Experience South America - Brazil
March 30th, 2008Our Experience South America tour, with Edgar Stoesz serving as our teacher/story teller, arrived in Brazil yesterday.
It was a joy to be able to be in Curitiba on a Sunday. This morning we attended the joint German service, with the Mennonites (MG) and the Mennonite Brethren meeting together. Our group was invited to share greetings and to sing a song. Walter Dyck led our group in a song that the Mennonite refugees sang on the boat from Europe to South America “O Have You Not Heard of that Beautiful Stream.” We sang the four verses in English and then the first verse in German. It was very moving to see the members of the congregation join on the German verse with tears streaming down their faces. We were one family hailing from three countries; Brazil, United States, and Canada. Our faith in God, as expressed in the hymn, and a common history unites us. Following the service there were many greetings and the minister let us know that we are always welcome and “please come again.”
Following our tour of Mennonite-related businesses, cemeteries and schools, we enjoyed a Faspa at Heidi Pauls’ home co-hosted by her mother Anneliese. This evening our tour members reflected on our time here.
Laverne Petersen was impressed “how you could worship and not understand a word. The spirit that was present and the facial expressions helped me have a meaningful experience.”
Marion Friesen shared that “Mrs. Fast talked to us following the service showed us the garden and education facilities. She told us with pride how happy she is that they have a Portuguese service at 11am filled with young people.”
Hedi Ratzlaff reflected that “being present, talking and hearing their story helps us to feel their energy. The church is alive as witnessed by the many daughter congregations.”
Bill Stout “was surprised how large the Mennonite church program is in Brazil.”
Tomorrow we are off to visit Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side.
~ Wilmer Martin
