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March 2001
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy
Ps. 33:3 (NIV).
Dear Friends and Family,
In my September letter I wrote that I had just received a set
of handbells as a gift from individuals and churches in the States,
and I promised to include a picture in the next newsletter of
the bell choir playing in a worship service. A very dedicated
group of young people from our church began practicing in October,
and it was not long before they were playing skillfully and had
music ready for performance in church services and musical programs.
The music of the bells created much enthusiasm among those who
heard it, and we received many invitations to provide special
music in services throughout the Christmas season. We have a list
of churches that have invited the bell choir to play, and we hope
to eventually accept all of the invitations so that more can see
and hear this beautiful and worshipful musical instrument.
I have also enjoyed personal invitations to speak about the importance
of music in the church and to present piano concerts, both in
Londrina and out of town. Many of these invitations come from
seminary students, and it is always pleasant to be able to participate
in their churches in this way.
While my official assignment is with the seminary of the Independent
Presbyterian Church of Brazil, I am also teaching at two interdenominational
seminaries and am enjoying all of my teaching activities at these
three schools. One of the seminaries, Sul Americano, has invited
me to teach a course in Christian education, and I am enjoying
this new challenge very much.
Thelma and I continue to take courses for teachers of English
as a second language, and Michael is involved in a course called
"English Keepers," which is designed to help English-speaking
children maintain their English (especially reading and writing)
while immersed in this Portuguese-speaking culture.
Thelma has recently begun to work for the Reverend Eber Lima,
who is Stated Clerk of the Independent Presbyterian Church of
Brazil and whose office is on the campus of the seminary of the
Independent Presbyterian Church. Thelma is enjoying this new activity,
and Eber and his staff are glad to have Thelma with them.
Michael is now nine years old. He is a good student, and he especially
enjoys science, math, computer science, chess, and swimming. Joel
has always liked to sing, and enjoys going to the beach whenever
visiting Thelma’s family on the island of Guarujá,
in the neighboring state of São Paulo. At 3½ , Joel
is learning to express himself more clearly with each day that
goes by. This communication involves English and Portuguese—and
often a mixture of both.
At the end of January we moved from one house to another in the
same neighborhood. Friends of ours moved to Brasilia at that time,
so we are renting their house, and enjoying it very much. The
house has an area for cook-outs, hooks for hammocks, huge potted
plants all around (which our friends left for us to enjoy), and
a "winter garden," which is a porch in the middle of
the house opened up to the sky. Come see us sometime and enjoy
this comfortable and attractive house with us!
We thank you for your interest in our ministry here in Brazil,
and we enjoy staying in touch. May God bless you, in many ways,
throughout the year 2001.
Love,
Farris, Thelma, Michael, and Joel Goodrum
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, p. 258
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