Beginnings in Buenos Aires

  

 

    "Why We Expect To Return to Argentina" was the title of an article my father wrote shortly before the end of our year in the US. 

    Just a few months ago we bade farewell to the missionaries and believers in far away Argentina. I only wish that all of you who read these words could have seen the many expressions of appreciation on the part of groups of believers as well as individuals. I believe they expressed sincere appreciation for our work among them because they had looked deeply into our hearts and had seen our love for them. The memories of these several farewell occasions will ever be fresh in my mind.

    Yes, just last July 14 (1951) we boarded the plane to begin our first furlough, but we are already looking forward to the return trip.

    He then elaborated several points: the conviction of God's calling; the blessings experienced on the Argentine mission field; and "Argentina is in our blood"!

    It's hard to explain to those who haven't experienced it for themselves, but we must confess that we have been gradually changing in our way of thinking, ways of expression, outlook on life, and in many ways we have become like the Argentine.                   (Brethren Missionary Herald, 9.06.52)

    By the time the article was published, we were already in Argentina facing daunting challenges as pioneers starting a work in a totally new area. As an eight-year-old, just tagging along, I was unaware of the challenges my parents faced.  How does one plant a church from scratch? I learned about the process from the notes and articles published in the denominational magazine.

Now in Buenos Aires

    Brother Solon Hoyt and his family are now located in Don Bosco, a small center only a few minutes ride from downtown Buenos Aires. They are now engaged in house-to-house visitation and hope soon to have the first assembly of those interested in hearing the Word of God. Buenos Aires has a population of over 2,500,000, being the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere. (Brethren Missionary Herald, 10.04.52)

   Several months later, my father wrote a lengthy account that was published in two parts.

What About the New Work in Buenos Aires, Argentina?

The First Problem

    Where shall we locate? After Brethren Schrock and Marshall had made some investigation in and around Buenos Aires, and after considerable discussion in the field council meetings, we were all agreed that the problem of location is one which can only be decided finally after living in the area to be reached. Therefore we were to locate here wherever we could find a house to rent.

A Bigger Problem

    Because of a tremendous influx of immigrants from Europe and a general movement from the country to the city, the housing situation throughout the towns and cities of Argentina has been taxed to the limit. But here in this area it has been by far the most acute because most of the immigrants have settled down close to the port of entry and hundreds from the interior have rushed to Buenos Aires to seek higher wages in the factories, which are almost exclusively in this area. After several weeks of searching in every way, shape and form that it could be done, the Lord directed us to the place in which we now live. The rent is exorbitant, but we have learned not to complain about that since others are paying much more in comparison with what they receive.

    In his handwritten memories, Lynn also mentioned those beginnings:

    When we arrived in the province of Buenos Aires, we lived for a short while in a "pensión" (boarding house) owned by Mrs. McLeish, a dear Christian lady from England.

    I have only one recollection of that time and that was the afternoon tea time, with scones, biscuits, jellies, jams and delicious tea served in a cozy room in her house which fronted on the town square of Quilmes (the county seat).

 

 

    I remember those English teas as well. That was the first I knew of tea cozies to keep the tea pot warm. Hers were hand knitted, I believe.

 

 

    During that time, Mother and Dad were seeking for a house to rent, two train stations closer to B.A. in Don Bosco, a very small middle class bedroom community of B.A. At this time Don Bosco was maybe ten blocks long and five or six blocks wide along the railroad tracks of the Beneral Roca train line.

    Life was very uncomplicated and simple in Don Basco. We lived in a small, very nice home on Calle 31 (31st Street) about seven blocks away from the train station and 3/4 block away from the tracks where the steam-engine-driven trains pulled three to four passenger cars and one cargo car back and forth on their way to and from Plaza Constitución and the provincial capital of La Plata.

     Dad's article continues,

    This house is located in a very new section of a new suburb called Don Bosco. We are 7 1/2 miles from Buenos Aires proper which is just 26 minutes by train. Since we are only four blocks from the train station and trains go to Buenos Aires every 18 minutes and sometimes oftener, we may consider ourselves quite well located. This suburb is one of four which are built so closely together that one cannot know where to make the divisions between them. People living at the farthest point from us in any of these four suburbs could easily attend our meetings since it would take only from 10 to 20 minutes at the most by bus.

 

    We moved into the house about September 4, and it took exactly one month more to get everything out of customs and get things more or less settled and running smoothly.

Two Months of Ups and Downs

    During the months of October and November our sole work was house-to-house personal evangelism. Since we know no one as yet, we didn't know what to do about the children so we could go out together in this house-to-house personal work. We finally decided to take the youngest (Aldo) with us since we would be visiting first near the house, and leave the other two. This worked out very nicely and when the time came that we needed someone with whom to leave all three, the Lord directed us to a neighbor girl of about 16.

    Some days we would return filled with joy for the privileges we had to present the Gospel; other days we returned discouraged. As a whole, however, we had to feel that there is a more open and unbiased attitude on the part of the people here as compared with those of the interior. Very few refused the tracts and a goodly number talked at length with us about spiritual things.

    We must confess that our discouragement at times only revealed to us our constant need of His help and direction . . . Has not God promised that His Word will not return void? (Brethren Missionary Herald, 4.04.53)

    Lynn notes,

    From the start of their ministry in Don Basco Dad did a lot of door to door visitation, giving out tracts. (My favorite was "La Voz" - The Voice) and inviting people to do one of two things, attend a Bible study in our home or allow him to hold a Bible study in their home.

     In an earlier update, Dad shared the excitement of those new beginnings.

Don Bosco, Argentina

    I believe we have some wonderful months ahead. The people about us seem to be so neighborly and open. From what little I've observed thus far this section seems to be made up of young families.

 

 

 

    Right now our work is almost entirely house-to-house work. We have had some interesting experiences . . . We're anxiously awaiting the opportunity to have some tent meetings . . .  (Brethren Missionary Herald, 11.08.52)

    The second half of Dad's lengthy report was published the following month in the Herald, with a different title.

More About the New Work in Buenos Aires, Argentina

     In our short time here we have entered into conversation with a man and his wife who operate a vegetable market. Several times I mentioned that we were expecting to have tent meetings as soon as possible. They immediately manifested curiosity. With this slight encouragement, I mentioned that we expected to have a vacation Bible school also, and their two children seemed to be delighted. Later they asked me more about the D.V.B.S. seemingly anxious that we have it soon. Considering their evident interest, we invited their children, together with a couple others, to our house for a little class on Sundays. We didn't invite many, for we just wanted to feel our way a bit longer.

    After the second class, one boy asked Mrs. Hoyt what she would teach after she finished the lessons on the wordless book. He breathed a sigh of relief after she showed him a drawer filled with lessons, and he said, "I'm so glad because I like these very much." (That boy stepped out like a man in the tent meeting and accepted the Lord.)

 

    The children were questioned and cross-questioned when they got home to find out what they had been taught. The parents then became interested even to the point of learning the choruses we had taught them.

"I want to see Buenos Aires before I die"

    We imagined this to be the voice of the Bible Coach ('20 Model A) as it crept along the highway carrying the tent and equipment as well as four passengers for the first tent meetings in this area. In spite of its good intentions, its age greatly limits its possibilities. We hadn't gone but about 90 miles when we had motor trouble. This delayed us some 10 hours thus the whole trip took 32 hours. Even the poorest sense of humor would have appreciated the sight of this antiquated vehicle. with its four passengers almost one upon the other, as it creaked into the capital city of Argentina. [I wonder if this was the last adventure of the Bible Coach?] 

Someone Must Be Praying

    Twenty days before the date for the tent meetings I had presented the necessary petitions for the lot, use of public-address system, police authorization, and so on. As the days passed by without any answer whatsoever, I wondered many times whether I should make that long trip from Río Cuarto to Buenos Aires with the Bible Coach and equipment without previous authorizations. Nevertheless, feeling fully confident that the Lord would answer, even if it were "in the nick of time," we made the trip. The day came for the tent meetings and still no authorization from the police, nor electricity. But in the afternoon, all within an hour we received the permission from the chief of police and a neighbor consented to our securing electricity from him. Yes, someone was praying. I know you folks at home have been praying for this new undertaking, and the believers throughout the mission here seem to have a special burden for the new work in Buenos Aires.

     The entire campaign seemed to be owned of the Lord. There was a consciousness on the part of all who had a part that the Holy Spirit was working. There were no great crowds, but those in attendance was consistent. There were no great preachers nor attractive programs, but the Gospel was given forth simply night after night. There were no sudden or unusual manifestations on the part of the listeners, but there seemed to be a growing interest and conviction. No invitation was given until the next to the last night--we wanted to give the people as much time as possible to understand the Gospel. When the invitation was given, a goodly number responded.

"Pastor, can you direct us to a good church?"

    Several nights before the meetings closed, I was asked this question by two different families. . . I was deeply moved to see how the Lord was working. I hadn't mentioned further meetings nor the possibility of starting a church as yet, but the Lord was already creating that desire within them. I announced the first meeting in our home for Christmas Eve. We truthfully did not know whether to expect one or ten, especially since it was Christmas Eve. However, to our great joy there were 15 besides us. The second meeting was held December 28 and there were 22 besides us.

    We are praying that our work here may grow, and that our people may quickly fit into the plan and program of the entire mission. Now that we have launched out into this new area we trust that we will soon have a healthy, self-supporting church and become closely united to the other churches even though separated by 350 miles. (Brethren Missionary Herald, 5.02.53)

    Seven decades later, I look more deeply into my parents' hearts as I reflect on their journey, read what they wrote, and hear what others have said. I am in awe of how God prepared the way for my pioneering parents and directed their steps. And I rejoice that the Word of God continues to go forth in that area and beyond. 

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

(Isaiah 55:10-11)

 

Returning to Argentina

     

    The night before sailing from New York, Mother wrote a note to the home office, titled: 

BUT GOD!

    It's raining! It's our last night in the homeland! Thoughts come and go. Will we ever see our loved ones again on this earth? What will happen in the five years we are gone? Homesickness, loneliness--yes, plenty, but God!

    Cars are coming and going, people are rushing here and there in the streets below our window here in the Sudan Interior Mission home (New York). It makes me think of the city to which we are called--Buenos Aires--filled with people rushing to and fro without a knowledge of our Saviour. Will they receive the message we have to offer?

    When the Lord passed through Samaria and gave the water of life to the woman at the well, He said: "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." that is our desire tonight as we look forward to our next term on the field. 

(Brethren Missionary Herald, August 2, 1952)

 

    In the same publication, Dad wrote a note about the new term of service they were about to begin.

A NEW TERM OF SERVICE

    As we look back over our year of furlough, we praise God for it. Above all other blessings, it has given us opportunity to appraise our first term and see where we have failed and how our service can be improved.

    We anticipate this new term of service with even greater joy than the first. Now we know more or less what to expect, but we do not expect an easy term. Beginning a Brethren testimony in Buenos Aires will mean tireless effort. . . It will demand a daily supply of divine wisdom.This will be a new undertaking and a very important one with many decisions to be made. . .  

    Grandma Hirschy wrote about our return trip to Argentina.

August 11, 1952

    We got a letter from Kathryn last week telling that they arrived in Buenos Aires on the 31st of July, I think. At least she says, "We anchored in the Río de la Plata about 7 a.m. and were unable to get a dock until about 3 p.m. Because of the mourning for the first lady, ships evidently had lined up in the channel waiting to unload, etc. For three or four days no one had worked at the docks so you can imagine what kind of a mess it is down there with baggage everywhere. Just before we got off the boat we had to stand still for 15 min. doing homage to the deceased." 

    I remember that moment of silence as we stood in line waiting to be able to get off the ship. Eva Perón, wife of the Argentine President, was only thirty three years old when she died of cervical cancer on the 26th of July. A few weeks earlier she had participated in her husband's second term inauguration, June 9, 1952.

    Eva Duarte de Perón, lovingly called Evita, may have lived a short life, but her story lives on to this day shrouded in mysteries. Many books were written about her life, as well as the famous musical "Evita" by Andrew Lloyd Weber and the film version starring Madonna.  

 

    Just as Argentina was going through major historic events, our family was about to experience major changes. Lynn explained these shifts, to the best of his understanding, in a section of his handwritten memories subtitled "The 50's"

    About the time Dad and Mother arrived on the mission field, several changes came about that transformed the whole playing field.

    As far as Brethren Foreign Missions is concerned, the biggest and most important reason for change was the industrialization movement, which caused many Brethren people from the Southern half of Córdoba to move to the province of Buenos Aires to take advantage of the jobs available in Argentina's industrial centers along the Río de la Plata.

    Our churches were seeing their members move away for better (or available) jobs, and, because Buenos Aires was not in our territory (by comity agreement [acuerdo de cortesía]) they were joining Methodist, Baptist or Plymouth Brethren churches in that province.

    The second change that was very influential was the departure of some of the denominational groups from their strong positions on the Inerrancy of Scriptures to follow the teachings of men like Harry Emerson Fosdick, Reinhold Niehbur, Karl Barth, and more recently Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuler.

     These two main reasons, coupled with the requirement of the Argentine Government for every church and/or Missionary organization to have an official headquarters in the city of Buenos Aires, and the desire brought about by relationships they had formed over the years with dear Brethren who had left their area to move to Buenos Aires, prompted the missionary team in Argentina to decide that they must begin church planting there.

    This proposal, presented to the Missionary Society, was not received well at first, but after much consideration, it was decided that the Hoyt family would move from the interior to B.A. to plant a church there when they returned from furlough.

    After they arrived back in Argentina, the Hoyts were assigned temporarily to Huinca Renancó in the southernmost part of the province of Córdoba. 

    When I read this last paragraph, I began to question the accuracy of Lynn's memories. I could not recall a time in Huinca Renancó and only had vague and hazy remembrances of a chaotic time, including a family train trip. I was so embarrassed because my assigned task was to carry the "potty" neatly hidden in a draw-string bag. I was convinced it was obvious, that everyone could see what it was.

    Lacking the treasured resource of family letters for this period, I resorted to searching the archives of the Brethren Missionary Herald. I came across an overlooked article written from Huinca Renancó during the last months before furlough. 

(Brethren Missionary Herald, August 4, 1951)

            I read what was the perfect message for the many church presentations in the year to come. 

    In the first paragraph, Dad reflects on how the "5 1/2 years of happiness while serving the Lord" also changed their conclusions as to methods and procedures as they gained experience and new insights.

    What he then outlines are his firm and sure convictions. The following is a summary.

  I.   THIS FIELD HAS BEEN GREATLY BLESSED OF THE LORD 

    God has honored and blessed the faithful ministry of former missionaries and pastors as evidenced by . . . 

1. New Interest - The increased attendance to national conference each year was cause for wonder and praise, evidence of blessing, and necessitated changes and additions to the accommodations. 
2. Two More Permanent Testimonies - From 18 different preaching centers when we first arrived, today two more towns have regular meetings and each has a small group of believers. Besides these two permanent locations, four other towns have been visited from time to time.
3. A Bible Institute - no longer a dream, it is a reality! The need had been recognized for some years. It was our purpose to begin in April of 1947, but, there were not enough prospective students. However, night classes were held in three or four locations. That year people prayed in earnest for the youth camp. As I went to camp in January of 1948, it was with the conviction that we were going to see a special manifestation of God's blessing.Twelve to fifteen young people responded to the call to prepare to serve the Lord. With only two months to prepare, the Bible Institute began with ten or eleven students. This marks the third year with numerous blessings, a token of what the future holds.
4. The Argentine Council - composed of the missionaries, the national pastors and seven laymen elected by delegates from the congregations. This group is responsible for the general running of the Mission, which not only leads to greater cooperation, but also prepares them for the time when they take full responsibility.
5. A New Camp - for two years now we've had a children's camp, questionable at first as potentially risky and dangerous. But the Lord has showered blessings on this undertaking.
6. Fund for Paying National Helpers - to help Bible Institute students during their summer service to the various mission points and boost the allowances of the national pastors during the year when the students are in school.

 II.   THE FIELD IS VAST

    During these five years we have constantly heard of towns and cities without one ray of the Gospel.

III.   THE FIELD IS PATHETICALLY UNDERMANNED 

    Here we are with  20 towns and a Bible Institute as our responsibility before God. But we are only eight couples and two single ladies. One couple has five towns to care for, three others have three towns each as well as teaching responsibilities. For the past two years it has been necessary for each pastor and missionary to take his turn caring for the services in Huinca Renancó, the town in which we now live. This has been a great burden--the long trip, the exhaustion, leaving home base often poorly cared for. But can we abandon this group of believers? When we leave on furlough next month, the same schedule will be carried out again. 

    So, Lynn was right, we did live there for a short time before furlough and could also have returned there when we arrived back in Argentina. I read on, and understood why he had a special place in his heart for Huinca Renancó. 

    Moving to Buenos Aires was an experience I do not remember at all. The only event I can remember from those days was that mother tells me that she was glad to get out of Huinca Renancó because, being in the "pampa seca" (dry pampa, semidesert prairie) it was nothing to sweep up at least a bucket of dust a day. 

    But Huinca was neither dry nor dusty for the boy who heard the message of salvation there. Vacation Bible School time came around, and the seed planted by my parents and Sunday School teachers sprouted when the VBS teacher gave us the opportunity to trust Jesus.  

    However, before moving to Buenos Aires, our family went through a turbulent time. I do remember the atmosphere of heaviness during the conflict. Lynn explains it thus:

    When the next Field Council came up, the missionaries were faced with what, to them, was a hard decision. Laboulaye needed a pastor, and the Hoyts were now back from the U.S. Why not send them there and put B.A. on the back burner? This they decided to do. When Dad came home and told Mother of that decision, her reaction was one of dismay. What followed was grief and many tears. Dad, who seemed up front to be a solidly unemotional (though friendly and kind ) man was not able to withstand that demonstration of disappointment. I imagine that it had taken Mother some time to get used to the idea of moving to B.A., because she had made friends in the interior and leaving them seemed hard. Now all of a sudden, the idea she had been dealing with for most of their furlough year was being taken away from her and she felt like a person who had just had the rug pulled out from under her--unstable, insecure. Now Dad was the one hit with insecurities. He reported this to the Field Council, and the decision was made to go back to the original plan--Buenos Aires.

             Recently, a friend remembered something my father told him once, "Redheads can be difficult."

   This conflict and ultimate outcome could be debated and questioned. Throughout centuries, so much has been said and written about knowing the will of God. In the end, we know that God is sovereign and his purpose prevails.

 

 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand           
(Prov.19:21).