1962 School Year

Year end family photo

 The end-of-year family picture portrays a growing family. The younger boys, still wearing short pants, and Lynn already graduated to long trousers. (I wonder at what age it was customary to begin wearing them?) The photo also reveals a surprise to be announced in 1963, Mother is pregnant!

What did that growing process look like throughout the year?

Both Lynn and I, for the last couple of years, had been experiencing the typical adolescent relational and emotional turmoils.

In his memories, Lynn wrote:

I had a crush. At the age of about 13, I began to notice girls, but believe it or not, I was too shy to say anything about it. There was one cute girl in our Sunday School who attracted my attention. She looked very much like she could be a girl from Spain. Her name, Dora Gómez, fit the part, and surely she must have had Spanish ancestors. She had a small thin nose speckled with freckles, black hair, and was probably about my height at the time. She came from a solid Plymout Brethren family who never chose to attend our church as they were deeply rooted in theirs, but appreciated the teaching that was given in our S.S. and were happy to have their children, Dora and Cristina, come the six or seven blocks to ours.

I enjoyed her presence, but for several reasons was afraid to tell her I liked her. One Sunday afternoon I got a telephone call and Dad called me to the phone. The caller was Dora and she said, "Do you know who this is?" I told her I did not. "This is an admirer," which is the way a tween or teen would have said, "I have a crush on you" in those days. I stuttered and stammered and finally hung up, hoping my parents had not heard our conversation. However, Dad had caught the gist of it, and made a joke of it at the dinner table. For reasons of family history, that just drove me further into myself. But to this day as a grown man who has been happily married for 42 years [2012], I still wonder what might have become of that relationship if things had been a little different.

This is one of the issues that TCK´s (Third Culture Kids) face and that missionary parents wrestle with, striving to avoid the heartbreaks of separation. By this time I had already been struggling with the ups and downs in a relationship. My friend and confidant, Mirtha, became my counselor. I leaned heavily on her advice. I shared with her in detail what I was going through and longingly awaited her responses. She wrote letters to my boyfriend too. Her older sister Eunice, living with us at the time, gave us wise counsel also. 

Eunice was working as a private nurse to earn money for her dream of ministering to the indigenous peoples of Northern Argentina. This was, in fact, the first missionary outreach effort of the Argentine Grace Brethren Church. She travelled to the area with a few others on two different occasions to explore the possibilities and made a plea for the support of the churches in the denominational publications.

Victor Wagner, also praying about reaching these forgotten peoples, made a plea in the May issue of The Brethren Missionary Herald.

Today, at the beginning of 1962, if you were to go to an Argentine city or town and ask if there are Indians there, it is very probable that people would laugh at you, and say as a professor said a few months ago: "Today Indians are found only in a museum," or at the most that they have been assimilated into civilization. If this is true, then that museum must be quite large, because Indians still exist--thousands of them. 

Then he went on to describe a recent trip with Eunice Siccardi, Tita Perez, Pierina Adreani to Embarcación, a town in the province of Salta, to observe the work of a mission in a settlement of 400 Indians, almost all of them believers.

Several of the Christians told us about their lives before they came to know the Lord. They lived in fear because of the evil spirits and the witch doctor. They robbed and cheated, lived with concubines, and went to parties that turned into drinking sprees, which lasted a week or two. And that is the actual condition in which thousands of Indians are now living. These Indians belong to tribes which are completely different, differing from one another intheir physical features, their dialects which are not even similar, and their peronalities. 

According to current sources, there are more than thirty indigenous people groups, mostly in the south and the north. Operation World says that they make up 7.1% of the population. Of the 25 indigenous languages, only eight have Bibles in their own tongue. Other translation projects are in progress. Some groups have the New Testament, or portions of the Scripture. 

I remember some of the stories and conversations surrounding this missionary effort while Eunice lived with us. That was part of my general education.

1962 Class Photo

However, the official school year had begun in March. On the 20th, I wrote to Mirtha from there:

Escuela Normal Mixta de Quilmes

"Almirante Guillermo Brown"

It's the second hour and class was dismissed. Today was a very exciting day because we did not know class section we would end up in. Milly is in 4th year 1st secion, Pirincha in 4th 2nd and I am in 4th 3rd. . . We can switch if we want to, but Milly and I chose not to because we believe God placed us where he wants us.

Mirtha, Rita, Milly

In her letters, Mirtha encouraged us to imagine that through us the Lord Jesus was present in our classrooms. Her novel continued to impact our classmates as it circulated among them. And I donated a copy to the literature professor for the People´s Library she was involved in. 

There were other opportunities to shine the light of Jesus´ gospel. In our pedagogy class, the teacher asked us to come up with a new plan or teaching approach for our educational system. In my essay, ¨The Ideal School¨ I described a Christ-centered curiculum. She said it was very good.

This fourth year of high school, the first of the two-year track for teaching, was very demanding not only due to the heavy course load, but it was the beginning of our practice teaching. I wrote, "This fourth year has been the most difficult of my life." Interestingly, I also said, "I love teaching!"

The first teaching session coincided with the Billy Graham cruzade in Buenos Aires. This was another opportunity I could not miss, so I invited all my professors and classmates and, despite my heavy schedule, attended three of the meetings.

Luna Park had capacity crowds of 20,000 each night of the crusade. Recorded decisions for Christ totaled 1,661 after four meetings. Observers promptly heralded the crusade as “the largest Protestant event” in the history of the city.
Thirty thousand heard Dr. Graham preach at Buenos Aires’ Luna Park at the opening rally. Police estimated that they had turned 5,000 persons away for lack of seating. The closing rally was scheduled on the city’s main football stadium grounds.
In a press interview preceding his final series of rallies, Graham told newsmen: “I find a great spiritual hunger in this country. People are deeply interested in religion.” He said his purpose in Argentina was “to bring people face to face with God,” rather than “to convert them to any one religion.” “I want them to come to Christ, whatever their religion,” he stressed. “After they have made their decision, I cannot direct which church they go to. That is up to them.” (Christianity Today, November 9 1962)

However, some grades did suffer. I needed to make up an assignment and raise my grade in the History of Education class, so I offered to give a presentation on Martin Luther. It was one of the upcoming topics and I had much material available in my father's library. I read a lot, took some notes and was blessed in the process, but didn't feel well enough prepared. At that time, Delia and I met regularly at the church to pray and "cast all our cares" on Him before heading out for the day. I needed the Lord to sort all I had read and give me the right words to share. The result was that I was greatly helped!

The highlight of the school year was that my new classmate, Delia Cuoccio (top row far right in class photo), became a believer, and was followed soon after by her sister Ana María.They saved money sacrificially to purchase a Bible and also to pay the bus fare to travel the long distance to Don Bosco to attend as many services as possible.

Delia Cuoccio (middle), her sister smiling at her

All these buried memories, uncovered, dusted off, sorted and arranged, stir up in me gratitude for the friends that surrounded me in those turbulent teenage years, and especially for the strong foundation of teaching from the Word of God that led to growth in faith. And I glimpse the journey ahead, the long road of life, and so much more to learn.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, 

because Christ Jesus has made me his own (Phillippians 3:12 NASB).

Early 1962

The event we looked forward to most every January was going to camp, at least it was so for the younger folk. Perhaps it was not as exciting for our elders, the pastors, missionaries and workers who had to add responsibilities to their already heavy loads. However, from the glowing report "CAMP TIME the Lord Blessed Again," it appears that everyone had a wonderful experience.

"Patagones" (Big Feet), "Cuatro Dedos" (Four Toes), "Tres Plumas" (Three Feathers), and "Onas" (a proper name). These were the names of the four tribes this year in our young people's camp. It was the first time in a good many years that we tried the idea of tribes in camp and thanks to the Lord and the good spirit of cooperation among the young people, it worked. It broke down any "caste" spirit that might have existed otherwise, and one young person expressed it in this way: "We were just one big family."

Camp musicians

Young people have to be busy to be happy. . . and the continual competition between the tribes kept them busy this year. They chose their names and chiefs, made their insignias, prepared their Bible plays, studied for a contest of Bible questions and chose their different atheletes to compete in track, ping pong, football, and so forth.

 

The mornings were largely taken up with the three classes. Brother Dowdy taught the Book of Ephesians, Brother Cover gave a course on Church History, and Brother Hoyt gave a course on the Victorious Life. We heard comments of appreciation in relation to all these courses.

We left the traditional preaching session in the evening services. One night a young man painted a picture with crayons and gave a brief message on stewardship.

Juan Colle

 

Another night one of our young ladies, who is interested in missionary work among the Indians in the norhtern part of Argentina, showed slides and told about the work, presenting also a scene from a recent trip she made to that part of Argentina.

Eunice Siccardi

 

On other nights we had slides on the Christian relationship between fellows and girls--a much needed instruction among young people almost anywhere; Bible questions with competition between the tribes  (take a good look at the four judges!);

Clark Miller, Solon Hoyt, J. Paul Dowdy, Robert Cover

Biblical plays presented by the tribes; a play presenting the need of Bible Institute training; and a campfire service on the last night. 

Don Bosco girls at camp: Emilia, Elisa, Pirincha, Delia, and Rita

Our friend Mabel was not able to be with us at camp because she could not get time off from her job. However, for several others it was their first camp experience.

Here I pause to introduce two more recent members of our youth group: Milly Piaggio and Julio Poncet.

Emilia—we called her Milly—was in my same división (class) for Ciclo Básico, the first three years of secondary school. You can see her in the top row fourth from the left in our third year class photo. (See here.) Toward the end of that year she began attending our Sunday School and loved it. She lived with her mother and older sister in another town. Her father died when she was a baby, so life was not easy for them. 

A few years ago I asked her to refresh my memory and tell me her story. This is what she wrote, with added heartfelt emphaseses:

Rita, from the time I met you in school, the Normal in Quilmes, and through all that happened in that time, my life changed completely. 

You gave me the book by Mirtha Siccardi, it impacted my life and from there on I was with you all.  

. . . the work in the church. THE PLACES IN VILLA DOMÍNICO AND QUILMES WHERE WE WORKED AND HAD BIBLE CLUBS FOR CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS.

The visits to the poor neighborhood (slum or shanty town) and working with the families. Bringing those children to Sunday School.

Sunday services, young people's meetings. Bible studies led by your father. 

The wonderful Lord's Suppers with the washing of feet. Unforgettable!!

So many experiences and memories!

The beautiful times at church camp!!!

That's where I met Carlos!!! 

At camp, you and I, despite our height, would win races and long jump.

We had such wonderful times. We were all so very blessed. We evangelized a lot!! 

We would go throughout Don Bosco door to door with our tracts. I loved it!!

Your parents went out a lot to visit the families in their homes. They prayed in the homes. In mine, for my family and for the neighbors too.

Also, you went everywhere with your accordeon. We had meetings in the patio of my home. You played.

A few notes to highlight and expand on Milly's summary:  

--I found this paragraph, in an issue of El Heraldo, in praise and gratitude for Mirtha's book. 

Translation:

Testimonies of the value of Christian Literature

To speak of the Brillando para El [Shining for Him], is to raise a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for the blessings which, in His infinite mercy, he poured out on me. It was that marvelous book that led me to the door of the house of God, where I opened my heart to the Lord Jesus, where He now lives by work of the Holy Spirit. This book was used and guided by the Lord to touch the heart of one who was far from His blessed presence, and came to my hands through a servant of His.

--Two of the girls in the photo met their future husbands at camp!

--One of those neighbor families was that of Julio Poncet, who appears often in the letters of this time of my story. In answer to my request, Milly wrote a summary of his life.

Julio Poncet

Julio belonged to a large family, five siblings . . . we were neighbors in the province of Buenos Aires, District of Quilmes.

We lived on the street República del Líbano ...at 200 ...corner Andrés Baranda. Of humble family . . . limited resources . . . He was born with a growth deficiency and only attained a height of 4 feet 6 inches. His mental development, however, was brilliant. Thus it was that he had no problems taking all the necessary educational courses to become a lawyer.  

Over time, living in the close neighborhood, we became good friends. . . he gave his life to Christ and began to attend the Brethren Church in Don Bosco. The Gospel reached his family as well . . . and in several opportunities the pastor and his family visited their home. He would occasionaly come to the Bible Club in my home and you, Rita, were there with your accordeon. His mother and younger brother Horacio also attended the services. . . His siblings also pursued university careers in spite of their humble social status.

After that wonderful week at camp (January 20-29), we rode in the back of a truck for two and a half hours to the headquarters in Río Cuarto. Some of us had to stand the whole way, and most of us were singing camp choruses the entire time. (I would not remember any of this if I had not written lengthy detailed letters to my friend Mirtha, and had she not loaned me the binder containing the years of correspondence and had it not miraculously survived our house fire!) I commented in my letter (Feb. 2) that Julio Poncet could sleep throughout the bumpy, dusty trip whether sitting or standing! Again during the overnight bus ride to Buenos Aires, he slept soundly. "Para dormir no tiene problema alguno." (He has no problem sleeping!)

Another of his characteristics that appears repeatedly in my retellings, was his humor. He was hilariously funny and could keep us all in stitches.

Upon our arrival at the bus station in Buenos Aires, two of the mothers awaited us, as well as Mr. Maconaghy and Carlos Sotola. Carlos' excuse was he wanted to learn the final scores of the different camp tribes. Or, did he really want to see Milly?

The effects of camp were long felt. The first Thursday evening prayer meeting, we all gathered again so happy to be together and everyone joined in with heart felt prayers. Our newby, Julio Poncet, asked God to illumine his path and "Lord, guide our leaders who show us the way to know You."

Again on Saturday several went to the children´s Bible club in Villa Domínico. It was Milly´s first time and she loved it! The attendance was good. Earlier in the summer tent meetings were held there with encouraging results.

When our group returned to Don Bosco, we met at the Templo, had some snacks and stayed to rehearse for the skit 24 Ancianos—the Onas' skit at camp, make the necessary props—harps and crowns. My father had asked us to perform the play in the Sunday service to go along with his sermon about the twenty-four elders in the throne room of heaven as depicted in Revelation 4-5. He also wanted the congregation to have a taste of what the youth had experienced and learned at camp. Of course, we did not have twenty-four participating elders, only a few representatives.

Julio Reta was the narrator and also played the role of the mighty angel who cried out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll . . .?"

Antonio was the apostle John who wept loudly when no one was found worthy. And, as I wrote in my letter, "Lloró muy bien." (He wept really well!). 

Julio Poncet was so pleased to have a part. He was the elder who comforted John, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

The memories of those times and of the dear friends of my youth, have so filled my heart and my imagination that I shared too many details. So, for now I will close with . . . 

To be continued . . .