Vacations are a staple of most families’ summer plans. Trips to Florida, California and beyond are eagerly awaited at the first glimpse of the season’s sun. For one Clarion University student, her trip to Brazil is more than just an excursion to get away.
Angela Kelly, a senior mass media arts, journalism and communication studies (MMAJCS) major, is participating in an opportunity with the Chicago Eagles soccer team. The organization is a part of Missionary Athletes International (MAI). The non-profit Christian organization based out of Charlotte, N.C. uses soccer to spread the message of their faith. They do this through camps, local ministry events, international tours and teams.
The Eagles specifically will spend time doing this in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. After a four-day training camp, the team will set-off for their international tour on June 7. For 10 days, they will run clinics for underprivileged children.
Following Brazil, they will return to Chicago to train, play games, run clinics for local children and do outreach programs in the inner city.
“The entire experience will be life changing for me,” said Kelly. “I hope to gain a better understanding of a culture I know very little about and I am really excited to help a cause that is bigger than myself.”
Kelly will be earning internship credit towards her study at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she will be finishing her last semester in the fall.
Using her training from the MMAJCS department, she will use photography and video to both document the trip and promote the organization. She will also be blogging throughout the summer for the Eagle’s Web site.
“Of course it will be a great learning experience, it will show me what I’m capable of doing and I’ll be able to utilize all that I have learned from the MMAJCS department,” she said.
Besides doing research on Brazilian culture to prepare for her experience, Kelly has also had to do extensive fundraising.
Before she flies to Chicago, she needs to raise $3,000 for expenses like flights, food, housing and more. So far she has $700 in donations from friends, family, members of her church and teachers.
“I’ve only had about two months to raise funds for the summer, so I’m praying that the money will continue to come in,” Kelly said. “Anyone is welcome to support our cause if they are feeling led to do so.”
Although Kelly is excited for the opportunity, she said the time away is bittersweet for her, especially since she will miss some of her hometown’s most valued summer traditions.
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I’ll miss out on the Cherry Festival, hanging out at Freeport Beach, going to Eight Great Tuesdays and taking my sister to Picnic in the Park,” she said.
But, she feels that this is the right path for her.
“I really felt that this is what God was calling me to go do,” Kelly said. “I’ll be able to use the talents that He gave me to help others in need and learn about myself in the process.”
For more information on the Chicago Eagles or to get an update on Kelly’s summer check out www.chicagoeagles.com.