By HPU student, Maddie King
In her short time at Howard Payne University, Vitoria Biazi has discovered that HPU is a special place where she belongs.
Biazi is a transfer student from São Paulo, Brazil. She began her journey to HPU in the summer of 2023 when she was the interpreter for a mission trip in Brazil. During this mission trip, she met HPU alumni Woody and Miki Martin who told Biazi all about their time at HPU and what a special place it is.
Growing up, Biazi always dreamed of studying abroad. While talking with the Martins she revealed this dream, and they encouraged her to look into Howard Payne and all it has to offer. As she researched, she became more and more interested, and she finally came to visit the Howard Payne campus in October 2023. After her visit, she fell in love with HPU and was committed to making her dream a reality.
“My mom always says that I was working for the Lord and He was working for me,” said Biazi. She was excited by the opportunity to study in the U.S. and was looking forward to what the Lord would do in her life while at HPU.
Biazi started her time at HPU this fall as a junior Bible major. She said that her experience so far has been encouraging and she is excited to see what the next few months will bring.
“Everybody wants me to feel welcome, even staff I meet while walking across campus smile at me and ask how my day is going. Everyone that works here is happy and they want you to be happy here too. It’s like a big family,” said Biazi.
Biazi has already seen the Lord working through her experiences.
“I was so scared coming in that I wouldn’t know anyone, and nobody would know me, but God is putting people in my way that want to help me and get to know me,” she said. “The people here are welcoming me with open arms to be my adopted family.”
Biazi has been amazed at the way HPU incorporates Christ in all aspects of the college experience. She said that her professors pray before class and ask if anyone has any prayer requests, and that her Christian studies professors share their own experiences with the Lord.
“They’re not just teaching us through education, they’re teaching us with their lives,” said Biazi.
Biazi is truly immersed in the culture of Howard Payne. She is excited to see how this will impact her education and cannot wait to start using her degree to teach others about the Bible.
“I want to help people go deeper in the Word and to answer their questions about Him,” she said.
When she was young, Biazi was interested in the Bible and understanding its meaning even though she wasn’t interested in pursuing a career in ministry. In fact, she wanted to be a veterinarian. As she grew older the people around her started encouraging her to go into ministry and study the Bible, so she chose to pursue a career in ministry.
“God called me into this field of study and has made a place for me in ministry. I want people to love the Word of God the way I do,” said Biazi.
Biazi has already made many friends and is planning on joining organizations to get more involved, such as the Baptist Student Ministry. She is looking forward to her next two years at HPU and what the Lord will do with her time here.
