in the following days. Between snapping photos of each other sleeping, going on random side quests to get açaí, and making jokes with our limited Portuguese, our group and our new Brazilian friends slowly became like family. We teased each other endlessly and supported one another when we were going through difficult moments.

We shared everything, even our sicknesses. Through drama and stressful situations, our group held each other accountable for their behavior. It was through the relationships I built with these people that God filled my heart over and above my wildest expectations. Like the crashing gallons of water at the falls, my heart is brimming over with joy after our time in Brazil. I know I will carry these memories and friendships beyond Brazil, and I’m excited to share the fruit of this time with others in my life. If you would’ve told me a month ago that on our last night together, our group would be sitting around a pool, laughing uncontrollably at our professor roasting us during paper plate awards, I wouldn’t have believed you. However, I couldn’t think of a better way to end the best trip with some of my new favorite people. “Parabens!”

Categories: Brazil 2025

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