Second Annual Pastor´s and Leader´s Conference
Nearly seventy men gathered at a UCB (our National fellowship) camp in the Andean foothills south of Santiago, Chile for three days of excellent spiritual challenge and instruction. A heart felt thanks to our Chilean brethren for rolling out the red carpet! This historic conference was the second such event for pastors and leaders from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in the 85 year history of the GMSA.


Our group of 11 men traveled in caravan in two vans from Buenos Aires, leaving Chivilcoy at 2 a.m. Monday morning the 20th. After picking up a colleague in Mendoza, we made the Andean crossing arriving in Santiago, Chile around 7:30 p.m.

At nearly 13,000 feet elevation!


The occupants of my van (less me!) are pictured above on the Chilean side. Left to right: Missionary Tim Goossen, Pastor Julio Llagarias, missionary Harold Goossen, youth leader from Chivilcoy Martin Gorosito, Pastor Guillermo Converti.

The trip down the west side was impressive to some of our men who had never been over the Andes. There are 30 switchbacks heading down the mountains.


The weather was gorgeous and the view in every direction was pretty much as seen in this picture.

In addition to heart challenges from the Word and instruction on teaching from the Old Testament, each night had a special service. One night was a song service, the following night we exchanged written prayer requests with four others and prayed together and the last night had a testimony time.

We departed Thursday night the 23rd. after supper and arrived home the next day at 7 p.m.! We praise the Lord for His protection over the many miles traveled (around 1,500). As we left Santiago to come home my alternator gave out! I´m grateful for my colleague Colby Holmes who graciously and patiently worked together with me trading batteries back and forth until we arrived home in Chivilcoy!

Thank you to all of you who prayed for us during this important event!

September and October

Driver´s Ed!!! One of the fringe benefits of living away from metropolitan Buenos Aires (14 million people) is the opportunity it affords for the kids to learn to drive in a more calm setting. If you´ve visited us you understand what we mean! Andy, at 17 is gaining experience behind the wheel. Lord willing, in the fall of next year he will be attending Northland Baptist Bible College.


As a family we often spend part of our Monday working on projects at camp and kicking back a little. It´s a great opportunity to use the new fire pit! The fact that we roasted hot dogs is a good indication that we had no Argentine visitors!! Hot dogs would be out!

Our kids are always gracious about taking the most flattering pictures possible of us!


September 21st. marked the first day of spring in Argentina. Traditionally youth all over the country celebrate an unofficial holiday from school and spend the day in parks and recreational areas drinking mate and playing sports. This year the 21st. fell on a Sunday! Our youth met after church for pizza and fellowship (below).

(Andy and Kristi play the guitar)

Another baby shower. In the last few years we´ve had a bumper crop of babies!! Marcela DeGodos, wife of one of our youth leaders, was surprised by the ladies of the church recently. Pray for Marcela, who has been prescribed bed rest by her doctor until her baby is born by caesarean in November.

Ladies prepare to storm Marcela´s house with a surprise baby shower. Marcela opening gifts.

October 4- 7 we enjoyed the visit of GMSA General Director, Terry Thompson and his wife Carol. Pray for Terry and Carol as the visit missionaries in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile until the end of the month.

Debbie, Carol Thompson and Lois Kenney sing special music at church in Chivilcoy.

Terry Thompson preaching in Sunday School and Church.

Be sure and take a minute to visit the link to right to see progress at the camp site.

July - August Blessings!
We enjoy the friendship, fellowship and the mutual encourgement of missionary colleagues and visitors throughout the year. We´re grateful to the Lord for the Mission house we administrate that provides plenty of space for visitors. In July we enjoyed the visit of first term colleauges from Uruguay, Andy and Kolette Thompson and their two children Josiah and Natalia.

Starting left: Debbie, Lois McAllister & Lois Kenney (colleagues in Chivilcoy), Nikki Fredette (student visitor from Northland Baptist Bible College), Andy, Danny, Josiah Thompson, Natalia Thompson (hidden), kristi, Kolette and Andy Thompson (missionaries in Uruguay).

On July 2nd. Tom turned a whopping 43 years old!


On July 23rd. short term missionary Julio Method and Angela Flores (chilean p.k.) arrived for few days visit! Julie was finishing her second short term in Chile before returning to Florida where she teaches in a Christian school.

Angela Flores, Julie Method and Dámaris Pérez (a youth from the Chivilcoy Bible Center)

On Sunday July 27th. at four a.m. we were bleary-eyed, but waiting expectantly for Kati and Grampa Gibbons to come through customs in Buenos Aries!! Kati had been away for one year, almost to the day! Grandpa had not been in Argentina since 2002. We enjoyed a faboulous four and a half weeks together.


Left to right: Grandpa Gibbons, Danny, Tom, Debbie, Katie, Kristi and Andy

Kati shares a testimony at church about her first year away from home at Bible Institute.


Kati, Natalie Holmes, Kristi and Pamela Buasso sing special music. Natalie and Pamela were visiting from Buenos Aires.

One of our family get-aways while Kati and Grandpa were here was a day trip to Temaikén, a beautiful zoo about two hours away.

Grandpa seemed to have a great time, but we thought maybe our daily pace was a little taxing for him!!!!

Below Grandpa takes a trip down memory lane looking over our neightbor´s 1929 Ford!


Debbie and the kids use their music talent in Sunday School and church