5n

Gleanings( Wov 20, 79 WEM)

North America

Raymond 0, Prager is now in

language study and plans to complete

his course in language, culture and
customs of the Spanishspeaking

people in June, 1980^ at: Institute

de Lengua Espanola, Apdo 100, San
Prancisco de Dos Rios, San Jose,
Costa Ricaa

Ray is tutoring in

English in exchange for his Spanish

training

He is also in the school

choir and he has a Bihle study on

Sunday evenings

His forwarding

agent is his mother: Mrs Evelyn

M Prager, 5589 Olenmore Ave,

Cincinnati, OH 4^211 phone (515)

662-0659Gleanings

E. M.Pnga

3889 Glenmore Av.

Cincinnati, OH 4B211

Decemoer, 1979

My Dearest Brethren:

mo

I would like to extend greetings to you from sometimes sunny and sometimes
not so sunny San Jose, Costa Rica. It is my prayer that this, my first report

from San Jose, finds each and every one of my Christian family in the States well
physically and spiritually.

The first trimester at El Institute de Lengua Espanola has drawn to an end.

This astonishes me in two specific ways. First of all, I'm amazed at how quickly
the time is passing. It seems that I've only just arrived. Secondly, I'm now
beginning to realize just how much progress I've made in Spanish. Fortunately
I'm not astonished to the point of speechlessness. To the contrary, I'm literally
talking all the timein Spanish!
The Institute has proven immeasurably valuable, not only in language com
prehension and communication but also in every practical phase of Costa Rican
(and generally Latin American) culture and customs.

It's been said that a few

short months out on the field can surpass a ten-year college levej. course in the
best of classroom situations.

1 believe it!

My current residency in a Costa Rican home has endowed me with insights on

the average Costa Rican family that I cannot begin to describe. The elderly
couple I'm staying with are simply magnificent (as I've been sure to inform them)
in every way imaginable. Their undivided interest in me and in every minute
detail of my activities and progress here has been a source of encouragement and
joy with every day that goes by. They help to reinforce those things I've learned
in my classes and add to the finer points of language in a day-by-day visual and
audio program on the Tico (for this is the term they use of themselves) way of
life.

The Institute itself is on a three-section program basis.

V.

These sections

are (1) grammatics, (2) language activity, and (3) phonetics. Each class is
planned and taught with the idea of complementing one another. The process is
highly precise, effective, and beneficial. It is indeed a unique experience.
The student body is predominantly of missionaries of a widely diversified

nature. For example, I'm sharing my Tico family with a Mennonite named Jeff
Prather. We^re both tall and very thin (I've lost 35 lbs. since my arrival
here), and the similarity of our last names has presented a problem for many.
I cannot give you an exact number of the different brethren (that is Baptist,

Mennonite, Church of Christ, etc.) that are represented here, but there are
many.

I had the distinct pleasure of participating in an all-Spanish concert

of Aleluya (as it's spelled in Spanish) by the Gaithers. Our choir, all stu
dents and faculty of the Institute, numbered around forty members. The concert
was not televised as we had hoped, but it is being presented on radio in several

Central and South American countries.

It was truly inspirational for both singers

and listeners alike.

I have been active in several programs of instruction involving the Eng

lish language as well as Spanish. Among these is a Bible study which I have
conducted for several people on Sunday nights. This has been cancelled during
the month of December, but I hope to continue it again in January when things
are not so hectic. I have also been teaching English to one of the teachers at

-2-

the Institute. She in turn has been giving equal time to me in extra Spanish
studies. Unfortunately she will be leaving the Institute this January, and
that will end my private language study.
1 would like to close by expressing my deepest gratitude for your continu

ing prayers and financial support of my mission project this year.

1 pray that

as you share with me in this endeavor to reach Latin America with our Lord's

Good News, that the Lord will continue to bless youeven as He has promised
to do. His promises are always true, for He is always faithful. In Christ's
love and for His Kingdom,

Ray Prager