A letter from Gordon and Dorothy Gartrell in Brazil
December 2013
…Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14)
When we moved to Pains six months ago there were no children in the church since the church members are older and their grandchildren don’t attend. It has been a slow process of building a children’s group. We began with a Saturday afternoon program with three children who are neighbors of a church member and the few children we do have contact within the community. During that program we have a Bible story, sing a few songs, and do a craft. Then we had to begin a Children’s Sunday School class since a 3-year-old began attending church with his parents. He had never been in church before and had no idea what the words “sitting still” meant. We began Sunday School in the morning and had an activity during the sermon, so the adults wouldn’t be distracted and his parents could participate without worrying about him. We invited the children who participate on Saturdays, so we have a regular small group. Every other Saturday when we go to the farming community we present a children’s time. Dorothy has invited two members to plan the events and a number of adults are helping with the activities during worship. We have to keep close track of which group has heard which Bible story and done what type of craft since the groups overlap.
Two of the children had been told some different stories about creation and were scared of the idea of creation. They were shown pictures of the earth as a place full of rocks and volcano-like structures before God created the beautiful things. We did a four-week study on creation in Sunday School. The children made booklets about creation. They drew and colored what God created each day. When they were done they shared their booklets with the church in a worship service, explaining what God created each day and showing their pictures.
A few of the adults participating in the Adult Literacy class
The church reaches out to the community by having an Adult Literacy Class (reading and math). It is taught by a retired teacher; the church provides the building. When the teacher was sick two members of the church taught the class. The students are very dedicated; they work all day and then attend the class for two hours, five nights a week. One student grew up on a farm and had to work, so she couldn’t study. There was no school nearby. When she got married, she couldn’t even sign her name. Her daughter is a college professor. Her children were able to go to school, so now it’s her turn. Dorothy is teaching an adult English class. Since the literacy classes are held in the Fellowship Hall only a small classroom is available for the English classes. That really is best as only seven students fit in the classroom. Having a small number of students allows Dorothy to hear each of them clearly when they practice their English. We enjoy being greeted by “Hi, how are you today?” and other common phrases when they see us in town. One woman had been to Florida twice with her son but didn’t understand a single English word when classes began. The day after the first class, much to her surprise, Dorothy heard her say, “Hi, how are you?” from across the grocery store. They are learning to speak very practical English because many of them plan on visiting the U.S.
Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, it is our summer now. The hills are covered with bright green grass and the trees are covered with colorful flowers. Our house in on the second story above a store, but the trees have grown as tall as our house. We regularly hear a choir presentation as the parakeets enjoy communicating with one another through beautiful songs. Sometimes it’s hard to see them all, but their beautiful voices prove they’re there. Today it’s raining for the first time in a long time, so the farmers are happy since they recently planted corn. It’s nice to have less dust in town, too.
Our daughter, Elizabeth, is getting married to Mateus Dalla Vecchia in a small civil service in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 3. He is Brazilian but has lived in the U.S. for the last 15 years. They plan to come to Brazil in Sept. and have a religious ceremony officiated by Gordon. Our oldest son, John, enjoys teaching computer courses at a technical school in South Carolina while our youngest son, Daniel, is enjoying the challenges of attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He recently was in New York City on a Gospel Choir tour. He was impressed by how highly he was respected because he was wearing a Navy uniform. It also caused him to realize he has a deep challenge to serve U.S. citizens.
Thank you for praying about our work. Please continue to do so, as we have seen many prayers answered. When a 60-year-old member was to have spinal column surgery, she was very apprehensive about the surgery. After the surgery was postponed three times, on the fourth attempt the surgery went well and she was out of the hospital in five days. Please read more about our work by visiting www.pcusa.org/gordon-and-dorothy-gartrell. You can read about our ministry and read one of our previous letters, if interested. You’ll also see the possibility of supporting our work, by clicking on “Give” (or use the “Give” link below). For our work to continue we need your prayers and financial support.
May you each feel many of the Lord’s blessings throughout 2014.
In Christ, Dorothy and Gordon Gartrell
Mail address:
Rua João Batista Veloso,652
35582-000 Pains, MG
Brazil
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 37
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