New Update!

Dear Friends,

Just got off the phone with Edgardo Munoz, Vice President of River Plate Bible Institute. He gave me a blow-by-blow description of this final week of classes and the graduation. Wednesday night was the International Banquet. 850 visited the school and senses the excitement of the eight different countries represented, plus the impact of the call of God, so evident in these young people. Last night was the graduation with 64 glowing students receiving their diplomas. Sherry and I would have loved to have been there, but we're excited just to hear about it. Soon we'll get to see them and hear how the Lord is leading each into practical and challenging venues of service. 27 of the graduates left today for a three-week Missions trip throughout Southern Argentina. They will be preaching and evangelizing - applying what they have learned during these years of training.

This year has been the worst ever economically in Argentina - 10 pesos a few months ago was 10 dollars - today it is worth US$2.80. Unemployment, uncertainty: but God! He used you to participate as partners in facilitating the ongoing growth and progress of the School. 314 resident students and 254 special students in the Saturdays-only program. Lives being shpaed for enhanced fruitfulness. Thank you and thank God!

We're projecting to return to Argentina at the end of March. Thank you for praying for our safety on the roads and that God will continue to anoint as we share His burden and the dream he has placed in our hearts.

Nathan & Analia are enjoying pastoring the Hispanic portion of the body at Emmanuel Christian Center. We've also enjoyed living with them and having memorable times with them whenever our schedules permit.

nathangrams@msn.com

Ignacio and Larisa are loving California and their studies at Vanguard University for their Masters' degrees in Biblical Studies. The Lord has provided them jobs, on-campus housing, and great friendships.

lbenitez@vanguard.edu

Ben has had a fun-filled and productive semester at North Central University. He has made a lot of friends, played on the soccer team, and has even had his dad for a teacher.

bengrams@gmx.net

Thank you for praying for us all! We appreciate you!
Rocky and Sherry Grams

Offerings can be sent to:
Assemblies of God World Missions
1445 Boonville Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
Account # 2347698
Rocky & Sherry Grams

Dear Friends,
We're happy to be back! With your faithful intercession and backing, we have lived an amazing four-year term in Argentina.
So many exciting changes during this time: Nathan and Analia's wedding, Larisa and Ignacio's wedding, Benjamin starting at River Plate Bible Institute. The last few months have been very stressful with chaos and uncertainty the order of the day.

We're living with Nathan and Analia! Having the time of our lives!

Our address:
4606 Fillmore Street N. E.
Columbia Heights, MN 55421
763-571-9044 cell: 651-246-6254
e-mail: r&sgrams@cpsarg.com
website: www.rockysherrygrams.com

Nathan and Analia are Missionary Pastors at Emmanuel Christian Center in Fridley, Minnesota, Pastor Mark Denyes. They are pastoring a fine group of Hispanic believers, many of them new Christians.

Larisa and Ignacio are studying for their Master's degrees in Biblical Studies at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. They waited for months for a resident visa for Nacho and God worked a miracle.

Benjamin transferred to North Central University and is having a great time talking with as many students as he can. He's on the soccer team, "getting in shape." He enjoys NCU-the atmosphere and the classes. Quite a change from nine roommates at Instituto Bíblico Río de la Plata to only one roommate at NCU!

We've started traveling and are enjoying so much being with different congregations and pastors and sharing what God has been doing in Argentina. Pray for us as we travel hundreds of miles.

What an honor it is to be teaching three courses in two mornings at NCU: Global Perspectives, Missionary Preparation and Revivals. This experience is stretching me and giving me so many ideas to apply in Argentina.

During the last few months, we went from stability to five presidents in two weeks. The peso was at one peso to one dollar on the 31st of December, today it costs 3.60 pesos to puchase one dollar. People have lost 70% of their buying power. The banks have blocked customers from withdrawing their savings. Unemployment is over 30% nation-wide.

Despite the worst economic crisis in the history of the nation, combined with uprisings and looting and tires burned to block off highways and even freeways, the Church of Christ is shining forth. Mass prayer meetings and prayer vigils and effective evangelism are a normal part of church life. Many churches have doubled in numbers in this time-and are receiving half the income!

Baptism services of 96 at a time, and some churches up to 900!

One of the congregations pastored by our graduates holds 44 services per week in various locations and has 16,000 members!

With the crushing economic crisis that the country is living at this time, we wondered if even half of the students would be able to afford to continue. What a tremendous surprise it was to welcome 106 students in one resident program. Then 208 for the next resident program-record numbers and 254 for the Saturdays-only program. Over 500 in training!

Our students have amazed us so many times with their courage and faith.

We are a team together-and you are a crucial part of everything that God has been doing. Thank you for caring, for praying, for investing so generously in these lives, for believing with us!

What a great time this is to invest in God's work in Argentina. With the dollar at a record high in buying power, we can together truly make a difference for the Kingdom of God!

Food costs have gone up over 100% in pesos in the past three months.

We cannot raise prices that quickly for the students with no jobs or money available in the economy. A Catch 22 situation that we are believing God to help us compensate, along with continued construction and scholarships.

Please send offerings to:
Assemblies of God World Missions
1445 Boonville Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
Account # 2347698
Rocky & Sherry Grams