Final Trip Briefing

After three weeks in Argentina, our team of 17 returned home on August 19, rejoicing in what the Lord has done in and through us. We are so thankful that our trip home was uneventful—no missing people, luggage, or flights. In fact, every flight was right on time!

So, what did we learn in Argentina? Although our mission was to minister to others, we discovered that the Lord used the very people to whom we were ministering to do an even greater work in our own hearts. We came to realize that the language of the gospel quickly bonds our hearts with those who don’t even speak our language. As our team members said their tearful goodbyes, it was evident that our team mission wasn’t about activities (although we had many activities) but rather about engaging with people—people with a varied culture and language, but a common love for Jesus and for each other. Our friend lists on Facebook are expanding with Argentine names and faces we met.

Because the trip included so much, space would not allow a day-by-day expose, but here are some of the highlights:

We performed over 20 concerts, each including a repertoire of both sacred (in Spanish) and classical music, team member testimonies, and an evangelistic message. There were reportedly many professions of faith as a result of these concerts. The team had a couple of opportunities to provide a street performance in the plazas when they traveled south. We even were able to present a short concert in a local public elementary school. Several students from that concert brought their parents to the evening concert that evening and heard the gospel.

We had classroom time with several veteran missionaries, including Ron Self, Christine Self, Andrew Self, and Romina Self. These classes included lectures on cross-cultural ministry, the culture and people of Argentina, cross-cultural church planting, indigenous church planting, challenges on the mission field, and personal spiritual growth.

We coordinated and led a three-day youth retreat for five area youth groups from Buenos Aires, including activities and games, services, and discipleship opportunities. I was so very proud of the team for the way in which they served the teenagers during this retreat.

We engaged in street evangelism, handing out thousands of fliers and tracts presenting both the gospel and the evening concerts. We were blessed to see how God worked through those contacts to bring people to the concert and expose them further to the gospel of Christ. Sarah Ray even had the privilege of leading a man to the Lord on a bus trip using limited Spanish and a gospel tract. Praise the Lord!

We had the opportunity to appear on a national radio program that reaches 1.2 million listeners daily. For three days I was able to talk about the problem of addictions and the liberating power of the gospel of Christ. A fourth day, Joanna Ledgerwood and Alysha Morris were able to play and sing for that large audience as the host promoted our evening concerts.

We engaged in the cultural experience as we took occasional tours and shopping trips into various parts of Buenos Aires. Part of experiencing the culture is experiencing the national foods. Argentines are famous for their delicious pasta, steak, and ice cream, so the team sacrificially and politely consumed the overwhelmingly generous portions the churches served.

We went shopping in several shopping centers around Buenos Aires. The men did the usual obligatory 20-40 minute walk-through (so a change of culture fails to change the male shopping pattern) while the ladies successfully acquired numerous bargains. The men still saved the most money and time, but it appears the ladies had more fun.

We enjoyed the gracious care of Ron and Christina Self. Their organization of the tour and their attention to the details made our stay an incredible experience of a lifetime. We were inspired by their passion for people and their love for the mission field—their home in Buenos Aires.

We are so very grateful for those of you who have supported us both financially and in prayer. We are also thankful that you listen so patiently to our stories as we share just a glimpse of our joy with you. Thank you.

Please continue to pray for Global Encounters as plans are already underway for next year’s teams.
Bruce Meyer

God Works it Out

Dear Praying Friends,
Seeing how God works everything out is amazing, especially because His ways are so much better than our ways. We spent Friday and Saturday in Martinez with Pastor Gabriel Verdi and his family. One of the highlights of their year is having Team Argentina at their church. “Pastor Gabby” is very outgoing and always does a huge promotion for our concerts. Last year, the team went to downtown Martinez to play on the street corners and pass out flyers. We were all set to do the same again this year. We had only been playing a few minutes, though, when a policeman came and told us we were not allowed to play there. Pastor Gabby explained that the municipal office had given us permission, but the policemen would not let us continue. We packed up our instruments and started passing out flyers while Pastor Gabby went to the municipal office to complain. The municipal officer told him that, since last year, the law had changed; groups now need written permission to play downtown. But the officer also said that his grandfather was a Baptist missionary and anytime Pastor Gabby needs permission, to come to him! God took a frustrating situation and worked it out better than we could ever have imagined. Not only did Pastor Gabby gain an influential contact, but also, 25 people came to the Friday night concert because of the flyers we passed out. Thank you so much for prayers! God is working in Argentina and in our lives as well.
Becky
Is. 55:8-11

Hospital Visit

Dear friends and family,
Hola from Argentina! We have been enjoying our time here and getting to meet the many people of this country. Everywhere we go, we are met with warm greetings. It is beautiful here and most of us are hoping to come back again someday. We have had the opportunity to visit many different churches as well as a school and a children’s home. The three nursing students of the team (including myself) had the amazing privilege of visiting a children’s hospital in Buenos Aires where we got to observe two surgeries. This day was probably one of the highlights of the trip, at least for me. The experience was interesting and even though there was a language barrier most of the time, we still could learn as we watched the procedures. Some of the hospital personnel graciously gave us a tour on each of the floors and answered our questions – all through a limited vocabulary of Spanish and English. I am excited for the opportunities our team has already had and am looking forward to what is ahead for the next few days. I just wanted to thank each one of you who is praying for our team and ask that you would continue to do so. We want to be a light for Jesus everywhere we go and this is something we cannot do in our own strength. Join us in prayer as we seek to glorify God in Argentina! Gracias!
--Bonnie, for the team

Ministry to Children and Orphans

Wednesday found our team in Isidro Casanova, a part of Buenos Aires that most locals will advise you NOT to visit. It is on the “other side of the tracks”, so to speak. However, there is a thriving work being done in that community, and we were grateful for the privilege of being able to minister there.

Pastor and Mrs. Barry Courts of Calvary Baptist Church were our hosts. The morning brought an unexpected opportunity. They took our team to a local public school where we performed a “mini concert” and did instrumental demonstrations. The kids loved it! We showed them how to play the guitar, flute, clarinet, cello, oboe, and viola. We also sang several sacred songs. Students and teachers alike expressed their appreciation. We hope and pray that this random visit will provide an “open door” for future outreach opportunities within that community.

Another opportunity was given us to visit Grace Children’s Home (a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church). A couple within the church lives in the home and provides parental support to these kids, who range in age of about 18 to 2 years. The team got to visit the home and spend all afternoon with them. We made what seemed like hundreds of balloon swords, animals, and flowers. With our make-believe swords we conducted “friendly duels” and even gave one little boy the status of “knight-hood!" The team also played volleyball with the older kids. They’re amazing athletes and showed us a few good moves! The evening service wrapped up a wonderful day of fellowship and ministry!
Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers.
--Sherry Trainer

A Life-Changing Bus Ride

This has been such an excellent week! God has continuously proven His grace to us, in that, He continues to use us in ways we can’t even comprehend.

On the bus ride back from Tandil to Buenos Aires, I was able to give a tract to the man sitting across the aisle from me. The man began to skim through the tract, but about halfway through, he actually started reading it. Then, he went back to the beginning and read through the whole thing again. I noticed that his facial expression began to change. After he finished reading, the man turned to me with a huge smile and thanked me for the tract. I asked him if he believed what the tract said, and he smiled and said, “Si.” The man explained that he had never read the Bible but had heard it in church, and he had been thinking about Christ. He thanked me again for the tract and said that he accepted Christ just like me. When I asked if Christ was his personal Savior, his smile widened and he joyfully answered, “Yes! Yes!” God was so gracious! Not only was a man saved, but God’s love was able to cross our language barrier! God allowed me to use what little Spanish I know to share His love with a lost soul!
This past Saturday, the team helped Don Torcuato host their annual Child’s Day Festival. We ran several booths including face painting, balloon animals, and many others. Many families from the community came to the festival, and many heard the gospel!
God has given us some great opportunities to minister to different churches and witness to the lost through our music and the preaching of His Word. So far, about 9-10 people have professed that they have accepted Christ. Please, continue to pray that our team will allow God to work through us. Pray that we will be unified with the sole purpose of bringing glory to the name of Christ!

--Sarah Ray