January & February Wanderings

Praise the Lord for His protection, provision and blessing during these months of ministering and being ministered  to.  After  a family camp (Jan 10-14) that involved nine churches, we joined the rest of the GMSA administrative team in Temuco, Chile for several days of meetings (Jan 19-21), then a week of conference at a National Church campground in the Andean foothills with the entire Missionary Family (Jan 21-27).  The ministry of the Word was rich and the scenery along the shores of lake Calafquen at the base of Mt. Villarica (an active volcano) is always spectacular.    We also visited colleagues in Santiago along with parts of the Chilean Pacific coast we'd never seen before prior to crossing the Andes back to Argentina.We're keenly aware that in our travels we often get to enjoy things that others may never see.  After a few days at home we participated in our National Fellowship's annual teen camp where we were responsible for giving and exposition of the characteristics of love according to I Corinthians 13, then in alternate sessions  helping the campers to discover the application of the same characteristics throughout the book of Ruth.

Lake Calfaquen Southern Chile at sunset.

Looking east towards Argentina

The GMSA Family



You might enjoy the brief clip (below) Kristi and Danny made of teen camp!  Just click on the arrow below.  The singing was recorded from the song services.

Remember to pray for Pablo, Marcela and their three children who arrived Thursday morning (Feb. 24) in Trujillo, Peru to study at the Peru Baptist Seminary.  They will be missed from our congregation, but we trust the Lord to prepare them for future ministry.  Pray with us to that end!

November - December Hilights

Grandpa Gibbons arrived on November 17th. to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with us.  It will be the first Christmas together in 23 years!

Grandpa checking out camp

Thanksgiving with co-workers and an Argentine friend who lived for over 20 years in California

November 28 Baptisms

The church family enjoyed having services at camp on Sunday, November 28th. to witness the baptisms of Roberto and Jonathan.  Praise the Lord the very clear salvation testimonies these two men gave.

Youth play instruments while Pablo leads the song service

Roberto shares how he came to know Christ
and after eight years finally chose to live for Him

Jonathan tells how he began coming to church and
in March of this year trusted Christ for salvation.

Summer Work at Camp

We all work at different times to keep lawns mowed at camp during the summer months, a task that takes many hours.   We're so grateful for Martin and Sandra who live on location, and even though Martin works full time secularly, they spend many hours cutting grass and watering trees and manning the drip lines.  With very little rain in the last six weeks the survival of many of our trees depend on diligence in this mundane task.  Some day people will sit in the shade of the trees, but few will be able to appreciate why they can!!!

Above & Below:  Kristi and Debbie cutting grass

Danny & Kristi in front of our home

Multi-purpose Room Near Completion

The tile floor of the multi-purpose room at church was laid recently!  Soon the walls will be painted and fixtures installed.  The next project will be plumbing and tiling the second bathroom.  Praise the Lord for a gift that purchased the tile for the kitchen, multi-purpose room and second bathroom.  

Men's Group Closing Event

Each year most of the men and their sons meet one morning a month for a men's breakfast and study.  At the end of the year it's become a tradition to gather at camp and have "choripanes" (sausage on a bun).  Nearly 30 men and their sons were present on December 13th. for the event.

Above & Below:  Fellowship

Martin begins grilling the sausage

We praise the Lord for a fantastic group of men.  The potential for leadership is great.  Pray for our men that they will step up to the plate:  at home and in the local church.

Chivilcoy Celebrates 156 Years

On Friday, October 22 the President of Argentina, along with her husband (the previous president), the provincial governor, local mayor and other officials visited Chivilcoy for the city's birthday celebration.  Our curiosity got the best of us, so we went to the city's main square to have a look!  We ended up waiting in a mass crowd for two hours for the President's late arrival.  Once she and the other politicians were on the platform we went home to listen and watch on TV.  According to the local paper 22,000 people filled the plaza in this city of just 70,000!!!  If you follow Argentine news, you may have heard that the presidents husband, probably the most powerful person in Argentine politics, died of a massive heart attack just five days after he was in Chivilcoy.

Debbie, Rocio (one of our youth), Danny and Kristi

A literal sea of people spilling into the plaza (left) and filling the entire width of a four lane avenue.  The municipal palace is seen in the background.

View of the platform

Flags and hats are worn by syndicate members.  Argentina has very powerful syndicates.

Four thousand students from local schools were present to sing.  Some of our own youth were in the group seen on the steps of the Catholic Church in the background holding flags.

President Kirchner comes onto the platform (far left in tan outfit)

A large screen in front of where we stood gives a close up view of the politicians, with Mrs. Kirchner and her now deceased husband on the right.