Kat ‘Strides’ to Brazil to discover what the life of a missionary is really like

During her 10-week stay, Kat will ‘shadow’ long-serving missionary, Verna Langrell to encounter more about what life is like for those ‘on the field’ in South America.

Talking of what planted the seed of interest in Brazil, Kat said: “When I was a pupil at Slemish College, my family hosted a Brazilian girl called Izabelle through the American Field School programme. Afterwards I spent time with her and her family in Brazil. She showed me that once you get beyond the language barrier, people from overseas are just like you and me with the same need for love that we have.”

The two-month expedition promises to be full of challenges for Kat, who will witness Verna try to reintegrate abused and neglected street children back into mainstream society and away from a life of crime and destitution.

She says: “Verna seeks to help these young people live a life of decency and integrity. This is difficult because many of them lack the basic disciplines that our parents teach us, such as basic hygiene. She also teaches the gospel of salvation and the importance of having Jesus in your life.”

Kat, who goes to Brazil on June 6, says: “Here in the West we have a rose-tinted view of what life as a missionary is like. We don’t really understand the ‘nitty-gritty’ of what happens day-in, day-out – the hurts, struggles and pains as well as the joys. That’s the most significant thing I want to discover for myself.”

She thanked all those in local churches who have supported her trip to date and asked people to pray for her.

She said: “I would definitely ask for prayer for protection. Sao Paulo is probably one of the most dangerous cities in the world, especially in the areas we will be working. I also ask for spiritual protection because there are a lot of dark spiritual practices and can be openly practiced; also that good connections for the future would be made.

“Pray that souls would be saved because I know the kind of work which Verna does, sometimes break through and change can take time because of the situations that they are in. Such heavy burdens like that you don’t just click your fingers and all hurt is gone.”