Robert & Phyllis Marvin  1956 - 19**

The Marvins - (R to L) Robert and Phyllis Marvin with children Joy, Jeannie, & Jannette

Phyllis and I will never forget out arrival in Brazil.

If I remember right, it was August of 1956 We had received our visas on a sidewalk in New York just hours before catching the plane to Miami. The pilot argued with
mechanics about the left power plant (engine to non pilots) so they opened it up and
did some work while we waited on board. On to Miami for another few hours wait and
it was off to Brazil.

Arriving in Belem on the four engine plane we discovered that we were
not going on to Recife on that plane. It was about three in the morning and we were told
to wait.

Someone was going to take us to a hotel. We stood there with all our baggage
and a ten month old baby. We stood there and stood there and more than an
hour went by and we decided that something was wrong. At bout five in the morning
a Willys station wagon pulled up and a woman got out to catch an early flight.
As the car was about to pull away the driver saw us and went over to speak to us in
English. "Can I help you." We told him our problem and he said, :"I'll help
you." He took us to town scattering chickens and dogs as were roared to the home
of his parents. He told us that his father was the chief of Police. We were
graciously received. Joy was given a bath and milk prepared for her bottle.

When her pacifier fell on the floor it was picked up and rinsed with cold
water and put back in her mouth. Though the other members of his
family spoke no English they made us feel special and even asked me to play the
guitar and sing for them. The son took us to the hotel. He purchased a little
alcohol  burner and pan for us to boil water for Joy's milk .

That night he took me with his girl friend to a movie. The next day he
made sure that we had transportation to the airport in time to catch our
DC 3 to Recife. It was loaded with a piano and all the instruments of an
orchestra plus passengers. As a pilot I was a bit worried that we would
never leave the runway and our life as missionaries would be over
before it started. Bouncing down the runway the plane finally got into the
air. We stopped in Sao Luis and the orchestra got off with all their
instruments. We looked around at the dingy little building and then out toward the runway. Tall grass and things in general brought out the remark by Phyllis, "wouldn't you hate to be sent here." I agreed and then remembered
that the mission had someone stationed there. It was Tom and Midge Foley. To cut
the story short, Sao Luis was our first assignment after language school and we
loved it. Brazilians received us where ever we went and were, and are wonderful.
When we landed in Recife, Langdon Henderlite met us and took us to their
home. Langdon and Virginia were most gracious and cared for us in every way
including we three sick people. Langdon had to preach one night and took me
and Tom Prentice's wife Mary with him to the service. The pastor welcomed us
from the pulpit as Rev. and Mrs. Robert Marvin. We asked Landon after why he
did not clarify who we really were. Langdon, said, "it was bad enough having
you two together without telling him you both were married to others."

Just one of Langdon's jokes: He said that they had a parrot called "Old
Joe." The parrot sat and listened as he taught the children the catechism. He
would ask the questions and the children would answer. One day the Old Joe was gone and
all their efforts to find him failed. The family thought they would never see him
again.

One day Langdon was hunting in the woods when he heard a voice.
Surprised, he went to the place and saw Old Joe sitting on a limb with a row of little
parrots sitting on a limb facing him. He would ask the questions from the Catechism and the
little Parrots would answer.

 
We will never forget the kindness and patience that Langdon and
Virginia had with us. If you read this, Virginia, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO ADAPT TO A NEW LIFE IN Brazil!

With love to you all, Bob
and Phyllis Marvin

Bob Marvin and 170