Missionaries at Play
This past week I was privileged to join our wonderful Argentina missionary team in their yearly meeting. All the families came from their distant locations to spend three precious days... together with our Area Directors Mike and Dodey Files.
It was a double blessing as our good friends and former missionaries to Argentina, Paul and Betty Brannan, were visiting.
Both Mike Files and Paul Brannan challenged us with stirring devotional messages. And as missionary families, it was good to hear each other's heart-beat and share each other's burdens in prayer.
Saturday we all went to a tourist ranch and enjoyed a special day of fun and entertainment. Felipe tried his horse riding skills. In this shot he is saying, "Hey, Look at me! Look at me!"
I tried my hand as a farmer on the tractor and didn't make the grade. I'm going to have to go back to preachin'.
There was a feast with lots of delicious BBQ meat and a traditional guacho show with dancers and excellent musicians.
The lady dancer came down from the platform while the music was going and... Who should she grab to dance with her? You guessed it! Yours truly! She soon found out, as a dancer I have two left feet... ha!
Even Felipe got in on the show by popular demand (of our mission-aries). There were tourists present from India, Europe and several other countries. Felipe, of course, did what he does best... sang about Jesus.
Then we went out for the outdoor show with gauchos on horseback.
One of the most challenging gaucho games is called "La Corrida de Sortija" (The Race of the Wedding Ring). A ring, the size of a wedding ring is hung loosely on a horizonal pole about ten feet high. The gauchos come at full gallop and with a pencil size device try to snag the ring and win a kiss on the cheek from the girl of his choice.
They also did the "boleador" thing, showing us how to catch a rhea (Argentine ostrich, much smaller than the African ones.)
At full speed they swing two of the three leather covered round stones in a circle over their head while holding one in their hand and then throw it. If successful it wraps around the rhea's legs and ties it up. In this case the rhea was a fake one just standing there... and he captured it perfectly. It's got to be much harder I am sure when that bird is running at 40 mph.
In all it was a delightful, cool, sunny autumn day of fun and relaxation. Thank you, Jesus!
Ralph
