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).

1960

Hoyts in 1960
Lynn, Solon, Kathryn holding Ivan, Aldo and Rita

 As usual, midsummer events were in full swing early in January. Both Lynn and Aldo went to children's camp (January 6-15), this time on their own with the group that traveled to the interior on the overnight bus. The rest of our family joined them by car for young people´s camp (January 19-28). It would appear from the photo that between camp sessions the boys had fun hunting vizcachas, a rabbit-like rodent found in the area, native of Argentina (langostomus maximus).

As I reread my earliest letter to my friend Mirtha that year, I was surprised to learn that I had spent a few days in José Mármol. Here is a sample paragraph from my lengthy, adolescent correspondence.

January 11 

As usual I had to carry over this letter to another day. This time I am not sitting at my desk in my bedroom of my little home in my little town, little Don Bosco, but seated in an old easy chair in the room where the Maconaghys slept in the big old house in José Mármol where I am spending a few days accompanying Miss Lidia DiNardo in the absence of Miss Nélida Zanetti, her ministry partner.  

The Maconaghys had returned to the US the previous September for their furlough year, and the two young ladies, graduates of the Bible Institute were looking after the work in Mármol under my father´s supervision. 

It was a very busy season with the added stress caused by a strike of the postal workers. Mother wrote to her parents, January 31: 

A month has rolled by and we haven't written any letter. Please forgive us. Since we knew you wouldn't get the letters because of the mail strike we quit writing. From the week before Christmas until this past week we hadn't received any word from you folks, then we got 6 or 7 letters all at once. This strike has caused more trouble and mix up than I believe any other one. Sam had to go in and give three radio programs as the tapes from Schrock did not arrive. . . we naturally couldn't cash checks that never arrived. This all happened at a time when Sam was the busiest trying to prepare for camp. He had to give 8 studies on 1 John besides 3 evening services. . . 

Mother also wrote about Christmas, she related that they'd had a program in Mármol on the 20th of December and in Don Bosco on the 27th and both were well attended. Nélida and Lydia were with us for Christmas dinner. 

This photo brought back several memories. After our year in the US, I resumed piano lessons with Mrs. Jones. Surprised that I had not fallen behind as expected, she was hopeful that I could pass the 7th year exam at the end of the year.  

A music concert was planned as part of the annual conference in Río Cuarto. I was invited to take part. I tried to get out of it, lacking confidence, having been told that I played "timidly." However, I was persuaded to play Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy. It remains a favorite piece to this day.

The school year began in March. The midday meal was the bigger one. Mother said she could never get used to serving dinner in three stages. Lynn and Aldo needed to eat at 11:00 before school. I did not get home from secondary school in another town till 1:15. The rest of the family couldn't wait that long, so they ate at noon.

Lynn was in 6th grade, the last year of primary school and had Srta. Dina Ballestrelli, one of our  favorite teachers. 

Grandma Hirschy wrote July 8, soon after they returned from several months ministering in Barbados. Grandpa had visited the island on previous occasions. For this lengthy stay, he persuaded Grandma to go with him. 

First of all, I want to thank all you who sent me birthday cards and wishes. [Gradnma turned 72 on July 7th.] Kathryn, I got home for my birthday alright and we received Ivan’s pictures. Can hardly feature him so big, but Pop says it looks like him. 

Then she copied excerpts from Mother's letter:

Sam has been gone since last Monday. Left at 6:15 a.m. from home to go to Almafuerte, to teach in the Bible Institute Saturday, and today he was to speak in Río Cuarto, then this next week they have Field Council meetings in Río Cuarto. Rita, Lynn and the baby all have had bad colds. The other day they called from the U.S. Embassy and wanted to know if Sam was doing anything about the washing machine. I told him I did not know that there was anything we could do or were to do. He went on to say that some way he found out from the customs broker that the price of the customs is 9,500 pesos which, if true,would be a very reasonable price which we could pay immediately. He wants Sam to get in touch with him right away when he gets back.

July 17 Mother wrote:

Last week the children had vacation so it was a pretty noisy week for us. Sam got home from Río Cuarto a week ago Thursday. He came home with great news that he had seen 15 cm of snow that lasted 36 hours. How disappointed the children were that we did not have any here. One thing for sure, we had plenty of cold weather. We all hugged the stove for a few days.Since home Sam has had to spend time preparing the Heraldo. For three months he has had to write articles. 

Thanks to Clifford Wagner's online archives of denominational documents, I was able to read Dad's articles and news bites. In this issue he told about visits to the Buenos Aires area listeners of "La Biblia Abierta" (radio program produced by Lynn Schrock in Córdoba). 

I was reminded of "La Tía Sara," a radio broadcast for children, produced by Mirtha's sister, Sara Siccardi. Earlier in the year listeners were invited to meet the storyteller herself at a rally in the Río Cuarto church. One hundred twenty-five children showed up that Saturday afternoon in April.

The above mentioned edition of the Heraldo noted interesting changes regarding the radio broadcasts in Buenos Aires.

THE 12-MINUTE BROADCASTS IN BUENOS AIRES ENDED

Without major explanations, the radio station in Buenos Aires that aired our programs twice a week since December 4, 1956, informed us that we could continue no longer. However, thanks to the Lord we will be able to continue airing Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. on Radio Antártida. This new program is 25 minutes long. 

CHILDREN'S STORIES IN BUENOS AIRES

Because we now have a 25 minute broadcast in the Federal Capital, we are dedicating a good portion to the recent children's programs of La Tía Sara [Aunt Sara] which air weekly in Río Cuarto. 

The same publication included one of Aunt Sara´s stories and also one written by her younger sister, my dear friend Mirtha. These beloved siblings have dedicated most of their lives to reaching children. 

Dad´s note, July 24, mentions another article he wrote for the August publication.

I spent all day Monday finishing up articles for our church paper. I wrote on the doctrine of Sanctification - by the Holy Spirit, by the blood of Christ, by the Word of God, and by His presence. It proved a great blessing to me, but it was a terrible task. I'd make a better brick-layer than a writer. 

However, I was impressed with the content, and the quality of his writing, especially in Spanish. 

Another memory surfaced seeing these mimeographed periodicals - the old mimeograph machine and the many times helping Dad crank out hundreds of papers.

Dad's note concluded with the saga of the washer:

Tuesday I went to B.A. and got an automatic washer we ordered. We would liked to have gotten our washer-dryer [out of Customs], but could only do it lying or paying a huge sum. This one cost us 21,200 or about $257.

August 22, my parents celebrated eighteen years of marriage. Dad reminisced in his letter, September 2:

The experiences have been legion and all of them have helped to draw us nearer to Him who loves us. . .

We really have a house full right now. Friday night at 10:19 he Bishop family arrived here to start looking for a place to begin a new work. We received their telegram at 9 a.m. Decided  we'd put them all up in the garage which has an adjoining stool and lavatory; went out to look at it and decided it needed a paint job. By 10 we had the necessary materials (lime, brush, coloring powder, etc.) and by two in the afternoon it was almost done.

Hazel y Donald Bishop
Paula (5), Gail (8)

September 19:

This past month has been sort of a nightmare in our home. For a little over three weeks the Bishop family was with us. One could very well have three or four more adults in the home and still have things running smoothly, but when children are brought in, chaos has struck. By the grace of God we were still friends when they left for their own new home. They have located 40 kilometers from us in a very nice neighborhood that we think will be a good location for establishing a testimony. [I. Arias 3360, Castelar, F.N.D.F.S.]

The real nightmare began, however, the very day the Bishop family moved out. October 3, a missionary mother of five arrived with her two-month old baby. Her husband had run off with the other four children. I have blurry memories of the days that followed, like images from a rapid train window: other arrivals and departures to locate the missing children; physical fights; police visit; screams of children torn from their father. 

At the time, focused on my life surviving the challenges of school and teenage life, I was protected from the profound sadness of these events. But now as I read the details in my parents' letters, I am overwhelmed with grief for the severe and drastic rupture of that family, the irreconciliable circumstances, and the resulting far-reaching ripple effects.

I ask myself, what can we learn from these events? There were warnings long before: a sense in his spirit that they should not return to Argentina for a second term; admonishment from fellow missionaries who noticed the beginnings of a toxic situation with the hired woman to help the growing family. These were unheeded or ignored, and led to the progression of the affair and its cover-up. 

My takeaway is: confront, repent and confess sin early There is hope in the gospel message! 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. . . But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 1:9-2:2).

1959

 

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

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

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

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

The quote continues:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mabel Devesa, Rita Hoyt, Norma Fontana

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

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

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

Escuela Normal Mixta de Quilmes Almirante Guillermo Brown

In a letter to my friend Mirtha, I wrote: 

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

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

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

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

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

Rev. Norman Hirschy

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

On July17, Grandpa wrote: 

My dear dear Companion,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ivan's scribbles on back of letter

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

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

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

 

July 20, 1959 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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