“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor 3:7).

It has been my privilege to be a part of the WELS mission team to Brazil since my graduation from the seminary in 1994. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to share in the gospel ministry here – sometimes planting, sometimes watering. I was an eyewitness to the Spirit’s working faith in the hearts of many who heard that gospel. I watched with joy as the Lord often caused the seed I planted to grow. But my heart also aches for those who rejected God’s promises, either immediately or over time. And now that I have accepted a call to serve as a pastor back in the States, I worry about and I pray for my brothers and sisters in the faith here in Brazil. Will they remain strong in the Word? Will the devil and this world snatch their fragile faith away?[slideshow=93]

I’m thankful, then, that the Lord blessed me with the events of this last month, to calm my spirit and to lead me to trust in him as I close my “tour of duty” in Brazil. Missionary David Bivens and I went on a 4000 kilometer “road trip” to visit our mission sites and meet with national leaders. Talking with the missionaries who will remain on the field, interacting with the called and lay leaders of the national church, and simply observing the lives of these fellow Christians, I was able to see how the Lord continued to cause his church to grow in different ways. A highlight of the trip was participating in the installation of two of my former seminary students on January 25 in Dourados. Roberto Pires was installed as missionary pastor to a new mission start-up in Presidente Prudente, SP, and Rodrigo Figueiredo was installed as vicar of our congregation in Dourados, MS. I had taught Rodrigo in Sunday School, catechism instruction, youth group, Bible Institute and seminary. And now I was privileged to see him take his first step into the ministry. As Missionary Charlie Flunker taught me to say: God is good!

I trust the Good Shepherd has plans to bless this small flock in southern Brazil. He has given them his Word and Sacraments. He has blessed them with spiritual leaders from among their own people. He allowed me to participate in some small way, but now he has prepared others to take it from here. May the Lord’s face continue to shine on his people here in Brazil and around the world!

Missionary Guy Marquardt