As 2007 has begun, we have some more items we would like to share with you for prayer and rejoicing. Pictures will be available on the yahoogroups site. You can also see them when posted at www.internationalministries.org.

* Mission to Chile 2007—MPT/N trip
* San Carlos—Inauguration
* Mision Chilena—Yearly meetings in L autaro
* San Carlos—Another Wedding
* Los Notros/Lanco—Workshops coming up
* Somewhere out there—Time off

A New Year has come and with it the visit of six brothers and sisters of The A Family Team & Network to Chile. January 3rd we were at the airport greeting Carol, Carolyn, Cori, Dan, Dick, and Kalyn joined us by bus. They represented NJ, IN, and NY. On our next journal we will be including some quotes from each of them after being in Chile with us and the Bolicks. It was a great encouragement for us and the churches they visited (Nueva El Redentor, San Carlos, Monte de Sion, El Carmen, Lanco, Curihue, and La Siembra) to have fellowship together and work together to accomplish some projects and goals.

As part of their visit, these American Baptists participated in the dedication of the new building in San Carlos that so many of you have been a part of. On January 7th we gathered in an overflowing sanctuary to celebrate His faithfulness to us in providing for this congregation a place to pray, give, and be amazed by God.

These left and in came three more from IN/KY, Lee & Lynn Riggs, and Manuel Hernandez. The Riggs are veterans but it was Manuel’s first time. They came to share in Mision Chilena’s yearly meetings and sign a covenant of mission partnership between ABC-IN/KY and Mision Chilena. Manuel is the first Hispanic president of that Region and former ABFMS board member, as is Lee. We had a great time together in Lautaro where we shared with the Youth Convention (proposal to be shared soon), the Women’s National Convention and Women in Ministry as we celebrated the approval of ordination request for the first woman in Mision Chilena’s history—Margarita Campos—scheduled for February of 2008, and with our Mapuche brothers and sisters (as the Instituto Berea was returned to them after years under the umbrella of the ITB).

The Riggs and Hernandez made some visits with the Bolicks and then the Riggs went off to Coronel and Manuel came with us to San Carlos. He shared some workshops for the couples and almost made it to a wedding.
Another of those couples that has organized themselves are Miguel and Marisol (San Carlos). Carlos had the blessing to be the “father of the bride” and we all rejoiced at their commitment to the Lord, to each other, and their children.
It seems like the churches are catching up with the need to strengthen their families by strengthening their marriages. We are off to more weekend workshops in Los Notros and Lanco this month before taking some time off after this fruitful summer season. By the end of the month we will take a week off as a family to rest, refresh, and renew ourselves, and enjoy the beauties of this country.

Meanwhile, remember to continue to pray for the many ministry opportunities that are around you and us. Rejoice with us for what the Lord is already doing in our midst. And, recommit yourselves to His service in ways that will stretch your comfort zone and challenge your own surroundings. You will see what a blessing it is to be faithful and obedient.

Rejoicing and with gratitude,

Mayra for the Bonilla-Giovanetti family
Carlos & Mayra, and Alberto, Carolina & Daniela Bonilla
ABFMS Missionaries and MKs to Chile
theafamilynet@yahoo.com / CarMayBoni for Skype.com

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8