by J. Randal Matheny

Last Friday, my family and I celebrated nineteen years of work in Brazil. With three other families, we arrived early in the morning of 28th November 1984 in Rio de Janeiro on a flight from Miami.

When the customs officials saw our documents, they ushered us all into a waiting area and began an item-by-item inspection. The health documents for our family had been prepared by Dr. George Hobby, who grew up as a missionary kid in Africa. Mindful of bureaucratic officials, he included everything except the syringes with which he had drawn blood. As a result, we were cleared, while the other three couples rushed off in a taxi to repeat the full list of health exams. Vicki, Micah, and I babysitted four piles of new missionary luggage in the airport lounge.

We lost our connecting flight and failed to arrive on time in Belo Horizonte's new airport. Nineteen years ago, there were no cell phones to call colleagues waiting to receive us. But with the Lord's blessing, he did get us all to our destination on that day.

That entry episode made an appropriate analogy for the ensuing years of work. It reminded us of truths like these:

• One waits while another runs.
• Expect plans to be changed.
• Make the body perform on demand.
• Find joy (and humor) where you least expect it.
• Know the difference between a dial tone and a busy signal.
• Expect people to take a long, hard look at who you are.

• Be open, transparent, and learn to risk.
• Live and operate on a shoe string.
• Take time to listen. And then some.
• The long way around may be the shortest route. And maybe the only route.
• Let Brazilians criticize their own culture.
• Identify and be as Brazilian as possible, knowing you will never be completely successful.
• Don't sweat flight delays; you could be stuck on a boat.
• Sources of support may come and go, but the Lord will never desert you.
• Man may never see what you are accomplishing. Doesn't matter, the Lord takes note.
• If you start it, who will finish it?

But it's fun trying.

I learned that in nineteen years, too.

The date of 28 November 1984 is stamped on my National Foreign Registration card. More than that, it is stamped on our hearts by a wonderful people who have infected us with their joy for life in Christ and love for his presence and glory.

So it's nineteen. And counting.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psa. 90:12, ESB).