Altair Flores Aquino: 

“If we are not united we will not achieve anything”

Our fellow Spiritist from the western Brazilian state of Mato
Grosso do Sul talks to us about the Spiritist Movement in
her city, Nova Andradina

	Altair Flores Aquino (photo), a Spiritist since 1972, is the president of the Spiritist Centre Amor, Verdade e Justiça (Love, Truth and Justice) in the city of Nova Andradina. She is a cattle rancher in the western Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul state. She had a long experience in the Spiritist Movement alongside her late husband. When he
passed away, she carried on with his work, as she explains in a clear and concise manner in this interview:

How did you become a Spiritist? 

Curiosity brought me to Spiritism. 

Tell us a bit about the city of Nova Andradina. 

It lies in the south of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Its economy relies mostly on cattle raising.  

Tell us about your late husband’s legacy. 

He was a great example for Spiritists. He passed away leaving a legacy of hard work and dedication. 

Is the Spiritist Centre you are linked to the first one to be founded in the city? 

Yes, it was founded on June 27^th 1966 by José Gomes da Rocha, who has already passed away. 

Please make an assessment of the Spiritist Movement in the area. 

It is better now than it used to be. Thankfully this area is much more developed now and much more tolerant than it used to be. But the battle is tough and it is an ongoing one.  

How about the efforts to disseminate the Teachings? 

This is a big battle, which demands dedication and persistence.  

Is there anything from your memories that you would like to share with our readers? 

We, Spiritists, must look at some location where there is no Spiritist Centre and make it happen. I founded two Spiritist Centres in areas where many thought they would not flourish. One of them is already fully functional. The other one has now been founded on a plot of land donated by someone who shares our ideals. Let’s carry on with the hard work in 2016.  

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

I would like to express my gratitude to all fellow Spiritists who are part of this fight and this journey. If we are not united we will not achieve anything. We will be no more than a bunch of different opinions. I must show my gratitude also to God and Jesus, for allowing us to be working on their fields, and to my late husband, who was my great companion on this journey.