Insights & Information

Meet the Missionaries: Ashley Hancock

Editor’s note: No one was closer to the World Cup than Ashley Hancock, Triad’s missionary to Brazil, who lives in its capital city and did team evangelism at many of the World Cup soccer venues. We recently checked in with Ashley not only about that experience but for an update nearing her one-year service anniversary in the country at Igreja Batista Castleo Forte (Strong Castle Baptist Church). The interview is first in a new series of ‘Meet the Missionaries’ articles that will become a regular feature of Connections.

Connections: What has happened since you arrived?

Ashley: Language school has been a big focus. I arrived on Aug. 8, 2013, and began language school two weeks later. I am the only student and attend class four days a week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Because it’s so far away, I get home at 3 p.m. And it’s even in the same city where I live, which gives you an idea of how large the city is! I only have about two weeks left to complete the course.

Connections: Where have you had an opportunity to serve?

Ashley: I’m involved in the youth group, teaching Sunday School for teens ages 12-15 and small groups once a week, serving in a ministry in an area downtown called “cracolandia” (crack land) which is basically where hundreds of homeless people live (usually about 500 in a block), and discipling a group of young girls (ages 20-27). I also was able to start a park ministry once a month going to parks and telling the story of The Wordless Book to kids. After listening, we give them a bracelet with The Wordless Book colors. They also can get their face painted and receive balloon animals from the clown on our team. We also started a stoplight ministry where we quickly evangelize using suckers at the stoplights (suckers are given to each person with a paper attached that says, “just as this sucker is a gift for you, God also has a gift for you! For by grace are you saved through faith, it is not of works, it is a gift from God. Eph. 2.8.”) While they are at the stoplight receiving suckers, other team members stand in the crosswalk holding “Jesus loves you” signs until the light changes. We also do the same thing in the subway stations during rush hours. Those park and stoplight ministries are direct results of a “missionary week” for our teens and young people which was my first big project. I’m also leading a skit group (basically its scriptd, international) and helping the pastor develop a missions program at our church.

Connections: What was it like to be in a soccer-crazed country during the World Cup?

Ashley: During Brazil’s games, no one was required to go to work, and the few who had to work were able to leave at noon to be able to be at home in time to see the game (even if the game started at 5 p.m.)! On game days, the streets were empty. You’d hear the sounds of fireworks and horns before games, and every time Brazil scored, it was more fireworks and horns! At night, people came out of the woodwork to celebrate the victory, so when Brazil lost it was a strange feeling because the streets remained empty and silent. It has been awesome to be here during the World Cup and participate in the many outreach opportunities. It was a great time to get the youth and young adults involved in evangelizing so many international people (the stadium is five minutes from my apartment so we went there several times to evangelize) and I think that those witnessing opportunities during the tournament are what sparked the interest in missions among so many of the people from my church.

Connections: How receptive are people to the gospel?

Ashley: Brazilians will stop and listen to you out of respect, but given their background, they have a great knowledge of the Bible but a hard time understanding that being a good person isn’t what saves you from your sins.

Connections: What do you like most about Brazil?

Ashley: The people and food. They are extremely outgoing, playful, and loving people. There is never a dull moment with Brazilians. You can guarantee you will always be laughing and having a good time whenever you are with them. Brazilians always want to feed you — kind of like Southerners!

Connections: What has surprised you most about the country?

Ashley: I didn’t know that there are so many people in the city that cars have rotation days. I have a Monday car, so on Mondays I can only drive my car between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and after 8 p.m. I also didn’t know that if you set up your home in any place, the government (and anyone else) can’t make you leave, even if you aren’t paying your rent. That’s how favelas (slums) are formed. Families move in and make their homes out of whatever they can find, and basically overnight a new favela is born. Brazilians also are very clean, with two showers per day minimum (one in the morning and one before getting into bed), and in the summer three showers is totally normal. Even most people in favelas come out of their homes sparkling clean to go to work or school. Walmart is considered “chic” too and Brazilians believe people in the states would go in their pajamas. Because Brazilians always look their best wherever they go, flip-flops aren’t acceptable to wear in Walmart because that’s what people wear to clean house.

Connections: What misconceptions do other people have about Brazil?

Ashley: I have met people that think Brazil is only jungle or beach. But I live in a huge city with 3.4 million more people than New York City (Sao Paulo has 11.8 million) that is full of skyscrapers, technology, and resources. Brazil is a melting pot, just like the states. About 30 minutes from my house is the biggest Japanese population outside of Tokyo. You get off the train station there and feel like you’re in another country. Other myths: not all Brazilians are tan, and Brazilians do not speak Spanish.

Connections: Describe a typical day in your life in Sao Paulo.

Ashley: Wake up; walk to the metro line; switch metro lines three times (about an hour and 40 minutes); walk to the bus station and take a bus to my teacher’s house; walk to her house (total of about two hours travel time); have class for about three hours; have lunch (she teaches me how to cook Brazilian food); come back home (another two hours); do homework; prepare Sunday School lessons or discipleship lessons depending on the day; and head out for ministry at night (cracolandia, youth group, small groups, skit practice, etc.). Once I finish language school, I’ll be able to devote my entire day to ministry. I can’t wait for that!

Connections: What’s the hardest thing about being a missionary?

Ashley: The lack of friends! I had a ton of “friends” and was always getting invited to go with them places, but it took a while to find ACTUAL friends...the kind you call up to do nothing. Being in Brazil also has taught me more patience than I ever knew I was capable of. Nothing gets done quickly. In the states you make a list of 10 things you need to get done and in one day it’s accomplished. In Brazil, my daily list is three items max, and I’m satisfied if I get one of those things done in a day. There are a lot of safety rules that Brazilians have and sometimes they jokingly yell, “Are you crazy?” when they see me doing things we take for granted in Kernersville. It’s been hard to get used to not riding in the car with the windows down, not messing on my cellphone as I walk or am stopped in the car, and remembering to walk fast when I’m going somewhere after dark.

Connections: How can we as Triad Baptist Church best support you?

Ashley: Since I’m just getting started, please pray that God will continue to direct my ministry. God is doing an awesome work in our church after the missions week, and everyone is excited and about to burst to learn more about Him and serve him in practical ways. Please pray that it isn’t just a phase but that it remains a way of life for the people in our church, and also that I’ll be able to help encourage them to continue in that lifestyle! I am so thankful for the support Triad has given me so far. I could not ask for a better church. I appreciate letters and care packages, and anything is accepted. My address is:

Ashley Hancock
Rua Professor Brito Machado, 500
Apt.83, Torre1
Itaquera
Sao Paulo, SP
CEP 08215-000

Connections: How often have you been home since you arrived?

Ashley: Only once! I was supposed to be home for a friend’s wedding so I spent a week in Florida and a week at home.

Connections: What’s next for your ministry?

Ashley: Since I’m getting started, I plan on developing further the existing ministries I’m involved in. I also want to start an English Bible Study for the teens, because almost everyone is learning English, and asking me for lessons. I’m not here to teach English so starting a Bible study in English would be the best of both worlds.

Connections: As a missionary sent from Triad, how do you see your role as an extension of the church’s mission?

Ashley: I feel very privileged to be able to serve God and Triad Baptist Church as a missionary. The experiences I had at Triad and Pastor Rob’s teaching have been a great advantage to me in my ministry here. I’m doing the same thing here as you all are doing there — reaching more souls for Christ and training them to live a life for Him.

Connections: Now that you’re in Brazil and serving, what has God taught you through the experience?

Ashley: I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn! But I’m also 100 percent sure that serving God in another country is what I was made to do, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else! Through several difficult and very stressful circumstances, not once has God left me alone or in need in any situation. He has always been there for me. I always knew that about Him but living alone in another country definitely has made me depend even more on Him and understand even more His goodness and love toward us!

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