BIO:
For
those who do not know me, I am Carl Gravely and was a team member with the
young adults from the Virginia Conference in July 2011 and fell in love with
Brazil. I did not want to return to the United States, but was forced to. I did
attempt to stay on the plane in Curitiba until I was asked to get off. So
close! I do regret not trying harder…
I
grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, attended Penn State/Penn College for 4
years to obtain three Electrical Engineering and Building Automation
Engineering degrees. After graduation, I took a job with Southern Air in
Lynchburg, VA and joined Centenary UMC. I was warmly welcomed by several
families, and decided to stay and call Centenary home. It was not long before I
was Chair of the Property Committee, Trustee, Choir Member, Hand Bell Choir
member, Disaster Relief Coordinator and a few others tasks to keep me busy in
my free time. I knew I should have taken the “Learn to Say NO 101” class in
college.
For
the most part, I grew up Methodist, and became a certified lay speaker in the
UMC by the age of 17. I also have spent time in the Brethren church as well.
Since the age of 13 my family has spent summers in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland
where my father owns a landscape business. I am the oldest of 10 siblings at age
26, my youngest brother is about to turn 6 in a few weeks. Here we are: Carl,
Denver, William, Ashley, Laurie, Joanna, Johnny, Mary, Robert, and Garrett.
When
I joined the young adult mission team last year I became a part of an awesome
group of 6! In fact, one team member who was attending Stevens Institute of
Technology in Hoboken, NJ sparked thoughts of continuing my education. Upon
return, I decided to go to graduate school - within 5 days, before fall classes
started, and before even being accepted. I moved to a city I didn’t know
(including where it was), without a place to stay, and went back to college
without any research or hearing about it before. Furthermore, I commuted from
Lynchburg to Hoboken for 6 weeks, until I found an affordable apartment to
rent. So I guess there was some Faith there.
In
the past year, I took 3 classes last fall while trying to find part time work,
but everyone wanted me full time. I then agreed to work full time with
Honeywell and take 4 grad school classes at the same time. WOW! That was a
challenge, but looking forward to another trip to Brazil, I got through it all.
Now, a year later, I will finish my Masters by Christmas if no roadblocks pop
up…
I
currently attend Stevens for my Masters in Mechanical Engineering full time,
and also work for Honeywell International full time with the NYC branch. So I
commute across Manhattan daily as I reside in NJ. My commute of 26 miles can
take between 30 minutes to 3 hours, and I wish that was a joke, but it’s the
truth.
Pastor
David and I became friends after last year’s trip and I really wanted to go
back (since I was forced to return home last year). When space was available
with Thrasher's team, I jumped on it that day, clearing my back account and
requesting my vacation within hours.
What
this trip means to me: I can’t explain why I want to return and stay in Brazil,
but if you ask the team members, I’m sure they would say there is just
something about the people and land in Brazil. After returning to the Big
Apple, my car was broken into 30 minutes after I got home, I had 2 accidents
within 24 hours, and my iPhone stolen as well. I’m not enjoying the people
around here, and as for the crime in Brazil, I think that’s a tool to keep
tourists away!
I
am currently working on a new design of the Brazil
website for the Virginia Conference and can’t wait until it’s finished. I’m
also looking forward to our visitors next summer and hope to spend time with
them as they have done for me last year. To date, about 18 hope to visit for about
2 weeks in July, near the Roanoke area, and I’m waiting to return the favors
they have done for us, even if it’s a fraction of the time they gave, I want to
help with our hospitality.
I
really miss Brazil and all it had to offer. I also miss the team and the fun we had as a family, especially since most of them are close to each other. I know from experience pictures are
hard to explain and show the full extent of the trip, but it’s the best we
have. The people are extremely nice. They say in America the farther south you
go, the nicer and slower they get. I truly believe this, Virginia is nicer than
the north, and Brazil is much nicer than Virginia. (I have no comment about New
York City, being up north yet, except GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!)
This
trip was quite a reality check. To compare how Americans complain and whine and
want more...and then Brazilians have little and are content with what they
have, and are proud of it. Our brothers and sisters in Brazil go out of their
way to provide for us. That isn't an everyday occurrence you see that in
America, even when you pay someone to do a task, it’s a burden or an
inconvenience. I don’t live there but by the ways and actions of the people I
had interacted with, I could almost get a sense of how they treat each other. I
guess that’s what draws me to Brazil, leading by example, brings forth good
outcomes of those who are watching. In return, I hope at least one person has
seen that with me wherever it may be.
I
thank you all for the love and support along the way and the chance to share
our adventures along the way. I don’t want to write a novel, but you don’t have
to go to Brazil…You don’t have to leave your house. You can pick up the phone
and call your family with whom you've been out of touch, or friends, or an
elderly neighbor. You don’t have to lay brick, or get mud up your nose in a
foreign land, but your help is always wanted and welcomed, whether that’s
visible to you or not. I leave you with a quote I was reminded of while in
Brazil: Mission
is made of the feet of those who go, the knees of those who stay and the hands
of those who follow!
~ Unknown
~Carl Gravely
Surviving the big apple...
