Ray Masters - Missionary to Argentina

ARGENTINA

Trials and Blessings

I have often asked myself which comes first—the Trials or the Blessings. I guess that it all depends on what is going on. Here during July up until now we have been having great trials but at the same time there have been special blessings.

During the last two weeks and part of July each year we have Stewardship and Missions. Then the first Sunday in August we have a banquet and take personal commitments from our members. As always the peso is undervalued with the government holding back the exchange rate as inflation eats up any and all money a person might have. I was greatly thrilled to see that about eight to ten families promised to start being faithful with their tithes and we had a good number of new promises to give to missions and almost all that have been giving increased their missions giving from 15 to 20 percent more. The great blessing is that now being the middle of September they are keeping their promises.

This year our special project has been to help a couple to go to Angola for a three month period of preparation and learning to be able to know if this is what they as a couple feel like the Lord is calling them to be Medical Missionaries. He is in his third year of Residence as a Surgeon and she is a specialist in physical therapy. We have given a third of the cost for of one of their tickets but have two months more on this project. Our goal is to be able to buy one of their tickets.

Our Children’s Day, the first Sunday, of August was blessed. In all of the works together we had 440 and over 40 saved. The real blessing was that in Sebastian Elcano where the services are held out side, we were able to use a school auditorium with 80 present. Some walked over three miles. There were twenty saved here.

Our biggest trial was when I went to one of the country churches to preach the 20th anniversary of their pastor and when I was less than a mile and a half from home went to sleep at the wheel and wrecked my ‘97 SUV. I was not hurt because of seat belts and I was slowing down to leave the freeway. I have been going to the doctor and been having tests because of have a problem of going to sleep at the strangest times and at night have troubles getting the proper rest. The doctors think I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The cure is a breathing machine that helps to breath at night. This will be determined the next three weeks. Thank you for your prayers. Oh by the way if you could help fix my truck it would be appreciated. It is going to be a little over $4000.00.

Otherwise both Virginia and I are doing so much better health wise. Virginia is getting used to her knee transplant and walking over 90% normal. (One pastor told her it takes a year to get used to this surgery and the middle of May was a year.) My back is not giving me problems. My main problem is arthritis in many joints. But I guess that many men do at 71. I am thankful that I am able to preach three times a week and recently completed seven weeks of a two and half hour block on doctrine in our Institute

We are having souls saved in each work and our good news clubs. We are beginning to grow slowly so I guess we still a ministry here. Your prayers and financial support make this possible. Than you


Return to Home Page	ARGENTINA Trials and Blessings I have often asked myself which comes first—the Trials or the Blessings. I guess that it all depends on what is going on. Here during July up until now we have been having great trials but at the same time there have been special blessings. During the last two weeks and part of July each year we have Stewardship and Missions. Then the first Sunday in August we have a banquet and take personal commitments from our members. As always the peso is undervalued with the government holding back the exchange rate as inflation eats up any and all money a person might have. I was greatly thrilled to see that about eight to ten families promised to start being faithful with their tithes and we had a good number of new promises to give to missions and almost all that have been giving increased their missions giving from 15 to 20 percent more. The great blessing is that now being the middle of September they are keeping their promises. This year our special project has been to help a couple to go to Angola for a three month period of preparation and learning to be able to know if this is what they as a couple feel like the Lord is calling them to be Medical Missionaries. He is in his third year of Residence as a Surgeon and she is a specialist in physical therapy. We have given a third of the cost for of one of their tickets but have two months more on this project. Our goal is to be able to buy one of their tickets. Our Children’s Day, the first Sunday, of August was blessed. In all of the works together we had 440 and over 40 saved. The real blessing was that in Sebastian Elcano where the services are held out side, we were able to use a school auditorium with 80 present. Some walked over three miles. There were twenty saved here. Our biggest trial was when I went to one of the country churches to preach the 20th anniversary of their pastor and when I was less than a mile and a half from home went to sleep at the wheel and wrecked my ‘97 SUV. I was not hurt because of seat belts and I was slowing down to leave the freeway. I have been going to the doctor and been having tests because of have a problem of going to sleep at the strangest times and at night have troubles getting the proper rest. The doctors think I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The cure is a breathing machine that helps to breath at night. This will be determined the next three weeks. Thank you for your prayers. Oh by the way if you could help fix my truck it would be appreciated. It is going to be a little over $4000.00. Otherwise both Virginia and I are doing so much better health wise. Virginia is getting used to her knee transplant and walking over 90% normal. (One pastor told her it takes a year to get used to this surgery and the middle of May was a year.) My back is not giving me problems. My main problem is arthritis in many joints. But I guess that many men do at 71. I am thankful that I am able to preach three times a week and recently completed seven weeks of a two and half hour block on doctrine in our Institute We are having souls saved in each work and our good news clubs. We are beginning to grow slowly so I guess we still a ministry here. Your prayers and financial support make this possible. Than you Yours for Córdoba, Argentina *Ray & Virginia Masters* “A great door is opened unto me.” I Cor. 16:9