?

77/
PUERTO
RiCO

HAIT

Christ

JAMAICA

^UG 7.
VIRGIN
* ISLANDS

DOMINICAN

Missionaries:

^J3iYPRAG^

REPUBLIC

banta Isidra Ext.2

Avenida Sur 210

For The

Fajardo, P.R. 00648

BETET^

Caribbean

700 E. Maple Ave.

Sterling Park, Va.
22170

"Hear the Word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off..."

Jeremiah 32:10

Special Convention Issue

RECAPPING EVENTS

Since this newsletter will be read by many who have not been receiving regular

reports, we are going to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on what has
been happening (with our apologies to those receiving repeat information).
As many of you know, after serving for fifteen years on the mission field Larry
Ray Prager, who joined him in the work a
year ago this past April, continued the work in Fajardo. Subsequently Ray developed
a serious illness, a rare virus affecting the neuro-muscular system. After being
hospitalized in Puerto Rico, he was flown home to the States and hospitalized in his
home town, Cincinnati, Ohio. Doctors were finally able to identify the disease, only
to discover there was no known treatment. They were not very optimistic about his
recovery and return to the mission field. But our Lord does answer prayers! Ray was
healed and able to return to Puerto Rico in,late February. Our heartfelt thanks to
Green came home to the States last fall.

all who united with us in prayer for his recovery.

The Fajardo Church of Christ continued to function, with the help of some of
the missionaries on the island who faithfully made the long trip over to Fajardo to
help them. However, the congregation suffered a serious setback as in addition to

Ray*s absence, some members moved away, others went off to college, and some of the
less faithful fell away. Attendance dropped drastically, as low as 8 - 12 in a few
services. All but the Sunday morning services were discontinued and, of course,
other mission projects were at a stand still.
-Since-his return to Puerto-Rioe^-Ray-has-been-working hardto-r-ebuiidthe chureh-i

The Wednesday night Bible study/prayer meetings and the Friday night youth meetings
are back in session.

Attendance has reached 26 - 30.

Other projects have been

started or in the planning stage. Visitation training sessions were held, followed
by a calling program. The young people challenged the youth in two other churches on
the island to a Bible Bowl contest beginning in August. They plan to reactivate the
basketball team. This encourages attendance since they must attend services on a
regular basis to play on the team, and also gives them fellowship with the youth in

the other churches on the island.

More correspondence course material is being

printed by L.E.A. As soon as it is ready a survey is planned to pass out tracts,

survey homes, and enlist new students in the courses.
FIELDS WHITE UNTO HARVEST

Ray is working hard but help is urgently needed. With over 3.3 million people,
all congregated on one small island (approximately 111 miles long and 36 miles wide)
Puerto Rico is indeed a great mission field, limited only by the availability of
missionaries and funds. This is especially true in the growing Fajardo area, so
more workers are needed, especially a mature man and wife or family. Adding to the
already existing need is Ray*s handicap in working in a language that is new to him.
Even though he studied Spanish at the language school in Costa Rica before joining
Larry at Fajardo, it takes years to really become proficient in speaking, under
standing and" writing""a new ianguage. Making it even more" difficult is th^Fapid
PALM BAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

P.O. Box 598

PERMIT //SOZ

Palm Bay, Florida

32905

Non-Profit

Organization
Melbourne, Florida
CHRIST FOR THE CARIBBEAN MISSION

Fajardo, P.R.
Missionaries:
RAY PRAGER
CHARLES BETETA

Forwarding Agents:
Chuck and Pat Jones

616 South Lupine Ct.

Melbourne, Florida 32901

. 3796(

iT;sTiner in which the Spanish language is spoken in Puerto Rico. And all of the work
at Fajardo is carried on in the Spanish language. But prayers are being answered!

The Lord has led a beautiful Christian family to dedicate their lives to leading
these souls to HIM...

BETETA FAMILY PREPAilES FOR MISSION FIELD

How the Lord has blessed!

Charles and Inez Beteta have dedicated their lives

to full time service as missionaries to Puerto Rico.

THey are anxious to join Ray

in the work at Fajardo as soon as support can be raised.

So workers are available

but pledges for monthly support to cover their living expenses are urgently needed.
They are well qualified for this work.
Both Charles and Inez are of
Puerto Rican descent.

Bom and

raised in the Puerto Rican area

of New York City, they speak

fluent Spanish and English.

In

1971 they moved to Puerto Rico

-with-Janine,--their one, year old
daughter. Lorna, their youngest
daughter, was bom there in 1973.
The Betetas accepted Christ and
were immersed into Him in Sept.

1974 at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Four months later they moved to
Knoxville, Tennessee and Charles
entered Johnson Bible College to
prepare for the ministry. He
graduated with a B.S. degree in
1979. While in schooL the
Betetas served with the Christ

ian church in Sevierville, Tn.

On October 28,1979 the Smoky Mt.

Christian Church ordained Charles
to serve on the mission field.

CHARLES, JAWIWE, IWEZ S LCRWA BETETA

They presently reside in

Sterling, Virginia, where they are active members of the Sterling Park Christian

Church. While preparing for the mission field Charles is supporting his family by
working as a foreman in a radar manufacturing plant. They are highly recommended
by all who know them, including fellow Bible college students and professors, a
number of ministers in our brotherhood and several missionaries, including some who
have and are serving in Puerto Rico.
They are needed and ready to go, but going will only be made possible through
the support of their brothers and sisters in Christ. The Lord always works through
His people. Those who consecrate themselves to going and serving and those who will
provide the means to do so.

The Betetas have offered their lives and services.

Will you prayerfully consider helping to provide the necessary support to make this
possible?

They would appreciate the opportunity to meet with your congregation and to
present the work to them.

A POSTSCRIPT FROM RAY

I pAay that the, Lo/id

iMl6h to expn.e66 my QAotttade

bZe^.&tnQ each and evcAi/ one

you tn aZZ thtngi and

youA paayefL^uZ and ^tnanciat ^uppoAX ojJ thZ6 mU4>ton

e^oAX.

I have A.ecentty moved, ao p-EeoAe note the change tn my home addA,e^.i>,

A numbeA. ojJ ouA, member axe cwoay attendtng cotXege, and tujo moA.e have AecenXty
gAaduaXed iA.om htgh ^choot. iJJe cu>k that yoa keep them tn youA. pAayexs as they
pA.epoJie themieXve^ {^oa, Zt(^e-ttme coxeeAM.
Ptecue aX&o pAay ioA. the ^ottouXng:

*The Chaxies ZeteXa (^amtZy to acqiuxe the itnanctat su.ppoAt they need to enabte them
to jotn the mA.k hexe tn Pajaxdo as 6oon a6 po6^tbZe.

*A gA.eatex ^iptxttaaX Aesolve among the congA,egattonat membexs tn the Pajaxdo Chixch.
*Foa Mtgdatca and Lettcta, two attendexs aho have not yet gtven theOi lives to ChnXst,
*A mmbex o^ ^txst time vtsttoAt, to conttnue to come and be won to the LoA.d,
*M/ pAo^tctency tn the use o^ the Spantsh language*
*That tn evexy way I may be ialty yielded to the Loxd's will!
In the sexvtce o^ oux Loxd,
P

Ray Pkagex
To request information, arrange speaking engagements, or send support, write
or call; CHRIST FOR THE CARIBBEAN, Chuck & Pat Jones, 616 S. Lupine Ct., Melbourne,
Florida 32901.

Phone (305) 723-6361.