Debbie turns ?????? It´s becoming a military secret, but it happens every March 11th.!

Since Tom was leaving on a ministry related trip on March 10th., we celebrated Deb´s birthday a couple days early with co-workers Lois and Loida (pictured above). However, the ladies of the church planned a surprise party for her actual birthday!

Summer Ministries & Activities

December 23rd. was our annual Christmas program


We praise the Lord for people from the church family of all ages that participated.


The Gospel was explicit throughout the program, then Tom preached a salvation message. Praise the Lord for many unsaved who were present.

Family Camp in Argentina - January 7-11

Around a hundred people from our nine churches in Argentina gathered for family camp at a rented location.

The schedule afforded ample time for fellowship and fun. National Pastor, Julio Llagarías, brought excellent messages on the family.

Bible teaching and devotional times were very edifying for all of us.

January 19-25 Cliff Rissinger and Dave Daniels were in Chivilcoy working on laying the slab and porch of the camp house. We´re grateful for their labour of love! (See more about camp by clicking on to the ling to your right.)

GMSA 2008 International Missionary Conference

February 1, 2 and 4 the General Council of the GMSA met in in Paysandú, Uruguay followed by our annual international conference the which began the evening of the 4th. and ended Sunday night the 10th. We were blessed by the challenging ministries of Dr. Les Ollila and Dr. Douglas McLachlin, both from Northland Baptist Bible College. Pictured below is the GMSA missionary family along with short termers and friends.

Prior to conference we had the privilege of hosting a number of friends and colleages. Jonathon and Carolin Rea and their two children spent two days with us en route to Uruguay from Chile, then Kevin and Lisa Gower arrived from Clinton, Maine on January 28th. to minister for the third time the mk teens. Curtis and Diane Steward and Daryl and Earlynne Thompson stopped in on their way from Chile and we later traveled together in caravan to Uruguay. Cal and Alice Arnold (retired board member) were in Chivilcoy and traveled to conference with out gang too. After conference most of these were with us again, and we were able to add the Dan Thompson family and Bill and Linda Hixson and their little girl Andrea to the guest list. Bill is chairman of the U.S. Board.

Above: heading north to Uruguay; above: Cal and Alice Arnold; below: Daryl and Earlynne Thompson and Curtis, Diane and Emily Steward begin their near thousand mile journey back to Santiago, Chile from Chivilcoy.

Below: Kevin and Lisa Gower. After working all week with our youth Kevin came back to chivilcoy and spent five hours on the tractor cutting 12 acres of grass! Bottom: Bill and Linda Hixson with Kevin and Lesa.

Dan and Liz and their children stopped in on their way through back to Chile and were able to see the ministry in Chivilcoy as well as the camp project!

Long Awaited Family Vacation!

February 25 through March 2 we enjoy resting in Potrero de los Funes, San Luis, 400 miles west of Chivilcoy. This favourite vacation spot is nestled in a small mountain range and surrounds a small lake. We enjoyed playing Skip-Bo and Rook, walking, paddling around the lake in kyak, playing volleyball, and cooling off in the pool among other things.

The obvious missing picture is Kati´s. This was our first vacation without her and we missed her terribly. By the way, Kati is close to finishing her first year at Northland Baptist Bible College, and Lord willing, at least part of her summer (our winter) she will be with us in Argentina.

Pictured above: the view from our cabin, Kristi

Pictured below: Andy prepares for star gazing, Danny relaxes in the grass.

A Small Congregation in Villa Regina Joins Bible Center Churches

March 10-13 Tom had the privilege of traveling with colleagues (pictured below left to right) Colby Holmes, Pedro Buasso and Julio Llagarías to the city of Villa Regina. Located over 600 miles southwest of Chivilcoy, Villa Regina is situated in the Rio Negro Valley, well known for growing apples and pairs.

Though we enjoyed the sights, the purpose of our trip was to represent our National Church Association to a small group of believers desiring to join the fellowship. Some in the group were in a church planted by Ron Holmes (Colby´s father) in the 70´s, which dissolved around 20 years ago. Most of the present group left the local Baptist Church when it went charismatic ten years ago. Pictured above are Ricardo and Silvina Daglio. Ricardo, a native Argentine, has served with our National Church Association pastoring in Salto, Uruguay for 16 years. He and his family are transitioning to Villa Regina and are in the process of being called as the group´s first pastor. Silvina´s mother and grandmother are residents in Villa Regina. On March 15th. our National Association´s board voted unanimously to accept the group into the fellowship.

Above: Colby Holmes and Ricardo Daglio do special music at a mid-week service in the Villa Regina Church. Though known for apples and pairs, I enjoyed the grapes harvested from a vine, though unseen, just above my head!!