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July 2001
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious
riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Dear Friends and Family,
We are grateful to God that we are kept in the "hollow
of his hand" even when we cannot see the way clearly before
us. In late April, Dorothy and I met in Louisville with the national
staff that pertain to our area of evangelism and church planning
in the Worldwide Ministries Division. I confess that I went in
with a lot of misgivings. We were met with love, compassion and
understanding. They were not trying to rush us back to the field.
They said, "Take the time you need." They were correct
when they said that I was the only one rushing back to the field.
The children and I have been ready to return to the field for
some time. We knew the children needed to finish the school year
here, and then we would return to Brazil. We realized that June
was too early to return, maybe July or August. Surely by September
we would be ready.
In speaking to the folks in Louisville we all agreed it would
be best for us to not return to the city of Sobral, where we had
just been for about a month. At this point in our ministry we
need to be in a large city where there is an American school so
our three children can study there, and Dorothy will not need
to home-school them as she has in the past. We believe we will
be working in the city of Salvador in the state of Bahia. Salvador
is a coastal city in northeast Brazil where the slave trade arrived
from Africa many, many years ago. The Pan-American school there
begins classes August 3rd. We will not be ready to go back that
quickly. Second semester begins January 29, 2002. We plan to be
in the States through December and then return to Brazil in early
January. That will give us sufficient time to rent a house, move
our belongings from Sobral to our new location, and get set up.
We have had major health issues this spring. Dorothy is doing
very well. In March she saw the neuro-ophthalmologist who registered
the damage done to her eyes from the accident. She had a return
visit late June and has recovered a substantial portion of her
vision. With progressive lenses, her eyesight is greatly improved.
When I had surgery in May to correct a deviated septum, the doctor
discovered I am a diabetic. I have attended many hours of class
to get a handle on how best to treat my diabetes. Right now it
seems that exercise and diet may be the best way for me to control
it. I have made serious changes in my lifestyle as far as eating
habits.
Daniel, who is seven, has had an earache for the last several
months. He had a tube put in his ear to release the fluid in the
middle ear, and had his adenoids out at the same time. He has
recovered nicely from his recent surgery.
John is excited that he will be able to participate in a conference
in São Paulo on "Violence Against Women and Children
in Brazil" being sponsored by several Presbyterian Churches
in Brazil and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) this month.
Our Extra Commitment Opportunities (ECO) account number remains
the same, ECO # 863544. Funds that we receive in this account
will go specifically to our work in Brazil. Checks should be made
out to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with our ECO # on them and
ear marked for us by name. If you are an individual you can send
checks to Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville,
KY 40289-0300. Churches are urged to send contributions through
the "normal receiving site," which is usually the presbytery.
If churches send directly to Louisville, they should sent checks
to a slightly different address: Central Receiving Services, Section
590, Louisville, KY 40289-0590.
One other reminder. Please send mail to us here in the United
States. Our address and e-mail here are correct as below. Our
phone number is (404) 377-3778.
Dorothy and I would like to express our deepest appreciation
to God first and foremost, but also to all of you who have prayed
for us over this past year for Dorothy’s recuperation from
her accident. God has indeed been faithful and is seeing us through
the "deep waters." We could not
have made it without your prayers and support. Thank you ever
so much for your prayers and concern.
Yours in Christ’s service,
Gordon and Dorothy Gartrell
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258
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