Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the weather like where you live?
We have nice temperate weather similar to Florida. Summer temperatures average 80-90 degrees. Winter temperatures get down to freezing but that feels very cold because there is no heat in the buildings here. We are 3000 ft. above sea level but only an hour and half away from the ocean. Our seasons are the opposite of the U.S. with summer in December, January, and February and winter in June, July and August.



Q: What language do you speak?
Our family is fluent in both Portuguese and English. Few Brazilians speak English even though it is a required class in the schools. All of the other South American countries speak Spanish, but Brazil was settled by the Portuguese in 1500.

Q: What is the major religion?
The official religion of Brazil is Catholicism. However, most are not practicing Catholics and often times Catholicism is mixed with spiritism. Brazilians are a superstitious people and are willing to try just about anything when they are in a difficult situation. This could include going to a spiritist center, doing a pilgrimage, praying to a certain saint, or going to an evangelical church for prayer. It is very important to lead people to assurance of salvation in Christ alone.

Q: What’s it like in Brazil?
We have Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, TV and chewing gum like everywhere else in the world. There are many contrasts in Brazil. Although it is considered a third-world nation Brazil has many characteristics of a first-world nation. Modernization and poverty are side by side. We live very comfortably but many of the people with whom we work really struggle to make a living.

Q: What do the people look like?
Brazil is considered a melting pot of many cultures and nations. There are many different nationalities, but in general the people tend to have dark hair and brown skin.



Q: Why did you choose the country of Brazil to be missionaries?
We decided to go to Brazil because Paul grew up there as a missionary kid. He saw the great needs and sensed that God could use him to continue the same type of ministry his parents had been involved with.

Q: What is your job?
We were called to be church-planters. Our job was to settle in the capital city of the state of Paraná and establish churches. We started with a small Bible Study group comprised of Christians who had been involved in Free Lutheran churches in other cities and were interested in helping us get a Free Lutheran church started in Curitiba. Through door-to-door evangelism and contacts through members of the Bible Study our numbers increased. We rented a storefront and fixed it up to serve as place for worship. Eventually we ended up building two churches in the city. Today they are thriving congregations under Brazilian national leadership. In 1992 we moved to the country to develop a Bible Camp ministry which has reached thousands of people with the Gospel message. In that community we established another Free Lutheran congregation which has also been turned over to a Brazilian pastor. Our fourth church plant was in a nearby city called Campo Largo. The building was dedicated in May 2006 and we continue to work with this congregation to develop leadership and reach out to new people in the community. Our schedule includes several weekly commitments – services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday nights, Sunday School on Sunday mornings, youth meetings on Saturday evenings, weekly Ladies’ Bible Study, some home Bible Studies, personal visitation for evangelism and spiritual encouragement. We help many people in desperate situations with real “felt” needs like basic food baskets, medicines, trips to the hospital, building projects, etc. Through this outreach we always try to share Jesus with people and lead them to the One who can fulfill all their needs. We also direct the Bible Camp ministry, taking care of all the bookings of the facility and maintaining the grounds, etc. We plan camps for our Free Lutheran people many times throughout the year. This includes developing the programs as well as training the staff. We also travel to other churches to put on marriage retreats and seminars on courtship and dating. One other responsibility we have is hosting Americans who come to visit the mission field as short-term missionaries.

Q: How long have you been there? Do you ever come back to the U.S.?
We have been in Brazil since 1985. We usually stay about 3 years in Brazil and then come back to the U.S. for a few months of furlough. Furlough is a time for us to visit the churches and individuals who support us with their gifts and prayers, enabling us to do our work in Brazil as missionaries. It is also a time for us to visit our families and get a break from our normal ministry activities.

Q: How has serving in Brazil changed your life?
We are richly blessed by knowing so many wonderful Brazilian people who are our friends and companions and co-workers. We have seen God’s power in saving souls, transforming relationships, and guiding people into fruitful ministry. Our lives are so much richer for having obeyed God’s call to work in Brazil. We have raised our four children there, and they are the first to say what a wonderful experience it has been for them. We have experienced God’s answers to the prayers of many and we are witnesses of His faithful provision for every one of our needs. It is very rewarding to see how Jesus transforms lives through the power of the Holy Spirit and His Word. We are humbled to realize that the Lord has used our lives to speak His message of salvation to many Brazilians through the ministry He has given us.

Q: What difficulties do you have while serving?
We have mostly experienced great joy and few difficulties. One of the difficulties has been in dealing with the emotional nature of Brazilians. While this can be very positive when things are good, it can also be very negative when things are not so good. Another difficulty we have encountered is finding balance. There are always so many needs and urgent things to take care of. We really enjoy our work and the many challenges, yet it is hard to know when we can say “no” to certain opportunities. As a result we can get over-tired and over-stretched.

Q: What kinds of foods do Brazilians eat?
Brazilians commonly eat beans and rice every day. In our area black beans are most common, but in the northern part of our state the people eat brown beans. The beans are seasoned with onions and garlic. They are NEVER sweet! Brazilians also like grilled meat (churrasco) when they can afford it. They typically use lots of oil for cooking and lots of sugar in their coffee.



Q: Could you share some Brazilian recipes?


Brazilian Recipes for 10 people

Grilled Meat called Churrasco
3 lbs. sirloin tip roast or rump roast cut into 1 inch slices
3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken
18.7 oz pkg. Hillshire Farm sweet Italian sausage
4 oz. thinly sliced ham (to put on the chicken when grilling)

Marinade (2 hours before grilling)
5 T. white vinegar
½ c. olive oil
2 t. ground cumim
3 t. black pepper
4 t. salt
2 t. minced garlic

Cook sausages in a little water before grilling
Grill on hot grill about 10 minutes on each side

White Rice
2 T. oil
2 c. long grain white rice
2 t. salt
Fry rice in oil.
Add 3 2/3 c. water
Cook on low for 20 minutes without looking.

Black Beans
1 lb. black beans (dried)
Soak overnight in 6 c. water
Cook one hour with a piece of smoked back ribs
Cut up 3 slices of bacon and fry
Add one chopped onion and 1 t. minced garlic
Add some of the beans and mash and cook together.
Add this to the rest of the beans and boil a little to mix flavors.
Add salt to taste.

* If you prefer you can used canned black beans and just season them with the bacon, onions and garlic. Don’t add salt as the canned beans are salted.


Potato Salad
6 med. Lrg. Potatoes, peeled
1 peeled carrot
Cook in salted water until tender
Cut up and add 2 green onions, 3 sprigs of parsley
Sprinkle potatoes with 2 t. vinegar and ½ t. salt
Add 2/3 c. mayonnaise with a little cream and mix.

Vinagrette Salad
1 c. diced green pepper
1 c. diced tomato
½ c. chopped onion
½ c. minced parsley
2 green onions, chopped
* Mix together with ¼ c. White Vinegar
2 T. Olive Oil
½ t. Salt
¼ t. Pepper

Brigadeiros
Cook slowly in heavy-bottomed pan
1 can sweetened condensed milk with 1 T. margarine and 1 T. cocoa - until the mixture leaves the side of the pan. Turn on to a buttered dish and let cool in refrigerator. With buttered hands, form small balls and roll in chocolate sprinkles. Place in small petit four cups. Makes about 20 per can. Best to buy sprinkles by the pound at a bakery.