I graduated from college with a degree to teach junior high science. After one semester of teaching, I decided to prepare for missions work and returned to college. (Whoever wrote the class prophecy should be congratulated on their foresight!) During that semester of teaching, I met Tom Eckman, who had graduated from Alfred University with a degree in Economics and Business Administration and a rank of 2nd Lieutenant (through R.O.T.C.). Part of his military service was a year in Vietnam. After his military discharge, he decided to prepare to be a missionary and returned to college. We were married in 1971 and arrived in Argentina, South America, in 1977. We have been in Mar del Plata and involved in church planting and training of nationals ever since.

My church work has included music, children's work, and women's ministries. Of necessity, I home schooled all five of our children. The four oldest have graduated from college, one has a Master's and another is almost finished with his Master's. Raising children in a foreign country has been a challenge, but rewarding. Besides being bilingual in English and Spanish, among them one or more can speak French and Italian, with studies in Romanian, Greek and Hebrew. They have had opportunities for short mission work and teaching in Mexico, Peru, Scotland, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Yemen, and South Africa. One is going to Russia and the Ukraine in June of this year. Three are married, with a total of five grandchildren. The youngest child is in high school and still at home.

I often feel that I have come a long way from the farm in Gasport, but we enjoy life in Argentina (despite its economic ups and downs). I would like to be at the reunion and see everyone, but even though I can't, I trust that everyone has a great time. Any time you're in Argentina, come by for a visit.

After homeschooling, I have more respect now for my elementary and high school teachers. I am also thankful for the high quality of most the teachers we had.

2015 Update:   Tom and I still live in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Our city is one of the largest this far south of the equator! We are farther south than Melbourne, Australia (on the southern coast of Australia). We live 14 blocks from the Atlantic coast. In the springtime, we see whales migrating to Antarctica. We have visited a penguin colony and the area where whales give birth. We've also seen the Andes Mountains and what is nicknamed the "Alps of South America." Growing up near Niagara Falls, we were impressed with the Iguazu Falls which are located in the north in jungle area and are larger than Niagara Falls. Our five children and ten grandchildren are spread out from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast to western Asia. One of our highlights in recent years has been travelling to western Asia, which is an incredible place to visit.

Hope everyone who attends the reunion will have an enjoyable time.