A letter from Virginia Gartrell in Brazil
March 30, 2006
Dear Friends in many places,
Early Friday morning on a comfortable bus headed to a meeting in the city of São Paulo I drank in the freshness of the dewy green pastures, the flowering trees that are pink and yellow splashes in the varying shades of green all around, the bright sunshine, and thanked God for the beauty of the setting in which I serve.
Cassia and Selma in the Bethel Association office.
Since mid-2003 my work in Brazil has been rebuilding Bethel Association after a disastrous period in its short history in which there were abrupt changes in staff and focus. Many new projects were taken under the “umbrella” of the Association, then a second shake-up in the organization followed, which left few experienced staff to communicate with the “specific project units” (SPUs) and do the tasks that keep the whole Association alive and breathing.
In 2004 I was alone in the Association office to host the external audit, the Fiscal Council (which reports to the Assembly), and the annual meeting of the Assembly in the first few months of the year. In June of that year my long-time colleague Cassia Ciano was hired to coordinate the activities of Bethel Association, and I was able to step back into a supporting role. There is one other worker in the office, Selma, who tends to the financial details of the organization. Currently we have 13 active SPUs, aside from our main office here in Sorocaba.
Virginia, Ester, and Ana Lucia in the office at Bethel Home.
The programs that work with children and teens have made a difference this year in the lives of nearly a thousand children. They also give encouragement and training and are resources for their families—some meet special needs, such as children affected by AIDS/HIV in Piracicaba, and some in larger efforts like “Reintegrar,” which keeps 160 kids in school and not working in fields with their parents.
The Albert and Catherine Reasoner Medical Clinic in Palmas treats patients and has wellness programs that range from home visits to newborn babies to exercise and social programs for older adults.
Andrew, Virginia, Mary Lynn and Michael.
In January 2005, Ana Lucia became the new coordinator at the Children’s Home, and in time, we were able to evaluate some of the difficulties that had become apparent with the help of Ester, the Christian psychologist, who has been working at Bethel for about 18 months.
Last June, Rose, a long-time housemother, moved back into the girls’ household to begin return to the “major mom with helpers” concept. Only 3 of the current 12 girls were there in the “old days.” For a few weeks little Adriana, 3, and Rafaela, 5, would ask Rose each day off, “Will you be back tomorrow?” A few weeks later the boys’ house also had house parents. Socorro and Arlindo brought three children to live with the boys, who love having a father figure. Little Diego arrived a couple of months before the change in system, and although he was already 3, he had not been potty trained, and spoke only a few words. Just a few weeks after the system change I was having afternoon snack with the boys and a visitor arrived. Socorro was introducing people (big and little) around the table and before she got to him, Diego popped up loudly, “I am Diego!” We all chuckled. The improvement in the lives of the all children has been gratifying and comforting.
At my own house, son Andrew (21) is changing his major in college from physical education to computer systems. Michael is beginning a course in philosophy at the prestigious and public (tuition free) University of São Paulo. He is living with a friend from Sorocaba in an apartment and comes home for weekends.
In Jesus’ amazing love,
Virginia
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 45
