High Patagonian Desert

Yesterday, Sunday, I ministered in Ingeniero Jacobacci. Great service! Deep time of dedication. Lots of youth. They have a huge building in a tiny town. It was a railroad town in it’s day. This is where the famous Patagonian Express narrow gauge steam train “La Trochita” did its run for many years… Ingeniero Jacobacci to and from El Bolson. Years ago a Chilean Pastor Sepulveda crossed the Andes to Argentina and carried his family on this steam train to this desert town of Ingeniero Jacobacci to plant the first evangelical church here and of course the first Pentecostal one. At my first visit here in 1993, old brother Sepulveda’s son was pastor and they had nearly 1,000 in their church in a town of 6,000! They began building an incredible building for such a little hick town. While the building was still unfinished in the mid nineties a heavy snowfall caused the roof to collapse. No one was inside. They rebuilt it stronger and it is beautiful. (See photo above) This whole huge area is high desert around 2500 feet above sea level.

Going back a little, Friday night enroute to Los Menucos from El Bolson I stayed in a hotel in Ingeniero Jacobacci (zero stars… not even worth a half moon…ha)… but I slept well. Nine hours was too much driving on these teeth chattering gravel roads… so I split it in two. On Saturday morning when I was just leaving town heading east to Los Menucos I could hardly believe my eyes. I slammed on the brakes, parked quickly and ran over for a closer look. There was the famous “Trochita” steam engine all fixed up, blowing steam, belching smoke and towing a string of ancient cars. (See photo)
The last time I saw it, it was like a piece of junk all in pieces. Now they were getting it all ready for a run the next day. All I knew was that this train had been retired many years ago. I watched them disconnect the cars and park it in the engine barn… and I followed it in. The men who were operating it let me take pictures and invited me up into the cabin where the fire pit was red hot and steam blowing out all over the place. They told me they now do a tourist run of 15 kilometers each way every Sunday afternoon. The ancient train passenger cars have a pot belly wood stove where on the long runs years ago you could keep warm and heat up water for your maté… if you’d bring you own firewood which is scarce in these parts.

I arrived in Los Menucos about four hours later on Saturday. You couldn’t distinguish the color of the car since it was covered with dust. Inside the trunk the dust was thick. I had to get a wet rag and wash off my suitcase and everything else that was in the trunk. We had a good service in the civic auditorium Saturday night. The new church chapel was too small since the young pastor had announced my coming on the radio. They are a sharp couple, Walter and Lorena Colinier. His mother is the daughter of the old brother Sepulveda that set in motion the work in this desert area. Walter’s father is also pastor of another AG church in Bariloche.

Sunday I drove back to Ingeniero Jacobacci… amid clouds of dirt and dust. Enjoyed another blessed service Sunday afternoon! Today I joggled my way five hours to Bariloche. Much of the time I had to creep along at 10 to 15 mph as the washboard effect shook the car so badly. It seemed almost heavenly to hit real genuine pavement again at 3 PM this afternoon. I am now in a nice hotel in Bariloche and have two nights to rest. I am to preach in one of our AG churches here on Wednesday. It was started in the nineties by Missionaries Steve Hill and Marc Triplett. Brother Colonier, father of Walter would have had me preach in his church, too, but they are enlarging their building, replacing the huge roof supporting beams this week and can’t have services until next Sunday. I hate to miss that one. He has a great church where I have ministered many times.

Well I did it again. TMO (Too much information) ha.

Ralph

New Baby... Church

Hi! I'm back again!

Frances always did "oohs" and "aahs" over every new little baby. I always did "oohs" and "aahs" over every baby church. Last Saturday Tony and Lidia Villegas, pastors of the El Calafate "Christian Sanctuary AG Church" accompanied me going north 130 miles along the base of the Andes Mountain range to visit their newest baby church in the little mountain village of El Chaltén. Along the way huge glaciers, awesome mountain peaks and blue lakes were in view. As we approached the town of El Chaltén Tony asked me to stop just before descending into town. "We always stop here overlooking the village and pray for new victories before every service," he explained. (See photo with Tony and Lidia at “prayer point”) At 3 PM about 40 beautiful people met with us in a borrowed school room. They seemed as hungry for God as newborn babies that wake everybody up in the middle of the night. It's easy to preach to people like that. Three were there for the first time and all three took their first steps toward their Savior. Praise God!

(Photo left) A little baby's face literally glowed with excitement when he reached out to touch my little skunk puppet, Perfume.

(Photo left) I loaned my Bible to some little girls in the front row and helped them find the text. They were so absorbed in it that they didn't even notice when I took their picture.



The town of El Chaltén lies at the base of the most astounding mountain peaks I have ever seen. Last Saturday after the 3 PM service we drove the 130 miles back to the mother church in El Calafate just in time for the Saturday night service. I love it when I get to preach three times on a weekend plus almost every night of the week.

Clear back in 1996 Frances and I accompanied about 120 kids from the mother church "Christian Sanctuary AG" and preached their kids camp at the base of this glorious El Chaltén mountain peak. Unforgettable! We also designed the El Calafate church building and joined a wonderful team from Portland Christian Center who built it in just 9 days!
(See photos of church exterior and interior.) Since then the church has grown so rapidly that they had to knock out the back wall and extend the sanctuary 30 additional feet! Sunday night was missions night. Here is a church near the southern tip of South America deeply involved in sending Argentinean missionaries to many lands.

Their church is only 50 miles from the world famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Congratulations Pastors Tony and Lidia! You are building the Kingdom in your city, plus now in distant El Chaltén, while at the same time reaching out to the nations of the world. Way to go!

Ralph Hiatt

Uttermost… Best Lamb Chops… and “Chance” Meeting

[Photo left: Magellan Straits Ferry plus teeter totter and slide]

I have been privileged to minister in different places almost every day of the week except when driving great distances. At the close of each service, almost the entire church has spent a long time kneeling in earnest prayer, usually ending around 11:30 PM or midnight. When closing I have recently been asking the folks to gather around me, lay hands on me and send me out with a fresh touch of heaven on my life. Some have promised to continue praying for me. The result is that I have an ever increasing number of intercessors standing with me, both you in the USA and many in Argentina.

[Photo below: Tierra del Fuego Mountain Pass in Summer]
Last Saturday I drove south to the Magellan Straits and took the ferry across to Tierra del Fuego.
You can’t get any more uttermost than this! The city of Ushuaia, if you’re reaching out from Jerusalem, is possibly the farthest populated point on the earth. Jesus said, “… You will be my witnesses… unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) What a move of God we enjoyed there last night! I want you to know I can’t take credit for this. It is a God thing.Sunday morning I ministered in Rio Grande, then drove the mountain pass across to the southern tip of the island to minister in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world (see photo, left). In both those services God just swept us away with His deep work in our hearts. What glory! Little kids, youth and old timers alike were on their knees doing business with God for an extended time. After every evening service I have been getting back to the hotel around 2 AM. It is late summer here near the Antarctic and the days are long with the sun setting around 10:30 PM.

On my way back across the pass I stopped at the quaint little mountain town of Tolhuin. I had previously arranged to meet with Juan and Maria Malvicino, friends from long ago. They used to live in Buenos Aires and now have purchased a little rustic cabin and moved here to escape the big city. They served me the best tasting lamb chops I have ever had as we recounted past experiences. They tell me that the snow gets pretty deep here in winter. Frances and I have been in this area years ago when it even snowed in the summer time.

Then this afternoon I drove on to Rio Grande to find a hotel for the night. I got out of my car and a man on the sidewalk looked hard at me and said. “You are Rafael!” “It is true,” I replied. It was Jesus Rubio who was drawn to Christ during our 20 month long tent crusade in Merlo on the outskirts of Buenos Aires 33 years ago! Now here over 1,500 miles from Merlo, we meet again “by chance” on the street! I don’t think so. God is in it. We had a prayer meeting right there and then on the sidewalk. I invited him to bring his wife and daughter for dinner in a restaurant this evening at 9 PM. We enjoyed a wonderful time of reminiscing and rejoicing.

[Below: Magellan Straits Lighthouse]
Tomorrow I’ll take the ferry back across the Magellan Straits. It is a tiring trip since the ferry crossing is in Chile and one has to wait in long lines to go though immigration and customs going out of Argentina, then again going into Chile, then drive for hours on a rough gravel road, cross on the ferry and, then go through the whole process again going out of Chile into Argentina… up to a possible total of three hours of waiting in lines, etc… plus hard driving conditions. So far the angels of the Lord have been watching over me every kilometer of the way. I am scheduled to preach in another church in Rio Gallegos on Wednesday night. This coming weekend, Lord willing, I’ll be ministering near what may be the most spectacular glacier in the world, the Perito Moreno.

Thanks for your prayers on my behalf. They really make a difference.

Buenas noches!

Ralph (Rafael) Hiatt

Am I having fun yet?

Here is just a short run-down of what the Lord has been doing this past week. Last Thursday I ministered in a relatively new church in the little “Welsh” town of Gaiman. I call it a “Welsh” town because it, like all the cities in this small valley, was originally established by Welsh Christians that came to the “new world” back in the 1800s and early 1900s for a fresh start. Now their Christian influence has faded and many non-Welsh live in this pretty valley. The Welsh created beautiful orchards where once there was desert by using irrigation canals powered by the river current. Several years ago the Assemblies of God purchased a 20 acre apple orchard and has built the Patagonian Bible Institute (PBI)… our southernmost Bible Institute in the world. We had a great service in the new little Gaiman church. The pastors are graduates of PBI.

Then Friday I drove 300 more miles south to Comodoro Rivadavia a windy city on the Atlantic coast. Saturday night I ministered at one of our several AG churches here. At about 11 PM after a powerful time of prayer with many youth on the floor seeking God’s will, I had packed up all my gear and was ready to leave for my hotel. But a small group of young people had formed a circle of chairs and begged me to share with them about how God had called me into ministry. I couldn’t turn that down and enjoyed another hour of ministry and prayer with these beautiful young servants of God. They were so sweet and receptive and full of questions! Finally I asked them to let me take their picture for my friends back in the USA. They ran and got the Argentine flag and… behold… there we are!

This Sunday morning I preached in another AG church in this big seacoast city. Again at the close of that service the entire front of the church was wall to wall with mostly youth pouring out their hearts to the Lord.

Then I called and invited Roberto and Veronica, young pioneer pastors on neighboring Laprida, to join me for Sunday dinner at a classy restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Roberto and Veronica had sold their only car in order to pay down on a lot for their new church and then sacrificed everything to get the walls up. But there is no roof and cold winter is coming in May and June. So this afternoon I surprised them with a $4,000 US dollar donation from our generous Share Holders.** They could hardly believe it! That will complete the roof for them! Last night I preached to their new “baby church” in an ugly rented hall. With God’s help they’ll soon have their own building!

Am I having fun yet? You better believe it! Tomorrow I head 50 miles south on the coast to visit another pastor couple in Caleta Olivia, then on 200 more miles to San Julian where I am scheduled to preach on Tuesday. Make a note of it! I am not preaching Monday. I am taking a day for “rest” (and about 300 miles of travel...ha!).
(Left: Small PK storing the chairs after church)


Ralph Hiatt

**Our “Share Holders” are not monthly supporters. They are people who have committed to send an offering, small or large, to our AGWM missionary account for approved missions projects… and also to pray for the success of that project. My agreement is to never send out more than four “Share Calls” per year. If you should wish to become one of the Hiatt ministry “Share Holders” just send me your request along with your mailing address.

Just Taking It Easy

I am just taking it easy… trying to not preach more than once per day. I must keep my voice this time around.

Monday morning, Feb 7, I ministered to a group of about 40 King's Castle teenagers that have dedicated themselves to serve God above anything else. What a privilege to see them seek the Lord for a long time after the preaching! I am so thrilled with Kim and Shari Babcock, the missionary couple that is leading these kids and hundreds of others into a life of walking in the Spirit, hearing from God and being obedient to His voice.

Last night, Tuesday, I was invited to minister in another city to a group of about 14 couples who are what we call "pioneers" here. There are many more of them who will be arriving at this retreat later this week. But this small group is composed of the newest ones that are stepping out to start new churches. These first days are their "boot camp". The others already have been through "boot camp" and have started their churches. We met at the Nazarene Seminary campus where each year they rent the facilities for this retreat.

Once again last night the Lord moved in power and all of them sought His face for an extended time. At the close, nearing midnight, they presented me with a nice plaque which thanks me for being "Pioneer of the Pioneers in Argentina.” That title would be more appropriate for Rocco Ditrolio, the national leader of church planting. Then just before leaving I had them gather to take their picture (Rocco on right).

New Pioneers

These are choice servants of God. Most of these couples already have a group of converts gathering somewhere. I am hoping that sometime within the next 10 years I’ll be able to minister in each and every one of their new churches that are scattered all over this vast country. Ha! You thought I was slowing down. No way! I’ve got my feet on the blocks just waiting for the starting pistol shot.

This evening I fly two hours south to the city of Trelew in la Patagonia where I’ll borrow Missionary Eddie Echevarria’s car and once again have some wheels to hit the road. Running all over in taxi gets expensive… but yesterday one driver, Jorge Gonzales, was ready and ended up accepting Jesus as His Lord and Savior. That made it worth the 18 bucks… ha.

Ralph


Small Pioneers

Where Is Home?

Today a good friend asked me, “Where is home?”

They say, “Home is where your heart is.” At this moment my heart is right here in Argentina where I just arrived at noon today, Saturday. I have settled into a nice little apartment, quite like the proverbial “prophet’s chamber,” that the Martinez church has so generously offered me. It is on the third floor right under the huge water tank. I do not plan to stay here even one full week, Lord willing. I want to get back down south to La Patagonia, pick up my borrowed car and hit the road. I have deliberately kept tomorrow (Sunday) open, not accepting an invitation to minister. I need to rest up after the exhausting 24 hour trip.

On Monday morning at 10 AM, however, I meet with about 40 (King’s Castle) teenagers for their morning devotional. The King’s Castle ministry, headed up by missionaries Kim and Shari Babcock, is setting hundreds of youth on fire for Jesus. Babcocks inspire them and then train them and send them back to their local churches to do evangelism through music, mime and drama in the parks and on the streets, visits to hospitals and homes for the aged, cleaning up the street trash in a neighborhood and much more. I’m asking God for a special word for them. So quickly… ever so quickly some of these teenagers will become our pastors, evangelists, missionaries and spiritual leaders. God is giving me the awesome opportunity to speak into their lives.

I invite you to take a moment to join me in prayer for something good to happen in their hearts.

Ralph (known here in Argentina as “Hermano Rafael”)

Anxious to Return to Argentina Feb. 4th

Hi again!

As you know, Frances was carried into the arms of Jesus in October 2010. God has revealed to me that I am beginning a new chapter in my life. I feel that He is calling me back to Argentina and I am excited as a kid with a new toy! My one month visit there in November and December 2010 revealed to me the incredible opportunities for ministry that await me in that land where the harvest is so ripe.

I am not attempting to raise funds for this. I only request your prayers for health, His guidance and a fruitful ministry. He has always been our provider and I am confident that as I attempt to fulfill His will every need will be met.

This time around I plan to spend 96 days there. I return to the USA in May to fulfill ministry commitments in Texas and Mexico during May and June. Only the Lord knows what comes after that… ha.

I am so thankful to Missionary Eddie Echevarria who is loaning me his Peugeot car while he is on furlough. I will put thousands of miles on it as I travel to small isolated towns and large cities to minister. Just as in November and December, I may minister to thousands at times and other times to only a few. God gave His Son for every one of them!

I am also grateful to Missionary Kim Babcock who will once again loan me an active Argentine cell phone. If you should wish to call me please keep in mind the time difference. It is five hours later there than Pacific time. My Argentine cell phone number will be 011-5415-3603-9579. However, much of the time I may be in isolated places where no signal is available.

The most effective way to reach me is via email at ralph.hiatt@agmd.org. I will try to find a way to pick up my email almost every day if possible.

Thanks for your prayers on my behalf.

Ralph Hiatt

PS. I repeat this is not an effort to raise funds. However some have asked if funds can be sent to my support through the Assemblies of God World Missions. Yes. All funds sent to my account #283632 and designated “special personal” will be forwarded to me. Any other funds sent “undesignated” to my account will be applied to help approved missions projects in Argentina.