1959

 

Aldo and Lynn Hoyt and Grandpa Hirschy
Chiclana 1074
Don Bosco,  Buenos Aires
Argentina

In order to put together the happenings of 1959, I gathered from several sources: old photos (sadly most of them are not labeled); copies of letters I wrote to my best friend; notes from my grandparents' letters and "Aunt" Margaret's letters to her family; articles from The Brethren Missionary Herald; and a chronology of the Grace Brethren in Argentina.

Grandma Hirschy's family letter dated January 23, 1959, included a quote from my parents: 

Sam and Kathryn write about the unstable prices of everything there. . . "tickets from here to Río Cuarto went up from 103 pesos to 179. People are considerably perturbed. Our Christmas was spent with no unusual happenings. . . Aldo had his tonsils out December 29. He had no difficulty at all and was talking very soon afterward. We trust he will soon get a better appetite and have more energy. Ivan always has plenty of energy although he gets a cold and diahrrea quite often because of his teeth. He now has 10 or 12 teeth at one year of age." Sure wish I could see him and hug him. Kathryn says he is so cute.

The quote continues:

"Lynn is in children's camp with three others from our Sunday School. This next Wednesday they will be home and we will be going to Young People's camp. Kathryn will go along taking Aldo and Ivan and Rita. I will try to lead the games and have the morning devotions."

Children's camp was January 6-13 and youth camp from the 15th to the 23rd. This was the second use of the newly purchased campgrounds. The very old tents were still in use. Construction of permanent structures began later that year, perhaps precipitated by a disaster that occurred during the last camp session. Donald Bishop wrote about the event in "Camp Disaster in Argentina." (Brethren Missionary Herald, 6.06.59)

It was Thursday evening, and we were in a wonderful camp location at the foot of the Cerro  San Lorenzo. The four large tents (one of them being close to the thirty-year mark in age) and about six smaller ones had been located on the high ground in a corner formed by a large stream and a smaller one which flows into it. This was the first day, and there were still seven great days to follow. 

Brother Phil Saint was with us this year, and after supper we enjoyed the singspiration led by Brother Solon Hoyt; then we saw Phil Saint draw, and listened to him preach. Everyone knew that we would have a wonderful week ahead.

Sunday afternoon it rained; Monday morning also, so by breakfast time there was mud everywhere. During the second class, the rain stopped and the sun started peeping through. Everyone was feeling relieved, knowing that the sun would dry off the playing field for the afternoon. Brother Don Bishop was about halfway through his class on personal evangelism when there was an explosion in the kitchen tent. The bottom had blown out of the kerosene pressure stove, and about eight gallons of kerosene gushed out over a charcoal burner.

Immediately there was another explosion when the kerosene caught fire. Just a few minutes before there had been fifteen people, some of them small children, in the tent. In some miraculous way everyone got out before the fires started and no one was burned. The flames jumped high and endangered the other tents, but the Lord had sent the rain to moisten the canvas, and to save the other tents. Every year these old tents are painted with a beeswax solution to keep out some of the water, but this makes the canvas very inflammable. In about three minutes there was nothing left of the kitchen tent and equipment except charred tables, melted plastic plates, cups, and bowls, twisted spoons, ruined gas lamps, and just chaos in general, to say nothing of the tray of blackened meatballs on what was formerly a table. There were many tear-filled eyes and hearts as we scraped and scrubbed. The third class was called. Brother Saint went ahead with his class. 

Mabel Devesa, Rita Hoyt, Norma Fontana

The photos prove that I was there. However, I have no recollection of the event as disastrous as it was. And I wonder how we got along for the duration of the camp with an impaired kitchen. Perhaps some of these campers will remember.

In February, during Carnaval weekend, the annual conference is held in Río Cuarto.Then in March the school year begins. Lynn and Aldo attended the primary school in Don Bosco. I started secondary school, although behind most of my friends, having lost a year while in the US. 

Of the three or four options, we chose the course that led to become an elementary school teacher.

Escuela Normal Mixta de Quilmes Almirante Guillermo Brown

In a letter to my friend Mirtha, I wrote: 

"Some days before school started, I got a note advising me to go there in person. I didn't know what it was all about and was a bit worried, but when I got there, you know what it was for? To tell me I had to choose what language I wanted to take. I didn't want to take English because that would be boring, so I ended up with FRENCH, NO LATIN."

Rereading these letters written when I was an adolescent is a humorous, almost embarrassing, experience. Mirtha and I shared about our teenage crushes. We gave code names to all our friends and shared funny anecdotes. We used very flowery silly language and apologized profusely for tardiness in responding. So, often the long letters could be boiled down to very few pages of factual information. I was grateful to learn from my June 29 letter that my grandfather's visit was in July of that year. I had photos from that special time but did not know where they fit in. (In a previous post I wrote about his visit in February 1953.) 

My cousin Kae, an archival librarian and keeper of the Hirschy family historical documents, provided me with letters Grandpa wrote during that trip. This time it was very different. Instead of serving as chaplain on a cruise ship, he traveled by air to visit missionary friends and family in six different countries--Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, Brazil, Argentina, and Peru.

I was especially surprised to read a note in which he had urged grandma to fly to Buenos Aires and meet him there, and even gave detailed directions regarding what monies to use to finance the trip.  "Mother—come to Buenos Aires and meet me there. It would do you good to see these places."

He arrived in Buenos Aires Wednesday, July 15, at 6:00 P.M.  Grandma never did see her way clear to follow through with his directive.

Rev. Norman Hirschy

On this occasion, mid July, it was winter, we were in a different house, and the growing congregation had a building of their own. 

On July17, Grandpa wrote: 

My dear dear Companion,

 Here we are again--we were downtown Buenos Aires today had dinner in a restaurant. Swell place - all of us and our cost only about 3.50 I believe. So things are cheaper in some ways and higher in others. All of us are well here. House seems cold to me, then stoves are not working well. Hope they get them fixed. 

I spoke last night at prayer meeting. 18 present. Solon interpreted. Have some fine Christians. One can tell by the spirit and love that they love the Lord. 

Sunday morning (8:30) Family is just getting up. Ivan is here on the couch, still in his nightie. He is looking at pictures. He is happy, active and is a regular "private investigator."

Solon and I have been up a while and just had a word of prayer together.

Rained, thundered last night. Hope it is a bit nicer today. I have not been able to take pictures these days. I took some of funeral yesterday. . . horse drawn hearse and flower wagon. 2 horses for flower wagon and four horses for the hearse - all black. Drivers wear high hats.

Ivan wrote on opposite side to you [in red]. Abuela (grandmother). He calls me that instead of Abuelo (grandfather). Talks more Spanish than English. Some boy!

Ivan's scribbles on back of letter

Sunday P.M. The rest except Kathryn are all resting. Kathryn is reading. I rested a bit but could not sleep much. Was thinking of washmachine--they still haven't gotten it--It looks humanly-speaking like a loss of about 350 dollars. 

This note brought back the memory of the washer dryer stuck in the Aduana [Customs] because Dad did not believe in giving bribes, which apparently is the cultural and necessary thing to do. We never did get that appliance.

Well, tomorrow morning we have to get up early. I need to be at airport at lest by 6:30. It takes 30 min. to drive out there so we have to leave here about 5:45.

 

July 20, 1959 

We are about 20,000 feet up in the air, traveling towards Lima. This morning at 4:45 we left Solon and Kathryn's home in their model A Ford for the airport. It rained all night and so at places there was water over the road - once it about drowned the motor. We made poor time - distance about 22 miles. Then about one or two miles from airport the motor stopped - dirt in gas line. I got a bus for airport. Had Sam's overcoat on - what to do with it. Then Kathryn appeared - she had taken a bus. Soon Solon, Aldo & Lynn came, they got car to run. Some time we had! Well, they saw plane leave. Rita and Ivan stayed at home. Was hard to leave them.  

 School winter break followed shortly after with even more special visitors.

Don Bosco, Argentina—During their recent midyear vacation, six Bible Institute students held a four-day meeting at the church here. Much blessing resulted. The versatile musical talent of the group was especially appreciated. Rev. Solon Hoyt, the missionary at Don Bosco, will also take charge at José Mármol during the Maconaghys' furlough, overseeing the work which will be cared for by two of our Argentina Bible Institute graduates. (News item in The Brethren Missionary Herald, 9.05.59)

Having these young people in our home, led to some interesting dynamics with a certain young man who asked me to play the piano for him repeatedly. I wrote about all this to my friend Mirtha, two years older than me, asking her advice. My father became worried about his only daughter, and decided it was time to have a serious talk with me. This was the beginning of the relational struggles I went through growing up between two cultures and nationalities. Nowadays we are called Third Culture Kids.

I made friends in school that year. Interestingly, after several decades, some of us found each other thanks to the internet. 

The school year ended in November. Then began the hectic summer cycle of Vacation Bible Schools, Christmas program, camp sessions, and general conference. 

I wrote to my dear friend Mirtha the day after the Christmas program when we had some 105 in attendance. 

Everything turned out well . . . especially the drama "A Prisoner's Christmas," quite long but very good. Mrs. Fischer directed the drama and did such a good job. She knew exactly what gestures and expressions we should use. We had to dress in period costumes because the story took place in the times of Christ. There were 16 actors and she knew exactly how we should dress, especially the Jewish women. She brought many of the costumes and even rented one for the Roman soldier because it was too difficult to make. She was concerned about the spiritual aspect, and would explain to those who had longer parts to do so loud and clear because the message was so important. . .  I had to be an angel.

Thus conclude my findings and memories for 1959, yet another year of God´s faithfulness despite our failings and weaknesses.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

1958: Return to Argentina

 

Introducing Ivan Wayne Hoyt

When we arrived back in August, it was time to introduce our eight-month-old new family member and become reacquainted with the Argentina of 1958, what was happening politically, and religiously, in the Brethren mission and in Don Bosco.

Only days after our first arrival in Argentina in 1946, national elections took place with the popular vote going to Juan Domingo Perón. Again in 1952, after our first furlough, he was voted in with an even higher majority. Interestingly, it was the first-time women were allowed to vote. Another note of interest, Perón's second-term inauguration was the first to be televised. However, a complicated series of events forced him out of office. He resigned and sought asylum in Paraguay in September of 1955 and was exiled for nearly two decades.

Now in 1958, as we prepared to return a third time, following a very complicated and polarized season, the interim president called for national elections. The newly elected president led Argentina's twenty million people into a period of opposition and reprisals against the peronist regime.

I have spent days reading about that period of Argentine history, fascinated by the complexities that I would never have understood or even been interested in as an adolescent. Even now, it is too much for me to fully grasp, and I wonder how that political climate affected the work of the Gospel.

Regarding the religious scene in Argentina at the time, Dad wrote an article,"The Battle on Many Fronts in Argentina," listing the various groups. (Brethren Missionary Herald, 1.04.1958) A question he was asked, whether there were false cults in Argentina, probably sparked this response: "Undoubtedly this person almost unconsciously formed the idea that Catholicism reigns in Argentina . . ." He quoted from a Catholic magazine, The Sign, in "How Catholic is Latin America:"

(1) Eighty percent of the entire population profess Catholicism, but by the most generous figuring we may say that only ten percent practice it.

(2) The Catholic Church is strong and has vitality in Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Columbia; whereas it is dying in Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Haiti.

In his article, Dad went on to elaborate about his experience with false cults. 

I have seen and talked with a good many of their followers and witnesses. In greater Buenos Aires they are all present and active.

Time after time the Jehovah's Witnesses invaded our neighborhood. Six or eight well-dressed, cultured young people would canvass block after block selling and giving away their literature. . . 

The Christian Science movement is not so large nor so active, but they make people know that they are present. . . 

Spritism is very popular in Argentina. Their mass meetings in Luna Park (a place which would correspond to Madison Square Garden) are quite frequent. Several of our neighbors were faithful followers. . .

The Mormons are active throughout the country. In the suburb of Buenos Aires where we last served they were constantly working. . . young "Americanos" well-dressed and wear hats unlike North Americans. . . they seek entrance into the houses. . . like to pray with the people . . . leave a pamphlet making arrangements to pick it up when they've finished it . . . offer free English courses to anyone interested. . . 

Modernism has made its inroads also. . . and becomes an increasing problem for us who are near Buenos Aires.

The cult which is one of the most peculiar and one of the better known in our area is called "La Nueva Iglesia Apostólica (The New Apostolic Church). . .  Their chief apostle is somewhat like the Pope. He seems to have full authority and has contact with the archangel Gabriel, receiving one message each week. . . then given to the under-apostles who then proclaim it to their individual churches. . . they have little to do with the Bible. . . 

What had happened among the Grace Brethren in Argentina during our absence? 

The newly purchased camp site was inaugurated! The children's session ran from January 7 to the 14th, followed by young people's camp, January 16-24. The video prepared in 2018 to celebrate 60 years highlights the blessings as well as the buildings and improvements throughout the years.

A new member was added to the missionary families, Marilyn Ruth Churchill was born April 21. Sadly she was not well and lived only a year. In hopes of finding help the family returned to the US, but the baby died soon after.

The Schrock family moved to Córdoba soon after their furlough, to plant a church and establish a radio broadcasting center in the big city of half-million people.

Hugo Félix Di Nardo & Francesca Ana Diedrich de Di Nardo

Hugo Di Nardo, a young graduate of the Bible Institute, was ordained and moved to General Cabrera with his wife to take charge of the work in that town.

Our family of six now, were privileged to move back to Don Bosco as Dad explained, "It had been the practice of our Foreign Mission Society to replace a missionary for another when it was time for furlough, and thus he would remain only five years in one place. We returned to the mission field grateful to the Lord for the privilege of continuing the work begun in 1952." 

Dad wrote an article titled: "It's Work to Build a Church" (Brethren Missionary Herald, 5.03.58) where he described the work in Don Bosco before we left and what we would find on our return.

Buenos Aires, Argentina has a very humid climate with dark, dismal days. Due to its phenomenal growth in population, it is very difficult to locate a house except in new housing projects with no pavement nor even such a hope within sight. In such circumstances the little church was begun in Don Bosco a suburb about eight miles from the big city. 

Since all the meetings were held in our home, scraping the mud and dirt from the house came to be a very common experience . . . Nevertheless, those things were as nothing compared with our desire to have the people come to listen to the glorious Gospel. . . Some had several blocks of mud to encounter in order to arrive for the meeting. The sidewalks were only as occasional encouragements along the way, and for the most of our four years in that place there were no streetlights. We learned to thank God for those who had sufficient desire to come. . . 

The need for a meeting place was evident, but the obstacles were many. Dad explains: 

We had no lot on which to build--a matter of 65,000 pesos at least. We were only a few believers . . . Any small building would cost at least 50,000 pesos just for the materials without all the finishing touches. Humanly speaking, the task looked impossible.

Little by little we were encouraged to make a beginning. The Foreign Missionary Society agreed to buy the lot if we would put the building on it. . . but where could we borrow the money for the building?. . . The banks won't do it. No loan company will do it. We had no personal connection to make it possible. . . So, we decided to start and go as far as we could as the offerings came in.

The lot was purchased, the plans drawn up, the foundations dug and filled, and the little church began to take shape. It was the joy of my heart to see this place of worship take shape on a prominent corner in Don Bosco. From sunup to sundown almost every day for one year I labored with bricks, cement, lime, sand, angle iron and dirt. Some days the exhaustion was intense, but the joy was likewise immense. . .

December 23, 1956 is a date long to be remembered as we used the church for the first time. The floor was just old mother earth, the walls were ugly, rough bricks, the platform was lumber used in the cement work quickly and temporarily nailed together. It was a joyous experience although much work remained (and remains) . . . 

My father's farewell address later, after ten years, added a few more interesting memories to the months that followed after the memorable inauguration. 

January 1957 through August 1957

    . . . we tried to do only the basic essentials on the temple in order to dedicate time to the spiritual aspects which had been neglected. We were able to make a basic cement floor with the help of believers from Wilde. The tower was finished and the over roof. Our attempt to waterproof it failed. For some time we preached to the accompaniment of drips from a leaky roof. 

Some may remember the special meetings with Brother Schrock during Holy Week in 1957. On Good Friday Mrs. Allessandria, Mrs. Devesa and Roberto Spina were to be baptized, but the baptistry was not ready nor the rest of the platform. At last, we were able to have the baptistry in working order and made a provisional cover. However, there was a gap behind the platform of half a meter to the floor. Brother Schrock was very confident when he got up to preach because he said, "I don't move much when I preach." But in a moment of excitement, he took a step back and stepped in air. He would have fallen had he not been able to lean against the wall.  

August 1957 - August 1958  

Eunice Siccardi y Nélida Zannetti

I cannot say much about the work during the year we were absent. God raised up two young ladies, graduates of our Bible Institute, to minister under the supervision of Mr. Maconaghy. They were well loved and made an impact for the glory of the Lord. Several made professions of faith, Mabel Devesa was baptized and there was growth in the lives of the believers. 

About the months following our return, Dad wrote: "No sooner had we greeted everyone, we began work to finish the temple. . ." sidewalks, plaster, floor and so much more.

However, he was careful to add the distinction between the material building and the true church,  believers, like "living stones" who make up the body of Christ. 

Yes, it's work to build a church. But the material building isn't the church and will not build the church. . . The Lord Jesus Christ has committed himself to the building of His church but has chosen to use His people as instruments in this task. 

My father's message to the Bible Institute graduates years before, was mentioned in the article "Serving My Master on the Mission Field."  

It was graduation time in 1952 in Argentina. The exercises were to take place in Río Cuarto. Brother Hoyt was asked to give the address. The text was Mark 10: 45, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." The point which is applicable to each of us is that the Lord Jesus didn't come to earth to be waited upon--to be ministered to--but to minister. He came to serve. (Lois Schrock in the Brethren Missionary Herald, 9.13.58)

Here we were once again in our beloved Don Bosco prepared to serve. What opportunities, challenges, changes, blessings and difficulties awaited us the next five years?