September 1999

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Mission Haven, in Decatur, Georgia! For those of you who are not familiar with Mission Haven, it is a place for missionaries to live when they are home on furlough. Having lived here many times over the years we feel very much at home, and we enjoy the beautiful, wooded neighborhood, the flowering trees, and the stream that runs through our yard. This is a pleasant setting in which to spend our months of home assignment.

Our last newsletter was written in Brazil almost a year ago. Our school year in Brazil ended in December with much activity. Not only were we in the process of packing as we planned our year in the United States, but there were many musical programs I was preparing at the seminary and at our church. Michael also had end-of-the-year performances at his school, and there were many get-togethers with friends that we wanted to spend time with before leaving for the States.

The Reverend Antonio de Godoy, the director of the seminary, and his wife Elza, along with other friends, saw us off at the airport in Londrina on December 17th. Reverend Godoy, who had requested our transfer from Fortaleza two years before, had been a supportive friend and co-worker during our time in Londrina. We were saddened to learn, just a couple of weeks after we saw him last, that he had suffered a stroke from which he never recovered. He had been a dedicated and productive leader in the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil for many years, and his death was a shock to the many that knew him well. Thelma and I are grateful for the contact we had with him during those two years in Londrina, and it is hard to realize that he won't be there when we return.

These months have been filled with much travel to visit Presbyterian churches and to participate in conferences of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We have enjoyed these contacts with people in the churches here in the States, and it is always a privilege to have these opportunities to share about our work in Brazil. We want to thank all of you who have had us in your homes and in your churches during this year. We appreciate the support of the home churches, and always enjoy your hospitality! We regret that we have not been able to schedule visits to all of our supporting churches, but we look forward to keeping in touch as we return to Brazil, and hope to see you in person at some time in the future.

Michael's school, Winnona Park Elementary, is an excellent school, and is just up the street from where we live. As he was in an all Portuguese-speaking environment in Brazil we were concerned that the transition to an all English-speaking environment would be a difficult one. This has not been the case, however, as Michael made the honor roll at the end of the first grade, and is now doing well in the second grade. He participated in soccer with the Decatur recreation department in the spring, and became an avid reader in the summer reading club, sponsored by the Decatur public library system.

Joel is now two years old. He loves to sing, and for months now has sung recognizable melodies. When he was just a year and a half Michael taught him to sing the main theme to the first movement of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik! It is fun, now, to watch Joel's development as he learns new words each day, and as he learns new ways to get into just about everything!

Thelma has enjoyed activities with other missionaries here at Mission Haven and has helped out by working in the Clothes Closet, which is another attractive feature that Mission Haven has to offer. A large selection of clothing is available, at no cost, to missionaries and seminary students. Churches contribute carloads of clothing daily, so this project is always in need of volunteers to sort and arrange the clothing and to run the Clothes Closet in a well-organized fashion.

It has been nice to be near to family and friends here in the States. We want to spend Christmas in the United States and New Year's in Brazil, so we plan to return to Brazil in late December. We will have the month of January to get settled in Londrina before school starts in February. Our address, when we return to Londrina, will be:

C.P. 588 86001-970 Londrina, PR Brazil

But until then, please keep in touch with us here in Decatur by mail, phone or e-mail. We would enjoy hearing from you! May God bless you throughout the rest of this year, and into the year 2000!

Love,

Farris, Thelma, Michael, and Joel Goodrum