Semester in Ecuador Shapes a Life

When Chelsey Brunt ’10 left for a semester in Ecuador during her sophomore year, she did not know the experience would direct the course of the next several years of her life.

One of four students enrolled, Brunt participated in the first year of the program. Unlike other semester abroad programs, the semester in Ecuador is based through a mission organization rather than a university. This shaped Brunt’s experience, helping her see a bigger purpose for her time there.

“I was studying abroad, but I got really plugged into what God was doing in Ecuador, and I got involved in mission opportunities down there,” Brunt said. “The classes had a bigger perspective on life, and that really changed my outlook on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I wanted to always have this global perspective.”

After graduating from Trinity in 2010, Brunt returned to Ecuador as a resident assistant for the program.

“I fell in love with the country and the culture, and with what God was doing there,” Brunt said. “This time really impacted my heart.”

With a heart longing for Ecuador, yet feeling unequipped at the time for further mission work there, Brunt returned to her home in San Diego.

Drawing upon her four years on the women’s soccer team at Trinity, Brunt began coaching soccer in the San Diego area with an organization called Youth and Leaders Living Actively (YALLA). YALLA helps refugee and immigrant youth build their lives in America by providing a support system and connecting kids through soccer.

“The experience has opened my eyes to the power of soccer as a platform to build relationships and empower athletes to discover who they are,” Brunt said.

Now, Brunt will see her love for God, Ecuador, and coaching soccer combine as she travels back to Ecuador as a missionary with Inca Link International. While there, she will coach for the Christian soccer ministry, Cumbre Alta.

“I feel so blessed because God has given me the opportunity to teach both the game that I love and about God’s love for us all,” Brunt said.

Brunt is currently in the process of building a team of supporters for her future work in Ecuador. If you would like to learn more about Brunt’s ministry, find the link to her webpage here.