September 2005

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! We are presently on interpretation assignment until June 2006. We will be traveling around the United States, especially to our supporting churches, to tell about our work. We also will be taking some courses at a local seminary or university in order to better prepare ourselves for our next assignment in Brazil.

Before we left Brazil, we had a wonderful vacation Bible school. Our theme was “The Family of God.” Over 70 children attended, and we were able to tell a number of new children about Jesus and His love for them. It was beautiful to see how the adults and youth interacted with the children. Just three years ago when I mentioned the idea of VBS, folks were not receptive. This year they were anxiously awaiting the event. Eighteen youth and adults rotated teaching the three classes and helping in other areas, making it all possible. The school children had two weeks of vacation and were excited about spending one of those weeks at church.

This year while we are in the United States we are using our work funds (Extra Opportunity Giving account # 863544) to provide scholarships, enabling adults to study at a seminary. This year you are helping several students study at a seminary. While we are in United States, we will continue to help these students. After completing the four-year course, four of them will return to the presbytery that we just left to pastor developing congregations and churches without pastors. The other two students are from the presbytery where we will be working when we return, so they are committed to work there.

Another way that your ECO funds are being used is to help begin a congregation. The town is 13 hours by car from Salvador where we used to live, but it is in the same presbytery. Your gifts are helping the National Mission Board of the Independent Presbytery Church of Brazil pay the couple’s salary. Last year there were five members there, but it is growing and has lots of potential.

You can give to this ECO account online by clicking on the "donate" button beneath our signature..

This year has brought many changes to our family. Our oldest son, John, is beginning his studies at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. Elizabeth is an eleventh grader while Daniel is in the sixth grade. We have been blessed to spend time with both of our mothers and a large portion of our family members, along with friends. It is refreshing to be back at Mission Haven in Decatur, Georgia. Mission Haven is a wonderful community of homes for missionaries who are on interpretation assignment or are in the United States for some special reason. It is supported by the Presbyterian Women of the Synod of South Atlantic and the Synod of Living Waters. It is available for missionaries to use when they are itinerating or traveling through the area. It has nice homes, is near quality schools, and is close to Columbia Theological Seminary. There is also a clothing closet with lots of clothes of all sizes for missionaries, their families, and seminary students.

The Lord continues to be good to us. Thank you for your prayers and support.

In Christ,

Dorothy and Gordon Gartrell

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44