1963

 

My last year in Argentina was difficult on many levels—school, relationships, church. 

My friend Mirtha, far away, felt something in her spirit, and wrote:

Manita, [little sister] is something special happening to you that I have such a desire to see you or are these just my "feelings"? . . . You know, I feel such a need to pray for you.

Comforted and encouraged, I responded:

The Lord is so wonderful! To think that He told you that I needed your prayers, that something serious was happening to me . . . I felt that I was drowning in a hole of desperation, discouragement, and sadness. . . I was failing in everything. I was not doing well in school, practice teaching, and other subjects. I felt useless. 

A dear friend nearby, also felt the need to pray much for me. 

Not long after, I experienced a different attitude, a new outlook on life. My joy returned, even though the demands of life did not lessen. 

It was my last year of high school; the load was very heavy. I explained to my friend how terrible the academic pressures were with new trimester exams, and professors expected to cover more material. 

. . . you know, so many times this year I wanted to quit school completely, throw away my books to never see them again. 

However, Mirtha, I assure you that the Lord gives me so much strength physically and spiritually and helps me so much. If it were not so, I don't know what would happen.   

 At that time in Argentina, Normal school was a five-year program that prepared us to become elementary teachers. The last two years focused on education courses including practice teaching. I found lesson planning especially challenging and spent an inordinate amount of time in preparation. Eventually, to my surprise and that of my professors, when I was teaching in the classroom, I thrived.

The schedule was so tight, so little leisure time, not much sleep, I longed for breaks or holidays. When Pope John XXIII died (June 3, 1963),  as an immature teen, instead of mourning "The Good Pope" (Il Papa Buono), I rejoiced to have a day off. 

Again, in November we had a national day of mourning, surprisingly it was for the death of President J. F. Kennedy. His assassination shocked the world. It is one of those events that became etched in the memory. I remember when Mr. Gammel, our next-door neighbor called over the fence to give us the news.

This is an aside, but there is another interesting anecdote involving the Gammels, our elderly German neighbors. They had lost a young daughter many long years ago. When they were ready to part with her beautiful doll, they gifted it to me in a generous and ceremonious way. It was large and beautiful. Sadly, I was beyond the age of playing with dolls and did not grasp the significance of what they had bestowed. I never knew much about their great loss. (I wonder what became of the doll.)

Meanwhile, family life was very full.

 I wrote to my friend about Baby Alan:

. . . the most beautiful boy in the world, is so chubby. He has blue eyes, hair like my mother's . . . he laughs so much; this morning in Sunday School we could not keep him quiet.  

Ivan is so happy with his little brother . . . not at all jealous. The only thing is that he's a little bit rough or not as gentle as he should be and usually has dirty hands, so we don't let him touch Alan. 

I could so easily get distracted enjoying my little brothers.

I got back at 5 p.m. from practice teaching. I looked after Alan for a while, then I spent some time with Ivan teaching him some letters. 

Later in the letter, I chided myself for ¨wasting time.¨  I'd tried to prepare a lesson plan that evening but had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to finish it.

More family details appear in Dad's letter to my grandparents.

April 27—This night is a lovely time to be home. It is raining and has been gray all afternoon and part of the morning. We just finished supper: Kathryn and Rita are doing the dishes, Lynn is studying, Aldo is entertaining himself near Lynn, and Ivan is bothering both of them. Alan just finished taking his bottle and was doing some superb smiling for Rita. He is truly the prize of the household. He has been so good and is so nice and fat. We wish you all could see him. Well, it won't be too long. The months are rolling around so fast that I wonder if we'll finish all we should before our time of departure.

 

This past week we finished uniting the roofs of the streetcars we have in Quilmes. We must finish one wall, repair the floor a bit, and set up the rest of the benches and then we will at least be temporarily done with those two streetcars. Then we must go to the second annex and join the two we have there in Villa Domínico. After that I should finish the prsonage we started back in February. The Happy Hours we have in the two locations have been going very well up to now. 

 

I recounted for Mirtha a humorous experience when my Bible Club group had an unusual visitor before we had begun using the streetcars. 

. . .we had 24 children and a drunk. Poor guy! He behaved quite well considering his condition. He sat on the grass in the back like a kid. He arrived about the time I was to teach the verse. I had not noticed that he was drunk. I began saying something about the text and with a nasal twang, he said "The first text that came into Argentina was the textile with a double 's'." I was so surprised that I stopped and looked at him but Julio motioned me to keep going. So I paid no more attention to him and he behaved quite well. Sometimes he would say something crazy and the kids would turn around and laugh; he laughed along with them.

The verse was John 15:13 and every time we said John 15:13, he laughed. He said "lay down your life for your friends. . . is okay. . . but. . . John 15:13 Ha! Ha!!!"

 Throughout the lesson, he listened like a child and repeated many words that Mabel was using, but really was not very disruptive. When the kids turned around, he would say: "Pay attention . . . this is good . . . to hear it . . . and aristrocratic to feel it." And sometimes he would call on one kid especially: "Pelopincho ¡Pelopincho! Pay attention!" 

At the end, when Mabel was giving the plan of salvation, he interrupted to ask: "Who decides the evil of destiny? Who is the promoter?" Mabel did not understand and didn't know what to say, but went on: "We are all sinners and the only one who can save us is Jesus." The man said in a strange and low voice: "Thank you, Miss." Later, "Pardon me for interrumpting . . . with an indiscreet question . . . I wanted to know . . . I like this . . . I love God, and Jesus, and all." 

When Ricardo greeted him he said: "Thank you very much. The greeting is yours cordial and always."

This last phrase we repeated so often among ourselves that it will surely go down in history. 

In the family letter dated June 10, Grandma wrote: 

We had such a nice letter from Lynn last week and I wish I could copy the whole letter but, time and space does not permit, we surely appreciated it. Some quotes: "Daddy was in bed sick two days because of his back. Mommy is very happy about Alan most of the time but sometimes she is not so happy because he spits up a lot. She misses you quite a bit. In fact we all do."

The truth was that Mother was very conflicted at this time. The news about Grandpa Hirschy's declining health troubled her deeply. Should she try to fly to the US to see him? But how could she leave the family during this intensely busy time, and with a baby? Would Grandpa get to see his namesake? Grandma had expressed her heartfelt wish that we would be able to travel back to the US before it was too late. However, that was not to be. The cancer, detected in the spring, continued to spread and he died August 25, three days after they celebrated their 50th anniversary. 

The school year ended in November, and despite the many trials and travails, I graduated!

Graduation ceremony

My graduating class

Then began the trámites, the red tape and paperwork hassles in order to leave the country. I wrote some of these details to Mirtha.

Friday, December 13, 1963 

Here I am downtown Buenos Aires, in the car at a mechanic shop. Straight ahead I see the Ministry of Communications at the left and the Luna Park at its side on the right. . . If I look behind I see the Casa Rosada [government building] and I just saw Illía looking out the window (Ha! Ha!)  [Now I know who won the election July 7!]  I´m here alone with Ivan. Dad went to do things while they fix the car which stopped working suddently here in the Capital (luckily in front of the mechanic shop). 

This is the fourth day we´ve come to the Capital. I´m so tired of buildings, buildings and more buildings. 

Tuesday we came by car. It was raining, and raining, and raining. We went to the Police. Lynn, Aldo and Alan, Argentines, got their passports. Dad got his travel certificate. Mom had hers already. I needed to get one, but when I presented my identity card and they saw that it was issued in the province, they said it would not do, that I needed one issued in the Capital. And we found out that Ivan could not leave the country without an identity card. So both of us needed to obtain one. For that we needed: 1) Certificate of Entry into the Country, and 2) Certificate of Nationality.

To obtain the first we went to the Migration Office. For me there was hardly any problem because I was already registered and I had been there other times, except that it would be ready for the 18th and we were due to leave on the 20th. We had to talk to the chief and ask for a favor. 

However, little Ivan had not been registered, I don't know how that happened, but, of course they could not give him an Entry Certificate if they did not even know he existed! They asked for a birth certificate, we did not have one (only something that was not the same and was not acceptable). They asked for another document . . . Well, we had done enough for one day so we left for home, but . . . it was raining, and raining, and raining!!! The streets were like rivers, sidewalks covered with water, many stores closed because the water reached their doors or even went inside. . . Mitre Ave. which we necessarily had to take to get home, was worse. Twice the car stalled as the water was too high and we had to pay 200 pesos each time for a horse to pull us out (its owner was very happy that day!)

The next day Dad, Ivan and I went into the city, but this time by train, subway, on foot, etc.. So for two days we were walking and walking, waiting, and waiting in one office or another and each time there was something new.

Yesterday, for example, we went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to legalize three documents we obtained from the American Consulate: certificates of nationality, one for me and two for Ivan (one for the Police and another for Migrations).  

 Amazingly, everything came together for our timely departure, December 20, 1963.

Angel Camandona, the new pastor, nicknamed Pachín, arrived one week earlier.

Pastor Pachín in front of the parsonage

Margaret Marshall wrote about their experience of the memorable farewell.

Dec. 20

Friday night we all went to the airport to see the Hoyts off. Their plane was supposed to leave at 7:30, and it was almost 10:30 when it finally left. . . There were several folks from our other churches there.

Some of the farewell crowd

Looking back, by way of reflection over what God had done, I shared with Mirtha, in the above-mentioned letter:

I always remember a church meeting we had over a year ago, there was heated discussion and it was truly historic. There we spoke of the need for a pastor after we left. Everyone was in agreement. Then we talked about the need to provide him with a place to live. There again everyone was agreed. After that we discussed the need for a meeting place in Villa Domínico, not only for the Bible Club but especially to begin working with the adults. On this matter there were differing opinions: some felt the need was urgent and others said we should first build the parsonage and then think about Villa Domínico . . . Julio was of this opinion . . . This led us to pray from that day on for a pastor, a parsonage and a place in Villa Domínico. And the Lord gave us all three, and as if that were not enough He opened one more annex.

Thus ended my life in Argentina. My parents and three brothers returned. The family passport photo (that opens this chapter) had Rita and Lynn's faces crossed out and also indicated our cancellation on a separate page. My brother and I were beginning a new chapter of life. This is the end of Part One. As an addendum, one more entry summarizes and describes a significant relationship that cannot be forgotten.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 
according to the power at work within us, 
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Summer of 1963

 

Youth Camp Choir

Summer months were usually full, but this year seemed to be exceptionally so.
After sixty years, I had forgotten many of the happenings that I find in the letters and documents gathered from various sources. 

Here is one interesting seasonal tidbit I related to my friend Mirtha:

January 8, 1963

This morning I got up at 5:45 to go with Lynn to the town fair. [Every Tuesday vendors set up their stands across from the train station.] He has a stand there with Bibles, Christian books, and Alpha radios [the business of the three friends, Julio, Roberto, and Antonio]. The street fair is a block away from the Temple, so someone always needs to help him carry and set up the table. His little stand has drawn quite a bit of attention and he has sold 3 or 4 or 5 Bibles, 2 of your books, several books for children, 2 or 3 New Testaments, etc. Lynn is so excited about this work that his life is centered around it (well, maybe not that much, but almost).

As more Brethren churches were added in the Greater Buenos Aires, the cooperation and joint events increased.
 

January 5 all the youth groups met in Castelar where Don and Hazel Bishop had settled two years earlier.

Jim and Margaret Marshall had moved to Ciudad General Belgrano at the end of 1962. Dad made numerous trips to their place throughout the summer to help them settle into their house and build a garage. Often he was accompanied by members of our family and on a few occasions took along a couple of the young fellows that regularly worked with him on a variety of projects.
 

Meanwhile the Marshalls had been reaching out to their neighbors. Sunday March 3, they began services in their home.

Early January, Jim traveled with thirteen children from the Buenos Aires churches to camp in the sierras of Córdoba. He stayed to help with the other camp sessions. This year Dad did not participate at all in the camp programs as Mother was due to have number five sometime before the end of the summer. 

We had a record number of youth that attended camp from the Buenos Aires area, some 35. I was very excited that Delia, my classmate, and her sister were among them. They were especially enticed by the fact that they would be able to meet our author friend Mirtha Siccardi, whose novel they all read including their mother. 

Also it was my last year. I wrote to my friend, "Did you realize, dear Mirtha, that this is the last camp before I leave for North America and it may be the last time I see you before leaving because I don´t know whether I will be able to attend Conference?" 

I remember feeling very sad many times during that camp.

The description of our return trip from camp brings back those happy sad memories. The two and half hour ride in the back of the truck from the sierras to the city of Río Cuarto left us filthy, covered in dust and very tired, but happy. After washing up, a bite to eat, a little nap, some of us went to see the sights: the lovely city park with boat rides, and then downtown for food and souvenirs. I almost didn't go as I had been crying, feeling sad again. That night we took the overnight bus to Buenos Aires, my last time.

I slept a lot on the trip but even so we arrived very, very tired. It was good to be home again and see everyone. I found Mom well, except that her feet were quite swollen. After cleaning up and a bite to eat, I went to sleep. At 4:15 Dad woke me up; it was time to go to the Temple to leave for Bible Clubs.

In an earlier letter to my friend I had mentioned an interesting new development surrounding the children´s Bible clubs.

Did you know that we asked to be given streetcars? I don´t know if you heard that the government is giving away streetcars to any religious or charitable organization. LAPEN [Child Evangelism in Argentina] through Mr. Bongarrá obtained 10 and he himself also several. Dad, before knowing this had requested some and we are praying that they will give us at least one to place in Villa Domínico.

So, what did happen? I remember that my mother was the one who saw the ad about the government giving away old street cars and suggested they could be used as little chapels in these outreach locations.

March 5, Mother began a letter to her parents:

Here Rita and I are sitting in a street car trying to write letters, read and rest, but we aren't able to do much of anything as there is a gang of kids outside trying to bother. Yesterday morning we hired two trucks and a truck with a crane to bring the 4 streetcars. (Did we tell you that the Government gave us 4?) Two of them we placed on a lot in Villa Domínico and two here on a lot that belongs to a believers´ family. Daddy and some of the men are putting a wire fence around the lot in Villa Domínico and probably tomorrow they will do it here, that is if I don´t pull any tricks and go to the hospital. I´m so glad I´ve been able to keep going yet. 

Last night Lynn and another boy slept in the one in Villa Domínico and two others here. This morning when we went to see how they fared, all had passed the night very well and peacefully.

These streetcars are really useful. One is a 1955 model and in excellent condition. The other 3 have a seat loose here and there or a few windows broken but they all can be fixed in time, and make nice little chapels. Each one has seats for 36 people.

The hard work began in earnest. Men, young and old, began taking out the middle walls to join the cars, then join the roofs, and do the repairs. 

 

 Dad picked up writing where Mom had left off. 

Thursday A.M.

These are difficult days - we are trying to do too many things in too short a time. We´re trying to do our best to protect these streetcars, but after we´ve done all we can, the Lord can take care of them. . . Since the young people have been having Bible clubs in Villa Domínico for two years and we also had a tent campaign there, we felt that we should put two of the streetcars there.

I have so many things to do with church building, Institute, Public offices, keeping all the missionaries content [at the time he was the Field Superintendent], etc. that I almost faint at times. But the Lord is able. 

 Later that day, Dad added a final paragraph.

Well, you have another red-headed grandson! He was born 2:35 P.M. weighed in at 8 lbs. 8 oz. Kathryn got along real well and the baby is very nice, quite pretty for a new born babe. Kathryn is in the British Hospital receiving the best of care.

What Dad did not say was that while he was filling out the paper work, he fell asleep and missed the delivery altogether! 

The guys working on the streetcars were waiting eagerly for the news of the baby, but recall that when Pastor Hoyt came back from the hospital the first thing he did was check the progress of the work and give further instructions. Some minutes went by, they looked at one another, and since he hadn't said anything, they asked. "Ah, yes, another boy!" he said, and went on telling them where and what to do next.

At home, my brothers and I also awaited the news expectantly. When Dad said Ruth had arrived, I didn't believe him and insisted he tell us the truth.

March 29, Dad gave a fuller report to the grandparents.

We want to get this letter off to you and should write much more but are so pressed for time that we'll have to limit it. We named the baby Norman Alan, since we're so thankful for his grandpa, and trust he'll be like grandpa more than in just his red hair. We felt the name would be appropriate. Up to now he has been a lovely baby. Kathryn is still able to feed him and we hope it will continue for some time. 

Although he is Norman Alan, it was always the plan to call him by his middle name in keeping with the family tradition of four-letter names easily pronounceable in Spanish.

Dad went on to say:

We are heading for the last round up here in Argentina. Trying to put everything in readiness so that a national pastor can take over, trying to coordinate everything throuhout the mission as a president should, and trying to be a pastor and father has me almost defeated. However, if we can just hold out for another 9 months the Lord will give us a long rest.

Those were intensely busy days. It is not surprising that I found no baby pictures of Alan. 

I am reminded of a few scriptures:

A blessing Moses pronounced for one of Israel's sons: Deuteronomy 33:25b ". . . as your days, so shall your strength be."

Alan was born March 7, the last week of summer vacation and March 11 was the beginning of the school year.

Ecclesiastes speaks repeatedly of God's perfect timing. In chapter 3, verse 1: "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven."