September 2006

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Londrina. We are still in the winter months here in southern Brazil, but it seems more like spring, as the weather has been warm, and colorful flowering trees are in bloom all over town.

My most exciting news is about my trip to the Congo, in central Africa, for three weeks in June. My parents, Eleanor and Garland Goodrum, were Presbyterian missionaries there for many years, and I was born and raised there. I had always longed to return, and did not know that 36 years would eventually go by before the opportunity presented itself. My sister, Phyllis McAndrew, and four others whose parents were also missionaries in the Congo were part of the group returning to visit our African roots, and we all had a wonderful time visiting the cities and mission stations where we grew up.

The Congo has been through years of civil wars and political instability, but in spite of grinding poverty the church has grown stronger and bigger, and the dancing and singing and playing of instruments during the offering in worship services was something to behold! Our group was treated like royalty everywhere we went, with special services prepared for us at every place we visited, and wonderful choirs singing for us, in Tshiluba, at every service. These services were always followed by delicious meals, and we all enjoyed eating Congolese food again. I am sure that the people wanted not only to welcome us back, but to honor our parents by offering gracious hospitality to us.

The old houses and buildings of what used to be the American Presbyterian Congo Mission are falling apart due to the lack of resources for their upkeep, but the church is alive and well in spite of great difficulties, and this was heartwarming to see. Perhaps my most special memory of the trip was our arrival at the mission station of Bulape, which is on the edge of the equatorial forest, and is where I was born. As the small plane landed we could see that hundreds of people were at the airstrip waiting to welcome us back! We were greeted with hugs and handshakes, and as we walked up to the station, surrounded by our enthusiastic well-wishers, many of them children, a man commented to me that he was one of those children when my parents arrived at Bulape over 50 years ago.

As my family did not go with me, it was nice to return to Londrina when the time came. The second semester of the school year began at the end of July, and Thelma and I have been busy with seminary and church activities. I continue to enjoy teaching music and Christian education courses, and Thelma enjoys her theological studies. Thelma’s “Projeto Escolar” at the church helps underprivileged children who have learning difficulties, and has been a rewarding experience. Thelma organized this project last year, and the first year was filled with difficult challenges and serious discipline problems, but this year the atmosphere has been much better, as the students have learned about good discipline and appropriate behavior from the volunteer teachers who have patiently worked with them. The children are now asking for the project to be expanded to several days a week, and are asking if they can bring their friends and relatives!

It is a privilege to serve as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) here in Brazil, just as it was a privilege to grow up on the Presbyterian mission field in the Congo. We appreciate your interest in our ministry, and your support, and your prayers.

Thank you very much!
Muito obrigado!
Tuasakidila wa bungi!

Farris Goodrum
for the Goodrum family

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, p.45