NFL Players Travel with Convoy to Haiti

They are imposing figures and walk with the confidence of health, well-being, and wealth beyond the dreams of those they are among. Yet, before they are done, these NFL players' hearts will be broken and tears will be shed.

Matt Wilkie, field teams director for Convoy of Hope, has organized nearly 100 trips to countries around the world in the past two-and-a-half years. Earlier this year, Wilkie had the unique experience of helping organize and lead a group of NFL players from the San Francisco 49ers on a trip to Haiti.

Convoy of Hope has a strong presence in Haiti, with its feeding program meeting the needs of tens of thousands of children every day. Yet, the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the country in 2010, devastating the capital city of Port-au-Prince and killing hundreds of thousands of people, continues to deeply impact this impoverished nation's people, where most live on less than $3 a day - some, much less.

This first year, only a handful of 49ers players, their spouses, and staff made the trip, including tight ends Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Derek Carrier, and defensive lineman Tank Carradine along with the team pastor, Earl Smith. However, following the experience, the men were all adamant about raising funds and getting many more players to accompany them next year.

"They came wanting to have their eyes opened to another culture in the developing world," Wilkie says. "But more than that, they wanted to do something about it and work to leave a lasting impact from their time there."

Wilkie explains that the trip was like all Convoy of Hope field teams. He also emphasized that the players weren't there for site-seeing. "They helped bag meals at the warehouse for several hours and they worked incredibly hard helping to build a basketball court [which is now completed and used daily] at a school of 700 kids."

As the players assisted and visited different venues, they also had plenty of opportunities to interact with the children being assisted by Convoy of Hope. Wilkie notes that the kids knew little to nothing about American football or NFL players, laughing as he recalled the afternoon football clinic the players put on. "It soon just became a game of 'keep away' with kids and players chasing each other around -- they had a great time!"

Yet beyond the play and physical work, Wilkie says he witnessed a not-too-unexpected transformation in the players' hearts during the four-day experience.

"The week prior to this, I was in Tanzania in a Maasai village with Chi Alpha students," he recalls. "The last night together, with tears in their eyes, the students were saying the need is huge and we can do something about it, we can spread the word across the U.S. and get every Chi Alpha involved! Literally one week later, the 49ers players were just as emotional, saying the need is huge, but we can do something about it -- they wanted to get all the 49ers, even the whole NFL on board to start doing something about the need they witnessed."

In addition to seeing the depth of need in Haiti, Wilkie says another factor that plays into the response is now the need is no longer ambiguous -- it has become personal through the faces, smiles, and laughter of children who are in desperate need, but still express hope and love.

"The leaders and children we're serving are wonderful people with bright futures," Wilkie says. "However, I believe for many of these leaders and children, when they have someone to walk with them, it can play a big part in helping them step into a more flourishing life."

As for the 49ers players and staff accompanying them, the days in Haiti made a powerful impact upon their lives, committing to try to raise $120,000 in order to feed 1,000 children for a year, and to come back next year -- only with many more teammates.

"These guys [49ers] are awesome guys," Wilkie says. "They could care less about cameras or media -- they just wanted to help people."

Convoy of Hope currently offers field teams trips to Tanzania, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Haiti, Kenya, the United States,, and soon, Ethiopia.

Dan Van Veen

Dan Van Veen is news editor of AG News. Prior to transitioning to AG News in 2001, Van Veen served as managing editor of AG U.S. Missions American Horizon magazine for five years. He attends Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, where he and his wife, Lori, teach preschool Sunday School and 4- and 5-year-old Rainbows boys and girls on Wednesdays.