A letter from Dorothy Gartrell in Brazil
February 2012
Gordon and Dorothy’s Adventures
We have arrived in Brazil!! We landed in Belem Wed. afternoon. We were greeted by a number of church folks, one who has a van, so it held our 17 suitcases. It turns out it is rainy season, but still is beautiful. It is very hot and humid, yet colorful with lots of flowers, fruit and colorful faces.
Wednesday night we went to Bible study at the congregation where we will work. There are about six adults and eight children who attend regularly. Last night at Bible study only six children were there. The pastora, Celine, is very happy that I like to work with children. I have some ideas, so together I think we can help the program grow. She teaches religion in an elementary school two mornings a week. Religion is a required elementary school subject. She is a very happy person with a vivid faith in her simple, daily life. She has lots of dreams for the small congregation and loves the people dearly, especially the children. This morning they had a bazaar (yard sale type activity) from 9 to 11 am. If occurs twice a week. Very few clothes were sold. Gordon has already been asked to preach at both churches Sunday, so he stayed home.
We are staying with the pastor and pastora. They have two children, a 19-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. She will take a test Sunday to see if she qualifies for the one open spot in law school at the local state university. There will be over 1,000 people taking the test. State universities are free.
They live in a house that joins the mother church. Thursday we had Prayer Meeting at the church. It is a very small church that has not had a pastor for many years. Tonight (Saturday) we’re having a joint youth meeting. They generally have Youth Group on Saturday night because of night classes.
Belem is very busy! It will take a while to figure out the correct bus routes to enable us to find the churches, set up a bank account, rent a house or apartment, buy a car, find a close post office to rent a box, and lots more.
We are grateful that we are back in Brazil and we are working with a loving, dedicated, but small group of leaders. Please pray for the current church leaders in our outreach and development of leaders, wisdom in setting up our household, and the ability to hear how God wants us to meet the upcoming challenges.
Thank you for your prayers! May the Lord bless each of you in your daily adventures.
In Christ,
Dorothy Gartrell
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Brazil, p. 27-28
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