A letter from Dorothy Gartrell in Brazil
Fall 2012
Peace in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Life is back to normal in Brazil now. Things are going at a faster pace again. July was vacation month in Brazil, especially where we live in Belem. Schools were out for the whole month, stores were less crowded, overall traffic was better in the city but highways leaving the city moved at a very slow pace, and church attendance was down. The local United Presbyterian Church (IPU) we work with knew this was the custom. Thus the Vacation Bible Schools were held at the very beginning of vacation.
Children participate in games during VBS.
This is our first year here, so we were told to sit back and watch, but to help when asked to do so. The church and the congregation have given us lots to do, but VBS was planned and carried out by them. VBS reflected the different ways used to meet the two groups of children. The theme was Justice. The children were led to think of examples of how they could be just with friends, in school, and in their homes. Lots of games were played and small prizes given for a variety of reasons, and snacks enjoyed. Each VBS ended with the church’s worship service.
It was decided in late July that the congregation would not grow with just a children’s meeting on Wednesday night and worship on Sunday. We have been given responsibility for the congregation. Dorothy will still have English lessons three days a week at First Church, seen as a way to reach out to the community and hopefully bring them into the church family. Youth group will continue while adult Bible study occurs, and we will meet monthly with the session.
The services at the congregation have been expanded. We have Sunday school for children, youth and adults Sunday mornings, worship in the evening, Wed. night activities for elementary children and a middle school group. For adults, Bible study on Thursday completes the weekly schedule.
Father’s Day is in August in Brazil. Fathers are rarely seen in the neighborhood. Dorothy was talking to a group of mothers about the number of children who knew their fathers. Many fathers have left and are no longer present or responsible for their children. Along with their mothers, some of the children have birth fathers, uncles, grandfathers, or fathers who have taken them in. Following one mother's suggestion, it was decided to have a special service on Saturday evening, rather than something during worship, so more people would attend and still be able to fulfill the custom of spending time together as a family. The children had fun singing the Father’s Day song! They also enjoyed singing the Wed. night songs for their parents, being in short plays, and giving their dads a small present they had made. It was a fun evening.
A young woman from First Church lives near our congregation and wants to help. She is very cheerful and a great leader, motivating the children to participate. She works with the middle school–age young people. They enjoy her thoroughly and are very happy not to be meeting with the children. The children’s group has expanded to include 4-year-old to 9-year-old children.
Dorothy assists with an art project during VBS
We want to share with you about two special children (of the many) that we work with. One 9-year-old boy lost his mother a few weeks before we arrived. When Dorothy first asked him where he lived he said, “I’ve lived in that house for three weeks with my aunt and uncle.” When Gordon asked him later, he added "for four weeks." In six months he has become part of the neighborhood with lots of friends and is much happier living with his aunt and uncle. The time he’s lived there is never mentioned. Each time he sees us he runs up to give us a hug. His smile, new friends, and response to our love for him, plus his curiosity about Jesus, is refreshing.
A 10-year-old we work with has had a difficult life but still always has a smile on her face. Her mother left her. Her father lives in another part of town and has little contact. She lives with her older grandparents in a car repair garage. Her grandmother is very frail. She has been abused and is terrified to go into one room of her house. We have prayed with her about feeling the Lord’s presence and peace when she is in her house. Her godmother lives in a very small, connected house and takes care of her. During July, the month of vacation, her godmother was going to take her to visit family. She had told Gordon it would be two weeks, but when she told Dorothy she said it was until the end of the year. When Dorothy showed that she would miss her, she shortened it to two months. She yearns for attention. When she arrived at the bus station, excited about the trip, her father never showed up with the ticket. She spent the month in Belem. Please pray for her family.
We need your prayers for wisdom in planning church services, and in how to reach out to new people and build new, deeper relationships with the people we work with. We are very excited about how many people can be reached through an active congregation. I f you would like to financially support our work, please go to www.pcusa.org/missionconnections (you can find our name under the G section)—or use the link below. Gifts can be given via credit card or check.
In Christ,
Dorothy and Gordon Gartrell
Caixa Postal 4037
66113-970 Belem, PA
Brazil
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Brazil, p. 27-28
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