As a missionary’s wife, I am having the privilege of spending Mothers’ Day in Brazil for the 25^th time. For the first 5 years I celebrated this day by sending a Mothers’ Day card to my own mother in Georgia, USA, since I myself had no children. In 1992 the Lord tremendously blessed me by bringing our beautiful Brazilian daughter, Jessie, into our lives. I then was able to celebrate Mother’s Day by sending and receiving love and cards.

Five years later, the Lord blessed me again by sending us a beautiful Brazilian son, Brennen. All the joys and trials of motherhood, dealing with our children’s sicknesses, teaching them to know the Lord and love and follow Him, and watching their physical and spiritual growth are gracious gifts of God to me. My own mother who had loved me and strived to care for me passed away in 2001. My husband, Bobby, and I had had the joy of hearing her share that she had surrendered her life to Jesus Christ just a few years before and her transformed life truly indicated that her conversion was real. Jessie and Brennen both got to know their “Nanna” before she went to be with Christ.

When we came to Brazil I had no idea what the Lord had in store for me in the area of being a mother. Bobby and I had been married for 5 years, but had no children. I didn’t feel like anything was missing at first because I ministered to kids almost daily. But just as I began to feel a maternal longing for my own, the Lord brought Jessie and Brennen into our lives. Many of the children that we ministered to and discipled in the early years have now become mothers and fathers themselves and we now see their children coming to Christ and following him.

Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.

As this Mothers’ Day comes and goes, I do miss my own mother, but I rejoice that the Lord has blessed me beyond my greatest dreams. He has made me a mother with my own children and has given me children who have their children. Recently while visiting our new neighbors, we met a dear lady named Hilda. From the very first visit she took us into her home as if she were my mother. We visit her regularly and each visit she hugs and kisses us just as if we were her own children coming home from a trip. We have been witnessing to her and praying for her to come to know Jesus Christ just like my own mother did before she passed away. We believe that the Lord brought us here for that purpose. Just as Jesus told his disciples that whoever leaves mother or father, brothers or sisters for his sake and for the Gospel, they would receive a hundred-fold in this life, I am actually experiencing this in my own life. I am so grateful and thankful to have the privilege to serve the Lord in this field where He has called me on this Mothers’ Day, and every day.

Charlene Wacaser

Bobby, Charlene and Brennen Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279-1
Bairro Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR  Brasil
(813)436-9980
robertmw[at]brturbo.com.br

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