It has been a month, a week, and a day since our last update and some of you may be wondering where has the Bonilla-Giovanetti family gone... Much has happened and we will do our best to summarize it, yet this will be more a newsletter than a journal entry.

We experienced Pentecost Sunday in San Carlos where we dealt with the practical implications of living out John 15:7-17 and had "onces" together after the service. Marcelita was having her fifth birthday that day; more to rejoice about.

The following weekend we had an invitation to Coronel for a couples' gathering. Before getting to it, we visited Tata Hector, whose birthday was the following day, and Tia Marisol with Pastor Oscar. What a joy to see Tata Hector walking, with assistance, around the whole table area! You might remember him from previous journals. He still needs to recover more movement but walks with help. He is at home for the weekends and receives physical therapy at the hospital. Please continue to pray for him.

What was announced as a couples' gathering, and to us an opportunity to share in Chabelita and Mirtza's birthdays, ended up being a surprise belated birthday party for Mayra… They had been meaning to celebrate her 40th but she was in Puerto Rico at the time and this year was away on time off. Visits to Coronel since March had been for particular requests and brief, so they had to devise this to get us there for such a loving purpose. We had a wonderful time and we all were able to share from the heart the love we feel for each other. What a lovely night…

A week later, for Father's Day, we were in San Carlos with the added blessing of having Mama Olga with us. Daniela's second birthday was the following day so the Chilean grandmother came from Santiago to prepare a delicious cake for her youngest granddaughter. The service was beautiful; with the beauty of a completely roofed and covered walls sanctuary! Pastor Rolando preached a powerful sermon on Acts 4:23-31 that Alberto had the blessing to read aloud (his first time in a service!), the kids presented a sketch illustrating the phases of relationships between a father and a son or a daughter (Carolina participated in it), and they gave presents to each Dad. We celebrated Daniela's birthday, with Mama Olga's cake for her, with our San Carlos family in a "once" after the service.

All of the above while struggling with on and off colds, laryngitis, and bronchitis we have had in rounds, consecutive, and in turns for weeks since end of April. All due to changes of season (fall-winter) and our readjustment to Chilean germs we left during our year in the US/PR. We are doing much better this week and accomplished some goals we had in other areas. Your prayers are coveted to completely recover and stay healthy for the rest of the winter that has just begun.

Alberto and Carolina finished their first semester of home schooling materials for fourth and first grade, respectively. Daniela, now two, is adding to her bilingual vocabulary almost by the minute and is completely mobile (and fast!). Her pediatrician was in awe at her check up to see how fast she is developing. We have particularly loved seeing Alberto and Carolina's spiritual growth through their studying materials and are grateful to see them at work in their interactions and participation in church.

During this "at home" time, we completed our analysis of the students at the Institute that need mentoring to complete their degree. With Dean Susan Callinnir, we have decided to share the mentorship of four of the six students closer to graduation. Carlos will mentor Lord Merino and Raul Olivares in Temuco and Mayra will mentor Isaac Venegas and Nidia Alvarado in Cerro Verde. This means that we will have two students each to prepare for at least four classes a semester plus some extras so they can complete their program by December 2007. There is a lot ahead of us and them! The other students are Isaias Sanchez in Concepcion and Ramon Henriquez in Laja. We have a meeting soon to finalize details. When we get newer pics of these students, we will share with you so you can put a face to the name and be praying for them for the next 18 months. It is exciting to see this possibility come closer to fruition with the hope for these to be leaders in Mision Chilena that will help in its growth and nurture of new disciples of Jesus, and strong and healthy churches.

We have also been working on organizing some materials for leadership training that we will be using in upcoming workshops in the churches and district meetings. We need to work on some translations before we can use these sound biblical tools that will be helpful to the Mision Chilena constituency.

As we look ahead, we also look back and reflect on this past year. Today we celebrate our sixth anniversary as your ABFMS Missionaries and MKs to Chile; much has happened since we were commissioned. There have been changes since then. The most radical one is our relationship model, which now allows us to journey together, in a closer bond, with each of you (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12). Some of you have joined us recently, some during this first year back in Chile, some during our US/PR assignment, some from our commissioning, and some have been with us even from before then… Yet, because of you being a part of our Missionary Partnership Team and Network, a.k.a. The A Family Net, we have journeyed together this last year in events, activities, and places like:

· Our return to Chile in July 2005

· Nubia's death (Carlos' Mom) in September

· Rolando Saez pastoral ordination

· Ismael Neveu Lectureship sponsored by the Institute

· Evangelism campaign "Hay Vida en Jesus" with the Mapuche churches

· Central District Women's Retreat in Batuquito

· Indiana Team visit to Coronel and The Lakes Region

· Mision Chilena annual meetings

· Discovery Team, San Carlos construction

· Ohio Team, San Carlos construction

· Job Isla's death

· Workshops to Monte de Sion Church in Traiguen

· Workshops to Central District Women's Gathering in Cerro Verde

· Workshops to Southern District Mision Chilena churches in Curacautin

· Visits to Coronel

· The life of the church in San Carlos and their/your construction process

Our health and the weather will keep us closer to home the next couple of weeks, in which we will continue preparing for our students at the Institute and for the upcoming workshops and visits already scheduled throughout the whole semester. We really need to prepare physically, academically, spiritually, and financially for the demands of this coming semester and we trust God to provide each of our needs. It is amazing the ways He chooses to show us His love and care, for which we are grateful.

We have enjoyed sharing with you this year's adventures, and have enjoyed receiving feedback from a good number of you. It has meant a world of a difference to us, especially these last couple of weeks as we have felt overwhelmed with our recurring illnesses, asking ourselves the whys of our being here, and the what are we here for, the for whom are we here for, the how are we blessing our brothers and sisters in the States and Puerto Rico by sharing with you our lives in the midst of our brothers and sisters in Chile, the how are we blessing our brothers and sisters in Chile by being in their midst and connecting them with brothers and sisters in the States and Puerto Rico. In fact, we must include those internationals out of the US/PR radio, who are also accompanying us in this journey… Each time you get in touch with us, you help us fine tune our own discipleship journey and missionary training.

This week we were re-energized by a "skype call" with two of our team members who helped us sort through some of the many challenges of being a missionary, developing relationships with individuals and churches, how to meet the financial challenges our mission society faces which affect each missionary unit, and also took some time to continue planning to receive 28 of you (14 from our network and 14 from the Bolicks' network) next Jan 2-15, 2007. After that skype call, the discouragement and blues vanished; for they became the giant slayers we heard about on our last visit to Bridgeton, NJ (message we heard again by tape in our time of need and helped us put things in perspective and refocus). We tend to share more often our success stories, yet since we are human beings there are also discouragement and challenging episodes in our missionary life to share with you.

We know of at least half of the participants from our network, and you can still join us. Those who come will meet at least four Mision Chilena churches including, for those who come with our network, the San Carlos church, and participate in the inauguration of the facilities many of you have helped build with your prayers, your gifts, and even your own hands. You will also participate in one- or two-day projects with each church. Half way through, we will swap teams with the Bolicks so that each network will have time with each missionary family to learn and participate in their ministries. Get in touch with our Energizer, Dick Sharber <dsharber@verizon.net> to get the details and sign up. We pray we can see many of you in January!

Before that comes, please pray about having us in your church this fall. No, we will not be able to do that physically, but still want to be available to visit with you via "phone-" or "skype-a-mission" (ask us how). We can coordinate with you to have an audio call on a mutually agreed date and spend some time sharing with you and your church about our ministries and your ministry opportunities in Chile. Colleagues on their US/PR assignment year and others from the field will be available to visit you and we urge you to warmly welcome them with the love and care you have shared for us. Hopefully we all can work out a way to be together, physically, for next year's blitz…

Each of you makes possible this sixth anniversary with ABFMS through your prayers, your emails, your love, and your care. Your generosity and gifts for Ongoing Support of the Bonilla Family (a.k.a. Targeted Giving) help cover our living allowance, medical insurance, and retirement benefits. Your World Mission Offering contributions allow us and our colleagues around the world to cover all other costs (like housing, utilities, transportation, education, work funds, etc.) [Refer to IMU April 2006, Vol. 11 No. 4] Both are essential to continue ministering with and to thousands of brothers and sisters around the world. These gifts, your prayers, emails, love, and care fuel our daily life and help us dream and envision projects for the future. We are grateful to God for your faithfulness to Him as you provide for our needs, and for allowing us to be His and your hands, feet, ears, eyes, and mouths in this land. Philippians 1:3-6 best describes how we feel about you… How about you?

To learn more about us and our colleagues and to share previous journals, please visit us at http://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries_directory.asp where you will find profiles and journals of each of your ABFMS missionaries around the world.

Until next time, enjoying the adventure,

The Bonilla-Giovanetti family

"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

Noticias a La Familia H de los Bonilla Giovanetti:

Invernando: Tiempo de Reflexionar

Sabado, 1 de julio de 2006

Ha pasado un mes, una semana y un dia desde el mensaje anterior y algunos se deberan estar preguntando donde se han ido los Bonilla Giovanetti... Han pasado varias cosas que trataremos de resumir, pero esta sera mas una carta que una anotacion del diario.

Experimentamos Domingo de Pentecostes en San Carlos donde manejamos las implicaciones practicas de vivir a Juan 15:7-17 y tuvimos onces juntos tras el culto. Marcelita estaba cumpliendo cinco annos; mas rezones para celebrar juntos.

El fin de semana siguiente nos invitaron a Coronel a una reunion de matrimonios. Antes de llegar, visitamos al Tata Hector, que cumplia al siguiente dia, y a la Tia Marisol con el Pastor Oscar. Que alegria ver al Tata Hector caminando, con ayuda, alrededor del area de la mesa! Lo recordaran de mensajes anteriores. Todavia necesita oracion para recuperarse pero ya puede caminar algo. Esta en su casa los fines de semana y recibe terapia fisica en el hospital. Sigamos orando por el.

Lo que se anuncio como reunion de parejas, y para nosotros los cumpleannos de Chabelita y Mirtza, termino siendo una sorpresa atrasada de cumples de Mayra… Ellos querian celebrarle los 40 pero estaba en Puerto Rico en ese anno y este anno estaba en tiempo de receso. Las visitas a Coronel desde marzo habian sido a situaciones puntuales y muy breves asi que recurrieron a esta excusa para lograr tan hermoso proposito. Tuvimos un momento lindo y todos pudimos compartir del corazon el amor que sentimos mutuamente. Que hermosa noche…

Una semana despues, para el Dia del Padre, estuvimos en San Carlos con la bendicion de tener a Mama Olguita con nosotros. El segundo cumples de Daniela era al dia siguiente y su abuelita chilena vino de Santiago a prepararle un delicioso bizcocho a su mas joven nietecita. El culto fue hermoso; con la belleza adicional de un templo completamente techado y cubierto. El pastor Rolando predico de Hechos 4:23-31, texto que Alberto leyo (su primera vez en un culto!), los chicos presentaron un drama ilustrando las fases de las relaciones entre padres e hijos e hijas (Carolina participo en el), y luego hubo regalos a los padres. Celebramos el cumples de Dani, con el bizcocho de Mama Olguita, con nuestra familia sancarlina en una "once" despues del culto.

Todo lo anterior mientras luchamos con recurrentes resfriados, faringitis y bronquitis que hemos tenido en turno, a la vez y consecutivamente desde fines de abril. Esto por los cambios (otonno-invierno) y nuestro reajuste a los germenes chilenos que nos extrannaron durante el anno en EE.UU./PR. Estamos empezando a sentirnos mejor y pudimos cumplir otras metas en agenda. Sus oraciones son muy apreciadas para recobrarnos completamente.

Alberto y Carolina completaron su primer semestre de material de estudio en casa del cuarto y primer grado, respectivamente. Dani, con dos, sigue annadiendo vocabulario bilingue casi por minuto y es completamente movil (y rapida!). Su pediatra esta sorprendida de la rapidez de su desarrollo sicomotor. Estamos disfrutando mucho ver el crecimiento espiritual de Alberto y Carolina a traves de sus estudios y estamos agradecidos de verlos en accion en sus interacciones y participaciones de iglesia.

Durante este tiempo en casa, completamos el analisis de estudiantes del Instituto que necesitan completar sus diplomas. Con la decana Susan Callinnir, decidimos compartir la mentoria de cuatro de los seis estudiantes. Carlos estara con Lord Merino y Raul Olivares en Temuco y Mayra con Isaac Venegas y Nidia Alvarado en Cerro Verde. Esto significa que cada uno tendra dos alumnos para quienes preparar al menos cuatro clases por semestre mas extras para que se graduen en diciembre de 2007. Hay mucho por delante para ellos y nosotros! Los otros dos alumnus son Isaias Sanchez en Concepcion y Ramon Henriquez en Laja. Tenemos una reunion pronto para finalizar detalles. Cuando tengamos fotos recientes de estos estudiantes, se las enviamos para que pongan los nombres con las fotos y puedan orar por ellos los proximos 18 meses. Es emocionante ver esta posibilidad mas cerca de concretarse con la esperanza que sean lideres en Mision Chilena que aporten al crecimiento y discipulado de nuevos seguidores de Jesus y de iglesias fuertes y saludables.

Tambien estamos organizando materiales de adiestramiento de lideres que estaremos usando en los talleres que se avecinan con iglesias y distritos. Tenemos que hacer varias traducciones antes de poder usar estas herramientas biblicas que esperamos sean utiles para la membresia de Mision Chilena.

Mirar al futuro nos hace detenernos y reflexionar del anno que pasa. Hoy celebramos nuestro sexto aniversario como ABFMS Misioneros y MKs en Chile; mucho ha pasado desde que nos comisionaron. Han habido cambios desde entonces. El mas radical es el modelo relacional, que nos permite caminar juntos, en un lazo mas estrecho, con cada uno de ustedes (Eclesiastes 4:10-12). Algunos de ustedes se han unido recientemente, algunos durante este anno de reajuste en Chile, algunos desde nuestro tiempo en EE.UU./PR, algunos desde que nos comisionaron, y algunos aun desde antes… Y es porque forman parte de nuestra Red y Equipo de Coparticipacion Misionera, conocida como la Red de La Familia H, hemos estado juntos este ultimo anno en los siguientes eventos, actividades y lugares:

· Nuestro regreso a Chile en julio 2005

· La muerte de Nubia (la mama de Carlos) en septiembre

· La ordenacion pastoral de Rolando Saez

· Catedra Ismael Neveu auspiciada por el Instituto

· Campanna evangelistica "Hay Vida en Jesus" con las iglesias Mapuche

· Retiro en Batuquito con la Union Femenil, Distrito Central

· Visita a Coronel y Region de Los Lagos de Equipo de Indiana

· Asamblea Annual de Mision Chilena

· Construccion en San Carlos, Discovery Team

· Construccion en San Carlos, Equipo de Ohio

· Muerte de Job Isla Sandoval

· Talleres en Iglesia Monte de Sion en Traiguen

· Talleres en Cerro Verde con la Union Femenil, Distrito Central

· Talleres en Curacautin con Iglesias Mision Chilena, Distrito del Sur

· Visitas a Coronel

· La vida de la iglesia en San Carlos y su proceso de construccion

Nuestra salud y el clima nos mantendran en casa por las proximas semanas en las cuales continuaremos preparandonos para los alumnos del Instituto y para los proximos talleres y visitas programados por el resto del semester. Necesitamos prepararnos fisica, academica, espiritual y financieramente para las demandas de este proximo semestre y confiamos que Dios proveera para todas nuestras necesidades. Es asombroso ver como El nos muestra Su amor y cuidados y estamos agradecidos.

Hemos disfrutado compartir con ustedes este anno de aventuras y hemos disfrutado recibir mensajes de muchos de ustedes. Han hecho una gran diferencia, especialmente en semanas pasadas que nos sentimos abrumados por enfermedades recurrentes, preguntandonos los por ques de estar aqui, los para que estamos aqui, los para quien estamos aqui, los como estamos bendiciendo a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en EE.UU. y PR al compartirles nuestras vidas en medio de sus hermanos y hermanas en Chile, los como estamos bendiciendo a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Chile al estar en su medio y conectandoles a hermanos y hermanas en EE.UU. y PR. De hecho, debemos incluir internacionales, fuera del radio de EE.UU./PR que nos acompannan en esta travesia… Cada vez que se comunican con nosotros nos ayudan a refinar nuestra travesia de discipulado y entrenamiento misionero.

Esta semana nos reenergizamos con una "llamada skype" con dos miembros de nuestro equipo que nos ayudaron a discutir de los desafios de ser misioneros, desarrollar relaciones con individuos e iglesias, como cumplir con desafios economicos que nuestra sociedad misionera vive que afectan a cada unidad misionera, y tambien afinamos la planificacion para recibir a 28 de ustedes (14 de nuestra red y 14 de la red de los Bolick) en Ene 2-15, 2007. Despues de esa llamada skype, el gigante llamado desaliento desaparecio; ellos se convirtieron en los aplasta-gigantes mencionados en una ultima visita a Bridgeton, NJ (mensaje que escuchamos en nuestro momento de necesidad y nos ayudo a poner las cosas en perspectiva). Tendemos a compartir las historias de exito, pero somos seres humanos que tambien sufrimos episodios de desaliento y desafios en nuestra vida misionera que ustedes tambien deben compartir.

Sabemos de la mitad de los participantes de nuestra red, todavia hay espacios. Quienes vengan conoceran al menos cuatro iglesias de Mision Chilena, incluyendo la iglesia en San Carlos, y participaran en la inauguracion del edificio que muchos de ustedes han ayudado a construir con oraciones, ofrendas y hasta sus propias manos. Tambien participaran en proyectos de uno o dos dias con cada iglesia. A mitad de estadia, intercambiaremos equipos con los Bolicks para que cada red tenga tiempo con cada familia misionera y conozca sus ministerios. Comuniquense con nuestro Energizador, Dick Sharber <dsharber@verizon.net> para conocer detalles y anotarse. Oramos poder ver a muchos en enero!

Pero antes, oren acerca de tenernos en su iglesia este otonno. No, no podemos estar fisicamente pero podemos visitarles a traves de una "llamada-a-la-mision" por telefono o skype (preguntennos como). Podemos coordinar para tener una llamada en una fecha apropiada para ambos y compartir con ustedes y sus iglesias acerca de nuestros ministerios y las oportunidades de ministerio para ustedes en Chile. Colegas en su anno de EE.UU./PR y otros desde el campo misionero estaran disponibles para visitarles y les animamos a recibirles amorosamente, como lo hacen con nosotros. Quiera el Sennor que el proximo anno podamos coordinarnos para estar fisicamente con ustedes en esta epoca…

Cada uno de ustedes hacen possible este sexton aniversario con ABFMS con sus oraciones, sus emails, su amor y sus cuidados. Su generosidad y ofrendas para el Apoyo Continuo de la Familia Bonilla (conocido como Targeted Giving) ayuda en nuestro sostenimiento, seguro medico y plan de retiro. Su Ofrenda Misionera Mundial nos ayuda a nosotros y nuestros colegas a cubrir otros gastos (como vivienda, servicios, transportacion, educacion, fondos de trabajo, etc.) [Referirse al IMU Abril 2006, Vol. 11 No. 4] Ambos son esenciales para continuar ministrando con y a miles de hermanos y hermanas alrededor del mundo. Sus ofrendas, sus oraciones, emails, amor y cuidados alimentan nuestra vida diaria y nos permiten sonar y proyectarnos al futuro. Estamos agradecidos de Dios por su fidelidad a El al proveer para nuestras necesidades y permitirnos ser Sus manos, pies, oidos, ojos y bocas en esta tierra. Filipenses 1:3-6 describe bien como nos sentimos… Que piensan ustedes?

Para conocer mas de nosotros y nuestros colegas y compartir notas anteriores, visitenos enhttp://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries_directory.asp donde encontraran perfiles y notas de cada uno y cada una de sus misioneros y misioneras alrededor del mundo.

Hasta la proxima, disfrutando la aventura,

La Familia Bonilla Giovanetti

"Pero cuando venga el Espiritu Santo sobre ustedes, recibiran poder y seran mis testigos tanto en Jerusalen como en toda Judea y Samaria, y hasta los confines de la tierra."
Hechos 1:8