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 . . . 

1961

End of Year Photo

As I continue to dig into the available sources to make sense of those long ago days, I learn more about my parents, their life interests and myself.

Dad wrote an article for the August issue of the Heraldo Evangélico Argentino, titled "La Exposición de los siglos" [The Exhibit of the Ages].

From childhood I have frequented exhibits of one kind or another and spent pleasant moments examining the items attractively displayed there for the enjoyment and instruction of the public. A few months ago I was a spectator of the Sesquicentennial Exhibition in Buenos Aires. As I went from one booth to another, I was able to appreciate the development of the nation until this 150th anniversary, in every aspect of life--social, industrial, cultural, educational, commercial scientific, etc.  

The article goes on to enumerate and explain the multiple ways in which God reveals the wonders of creation, his grace and divine wisdom in the plan of redemption. 

I was interested to note Dad´s life-long enjoyment of exhibits and especially his desire to learn all he could about the country where he chose to live. I inherited a similar curiosity.
 
In the Noticias section of that same issue of the Heraldo, I learned interesting tidbits about the activities and events of 1961.

Don Bosco
The young people and the pastor are making 16 benches for the sanctuary and 8 little benches for the Sunday School rooms. Until now the benches used belong to the tent equipment. 
Seven young people from this congregation attended the annual Child Evangelism conference in the Capital. They were greatly blessed and especially challenged to put into practice what they learned. Some of them requested the correspondence course for teachers. 
We were blessed by the visit of Angel Camandona, Bible Institute student, in four recent meetings. His presence among the youth and his message Sunday, July 9, were such a blessing. 

It was around this time that the young people decided to divide the group and start yet another Hora Feliz (children's Bible class). I explained this to Mirtha, my friend:

Slum behind the hospital (left in background)

One Sunday we decided to start a new children´s Bible class in a slum area here in Don Bosco close to the hospital because there were 6 of us, and occasionaly more, who went to Villa Domínico to have the Hora Feliz, and we thought that by splitting we could not only reach more but also those in charge would take the responsibility more seriously being totally in charge. Each of us had choose where we would go as the Lord led. That is, everyone except me, because we agreed that the children in Villa Domínico were accustomed to gathering when they heard the accordeon so I would continue going there. Julio always felt called to work in a poor neighborhoods . . . and Antonio also felt called to the new class.  Ricardo and Roberto did not want to give up the one in V. Domínico. Then, because we needed a girl to go to the new class, Mabel decided to go there. That is how the forces were divided. 

Antonio teaching

Roberto teaching

 

 

Roberto remembers going to a rough neighborhood to bring some of those children who wanted to attend Sunday School, and having to take a longer roundabout route to avoid certain dengerous areas. 

That effort prospered and grew. I wrote to Mirtha that I had experienced a moment of discouragement and failure.

It was a Sunday when the Hora Feliz in Villa Domínico had a very poor attendance and the other new one had a wonderful attendance. Because I go to V. Domínico, I felt responsible, like it was my fault, and helpless. I cried. 

Reading that paragraph, I was reminded of a period of time, which I cannot pinpoint precisely, that I went through a time of discouragement and general apathy. My father lovingly called me out on that attitude and his words shook me out of that despondency.

The following photos lead me to conclude that when the Marshalls came through Buenos Aires on their way to the US we may have had a farewell reunion along with the Maconaghys and some from the Mármol congregation.

It was also the year that my friend Mirtha´s book became available and caused quite a stir in our various circles. I described this in colorful detail in my letter, August 29, 1961.

Subject: The most marvellous book by the famous author, Mirtha Febe Siccardi

This is going to be very long because I want to tell you all I can possibly remember about the things that happened since your precious book became available.

The first one to buy it was Julio, who right away read it a second time, and enjoyed it as much or more than the first time. 

Then my father brought 10 copies to sell. Mrs. Alessandria bought it and read it in one night and, of course, was delighted. 

The Alessandrias with a young girl they helped

 Here I will pause to introduce Mrs. Alessandria in my mother´s words, from a talk she gave during furlough.

I want to tell you about Mrs. Alessandria. We had heard that she wanted a Bible so took a Bible with us and went to visit her. She happened to be sick that day and we couldn´t see her. A short time after, we went again. On this visit she opened up her heart and told us her story. She has two children a son and a daughter. The daughter was married, but the son was still at home. One night he got up in the middle of the night and went out to his father´s shop (he´s and iron worker) and stole some of his most valuable tools then he went off to live with an immoral woman. To this day he has never spoken to them. I was with her one day when he passed by. She spoke to him but he never answered. We told her one day, that maybe the Lord permitted this so that she would realize her need of a Saviour. Evidently right then when we were explaining things to her from the Bible, she accepted the Lord but we never knew about it until our next visit. We asked her if she wouldn´t give her heart to the Lord. "Oh" she said, "Pastor, I did that last time you were here".

 Continuing the trajectory of Mirtha's page-turner, Brillando para Él:

Mirta Fisher bought it, read it and loved it.

Mabel bought it and while in the hospital, where she´d had an appendectomy, started to read it the second morning after the operation. She read two chapters and thought to stop there so as not to exert herself too much, but was unable to put it down and finished it that morning, tired and delighted. That afternoon I went to see her and she was not well enough to have visitors, but not only because of your book (so don´t feel guilty, be happy!) but also because before me others had been there, including Julio who made her laugh too much (which she could not do so soon after surgery) thinking he was doing her a kindness seeing her sad and downcast. After reading it, Mabel gave it to a nurse who had questioned her about the book.

My mom stayed up till I don´t what late hour of the night, devouring your book. The next night she was exhausted. (Do you realize what harm you have caused). ¡Ah! and the same thing happened to Mrs. Maconagly who stayed up two nights reading past midnight and absolutely loved it. My mother also says it is very good, but there is one thing she did not like (don´t worry, it´s a joke), that Monica was a readhead. [Mother never liked her own red hair. She had been teased mercilessly as a child.]

Silvia Reta [Julio's younger sister] read it. She started one night and continued the next morning . . .The next day as we were coming back from school together, she told me, "You know, I read Mirtha's book . . . it's 'divine'" and then kept talking the entire way home about your book--wonderful and very feminie, very good plot, beautiful ending, and so much more.

A young woman, nicknamed Pepita, from Mendoza, with a beautiful voice so they say, who is taking voice lessons at the Teatro Colón [the main opera house in Buenos Aires] and is staying with them, promised to read it. 

One day I took your book to school and they were all fighting over who would read it first. My seat mate read it and liked it and asked for your address so she can write to you. 

Now the others are reading it. I have 39 classmates so I don't know when everyone will finish reading it. 

I am reading it again little by little, because what's happened with all these loans is that now there is never a copy in the house. 

The Covers

In my September 5 letter to Mirtha, I wrote about two visitors: the Cover family--Bob, Joene, Viki (6), Lynnie (3), y Bobby (casi 2)--new missionaries who were with us from Thursday to Monday. They came from language school in Costa Rica and were now headed to take over the work in Corral de Bustos. I enjoyed them so much that I spoke effusively about them. They would reappear several times later in my life story.

The next visitor was Carlos Sotola, a young man from the interior, from one of our churches in the province of Córdoba. He was doing his military service in Buenos Aires, and most often spent his free time in Mármol. But this particular Sunday in September he came to Don Bosco for the day. He was embarrased to come to our home for the noon meal as we were already so many with the new missionaries, so Julio invited him to have a picnic lunch together.

Then the two guys went to a grocery store and bought cold cuts, "dulce de batata con chocolate" [a gelatin-type paste or dessert made with sweet potato and chocolate], cheese and I don't know what else and then went to a bakery to buy bread, and were off to set up camp. They ate; Ricardo came by to see them; Julio went home to tell his mother that he had already had lunch; he came back with his little bike and since the place where they were is hilly, the three of them took turns flying down the hill on the bicycle, which by the way has no brakes!

These young people knew how to have fun!

Later they joined the group going to Villa Domínico for the children´s Bible class, another wholesome and rewarding kind of fun!

On the way home, Lynn had a premonition that we would be welcoming more visitors. He said this often and we teased him about it. But this time it was true. Mrs. Rossetti and her daughter Amalia awaited us. Carlos joined us also that evening so we were 14 for dinner.

There would be so much more to tell about every one mentioned in this chapter. These are mere glimpses into the intricate pattern God was weaving with our lives. Several names will reappear in future episodes.

An important event that year took place in General Deheza, December 16, the wedding of a couple that would, in years to come, play a significant role in the history of the Don Bosco congregation. 

 Wedding of Eduardo and Nora Coria

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

(Romans 11:33)

 

The Youth

 

The young people played a significant role in the work in Don Bosco. They were very dear to my father's heart. In his final message to the congregation, in 1963, he reflected on the importance of training and raising up children in the Sunday School, who then become involved in every aspect of the ministry.

About two years ago we began to notice obvious results of the years of work among the children through the Sunday School. They are now young people and every day they are taking on more responsibility. These young people are becoming men and bringing stability to the work. They are youth whose entertainment is to serve the Lord: they have two Bible clubs for children and plan to start more; they lead the Sunday School almost completely and lead the singing in some of the other services; they preach occasionally; they have given many hours to the work of building the temple, and for this tenth anniversary campaign they have done practically everything. We give thanks to the Lord as we believe they have done it all for His glory. 

Some of the teengers worked with my father from early days making folding chairs, benches and other woodworking projects. They were involved alongside Dad in all the phases of the construction of the Templo Evangélico.

In his farewell message, summarizing the period between August 1958 and December 1962, Dad recalls the days shortly after our return from the US and later on.

We started the work of finishing the temple. The sidewalks were completed and a few other small tasks. Desiring to finish the plaster and the floor, we obtained a loan . . . but, in time we saw the need for more space for the Sunday School. So we did not stop until we had built on a two-story addition approximately 9 by 39 feet . . . Recently we were able to give it the fine coat of plaster. We purposed to finish all the details for this dedication, however, in spite of the good will especially of the young people, we were not able to reach our goal due to the many things remaining and the lack of time.

 No doubt the skills they learned working alongside my father have served them well in life.

I remember that Dad would go to the Temple early every morning to meet with some of the guys before they took the train to go to their respective jobs. 

 Letters to the Hirschy family were becoming infrequent, so when one arrived written in March, my grandparents included it in its entirety among the summaries sent out to the siblings scattered abroad. Mother started the letter on the 24th.

I have a pile of work but since there is no light nor water I can't do a thing . . . We've had so much trouble lately with electricity and water . . . Most of the time we have around 150 volts instead of 220 and last night it went down to 100 and then was out for about five hours. We had a very romantic candle light service last night.  We've had to buy a voltage regulator plus have the pump motor rewound all because of the low current and now to top it off when we get the regulator there's no light at all. Today the kids went with their lessons only half studied. An incubator baby died becuse of it . . . Now to go to a brighter theme. We've had real good services the last two Sundays . . . 

Mabel teaching the Bible lesson 

The young people have started another happy hour [Hora Feliz children's Bible class] in Villa Domínico. It´s a joy also to see how the young people are learning to sing. Now we have a girl´s trio and a male quartet and a choir. Every Sunday night we have special music and it adds a lot to the service.

 

Eunice Siccardi [Mirtha´s older sister] is with us for a couple of months. She is living in the garage and since she works 12 hours a day as a private nurse we barely see her at all. She is interested in starting a hospital in the North among the Indians. She came to earn enough money to make a trip of investigation to see if the Lord really wants her to do it.

This week Sam was in Río Cuarto for three days. There are so many problems to solve . . . places without pastors, the Foreign Board is in debt. Now we won´t have money to repair the Ford A.

The Hoyt family and their car in 1961

The Field Council wants us to go to Río Cuarto when the Marshalls leave in June, but it is hard for us to understand that it is wise to take three children out of school in the middle of the year . . . We have no desire to go and trust the Lord will work it out . . . At least we don´t feel willing to go until after the school year is finished.

Last week I fixed over an old raincoat for Lynn. It´s almost impossible to be without a raincoat in B.A. this week I want to fix over an overcoat of Aldo´s to fit Ivan. He´s getting tall and thinner and is growing out of most of his clothes. He gives us a lot of joy and on the whole is quite a good boy.

March 27, Dad took over the letter-writing.

If I don't get at this letter it will be here for at least another week. Kathryn has too many things to do and I guess that is true of all but Aldo and Ivan. Lynn and Rita are busy from 6 A.M. until 9 P.M. High School here is serious business, if one doesn't keep up day by day he is sunk. Lynn recited [was called on to go to the front of the class and explain the assigned homework lesson to the class] in Botany the other day and got a perfect grade so he is starting out all right. He had to take an entrance exam to get in the school and he felt quite sure of himself. However, according to the lowest grade permitted, he was excluded, only got in because they lowered the standard.

Julio, Roberto, Antonio

I have an early morning prayer meeting with some of the boys from the church . . . One is especially desirous of going to the Bible Institute . . . He arises at 6:30 A.M. and after breakfast on his way to take the train passes by the church for prayer. He works till noon eats a few sandwiches which he carries with him, studies right there in the shop, works till 6 in the evening, goes to high school night classes till midnight doesn't arrive home till about 12:30 or 1.

In Mother's letter, April 19, she made reference to our daily routine.

 The baby [Ivan], Rita and Lynn are all sleeping a siesta. We get up at 6 every morning so they rest a little in the afternoon, then get up and study. Aldo is in school. Leaves home 20 to 1 P.M. and gets home at 5:15. He is just as thin as ever and most every night and morning has a spell of sneezing. We haven't found out just what his trouble is.

In my letter to my dear friend Mirtha, I made reference to my crazy schedule, going to bed after midnight and rising at 5:30 or 6:30 to leave for school at 7:00. I was tired from studying morning to night (and I didn't even have a job like the guys!). I quoted my little brother Ivan's cute expression, "Estoy sueño" (incorrect Spanish for "I am sleepy").

I resumed the letter the next day, May 6.

Well, in a little while we will have a young people's meeting and it will be a study in Homiletics. Several of the guys want to learn how to give messages. Two of them meet with my Dad for prayer every morning. They also learn a verse each day.

 What I referred to as the postre (dessert) of the letter, was the news that Mirtha's book had been published! (See previous chapters about Mirtha.) We were hoping that her sister Eunice could bring a copy as it was not yet available. 

Days later I wrote in celebration of the day I finished reading it. 

Today, the 15 of May, 1961, I have finished reading your wonderful book. I cannot express with words what I feel, it is something so very beautiful and profound.

You know, here there has been, there is, and there will be for a long time a revolution because of your very precious book. Lynn read it first and when he got to the end he wanted to cry because there was no more book to read. I was the second in starting to read it but it happens that Eunice told me that when I finished it I should give it to Julio (because he was dying to read it) and since it was Sunday afternoon, I wanted to give it to him that night at church. I read and read, swallowed and swallowed, full of admiration and pride for my friend . . . but I was not able to finish it before the service. I gave it to him anyway because I preferred that he read it first. Last night he stayed up till 12, or until his mother told him to turn off the light. This morning going and coming from work, walking, and in every spare moment, he continued to read and finished it, also very moved.

 Other items of news scattered in the letters:

Dad mentioned that in April twenty-five Russians immigrated to Argentina. The papers said that they belonged to the Greek Orthodox church, a sect called "Old Faith" and when it became too difficult for them to continue their religion they fled via China. "We would like to have gone to see them come off the boat but couldn't make it. They are the first 25 of 100 who are coming."

He later wrote about the special meetings, May 22-24, with Dr. José Adam, an ex-priest (convert from the order of the Carmelitas Descalzos de Barcelona), and how the congregation and visitors enjoyed them thoroughly.

In June, the Marshalls left for the US. I was especially surprised to read in my correspondence with Mirtha, that my parents bought Margaret's accordeon for me!  I was thrilled! "Es hermosísimo tocar el acordeón. Estoy loca de contenta." (It's wonderful/beautiful to play the accordeon. I'm crazy happy.) The instrument served to attract the children to start the Bible class when we arrived at the empty lot in Villa Domínico. 

June 21 I wrote and described the monthly participation of the youth in the Sunday service.

The young people are in charge of one service per month . . . one leads, another one gives an object lesson, there is a special number, someone reads and then one of the guys preaches. I'm talking about the Sunday evening worship service. This plan started a month ago and the first to preach was Roberto. Since there are four guys, Dad assigned them in the order in which they had come to the Lord or to the church: Roberto F., Julio R., Ricardo R., and Antonio M. 

Roberto Fernández

This week it was Julio's turn to give the message . . .He came to the house and asked my father to help him organize the topic of justification . . . Then he was preparing most of the week in his favorite place to study, the temple. Sunday afternoon he didn't go to the children's Bible club in Villa Domínico but stayed back with his good buddy, Antonio, to practice preaching to the benches and to Antonio.

When we returned from Villa Domínico, Mabel and I went to the temple to paint something on the board for the object lesson she was going to give and when we arrived we heard shouting. It was the preacher for the evening practicing. 

Julio Reta

One lady after the service said it had been "Super!" Another said: "Shorty outdid himself! 10 and Honorable Mention!" My Dad told him: "Well done, Julio, very good. I hope all follow your example and really have such a grasp of their topic." And as for me, it was the first time I understood justification.  

We became a very close-knit group as we served together and learned so much. I am grateful that we were allowed these many opportunities even though we were so young. 

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
(1 Timothy 4:12)

Summer 1960-1961

 

Rita's Third Year High School Class Photo

Summers in Argentina were intense, the weather hot and humid, and the schedule quite hectic. 

November marked the end of the school year and the beginning of summer events: December exams (like end of year piano exam, and/or opportunities to make up a failed course); evangelistic meetings; Christmas programs; vacation Bible schools; church camps in the sierras of Córdoba and the general conference in Río Cuarto. All in addition to the weekly church services and children's classes. Oh, and there was a wedding in our Templo that summer as well!

For some time my parents had been experiencing other stressors, such as lack of gas for cooking. As I read about this now in the letters they wrote, I realize how oblivious I was then of the daily life struggles they faced. 

November 18, my grandparents made reference to Dad's letter, "Solon writes about their difficulties in getting gas for cooking so they had to cook on a kerosene stove."  [In fact, this had been going on back in October when we had a house full of people.] Then Solon had to wait in a line for over an hour and 40 minutes just to get a bus ticket."

Dad wrote about his time in Huinca Renancó: 

Since Nov. 11 I have been here in this evangelistic effort. We have had many opportunities for personal contacts and we do thank the Lord for these. The meetings at night have been increasing in number and interest each night. To date we have had no professions but there have been several victories. Some have entered the church for the first time who have been against it formerly. 

One of the very interesting things here [in Huinca] is to see the fruit of seed sown years ago. God's word does not return void. About seven years ago the present pastor began dealing with a certain boy who said he would never go inside the church. His older brother was the first to make a profession, next came Eduardo who would not set foot in the church. Later, Eduardo won his mother and then his step-father. His mother also was very catholic but how faithful she is to the Lord now.

My heart is burdened for the innumerable towns that have no Gospel testimony.

Interestingly, years later that young man, Eduardo Coria, became the pastor of the congregation in Don Bosco and lived there for many years with his family in the parsonage that was added onto the Temple. A book could be written about his life and ministry.  

December 19, my mother wrote to her parents. She said Dad had left early that morning on the 7:30 bus to Río Cuarto for a special meeting to decide on a new pastor for one of the towns.
Her garden was doing well after the rain, growing lettuce, Kentucky wonder beans, Swiss chard and zapallitos. [I miss those little green squash.]
Mother also mentioned my music theory exam (solfeo) which would allow me to teach if I wanted to. All I remember is the fancy cuaderno (hardback exercise book, a fancy notebook) in which I had written out in India ink all of the theory lessons. Three more years and I could have the title of profesora.
Friday Lynn was to take an exam to get into the same school I attended.

In his memories, Lynn wrote :

School in Argentina is free up till 6th grade. Anyone who wants to go for more studies must pass an entrance exam, and many do not make it. I was the first alternate and was fortunate that someone dropped out to go to another school or my education would have been truncated right then. As it was, I was able to get into the school (the Normal School in Quilmes) but was not allowed to choose which languages I would study. I was assigned to a class which had English and Latin as their foreign languages. Two funny notes come from that experience.

My second year English teacher was a middle aged frumpy woman who had a teaching title but had not advanced very far in her pronunciation. If you were British, American, or even Australian, her accent was not even close. She was clearly an Argentine who had no ear for language. I got quite a bit of entertainment from her horrible enunciation of English words until she realized I was sitting in the back row laughing at her. For this behavior I was awarded a zero and barely made it through the course by getting a 10 in the other two trimesters. 

As for Latin, I barely made it through the course the two first years, and was meant to take a test just before my fourth year to be able to pass and go on to the next year. Since we left for furlough soon after November, the test is still pending.

 The joke is on me, though, as I went to college and chose as my major the Greek language for the purpose of preparing for the ministry. Greek is very similar to Latin in its grammatical structure, so I ended up having to take many tests which could have been even harder than the make-up exam in Latin.

Thankfully, I did not need to make up any subjects during December, although it appears from this report card that Zoology and History were not my forte. The subjects listed are: Castellano, Francés, Matemáticas, Zoología, Geografía, Historia, Dibujo, Cultura Musical, Actividades Prácticas, Educación Física, Educación Democrática. Grades were on a scale of 1 to 10.

Report card

The highlight of the month of January was going to camp Cerro San Lorenzo. There we met many dear friends. Mirtha, who had been bedridden for several years, was able to attend and participate.

Mirtha (above) and Rita (below)

Not long after, we met again at the general conference which took place in Río Cuarto, the denominational headquarters, February 12 -14.

February 27 I wrote to Mirtha and took a whole paragraph to tell her how much I missed her and needed to hear from her. Then I related the happenings since the Conferencias. Upon our arrival back in Don Bosco, the youth group friends were astir. One youth appeared on his bicycle to meet us and ran to tell another friend and together we went around distributing eagerly-awaited letters from the new friends from Córdoba.

I went on to tell Mirtha about the memorable wedding.

You know, last week we had the first wedding in our little temple. Mabel´s sister was married . . . María Carmen Devesa to Esteban Juan Raspe. They attended a church in another town, Iglesia de Constitución, but decided to have their ceremony here. . . it was very simple, took place in the morning. She wore a short dress. My mother, Mabel and I decorated the Temple and it was so lovely that people were amazed, they had not imagined that it could look so beautiful. The bride was very moved by our efforts.

 If I am not mistaken, that was the only time I played for a wedding on our little portable pump organ.

March 1, I wrote one last letter before the start of the school year. I described in detail my routine during the two-week Vacation Bible School.

So, every afternoon, here at home, I go over the lesson I´m supposed to teach, then I rest a bit, and drink something warm (tea without milk, better for your health, or for mine anyway), and then around 4:30 or 4:45 I go to the Temple and go over the lesson again  there, but this time placing the figures in their respective places on the flannelgraph background I chose, because we keep the backgrounds here in the Temple. . . After that I go to pick up "my kids," with 30 minutes or so because I usually have to wait for them to get ready and have their afternoon snack. 

The letter continued a few days later:

Today was the end of DVBS. It was a good time, I think; although the attendance was not that great. This morning I had a lovely time with about twelve kids. Roberto and Ely took turns teaching the older ones (because Roberto works and could only come Saturdays and Sundays). Mirtha Fischer also taught the class today and very well. Mabel gave the missionary story, one each day, and the days she couldn't (yesterday she had to take a typing test), Pirincha, Julio, and I gave the lesson.

 I include these quotes from the old letters because they are samples of our teenage correspondence that contain accurate records of events long forgotten, and above all they illustrate the involvement of our youth in the ministry. 

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say,   “I find no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 1:1).