It is hard to believe that it has been five months since we left the States. We left Chile last year as such different people than when we arrived this year, with a new family member; Jack going through his first year in school, having forgotten most of his Spanish; and a whole year of experiences that changed us, and, hopefully, helped us to grow. We came back expecting to find the same Chile we left, only to realize that the people and places we knew had also gone through a year of changes—some good, some not so good.

Finding a house, adjusting to a new school, looking for Spanish tutors, finding doctors, and catching up with old friends seemed like a full-time job for the first three months. But God has been faithful to us and has shown us that the most important thing—relationships with people—only grows deeper and truer with time.

We were thrilled to see that the friends we had left behind were faithful to God, to the projects, and even to us while we were gone. The 15 beehives that Dwight left in the novice hands of new Mapuche beekeepers turned into 45 over the winter. The weaving group continued to meet while I was away and have worked hard to fulfill every commitment, though it has not been possible on the strict time table I naively established. But our people have been faithful to us in other, more profound ways. They believed us when we packed up everything and said, "Don't worry.We really will be back.Don't stop working." And they welcomed us back into their lives like family when we dropped back in. They waited patiently while we tried to sort out our complicated ex-patriot lives, and they've chipped in to help us get settled.They've left us asking ourselves, "Who needs who here?"

Before we came to the mission field we asked God to give us "work to do and people to love." He answered our prayer.Now we ask Him everyday to show us what He wants us to do here for our friends and His kingdom. He has been faithful to answer us as He opens new doors for ministry. As I write this, Dwight is away for a four day theological training in the Mapuche area. He is assisting Patty Cofre, from the Theological Institute of the Chilean Mission. It is a new project designed to help the Mapuche prepare for ministry in an environment contextualized to their learning style.

I just finished my second workshop with the women from my church in Santa Rosa on self-esteem issues. We started with our need for repentance and forgiveness—repentance for those acts we have committed that have damaged the self esteem of others, and forgiveness for what others have done to us. Today we shared our stories and mutually affirmed the gifts we see in each other.

• Please pray for this group as we continue to grow in unity and look for the purpose God has for our group in His redemptive work in Temuco.

And finally, but not least, you have been faithful to us. Through your quick e-mails, your interest and support for our projects, your prayers and financial gifts, you have affirmed to us that indeed God will provide all we need to complete the work He has given us to do. So now we start our great adventure, humbled by all we have been given, committed to being worthy of those who have been faithful to us, and expectant of all that Christ will do through us together: you, our Chilean friends and us.

With love,

The Bolick's - Barb and Dwight