PROVO, Utah (Dec. 14, 2010) — During the 2009 season, freshman Matt Rider out of Salt Lake City, Utah started 15 of BYU’s 16 games.  He anchored the center of the pitch as the holding midfielder, scoring a goal and adding an assist.  Now Rider is in Lima, Peru serving as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Rider took a few moments earlier this week to share some thoughts with byusoccer.com.

Elder Rider (R) is serving in Lima, Peru.

I’m currently serving in the Peru Lima East mission. Right now I’m serving in a place called Cerro de Pasco. It is the highest city of its size in the world at 14,300+ feet above sea level. My stake center is the highest stake of the church in the world as well. So as you can imagine, the oxygen, or lack thereof, makes things a little difficult at times. But its alright because you adapt fast. I just had a week of no sleep and headaches.

The culture is incredible up here. Everyone is such a hard worker yet everyone is so patient and humble. I have had some of the most incredible experiences of my life serving my Heavenly Father up here. Although, the conditions can make work a little hard physically, the fact that I have been called by a prophet of God to preach his gospel gives my more strength than I’ve ever had before. Also even though I´ve given up two years of playing soccer for such an awesome university, I know that the Lord has something much greater in store for me if I remain faithful.

Elder Matt RiderTweet

Jarom Jordan

Pedro Vasconcelos will serve a mission in Santa Rosa, California.

Pedro Vasconcelos didn’t always want to go on a mission.  In fact, he wanted (and still does) to be a professional soccer player.  The Brazillian was born in an LDS family, went to church and did the right things but it wasn’t always in the cards to serve an two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  After the good examples of friends and a year at BYU, Vasconcelos received his mission call on July 9 to serve in the Santa Rosa, California mission, Spanish speaking.  He enters the Provo Missionary Training Center on November 30.

“I couldn’t believe it when I read it,” said Vasconcelos.  “I always wanted to go state-side.  I was way happy.  I was way emotional.”

Pedro’s road to this point has accumulated a lot of flyer miles.  Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil his family vacationed in the United States in 2000 and he returned in 2006 to live with his Aunt during the summer.  There he came in contact with and played for the club, Impact for a while in Salt Lake City.  Returning to Brazil, wanting to one day return, Impact coach, Connie Martin asked if he wanted to come back to the U.S. to play with the team.  Vasconcelos said yes but realized he needed a family to volunteer to host him as a foreign exchange student or else he could be placed anywhere in the country.  That’s where high school and BYU teammate, Matt Rider comes in.

Matt Rider (Left) is serving in Lima, Peru.

Rider and Vasconcelos became best friends while playing club and high school soccer at East.  Rider’s family volunteered to host Vasconcelos and he returned to Utah for his senior year of high school during the fall of 2008 to play in the spring of 2009.  Vasconcelos and Rider teamed up to lead East to a third place finish in Region 6 and a birth into the State Tournament.  Rider was already recruited by BYU and in February, Vasconcelos made the team as well.

This past summer the two became regular starters for the Cougars, an accomplishment rather uncommon for freshmen to do.  Vasconcelos played in 10 of BYU’s 16 games and scored a goal in the final regular season contest against Ogden.  He credits his year at BYU as the most influential of his life.

“It helped me so much to make good choices when I’m around people that make good choices,” he said.  “The BYU environment created a desire to do good in me.”

“Pedro has a real love and passion for the game,” said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins.   “He has amazing creativity and skill going forward.  He will be a great loss for our team, but we look forward to having him join us in two years.”

Vasconcelos still lives with the Rider’s who saw Matt leave on his mission on August 11 to Lima, Peru.  Pedro is an assistant coach with the East high school girls soccer team and occasionally helps with his old club, Impact.  He will return to Brazil on October 5 to stay with his family until he returns to Provo on November 30 to enter the MTC.Tweet

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