End of 1962

As the year was coming to an end, we were looking forward to big events coming up in 1963, but also took a long look at the past decade.

As a family, we were excited about the baby to come. I wrote to my dear friend Mirtha:

You know what . . . ? I'm going to have a little sister (because if it's a little brother, we will send him back, NOT REALLY!) If it's a baby girl, which we are all hoping for, her name will be RUTH (ANN?) HOYT. If it's a boy, we don't know yet what he will be called. What do you think?

My little sister Ruth will be born some time around the end of February or the begining of March. 

And what about your neice or nephew, when? 

Here is where I should mention that Mirtha´s sister Sara married Angel Díaz in March and now both of us friends were anticipating the arrival of a baby into our families. 

The wedding announcement in the Heraldo

The long look backwards took place December 10th when our little Don Bosco church celebrated its 10th year anniversary. A well-advertised evangelistic campaign led up to the event, with evening services as well as three five-day children's Bible clubs.  

Julio Poncet designed a flier which we distributed door-to-door until we ran out of both fliers and time! However, the town was well informed because the poster-size announcement was plastered everywhere possible. I wrote my friend about the fun our fellows had in the process.

The guys went out several times at night and worked until 1 or 2 in the morning putting up posters . . . But, guess what happened to them one time. So, Julio R. was carrying Julio P. on his bicycle, Lynn was carrying Aldo, and Antonio, well I can't remember exactly, but I think he was carrying the glue or paste. Antonio does not know how to ride a bicycle very well, then ¡CRASH! a collision. Julio R., Julio P., paste and more paste, Antonio, bicycles, mud, etc. etc. Julio P. could only laugh. Julio P. laughs and laughs, his whole body shakes. It is contagious. His mother told us later that he could not even tell her what had happened because he was laughing so hard.

I pause to mention a related incident. The guys did such a good job of covering or papering the town that the stationmaster had a word with my father. 

Well, the campaign, I´m not going to say it was a failure, however, it was a great disappointment. We had worked so long and so few came out. The messages were wonderful. And, I´m sure many neighbors who are so indifferent, heard the message because we used the loud speaker. The Lord knows and we know that His Word will not return void, so I believe that in heaven we will see the fruits of this campaign. 

What was truly marvelous was the outreach among the children, the three 5-day clubs in different parts of the town. We reached about 100 children and they seemed to understand the message, many accepted Christ.  

Pastor Hoyt

Dad prepared and read a summary of the ten years in Don Bosco. I have already shared parts of this document, but thought you may be interested in seeing and reading the entire story of God's work in one small town through ordinary and flawed servants. 

   

Review of the Brethren Church in Don Bosco

1952 - 1963

    A young couple about thirty-years-old with three children and five suitcases is seen arriving at the Retiro train station. How lost they felt among the multitude in this new world! Their destination was the boarding house of a friend in Quilmes, but how to get there? How to buy tickets? How carry the suitcases along with three children? Such problems filled their minds. After many inquiries, they arrived at the Constitución railroad station. They asked more questions, moved their children and suitcases toward the train line which would take them to Quilmes. Impossible to hide their bewilderment, they were assisted by a fellow traveler.

    Once settled in the boarding house near the courthouse in Quilmes, we began looking for a more permanent base from where we could ascertain the best place to establish a testimony for Christ. For a family with small children, the wait was long - we were piled into a room for one and not for five. Such was our impatience that we almost rented an apartment in an area that already had a testimony. But, the Lord stopped us and in His time provided a house in Don Bosco. The 23 of September of 1952 we were able to bring our furniture from Río Cuarto and move into the house.

    In a short time we recognized our inability to wisely evaluate the immense mission field that is the Great Buenos Aires. Our lack of experience both in life and missionary work made this task impossible. In addition, we saw the possibility and the need to start a Sunday School in our own home. So it was that in the month of October we celebrated the first Sunday School gathering with three children present outside of our own family--Arnaldo Calderoni, Julio Reta and Silvia Reta. If I remember correctly, they were the only ones invited, as they were our children's playmates. So, the first meeting was 100% successful. We have not experienced similar success since that day. 

During the months of October and November we were dedicated to house-to-house visitation and the Sunday School. Those months seemed endless because we were eager to see the first fruits as soon as the seed was sown, but it was necessary to wait a little more. 

The First Big Scale Effort 

    In the first days of December, this peaceful town was surprised by the appearance of a comical truck from the year '29 known as the Bible Coach. It took 30 hours to make the trip from Río Cuarto to Buenos Aires bringing the tent; all the equipment for the first evangelistic campaign; don Pedro, the caretaker; and two fellows from the Bible Institute. It might be amazing for some of you to know that the tent was raised on the same site where you are seated now. It was truly a conquest to set it up; so many tall weeds had to be cut down and after that we had to hire the Italian with his cart to carry it all away, not only the weeds but also shoes, wire, a cat and dead fish.

Four Years in the Pastor's House 

    Now we entered into a new phase of the work - meetings in our home. This continued until December of '56. En the last meeting of the campaign we announced that the tent was leaving but that meetings would continue the same in the Pastor's house - Calle 31 # 33. The first meeting was held on Christmas Eve. At that time we were 27, a greater number than we expected. The attendance varied throughout those four years, but especially blessed were the Daily Vacation Bible Schools for children with an average attendance between 23 and 27.

    Two more tent campaigns were held - one on the corner of Cramer and Ramos Mejía and the other in the plaza on the other side of town, the current location of the new first aid clinic. None of these campaigns had the same welcome nor such good results as the first. However, the Word was sown and at least one person made a profession of faith and has remained.

   In January of 1954 we held the first baptisms. We had a canvas pool made to use in a hole of the same measurements. The event took place at the Maconaghys in José Mármol, because they had a larger yard and also a few members who had asked to be baptized. At that time, Mr. Rodríguez, Mrs. Ravera and Rita Hoyt were baptized. One of these has since left our congregation, but hopefully not lost from the universal Church.

   In 1955, Mrs. Kolodziej was baptized, in the same pool but this time placed in the back yard of the house on Calle 31. In spite of opposition from family members and neighbors, whe obeyed the Lord giving testimony of faith in Christ through baptism.

   At this time there was a good youth group who, in addition to social gatherings, would do personal work and hold evangelistic meetings. We remember many of those young people and cannot help but believe that a day will come when like the prodigal son, they will return to the Father who awaits them patiently. With deep gratitude to the Lord, we remember Angel Díaz, now a graduate of the Bible Institute and an approved worker. He was already a believer when he came to us, but we were allowed to enjoy his fellowship and contribute in a way to his decision to give his life to serve in the work of the Lord.

   During this same period of time, a good group of believers from this church and others was meeting for a type of Bible Institute. Precious moments were spent around the Word of God and surely fruit for eternity will result.

   Very much at the beginning of the work, in 1954, we made a signpost with a corresponding frame for posters. Mrs. Fischer spend many hours preparing and painting the signs we hung regularly in front of our house. Only eternity will reveal the lasting good that came from sowing the Gospel in that way.

    Not all the memories of those first four years when we met in our home are as pleasant. We cannot forget the times when due to the mud lack of lights on our street, and no sidewalks, only a few made it to the services, and sometimes no one. The right hand remains somewhat closed due to holding the knife so long cleaning the mud off the shoes of the children before entering the house for Sunday School. Brother Maccio will remember the night he was drawing close to the house, stepping with much care to avoid the mud, when he slipped and his foot or rather his entire leg sunk into the ditch. At one point the work became so discouragaing that this pastor would have abandoned it completely and thus shared with brother Maccio. These emotions eloquently spoke of the need for growth in the pastor´s own life. After exchanging some thoughts and ideas, we agreed to pray about the matter every morning at 8:00 wherever we were until the Lord should reveal His will. It was not long before He answered and thus the work entered another phase of life.

 

The Temple - First Phase

   July 5, 1956, this congregation received a gift from the Foreign Missionary Society, a piece of land for the temple. The only condition was that the believers take charge of building the church. The believers took on the challenge and approved a blueprint and in that very month of July, with the help of Francisco Sparta and Mr. Fischer, laid out / marked the foundations. Some of the young people and the pastor and his wife dug the foundations.

    We remember August 17 with joy because several friends and believers from Mármol came to help us fill the foundations. Old and young, women and children - all worked hard and in addition to filling the trenches, were able to dig holes for the bases of the three columns and put together the corresponding iron frames. Looking at a photo taken that day, we realized that the bathroom had also been completed before that day.

    With the help of some young folks, especially brother Angel Díaz, we continued working until the walls were at a point where we felt the need to hire a mason / bricklayer and kept him on until the roofing stage. We remember with gratitude the ample scaffolding that Mr. Escala loaned us when we got to that point in the construction/building.

    On roofing day we had the collaboration of many. We certainly were few for such a huge and heavy job, but we were more than usual. 

    Christmas was drawing near, so we set the goal of inaugurating the temple with the Christmas program. There was so much to do that it was overwhelming, however, we kept moving forward daily. We finished cutting the iron for the windows and Mr. Allessándria put them together. We installed them at the same time that Mr. Rocobertón was making the doors. Thus we accomplished one thing after another, but we were running out of time. The day before the program, we worked late putting in the glass. There were no lights and we were unable to connect them until a few hours before the program, and to do so we had to ask a neighbor for electricity. But we were in, December 23, 1956! The temple had no plaster, no flooring or subflooring, a perfect atmosphere to celebrate the humble birth of our Saviour! 

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  

    I cannot say much about the church during our furlough year. God raised up two young ladies, graduates of the Bible Institute, to care for the work under missionary Maconghy's supervision. They endeared themselves to many, and left a mark for the glory of the Lord. Several made professions of faith, Miss Mabel Devesa was baptized, and surely there was growth among the believers.

August 1958 - December 1962

   It was customary in our Foreign Missionary Society to replace the missionary for another when furlough time came, so he would only stay in one place for five years. We, however, returned to the mission field grateful for the privilege of continuing the work begun in 1952. We had no sooner greeted everyone, when we got back to work on the temple. We laid sidewalks and a few other minor things. Desiring to finish floor and plaster soon, we obtained a loan of 50,000 pesos from the Missions Society. But, as time went on we recognized the need of space for the Sunday School. So we did not stop until we had built two stories on the side, 2.80 by 12 m and this required another similar loan. It was only this year that we were able to finish the final plastering, lay the floors and paint the walls. Our goal ws to finish all the details for this dedication, however, despite the good will especially of the young people, we were unable to complete the many tasks for lack of time.

Increase in Attendance and Offerings

   Thanks to God, He has sent new people to our midst and these have brought others also. The attendance is not what we had hoped after ten years of existence, but it is moare than we could have imagined at one time. Offerings have increased from one year to the next. Last years we reached $84.656 pesos. One debt was paid off and only the internal one remains of 55 thousand pesos. 

The Importance of the Sunday School

   Some two years ago we there were notable results from the years of work among the children in the Sunday School. Those children are now young people and every day they are taking on more responsibility. These youth are becoming men who give stability to the work. They are young persons whose entertainment is serving the Lord: they conduct two Bible clubs and hope to start others; they direct the Sunday School program in a major way; lead singing; and preach occasionally; they've given many hours to work on the church building, and for this campaign they have done virtually everything. We give thanks to the Lord because I believe they have done all for the glory of God. In spite of the long and difficult struggle to find many men from this neighborhood and town to be the columns of this church, we have faith that many will hear the voice of the Son of God and be saved. 

 I believe the simple narrative of the story of this church through the ten years, shows us that it is not by man, but that it is a work of God. The words of the Holy Spirit in Romans 11:33-36, express the profound sentiment of all who have been allowed to follow the spiritual thread of these lines: 

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

How unsearchable are his judgments and inscrutable his ways! 

"For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?" [Isaiah 40:13]

"Or who has give a gift to him that he might be repaid?" [Job 41:11]

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Beginnings of the Indigenous Church

 

Julio Reta, Roberto Fernández, Antonio Morales, Clyde Landrum

In 1962, Dr. Clyde K. Landrum and his wife Ruby, visited the Grace Brethren mission points in Puerto Rico and South America as representives of the Foreign Missionary Society. In his glowing report, "The Brethren Testimony in Argentina" (Brethren Missionary Herald, December 8, 1962), he wrote:

It has been a great joy to see first-hand the Brethren work in Argentina! 

It is good to see the vision of the missionaries and to talk with them of their plan eventually to place all of the work in the hands of the nationals. How wonderful to see the nationals working toward the same goal! 

I remembered being so impressed with my father's thoughts on the subject in his earliest letters.

One thing which our mission has never believed before is that these people are able to support their own works, but all the evidence is to the contrary. . . Of course that's the way our mission began, and until brother Dowdy came down the idea has prevailed. . . According to the Word, I think we are depriving the people of a great blessing as well as curtailing our own work. (July 1, 1946)

The more I researched, the year 1962 struck me as very significant—the beginning of "Something New In Argentina." That was, in fact, the title of an article J. Paul Dowdy wrote for the Brethren Missionary Herald (July 7, 1962).

Most missions in the past have been opened and operated with the missionaries in charge assuming all of the responsibility and actually doing most of the work. The results have not been satisfactory . . . the most desired objective had not been achieved, that is, a locally supported, self administered, and self-propagating church.

For years in Argentina we have been struggling with the problems involved in the transfer of responsibilities from missionaries to Argentine Christians.

So, when a congregation takes complete charge of preaching services, Sunday school, and all of the other activities of a church program, that is something new, and is cause for rejoicing.

Brother Dowdy goes on to relate the story of how the second church in Río Cuarto began and became a completely Argentine Brethren church. The dedication service was planned and organized by the nationals; Horacio Bettinalio was the speaker. Although there was no ordained Argentine pastor available to take charge of the preaching, teachimg and administrative aspects of a church, these responsiblitities were assumed by the members. The new congregation was blessed with an unusually gifted group to carry on the work, among them several graduates of the Bible Institute.

While in Banda Norte the members of the congregation have taken complete charge of all the work of their church, in all of our Argentine churches capable members are taking a greater part in the activities and assuming more of the responsibility. 

Dr. Landrum listed several areas where the transition from foreign mission to Argentine ownership was taking place.

One of many groups of campers over the years

One of the finest examples of this is the camp work. From the beginning, the nationals have been in on planning for and carrying on the camp program. Today they own approximately two acres of land situatied at the foot of a mountain. On this beautiful site they have built permanent-type brick buildings . . . a girl's dormitory, a kitchen, and a combination dining room-auditorium, and nearing completion at the present time is a dormitory for boys. (12.08.1962)

Bible Institute students 1962

[Also] The Bible Institute is basic to the whole mission program in Argentina. . . It has literally transformed our Mission in that it has already supplied some of the workers and sent them out to pastor churches and to carry on the work in general. 

One example of the ministry of Bible Institute graduates and students was the week-long tent campaign held in Corral de Bustos in December. The church prepared months in advance for the event sponsoring the Institute's evangelistic team. Days before they began gathering in the church to pray and continued throughout that week meeting at 6:30 in the morning. Even after it was over they met one more day for a special thanksgiving service.

This campaign was a national venture. The church sponsored it. The believers themselves felt the urgent responsibility to train, pray and invite their friends.

Equipo evangelístico:
Eduardo Coria, Juan Colle, Benjamín Enrici, Víctor Wagner

The young men who held the meetings were graduates and current students of the Institute. Eduardo Coria (pastor of the Tancacha church) was in charge of the music. Benjamín Enrici, preached every night. Juan Colle, a chalk artist, used his talent to attract people, and then give a positive testimony of the power of the Gospel. Victor Wagner, current Bible Institute student and missionary candidate to the indigenous peoples in northern Argentina, was the general director and MC. (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 12.08,1962)

Brother Landrum was the main speaker for the Bible Institute commencement ceremony.

Dr. Clyde Landrum continued to report about "The Brethren Testimony in Argentina."

The work of the Mission in the inteior of Argnetina continues to be a blessing In addition to works that have been established over a longer period of years, a more recent work has been established in Córdoba, Argentina´s second largest city.

The headquarters church in Río Cuarto is now being pastored by a national, and the church has voted to fully support this pastor.

Interestingly, the pastor, Ricardo Wagner, was also Dr. Landrum's brother-in-law. Clyde's wife had an older sister,  Laura Evangeline Larson, who went to Argentina as a missionary in 1931. Her first assignment was in Huinca Renancó where she met Ricardo. They were married in 1934. 

Mr. & Mrs. Ricardo Wagner
February 21, 1934

Thus it was a joy for Ruby to spend time in Río Cuarto with her sister and family while Clyde traveled around to the various mission points.

The report continues:

Also of great encouragment is the development of several churches in the Buenos Aires area. There is a semicircle of churches around the city, which has a population of over five million. The two beautiful new churches at Don Bosco and José Mármol are well established. The two-year-old work in Castelar is reaching souls in that residential suburb. A new work is now in process of being started in General Belgrano. The vision for the future is to complete the circle, and also to locate a work in the central Capital section of the city.

Dr. Landrum's list goes on to include: the radio ministry with hopes to expand and strengthen the follow-up work; the literature program with plans to find, train, and encourage writers as well as production and distribution. 

In the plan there is to be a bookstore and reading room at Río Cuarto.The nationals are burdened for the Christian day school movement. They are hoping to get started on this program soon.

The Foreign Missionary Society had by then developed a statement on the Indigenous Church, which Dr. Landrum presented to the Field Council. Recognizing its progress in that direction, it was now time to move forward the program of ultimately turning the work over entirely to the nationals. 

In a second article about his time in Latin Lands, Clyde wrote:

In my opinion, the biggest decision made by the Argentina Field Council, was to set up a plan of joint committees looking forward to the nationals ultimately assuming all responsibility for the work . . .They will work together throughout the year as one committee to do the work at hand, and once each year they will report back to the body appointing them . . . As the nationals assume more responsibility, financially and otherwise, they will have more representation on the joint committees, until the ultimate goal is reached when the nationals will carry the entire load. (Brethren Missionary Herald, 1.05.1963)

That is a summary of the big picture. What was happening in our little Don Bosco church? I can only speak from my point of view as one of the youth group increasingly involved in carrying the load of the local church and its evangelistic outreach. 

The muchachos, the guys, worked a lot with Dad on various building projects. I'm not sure which one is pictured here. Perhaps it was the parsonage addition. Our family would be leaving in a year and the national pastor coming to take over would need a place to live.

The two Horas Felices (children's Bible clubs) were going strong Saturday and Sunday afternoons. However, it became evident that we had taken on too much. Our zeal was great, but the load was too heavy for some. This became evident when one day Milly broke down at school. She had not slept hardly the night before, it was her most difficult day and she had an exam. She was distraught, crying uncontrollably, so they called her family to come and get her. We realized then that something needed to change. I explained this to my friend Mirtha, in a July letter.

So after that, we divided into two well organized groups (thanks to Julio Poncet) and now we have both Bible clubs on Saturday afternoons. Emilia is the person in charge of planning and directing everything to do with the one in Don Bosco, and I am the "encargada" for Villa Domínico. 

Roberto, Antonio, Lynn and a young girl about 12 or 13, Dorita Gómez, accompany  Milly and I don´t really know what responsibilities each one has.

Mabel, Delia, Julio and Aldo go to Villa Domínico. Mabel and Delia are captains of the blue and red teams respectively, for the Interplanetary Rockets Contest we have going which has been such a blessing. Delia teaches the verse and Julio leads. Aldo holds the flannelgraph and I place the figures as I give the lesson. The assigned roles will change. We´re going to take turns teaching a series each. What happened was that we had already begun the Genesis series before dividing the group and no one wanted to take over and finish it. After it is over, the others will take their turn in the following order: Mabel, Delia, Julio. Each time the other roles will change also.

These are examples on the local level of young people taking ownership of the ministry. Transition to the Indigenous Church was happening. It was God´s doing. Jesus said, "I will build my church."

Fast forward to 2009 when the Grace Brethren Church in Argentina celebrated 100 years. The goal had been achieved! There were no more foreign missionaries, the church was totally indigenous!

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)