Vacation

Ministro Pistarini, partial view of reservoir

   
    Mid summer, after returning from camp, life was still very full, programs and meetings to look forward to with no pause. Dad wrote, We are still on the run but we like it. (February 10)

   
    My parents were now equipped with all the necessary documents--driver's license and identity cards. Each had a cédula de identidad, but only Dad had obtained a carnet de conductor. These were small 2.5-by-4 inches leather-bound booklets.

   

    Eight days later (Feb. 18), Dad wrote, The Dowdys left on their vacation Feb. 14 and will stay two weeks. We expect to leave on our vacation March 3, but we will not be able to stay two weeks. We just can't see our way cler to leave the works that long . . . we are going to the town of La Falda near the city of Córdoba [49 miles]. It is well into the Sierra mountains. After being on the go as we have, we feel like a vacation although we do not deserve one.

 
    I dug out all the photos of that vacation. I myself do not remember the experience. However, I have no recollection of later family getaways either. Perhaps future letters will tell me whether we ever did go on another planned vacation.

    Dad's letter of March 7th is addressed from "Mi Sueño Cottage--La Falda of the Sierras." I searched online to learn more about that area and be able to interpret the photos. I couldn't find information about a Mi Sueño hotel. 

    
    However, as I perused all the La Falda images online, I learned much about the historic Eden Hotel. In fact, I wondered whether we had visited it. Was this photo taken at the top of its marble staircase?

     In any case, I found the story of El Eden fascinating. Built, owned and managed by German immigrants, some with close ties to the Nazis, after the fall of the Reich, in March of 1945, it was declared "enemy property". The town of La Falda grew up around the area to service the enormous enterprise. Open to the public from 1898 to 1965, some of its famous guests include presidents, princes, celebrities, among them poet Rubén Darío, scientist Albert Einstein.[1] 

   
    The Edenic glory days were followed by nearly half a century of deterioration, vandalism and looting. A seemingly impossible restoration project began in 2007, to bring back its architectural grandeur, and historic significance. The Eden Hotel opened its doors again on January 2, 2013, to a limited number of guests and daily tours of the museum. Many cultural events and educational opportunities have been added since then.

    So, how did our family vacation go? Dad's letter continues, Arrived in La Falda about 7 P.M. The Debannes from Los Cisnes have been here for one month. They met us and had already secured a room for us. It is a room with bath. 

    
    Ah! That explains why we went there. The Debanne family arranged it! They were a very prominent family in the small town, populated largely by European immigrants, and owned the largest general store in Los Cisnes. 

    Dad's letter continues: Wednesday we went to what is called Piedras Grandes or Great Rocks. The name reveals what we saw. The rock is mainly of one class, a gray with tiny silver specks in it. It is hard and excellent for building. Many of the homes are built from it up here. The place is just full of nice homes. They aren't like the homes in our section. They are separate and have tile roofs instead of tin. The roofs are also slanting instead of flat. All through the mountains around Córdoba there are nice homes, gardens, hotels, etc.

    If Kathryn had had the clothes to go horseback riding we would have done a little of that this morning, but she didn't. As far as I'm concerned I'm ready to go and I guess Kathryn is too. This is out of our class here. All the big bugs come here.

    Both my parents came from families that struggled to make ends meet. Perhaps that explains why they did not feel comfortable in higher class settings. Dad was one of ten children who all worked hard and even achieved high levels of education. Mother grew up in a small town pastor's home, one of six. I cannot imagine either family was accustomed to going on vacation.  

    I was interested to read how my parents made the most of both trips to visit their fellow missionaries and become acquainted with their places of work, even going out of their way. Apparently that was more appealing to them than tourist-type recreations.

    We started out Monday morning the 3rd and were going . . .to visit the Maconaghys first. It had rained so much near Corral de Bustos that the dirt road leading to their place from the pavement was impassable so we turned around and went to Río Cuarto. . .we sent a telegram to the Sickels telling them we would arrive after supper that same day in Almafuerte. We arrived there about 10 P.M. to find no one at home. While waiting in the car in front of their house someone across the street took pity on us and invited us to stay the night with them. We wanted to wait for the Sickels because we were sure they would arrive, but the folks insisted so we went with them. About 12:30 they Sickels drove up. We were staying in the front bedroom so we saw them come. Being in bed already we just stayed the night through. The next morning we saw them receive our telegram of the day before. We spent the morning with them and then started on our trip to La Falda.

   This photo must have been taken on the way from Almafuerte to La Falda. I recognize the partial view of the reservoir in the background, Embalse de Río Tercero, officially Ministro Pistarini.

    Back then in 1947 this was the largest reservoir in South America and there were already two operating hydroelectric plants in the area. 

    The letter ends, We're expecting to leave tomorrow to visit the Schrocks--see their place and town, then go to visit the Maconaghys if we can get there this time. While we're up here Kathryn is getting a cavity filled in one of her teeth. Rita has fallen out of bed twice on our vacation. The second time she fell on her potty and bruised her face a little.

    Thus ended our vacation experience. 

    

    As I wrote this chapter, I thought deeply about the concept of vacation - taking a break from work routines. 

• In the very beginning God consecrated a day of rest each week as a rhythm of life, and even modeled it Himself. 
• He created our bodies to require sleep regularly. 
• Interestingly, even the land needs rest! "But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard (Lev. 25:4 NIV)." Perhaps it is a time for us to stop, reflect, and enjoy God? Is He also blessed by our redirection and refocus?
• Numerous times God promises to give us rest. "Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28 NIV)."

    Whether or not my family experienced other official vacations, my parents' sincere desire was to trust God and say with the Psalmist, "Truly my soul finds rest in God (Ps. 62:1 NIV)."

1. Gardner, S. (2006, January 7). Nazi past haunts fallen Argentine hotel. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=119160&page=1

The First Summer

    

    Our move to La Carlota was in late February, 1946, so we had not yet experienced all the events of a full summer. My parents took over the work begun in 1938 by Hill and Dorothy Maconaghy and continued by Paul and Dortha Dowdy. When they moved mid November to another town, my parents were alone to carry on the ministry in four towns. 

    In December they added another meeting! Dad wrote, One of the believers lives quite a distance from the salón. Realizing that one must have much interest to come so far to a meeting, he thought it would be nice to have meetings in his home. The first time there were 19 present, 28 the second. The attendance kept growing to the point that the "annex" had more attendees than the main meeting hall.

    Summer expectations, in addition to the regularly scheduled services, included a Christmas program, Daily Vacation Bible Schools in each town, a week or more at camp, and another at conference. Pastors got together in October to plan these events. 

    Nélida Nuñez, a young full-time worker, was sent to lead the DVBS programs in our area. Scheduling all four throughout the summer could be a problem. The first one was held before Christmas. Another was postponed a week due to the weather. Summer rains interrupted the classes a few times. My parents enthusiasm and dedication was not dampened. As a family we were present to help out with each one. 

    In one town, Alejandro, an older mission point,we stayed for the duration. My parents took cots and the essentials to spend the nights in the salón. Mother wrote, We have two rooms here. One is the kitchen with running water and the other is where we have our meetings. We sleep in the meeting room and eat in the other. . . This is one of the nicer salons but one of the least encouraging groups.

    A few photos tell me more about my parents participation. Dad drove around the town with the mounted loud speaker to announce and invite people to the meetings. And Mother played the harmonium, a small portable pump organ. 

    There are very few of my own memories of this period of my life. However, one incident stands out. Do I remember it or have I been told the story so many times? It happened that on a trip to one of the towns, I don't know when or where, my dad and I were alone and the car rolled over. I was trapped and handed out through the window unhurt. The dirt roads were treacherous. In dry seasons the dust was so thick cars got stuck and when it rained, the mud and puddles were impassable. Perhaps the roads and weather conditions were too new to Dad. There was mention in one letter that a couple of men had offered to drive because he did not know the roads and their potholes.

    Sandwiched between these events, was church camp in January. The first one was held in 1941, almost as an experiment. The missionaries had known the impact of these retreats as they grew up in their own country, but it was a foreign concept in Argentina. They started out very small, but the impact was such that the attendance nearly doubled the following year. 

    Other challenges were to find a suitable location, preferably away in the hills or countryside, with shade, water, and a place to swim. Then there was the problem of transportation. Trucks and cars were used to carry the campers and equipment from Río Cuarto, the central church and mission headquarters, to an ideal spot in the sierras of Córdoba. 

    I do not know where the 1947 camp took place, only that three men, including Dad, went on a search in August, but finally settled on the same location as the previous year. 

    Mother started writing the family letter in her beautiful handwriting on a Thursday at 10:30 PM: 

    At the moment I'm sitting in the dining room tent with noise and shouting all about me so if I don't make sense it won't be strange. We've had our evening meeting and now the kids are playing games for awhile yet.

    Monday morning about 7:30 we left La Carlota for camp. For dinner we were at Dowdy's[now in Río Cuarto], then the whole group left about 4 o'clock. About 6 something we arrived in camp.

    What do I remember about that camp? Obviously as a two-and-half year-old, nothing. But as I look at the photos, I interpret them with the understanding of my own memories of many years. I remember fun trips traveling to camp in the back of a truck.

    Dad continued the letter, Kathryn didn't have time to finish this letter in camp so I will try to finish it now. The Lord helped me wonderfully in the study which I had to present. They all seemed to understand and absorb the teachings. He enclosed an outline. I was amazed at the content, the organization, and especially the perfect Spanish.

    I found an article by Mrs Ricardo Wagner, "Young People's Camps in Argentina" (Brethren Missionary Herald, Vol. 9, 1947). She describes the daily program planned by a special committee.

". . .a devotional period before breakfast, breakfast, and after a short interlude, three or four Bible studies in the morning. Between these Bible classes is a brief intermission during which some type of supervised recreation is provided for those who feel they must exercise. Short song services are also held during the morning. After the noon meal a rest period is insisted upon, sometimes with some difficulty. . . brought to a close by afternoon refreshments consisting of "mate cocido" . . .
The rest of the afternoon is given over to recreation such as swimming, hiking, ball games and as many other games as it is possible to crowd in. . . The recreation is interrupted by the evening meal early enough so that it can be over before dark. It is supposed to conclude the day's activities but the young people have always wanted to continue with a game or two afterwards."

    The next photo tells me that I was happy to see Mrs. Dowdy a month from their move. I remember doña Elena, the hired cook, for the wonderful meals and her efficiency running the kitchen. The wives all worked together with her. My favorite meal related memory from later years as a young camper, was afternoon tea time--mate cocido and pan con dulce.

    

Mrs. Dowdy, Rita, doña Elena

    Laura Wagner's article helps us understand this makeshift kitchen that fed us so well.

"Naturally the place requiring most equipment is the kitchen. A special kerosene stove has been built consisting of a row of burners connected to a large pressure tank. Tables with shelves underneath for dishes are set up like a counter on one side and down the center of the kitchen providing cupboard room and a place to work. Of course the dishes often get dusty because the shelves are open and our floors are lose dirt, but then we are camping and dust will come off with a towel! Both the stove and tables have proven very practical in taking care of conference crowds as well. In exchange, camp expenditures have been kept down by being able to use the conference supply of dishes, kettles, etc. The Bible Coach equipment is also pressed into service and the Bible Coach itself has given very satisfactory service in hauling supplies and for storage purposes. The only difficulty with our running water is that it runs in the creek below us and has to be brought up to the kitchen by manpower. 

The dining room furnishings consist of specially made table tops resting on saw-horses and the Bible Coach folding benches. A small pulpit and a folding organ at one end is the addition necessary to make the same place serve as class room. 

In the dormitory tents, he furnishings are provided by the young folks themselves, each one bringing what he needs for the week. A rope stretched between the two large tent poles provides closet space fo the girls."

Ever a favorite camp experience was the hike in the sierras. I am fairly certain that I did not go on the excursión that first year. 

    The following photo confirms my suspicion. I'm glad my twenty-five year-old mother was able to enjoy the outing without me.

     It appears there were plenty of willing babysitters available to look after me! I am reminded that guys and gals had separate swimming areas.

     

    The Argentine Grace Brethren eventually purchased their own camp site and upgraded to buildings and modern equipment. Sessions for different age groups were added as well as a family camp. For eighty years now the tradition continues strong. 
    

    So, how did my family survive this intense summer? Did we need or want a vacation? I will talk about that in the next chapter. But for now what comes to mind is one of my favorite verses: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10 ESV)" I do believe my parents lived like this, walking into what God had already prepared for them, and trusting that His grace would sustain them.