Mother's Messages

Among the treasures stored away in Daddy's big desk was a folder titled "Mother's Messages." Until now they remained an untapped resource. The neat type-written pages tell me much of who my mother was, and the contents speak of her orderly mind and passionate heart.

    The earliest was a series of messages in Spanish prepared for the women's meetings in La Carlota. The first dated August 6, 1947, written in good Spanish, single-spaced, very minimal margins, and rounded edges, would've fit perfectly in her Bible. In those early days in Argentina, I imagine the language teacher corrected them and Mother mostly read them, an admirable feat in itself.

    Throughout the years her system did not change significantly, still the same folded paper tightly typed, sometimes on the blank side of used paper. Both Dad and Mother were never wasteful, ever careful.

    I chose to share here a few of Mother's messages delivered to women's groups in the US during their furloughs. These provide a look back, an overview, and bring us into the years we are chronicling at this point. I did notice, however, that by this time Spanish language expressions and phraseology had crept into Mother's English. Unfortunately, I have no record of exactly when or where these talks were given, although it is very likely that they had to do with the Women's Missionary Council, a program within the Grace Brethren Church at the time. 

THEY WERE THE LORD'S 

Today we are looking into the past. I know it would be interesting if I were to trace the call, ministry and victories of various of our pioneer missionaries. Surely they were the Lord's and the Lord used them in their various places of service.

    But I think it would be even more interesting if I were to tell you of the past life, conversion and influence of some of the first believers in our mission in Argentina. 

    I would like for you to think back with me about 50 years to the conversion of don Juan Zanetti. As a young man he worked as an apprentice in the carpenter shop. He loved to read and investigate everything. The owner of the carpenter shop where he worked gave him an Italian Bible. He immediately read it and apparently liked it but nothing more than that for he put it away afterwards as a souvenir from this man whom he admired so much.

    As he grew older he kept investigating. He read several books on Spiritism but always said that he couldn't believe what they said. Then he wanted to know what the masons were. So it was for some time he was looking around for the truth.

    He then married a sweet Italian girl and as most Italians she was a devout Catholic. Don Juan always declared that he couldn't ever believe Catholicism. When the children came Mrs. Zanetti wanted to have them baptized i.e. sprinkled in the Roman church. Her husband always told her that it wasn't worth the trouble but in order not to hinterfere with her faith he permitted her to do it, although he never went to any of the baptisms.

    One day when they lived in the country, the oldest daugther, Estrella, was walking to school. It was a long walk and as she went through the weeds and tall grass she saw a book with a nice cover lying on the ground. She picked it up and as it was all covered with dew from the night before, she carefully dried it off. After school she took the book home with her to show her father. When her father saw it he said, "This is the Sagra Biblia (the Holy Bible, in Italian), the protestants' Bible, but it's a good book."

    The reason it was out in the field was that the priest had demanded the neighbors to throw it out. She had gone to confess and when the priest found out this, the result was -- goodbye Bible.

    Afterwards they put the Bible away but they didn't read it. One day the priest went to their house to ask Mrs. Zanetti to cut Estrella's hair to give to the virgin. Estrella had beautiful long braids. Of course, she couldn't cut them without first asking don Juan. When he heard it he said, "Never, never, the poor virgen will have to go to the barber shop."

    Several years later the family moved to Tancacha where they live to this day. Mrs. Zanetti's mother went to buy vegetables one day. The vegetable store was in a house right next to the church and doña María, the vegetable lady, was a dear saint of God. When Mrs. Zanetti´s mother saw the Bible Coach outside, she asked what it was. Doña María answered that it was some missionaries who came bringing the gospel. Mrs. Zanetti began to laugh and said, ¨How is this, missionaries and they don´t wear any robes?" All the missionaries she had ever seen were priests wearing robes.

    Doña María told her that that night they were having a meeting and she would like for her to come. Mrs. Zanetti refused saying that she couldn´t come that night but would go some other night. Since that was the last night of the special meetings and she wouldn´t have another chance to go, doña María invited her to come in the morning and she would ask the missionaries to stay for awhile to talk to her if she would promise to come. Mrs. Zanetti promised faithfully then went on her way home with a basket of vegetables over her arm and some gospel tracts in her hand that doña María had given her. When she got home, she gave the tracts to her granddaughters, Estrella and Herminia, and asked if they wanted to go with her the next day to see the missionaries. They went with the tracts to ask their father´s permission. After he read the tracts he said, ¨Yes, and if I weren´t so tired I´d go with you.¨

    The next day don Juan´s mother-in-law and two oldest daughters went to the meeting in doña María´s house. The girls struggled to hold back a giggle as they watched the song leader lead, they thought he looked like a priest. (Herminia later married Luis Siccardi, the song leader.)

Luis Siccardi and Herminia Zanetti's Wedding in Tancacha, 1930 

    After some time the missionaries returned and they had another house meeting at doña María´s. She invited don Juan´s mother-in-law and two daughters, and in this meeting they were saved. Later don Juan and his wife were also saved and baptized.

    We can best see the influence the gospel has had through the years by looking at the Zanetti family. There were four boys and seven girls. Only one of the four boys is saved but all seven of the girls are wonderful Christians.

    What have they meant to the work? The father and mother have been faithful since their conversion. Don Juan for many years was a Sunday School teacher and a willing worker in the church. Today he is almost blind but still loves to read even though he has to hold the book about three inches from his eyes.

    Three girls are married. One married the song leader mentioned before. They [Luis and Herminia Siccardi] have served as national pastor and wife for years. At the present time they have the pastorate at Almafuerte and also are house parents to the Bible Institute students. They have three girls. The oldest, Eunice, is a graduate of the Bible Institute, and also of the British Hospital School of Nursing in Buenos Aires. At the present time she is staying in our home together with her aunt, caring for the work in Don Bosco. She could be earning $4,000 pesos per month as a private nurse, but instead she is serving the Lord for $300 and is laying up the rest of her treasures in heaven.

    The second girl, Sara, is about 24 years of age and is very intelligent. She is also a graduate of the Bible Institute, plays the organ and piano very well, teaches Child Evangelism classes in our Institute, and since she can read and speak English she does a lot of our translation work. She has a 15 minute radio program, "La tía Sara" where "Aunt Sara" tells either a Bible story or another story with a spiritual application for boys and girls.

The youngest is Mirtha, and she is our daughter's best friend. We couldn't ask for a sweeter companion for Rita. When she was a little baby she had infantile paralysis. Through it all she is happy in the Lord.

    Another one of don Juan's daughters married Federico Sotola, who is the treasurer of the National Mission Fund for the support of all national workers. One of their sons is entering the ministry. Their daughter is marrying a national pastor. This year she is attending the Institute in preparation for that.

    Still another of don Juan's daughters, a graduate of our Institute, is with her niece Eunice looking after the work we left in Don Bosco.

    The youngest of don Juan's daughters spurred the missionaries on to start a Bible Institute.

                                                               Conclusion

This story of blessing and influence had a very small beginning, a Bible given, an invitation, a tract. What kind of story could one write from the seed you are sowing?

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Gal.6:9 ESV).

    

    Come again for more excerpts from Mother's messages.