The Port Of Two Brothers Lives On

By Paul Schlener

Raimundo came to ABWE missionaries Paul & Jessie Schlener as a scrawny, stuttering 11-year-old. He took care of their chickens in order to earn money to help support his widowed mother and younger siblings. After several months, the Schleners persuaded the young boy to stop smoking and to quit other habits bad for his health. Then he made the best decision of his life: Raimundo trusted Christ as his Savior. He attended the local primary school the Schleners started, dedicated his life to God at camp, and went on to study at the Baptist Seminary in Manaus. At his seminary graduation, according to local custom, Raimundo had a Lady of Honor escort him for the formal diploma presentation. Not surprisingly, the Schleners' former chicken boy asked Jessie to serve in that capacity. Before the Schleners retired from missionary service in Brazil, Raimundo had become a pastor.

Paul & Jessie recently received the following update from Raimundo:

Dear Father in the faith,

It is with much joy that I write this letter as I remember all the things that took place during the years that we were together.

I will never forget all you did for my dear mother before she died, and for all our family. May God continue to bless you.

I am sincerely grateful for what you've done for me in secular education, and more importantly, in spiritual education. Today I am an ordained minister of the Word of God, faithful to my God, my family, and to my church in Manacapuru.

Pastor Paulo and mother Jessie, oh how I would like to give each of you a big hug. We miss you so much! How are Brother John and Dona Francisca and their family?

A big hug from your son in the faith,
Pastor Raimundo, Viera de Freitas

P.S. Mother Jessie, you were a mother, a friend, and I shall never forget it.

To learn more about Raimundo, be sure to read Port of Two Brothers, Paul's moving and humorous account of the Schlener families' lives on the Amazon River. The two families shared the gospel with Brazilians through emergency first-aid and dentistry, harrowing river travel, and other incredible experiences.

To order Port of Two Brothers, click here.