MK Parallels – Then & Now
By Beth Jordal , OMS USA Communications
Jeff Edwards in Brazil , age 8 Scott Murphy in Brazil , age 4
I love reading missionary stories . While I love reading about what they do on the field , I also enjoy knowing missionary backstories , such as where they were raised . Today , more than 25 active OMS missionaries and retirees grew up on an OMS field . Of those 25 , two currently serve together at headquarters , both of whom were missionary kids ( MKs ) in Brazil at the same time . I sat down with Scott Murphy and Jeff Edwards to capture some of their stories .
In 1960 , four-year-old Scott and his family arrived in Londrina , Brazil ; in 1974 , six-and-a-half-year-old Jeff and his family arrived in Sao Paulo , Brazil . Their parents served as long-term OMS missionaries . Scott ’ s family lived in the city on the OMS compound . Jeff ’ s family lived at OMS ’ Camp Panorama in the countryside a couple of hours away . Although they were different ages and lived in different places , their families knew each other and often crossed paths . Jeff was good friends with Scott ’ s younger brother and spent a lot of time at the Murphy home the year the Edwards family lived in Londrina .
Scott and Jeff both loved growing up as MKs , but their experiences were unique : city life for Scott and camp life for Jeff . Their upbringing in Brazil enriched their younger years , and they both carry fond
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