November 2003

Dear Friends and Family,

I was thinking again this morning about how we are going to have to start packing soon as we plan for our home assignment in the States. Another four-year term has almost come to an end, and there is so much to be done to prepare for the move from Londrina, Paraná, to Decatur, Georgia!

But how can we think about packing when there is so much activity going on at this time of the year? In February Thelma began studying theology at the seminary of the Independent Presbyterian Church, and, as the school year ends in November here, she has many projects that must be completed. She is also active in the Sunday school program at our church, and teaches in the church’s literacy program two nights a week.

Our church has many projects designed to reach out to needy families and their children, and Michael (11) and Joel (6) enjoy participating in some of these activities. Both Michael and Joel are involved in indoor soccer at their schools, and Michael especially enjoys his robotics classes on Saturday mornings.

I (Farris) continue to be involved in music teaching activities at the seminary and at our church and always find November and December to be the months with the most invitations to participate in musical programs. Last week I was invited to present a piano program of Brazilian music at an interdenominational seminary that was having a week of cultural activities.

There will be more programs and activities up until the weekend in December just before we leave and sometime in the midst of all this activity we must find time to pack, put our things in storage, and get ready for our trip to the States. After spending a few days with Thelma’s family on the island of Guarujá, in the state of São Paulo, we will go to Houston, Texas, where we will spend Christmas and New Year’s Day with my father and other family members. We plan to spend our home assignment at Mission Haven in Decatur, Georgia, and will need to be there by early January in order to get the boys enrolled in school. Our address there will be 235 Inman Drive, Decatur, Georgia, 30030-3834. (Letters will reach us at our address here in Londrina until December 12. After that date please get in touch by email.) We look forward to seeing many of you in 2004 and to sharing with you about our work. We are grateful for your interest in our ministry here in Brazil. Thelma, Michael, and Joel join me in sending special greetings.

In Christ’s service,

Farris Goodrum, for the Goodrum family

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 146