One third of a lifetime ago I arrived in
I didn’t speak Portuguese, and didn’t know if I could learn. Not being a pastor, I was an atypical missionary. Would I be accepted? Could I do the job? Would my rigid Scandinavian worldview flex to the exuberant Brazilian heartbeat?
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Twenty-five years ago I would have read that verse and told you about my goals for the future. Today I see that “the things hoped for” are not about my pet projects, but about what God plans to accomplish in me! “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Incredible! God says that faith is about drawing near to him. What about all the important stuff that I do every day? Extraneous at best.
How, then, do I write my 25-year report? In fear—that all of the stuff I have done is the only thing I have to show to God and to our steady ministry partners. In that spirit, Lalia and I send Christmas joy and thanks to all of you.
(In the photo above, Richard Sturz, right, wraps 25 years into 5 minutes at a celebration of Curt’s time with WorldVenture in
Intuition, wisdom and beauty. From left to right, Lucimar Davis, Jennifer Kierstead, Karen Sipes, Lalia Kregness, Mirian Sturz, Corine Thorp and Lois McKinney. At a recent WorldVenture fellowship near São Paulo.
1 comment:
Now that application process is starting for me once again, I am experiencing the same fears as I anticipate entering Brazil with a language barrier and a different worldview. What a blessing your testimony of 25 years is to me. It offers me a hope that if I dont worry about my plans and just seek out the Lord's, He will be glorified, and I will be alright. Thank you for your faithfulness but Glory to God for His.
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