October, 2005

Dear friends,

We are thankful to the Lord for safe traveling and to be back home.

Dave Parks, thank you for handling our heavy baggage and taking us to the airport and seeing us off.  In Sao Paulo, we took our baggage through Customs and nothing was opened.  Only problem was, the baggage did not get on the same flight with us.  No problem, our taxi driver friend from Urai was at the airport to meet us and we rode home footloose and fancy free.  The next morning the air company brought our heavy suitcases in their delivery truck and the man carried them into the house for me.  It was just like taking care of the Garden of Eden (no sweat).

The ladies who stayed with our house at night cleaned it from top to bottom; how nice to see and enjoy it again.  The car and pick-up started as if they were homesick to be driven again after being parked for almost three months.

After fifty years as missionaries in Brazil we have become aware of some old and very rare jewels in our lives and the lives of our children.  They are you, dear friends in Christ, who have contributed throughout all these fifty years with your prayers and financial support.  Only God knows how Alta and I thank you and appreciate you for your confidence through all the winds, as well as the fair weather, we have traveled through.

But, dear Friends, the job is not done and the war has not ended.  Yesterday, Alta and I drove to Congoinhas to see the new building that was begun a few days before we traveled.  Marcos, the pastor of Nova Fatima, is the builder of the new building.  In another month it should be ready to inaugurate.  Presently, they are having services each week under a tree in the street.  All of the other workers and churches are going well.

Alta and I are praying for God's direction as we focus on a new work in the city of Assai.  This city is about 20 miles from where we live and has about 25,000 inhabitants.  Pray with us for spiritual direction and physical ability for two old missionaries.

God bless you every one,

John and Alta Hatcher

My Exciting Trip to Brazil As A Missionary in 1955
By Alta Hatcher

Alta Hatcher and our four children in the window of our first home in Brazil, one month after arriving there. (Left to right: Lynn, David, John Mark, and Paul)

When God brought John and me together we were already called to Brazil.  We married on December 20, 1947, after the 2nd World War, when we were both students at Georgetown College.  John pastored and organized Highland Baptist Church in Shelbyville, KY, while we were students at Georgetown College.  Then he was called to the First Baptist Church in Beattyville, KY.  After two years he accepted the People's Church in Alton, IL, which was six months old.  Everyone who knew us would ask us, "Oh, what happened to your call to the mission field?"  We would answer, "Nothing.  When God gives us the sign, we will go.  We're sure He is training us for the job."

Finally, when we received a Baptist Faith Missions journal in June 1955, Brother Hafford Overbey, secretary of BFM at the time, made an appeal for a missionary to start a seminary in Manaus, Brazil.  John immediately called Brother Overbey to apply to go to Manaus.  John was surprised when Brother Overbey said, "Brother Hatcher, I have already been waiting three years for this telephone call.  When I heard you preach at the Ashland Avenue Spring Conference three years ago, as you preached God said to me, 'I have called John Hatcher to Brazil.  When he applies, send him immediately.'"  We were accepted immediately and in two months, John arrived in Manaus.

At that time, there were no beds, only hammocks, no stoves (people cooked on an open charcoal or wood fire outside the house), and no refrigerators.  We sent beds for John and me and our four children, a kerosene refrigerator and a kerosene stove, which would arrive by boat.

On Saturday, before the boat was sailing with our belongings, we went to Chicago, Illinois, where we had to get our visas to go to Brazil.  We stayed in the home of Ed and Jackie Overbey.  Brother Ed was then a student at Northern Baptist Seminary.  The law had changed two days beforehand and no baggage could arrive by boat into Brazil unless accompanied by its owner.  John called New York and found out that the boat was departing for Brazil only two days later.

John did not have time to drive me to my parents' home near Elizabethtown, KY, so he drove me to his home in Alexandria.  From there, his brother was to deliver me to my parents in order to fly by plane a month later.

Now I had to make the 19-hour plane trip along with our four small children.  Lynn turned six the day before her Daddy arrived in Brazil, Paul was four, John Mark was two, and David was just nine months old.  Everyone was alarmed that I should go alone, because at that time very few people had ever flown.

Brother Hafford Overbey was very concerned.  He told me to buy a shoulder purse and carry my airplane tickets, money, and visas in it, since I must carry the little baby, David, in my arms.  He also arranged for me to fly to Detroit so he could see us safely off to New York.

My parents took me to Louisville and the Louisville airport was just one big room.  I let the children run and play.  My Mother said, "Be sure you don't let the children out of their seats in New York."

Before boarding the tiny plane to Cincinnati, Ohio, I pleaded with my Mother, "Please don't cry when I leave."  She didn't, but as the plane made its way around before being airborne, I looked and there my dear Mother was crying so much she was shaking.

We arrived in Detroit and Brother and Sister Overbey were there to meet us and we spent the night in their home.  The plane from Detroit to New York was leaving at 7:00 am.  Brother Overbey wanted me to have plenty of time to get the children ready, so Sister Overbey awakened me at 3:00 am.

I gave all the children baths, then one needed a diaper change and then another needed help.  Sister Overbey came to the foot of the stairway and said, "Sister Hatcher, my husband wants you to hurry.  He is afraid you'll be late for the plane."  I replied, "Sister Overbey, I'm doing all I can, first one needs something and then another."  She replied, "Sister Hatcher, I understand." At that time, no one called a married lady or man by their first name.

Well, I made it.  At 4:00 am, we were on our way to the plane.  As soon as we arrived at the airport and were seated, Brother Overbey rushed to the desk to see if the plane was on time.  He was informed that the plane was 45 minutes late.  After 15-20 minutes, a request came over the speaker, "Passengers for Belem, appear at the desk."  I went to Brother Royal Calley, who had just arrived home from his first furlough, and said, "Brother Calley, they are calling for passengers to Belem to appear at the desk."  Without even listening, he replied, "You will only hear the city, Belem, when you arrive at the international airport in New York."  I sat down and again I heard, "Passengers for Belem, appear at the desk."  Again I went to Brother Calley and told him.  He replied again, "You'll only hear Belem when you get to New York."

In a few minutes I heard, "Passengers for Belem, appear at the desk."  Now I went to Brother Overbey, who had difficulty hearing, and said loudly, "Brother Overbey, they are calling passengers to Belem to appear at the desk."  He replied, "Sister Hatcher, you will only hear Belem when you arrive in New York."

Fifteen minutes before the 45 minutes was up, Brother Overbey said, "Sister Hatcher, take the children to the bathroom, as it will be difficult on the plane."  I had them all seated in the bathroom, except David who was in my arms, when Sue - who was 12 years old (now Mrs. Bob Jones), ran into the bathroom and said, "The plane has taken the stairway away, closed the doors, and is ready to take off.  Daddy said to hurry."  A lady in the bathroom said, "I arrived in that plane 30 minutes ago."

I got everyone taken care of, and as I was leaving the last stall with David in my arms, the Lord made me see that there on the floor, beside a commode, lay my little purse with all my money.  Purses did not have zippers in those days, only a snap to close them.

I rushed out with the children and Brother Overbey said, "Sister Hatcher, let us pray together before you depart."  After the prayer, his daughter, Ruth, walked across the runway with me, which was a good distance, and helped us get to the plane.  They put the stairway up again and opened the plane door.  The motors were running and the plane was ready to depart.

As I walked into the plane, the flight attendant said, "Sit here in first class, the plane is taking off.  Why were you so late?"  I replied, "I've been in the airport for three hours already!"

Well, the plane landed in Cuba.  I was alarmed to see policemen with guns guarding the entrance to the airport as all passengers had to go through inspection.  Finally, after 19 hours of flight, we arrived in Belem safe and sound, where my husband, John, and Brother Paul Calley met us.  Brother Calley had come 3,000 miles from Cruzeiro do Sul to Manaus in order to go with my husband, who didn't speak Portuguese, to meet me and our precious little ones.

We spent the night in a hotel.  The next morning, we all flew to Manaus, where we lived and worked 20 years before moving to Southern Brazil.  We have lived and worked in the states of Sao Paulo and Parana for the last 30 years, which completed 50 wonderful yeras in Brazil on September 9, 2005.