Carl Gravely

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...