January - February 2009

Danny (piano - first time for a meeting) and Andy playing for the worship service in Chivilcoy.


Kati (piano) and Kristi (organ) getting ready for church.


"Fifth Sunday Fellowships"
Last year we implemented a "fifth Sunday fellowship service". Each month that has a fifth Sunday we set it aside for testimonies, favorites and a social. It´s been an encouragement to see the church family participate and hear how God is working in each life.



Some of the youth singing choruses new years eve at the camp project site in Chivilcoy.




Family camp was held for our 11 churches January 5 - 9. Around 140 were in attendance. The Gibbons campsite is seen below.


On the road again!

(above - our green van) January 19 traveling through the Andean foothills in Patagonia Argentina en route to southern Chile for the annual international GMSA Missionary conference.


(above, below) After the Andean crossing into Chile the road literally ended at a lake. Where the road ends there´s boat service 19 miles to the other end of the lake.




Andy gives his testimony at conference sharing with the missionary family about his plans to attend Northland Baptist Bible College in Wisconsin this fall.

Lake Calafquen with Mt. Villarica in the background. Notice the smoke coming from the crater! The Mission camp where conference is held is on the shores of this lake.

Missionaries enjoy a ride on the lake with many spectacular views.

Our conferences are working conferences, but there´s always some time for recreation.
(Above) - a game of volleyball, (below) a game of Rook.


The GMSA missionary family - January 2009


Fellowship - a coveted part of conference each year.

General Director, Terry Thompson enjoys a few minutes of fellowship with former General Director George Black (above). Below, Uncle George (as we know him), a church planter in northern Chile, shares his life testimony. He´s 101 years old and may very well be the oldest active fulltime missionary!!!


Our family. Missed and missing Kati (below)


Our return voyage with the Chamberlands. Waiting for the boat back to Argentina.


Progress!
Below - work underway on the first phase of our church building plan. It will include a multi-purpose room, kitchen and two bathrooms.

Pray for Diego Esquivel

If you receive our e-mail updates you know how to pray for Diego and his family.

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!