June 2003

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from lovely southern Brazil. The long hot months are finally over, and we are now enjoying cool nights and mild, comfortable days. Activities at our church, as well as activities at the seminary here in Londrina, are challenging and rewarding and keep us very busy.

The year 2002 ended with a flurry of activity. The seminary choir and my bell choir at church enjoyed invitations to perform both here in Londrina and out of town, and the bell choir was especially busy during the Christmas season as we received invitations to play for Christmas presentations, church services, and a wedding. We were also invited to play in shopping centers, which were beautifully decorated for Christmas, and we even played at a bank one day. We were pleased to be featured on a local television news program just before Christmas.

Just after Christmas I went by myself to spend a month in the States. Thelma, Michael, Joel, and I had been there the year before, and seeing my mother’s failing health had made me want to spend time with her again this year. She had needed constant care from my father for a long time, as she was not able to walk or do much of anything on her own. It was nice to have so much relaxing time to visit in my parents’ home in Houston, Texas, and I was glad to be able to spend time with my mother while my father took care of dental work and other things that he had not been able to take care of for a long time.

There was much activity upon returning to Londrina at the end of January. Our church congregation, after having met in a warehouse for several years, had moved into our beautiful new church building while I was away, and waited for my return to plan special services of thanksgiving for the dedication of the new building. There was much excitement as members and friends filled the church to overflowing to celebrate this new phase in the life of our congregation.

The new church was completed much more quickly than we had at first anticipated because generous and unexpected offerings were sent to us by churches in the States. The members of the church here have also given generously from their limited means, and all of us are proud of this new and beautiful place of worship.

It was not long before I had made yet another trip to the States, this time for ten days. Sadly, my mother suffered a stroke from which she never recovered, and I returned to Houston to be there for the memorial service on April 8th. Although we miss her very much, we were grateful that she died peacefully and was free from the physical suffering that had marked her life for many years, and which had gotten worse during the last two years of her life. The “Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Eleanor Goodrum” was truly a celebration of her “life and new life,” and I was pleased to be able to play the piano as well as share fond memories about her during the service. It was so good to be with family and friends during those days.

I “hit the ground running” again after this second trip to the States, as we had Easter activities for which to prepare at church, and I had classes to plan at the seminary. Thelma has kept very busy with her many activities at church, as well as at the seminary, where she started taking courses at the beginning of this semester. She has a very full schedule but seems to be enjoying every minute of it. Michael and Joel continue to do well in school, and enjoy various extra-curricular activities such as soccer, swimming, English classes, and piano lessons.

Our term will end at the end of this year, and we look forward to spending our “home assignment” at Mission Haven, in Decatur, Georgia. We hope to see many of you in 2004! But meanwhile we look forward to the activities of the rest of this year here in Londrina.

My parents, Garland and Eleanor Goodrum, were Presbyterian missionaries in the Congo for 21 years from 1949 to 1970. I came to Brazil in August of 1982, so will soon have been in Brazil for 21 years. It doesn’t seem possible!

We thank you for your interest in our ministry here in Brazil.

In His Service,

Farris Goodrum, for the Goodrum family

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258