Meanwhile in Argentina

Alan (4) and Ivan (9)

My parents and three younger brothers lived in Almafuerte and worked in the Brethren Bible Institute. 

    The little brothers enjoyed life, and were good buddies. Ivan was in third grade, the equivalent of our fourth grade (first grade at that time was divided into two level: primero inferior, primero superior).

    Aldo, the 17-year-old, was a very busy teenager which is probably why I couldn't find a photo of him. He may also have been the photographer. In addition to his secondary school (high school) studies he was taking a Greek class in the Bible Institute. He was learning to play the guitar from an expert classical guitarist, Alberto Claro. He was also the go-to handyman and helped with projects in the workshop, located behind the house where my family lived, at the end of the driveway. 

    The workshop was a recently developed program to give the Bible Institute students an opportunity to work and pay part or all of their expenses. 

    Through an act of faith the students at the Institute had been promised jobs for the school year 1966. The existing picture frame shop and the carpenter shop could not supply enough work for all of them. Something had to be done!

    The ongoing need for printed materials led to an idea. What about adding a print shop? My father had worked in a print shop while in college. God answered prayer, provided the money and permission was granted to buy a printing press.

    

(Brethren Missionary Herald, 4.08.1967)

    

    My parents were ever on the lookout for new projects. In a year-end letter Mother asked family and prayer partners to save Christmas cards which were then creatively recycled into new ones. Aldo was helping Mother learn how to use a newly acquired knitting machine. And Dad came up with an innovative three-way teaching tool--blackboard, flannelgraph and magnetic board. The products were made available to the community and the churches. Even the Department of Education put in a large order for imanógrafos.

    "The shop program has been a real encouragement to prospective students," wrote missionary Robert Cover. However, he claimed that the teaching ministry of the Almafuerte Bible Institute was "a richly rewarding ministry as qualified graduates enter the various fields of Christian work." 

Missionaries Solon Hoyt and Nelson Fay are dedicated full time to this teaching ministry. Missionary Lynn Schrock drives down from Córdoba once a week to teach some of the classes. Eduardo Coria, graduate of the institute and former pastor, now serves as a professor. Other nationals help in the teaching and administration. ("Argentina,"Brethren Missionary Herald, 1.14.1967)

    In his article Mr. Cover asserts that the Bible Institute program was the most vital part of the missionary effort in Argentina. There were 15 full-time and seven part-time students that year. My parents were privileged to build into the lives of men and women who would then go out and impact others with the Gospel even globally. In 1967 a few new students came from other countries: Peter Peer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Antonio and Georgina (mentioned in the last chapter) arrived from Chile; and Oscar Zapata from Peru, where Uncle Ed and Aunt Joyce were missionaries.

    A building program was in progress before the start of the school year in March, anticipating the demand for larger cooking and dining facilities, and additional housing. Construction continued throughout the year. I wonder if Dad, who had always been involved in building projects whereever he went, had any part in this one. I do know, however, from letters and photos that both Mother and Dad were working on a little church or meeting place for an outreach in Santa Isabel, a nearby town.

    Another educational endeavor, highlighted in the overview article "Argentina" about the work of the Grace Brethren, was the Christian Day School in Río Cuarto in its fourth year and with fifty five students in the primary grades, a lunch program and nine boarders. Though it was held on mission property, it was totally run by nationals.

    The Brethren Bookstore in Lomas de Zamora was also mentioned as very encouraging for its location in a busy shopping district of Buenos Aires, the wide variety of literature available, and the spiritual ministry opportunities.

    For me this mention held special interest because one of my dear friends worked in La Buena Lectura Good Reading) bookstore.

    She loved working there and people loved her. One of the missionary ladies wrote this:

The bookstore in Lomas continues to be a blessing to many Christians in the area and is a testimony to scores of unsaved persons. The young lady, Emilia Piaggio, who is working there now, is a member of our church in Don Bosco and has had some training in the Bible Institute. "Milly" is a good personal worker, and there are very few days that she does not have the opportunity to give a word of testimony or make clear the way of salvation to someone." (Brethren Missionary Herald, 11.04.1967)

    News came from my parents that Milly had become engaged to Carlos. Other close friends followed suit: Delia was engaged to Alberto, and Julio to Mirta. Mabel and Ricardo were married on June 16th of that same year! When would my time come? Were there any prospects on the horizon?