Mo Sharratt
Mo
Sharratt
Mo is 74 and has lived in Leighton Buzzard for 62 years. She is retired, following a career in money management and now has a real heart for Brasil.
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...the idea that I needed to trust Jesus wouldn’t go away.
My life was transformed on Christmas Day 1999 when I read a book like this one – the stories of ordinary people from Hockliffe Street Baptist Church who had encountered our extraordinary God.
I went to the church and the pastor said to me “Put your trust in Jesus. He will never fail you, He’ll never let you down.” I thought, “No chance!” Life had taught me not to trust people whom I could see, hear and touch. How could I trust what I could not see, touch or hear?
I began attending church regularly and the idea that I needed to trust Jesus wouldn’t go away. That February I acknowledged Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and in March 2000 I prayed and asked Him to teach me how to trust Him and not waste any more of my life. I’d only been a Christian since February and I expected God to change me overnight, but He didn’t.
Later that year, after the Good Friday service, I went to a joint church service on Leighton Buzzard High Street. To symbolise what happened to Jesus, a large wooden cross was dropped into its positioning hole. When I heard that thud, I passed out! The last thing I remember thinking was how much pain it must have caused Jesus as He hung, nailed to His cross.
On Easter Sunday, I walked the length of the High Street on my way to church. It was only as I neared the Market Cross that I looked up and saw the wooden cross again – this time, so beautifully decorated with yellow flowers, symbolising Jesus’s resurrection. It looked stunning and took my breath away.
I carried on to the church and read that the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) was looking for a team to go to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to work in favela (slum) pre-schools for 4 weeks that summer.
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I’ve learnt that it’s not about me. It’s about Jesus!”
I had a school admin job which had a long summer break. As I read, I heard a voice in my head saying, “You could do that.” On my way home, I thought of reasons for not going; however, I asked for details and phoned a lady called Miriam at BMS. I mentioned many reasons why I couldn’t go; my age, new faith, no Portuguese, not available for all 4 weeks, insulin-dependent diabetic. Each time Miriam replied, “That’s not a problem…if God wants you there, He will sort it out”. My final excuse – “I don’t like children” – wasn’t used, I knew what the response would be. I applied and was accepted.
On that trip I fell in love with Jesus, Brazil and Brazilians. It was life changing and I returned twice more. In 2002 I resigned my job, did some training and, on 30 September 2004 (aged 56 years), I flew out to Brazil again on a one-way ticket to work in a street-children project.
During the 13 years I worked in Brazil I learned that every day when I wake up, God knows about and will guide me though every moment and challenge. He showed me how to trust by showing me how much I’m loved by Him.
I’ve learnt that it’s not about me. It’s about Jesus!