2008 Fall Edition

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you all for being so supportive and encouraging to us throughout our time serving in Poland. Our last few weeks there have truly been a blessing and the Lord made it a fruitful experience. We are thankful for the time that He gave us with all those we co-labored with both in Radom and Olsztyn and for those we served by His grace. Though we went to Olsztyn with the intent of planting a church it is clear that God chose to use our time to sow and water seeds into the hearts of a few. Looking back we truly feel not a moment of our time was wasted. We pray that the Lord would continue to grow Marcin and Kinga (pictured with us on the right), Radek and Ula, Bartek and Beata, Malgosia, and others we were able to minister to in His grace. (FYI: If you click on any of the pics they will get bigger for your viewing pleasure.)

As we begin this new chapter of our lives we ask that you continue with us in prayer as the Lord leads us in this new work. The following is an update of recent events and future ones as well.

Siegen Trip... We had a wonderful time with our friends and fellow co-laborers in Christ in Siegen. Suzie was sick with a tedious, slow going, bronchitis for the whole entire time but the Lord was faithful to bless our time despite that. The Lord even provided a Christian Doctor to see her, and treat her for free. Even though we went to Siegen to show Radek and Ula the school, the Lord was so faithful to refresh us as well. Radek and Ula also had a great time. David Guzik the director of the Bible college introduced them to a Polish lady and her friend that come to the Monday night study that he teaches. After the bible study that night Radek and Ula had an opportunity to be used by the Lord and minister to this women and her friend for a few hours in the coffee bar. They were so blessed to have a chance to serve and were excited to be used as that is always there hearts. We found out that there is a huge Polish community in Siegen which excited Radek and Ula. After talking with this Polish lady the rest of the week they kept coming up with different ideas and talking about how they could reach out and minister to the Poles in Siegen if they move there next year. It was cool to hear them get so excited. They haven't even moved yet and they are already thinking of ways they can serve at the church. There are a couple different options that were presented to Radek for him to pray about and we have know doubts that the Lord will show them both. Their hearts are for His will in their lives and that's the one thing about them that we appreciate most. They want the Lords will, they will pray and seek to know it and in turn be obedient to His call.

We'd like to personally thank those serving at CCBC Siegen, David & Inga-Lill Guzik, and our friends Ben Vizcarra, Anja Kell, Katia (in the coffee bar :) ,Dameria, Julia, Helga, Andrew & Miriam & Sven & Sylvia as well as those we just met, for making us feel so welcome and opening your homes and hearts up to us while we were there. Most of all and more importantly we thank you for making our friends Radek and Ula feel so welcome. You treated them like "royalty" as they both put it. They had nothing but positive things to say about each one of you, the church and school. In this short week, there is a lasting impression and a witness that you all have made and that says a lot. We praise the Lord for the representation of Jesus Christ in the church as well as what was displayed in your lives. We look forward to seeing you all again in the future as we feel very close to the church in Siegen and friends we have made there. Thank you guys very much! (Andrew & Miriam Rann, Radek & Ula and Us pictured on left).

Moving Forward... As you all know we made our official move to Italy on November 21. Bratislava was our half way mark so we made it a point to stop and visit with Patrick & Ivetka Higgins and their two boys. We met them awhile back ago at a missions conference. Since then they have begun teaching a home Bible study in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. We stayed for the weekend and we attended their Sunday service which Frank taught at. After, we had a time of fellowship with another family that comes to the study. Their names are Akihito & Kieko Sano, they are from Japan and work near Bratislava.They had told us that they found out we were coming and Kieko decided to make everyone homemade sushi.This was a huge treat for both of us as it is one of our favorites! Please keep the Higgins family in your prayers and what the Lord is doing in Bratislava through them. God is bringing people, so may the Lord give them wisdom and hearts to minister to them.

New Ministry, New Team, New Country... Here is a look at our new ministry and country we will be serving in. As you all know we made it here safely last Monday, November 24th after a very long drive complete with a heavy dumping of snow in the Austrian/Italian mountains. When we arrived we were greeted with the warmest hospitality ever from Bob & Lori Scata serving in Treviso. They presented there home as if it were ours and what a blessing it has been. Our stuff made it safely as well on the moving truck two days early for only $700. This was an amazingly cheap price.

On a culinary note, one taste of Italy that permeates throughout the country and walls of every city is, PASTA, PASTA, PASTA!!! Everywhere we went we smelled it and ate it! We are pacing ourselves but walking as much as possible. Every time we walk out into the hallway of the Scata apartment it smells like a high-end Italian restaurant when in fact it is only a neighbor throwing something together for lunch for their family, NO KIDDING! Since arriving here we've had several opportunities to meet with the new team that we will be serving with as well as getting a little taste of the Bible college and other local ministries.

We had asked you to pray for a few events that were happening. The praise report is, they all went well. Suzie & I both shared at individual studies they have at the Bible college on Wednesday for the guys and girls. Frank also taught Psalm 20 at the mid-week study at CC Montebelluna and John 11 at CC Treviso on Sunday morning. Both were a blessing and a neat chance to be apart of both churches.

Thanksgiving lasted a bit longer :) We got together at CC Montebelluna for a great feast with all the trimmings. We had a neat opportunity to see all the missionaries serving in the north of Italy come together as well as several people in the air force that attend CC Treviso. The added bonus was these guys were able to get "American" items needed for this dinner at the store on base. Later that week on Sunday we again came together with the CC Treviso crew and church. We had another stuffing meal! After service we were all invited over to a couples house who work in Treviso. They hosted this banquet again with everything you could imagine and a little foosball after. Through the day we played some fun games and enjoyed each others fellowship. Needless to say we might not eat for a few days. Please enjoy the slide show below of our Thanksgiving.

To give you an idea of what is happening as far as ministries in Italy. There are four established Calvary Chapels, one CC church plant and a new CC Bible college in Italy. CC Montebelluna (the first CC in Italy) is pastored by Craig Quam, CC Treviso is pastored by Mark Nigro, CC Feltre (as of now is still pastored by Craig Quam ), & CC church plant, Padova which was originally planted by Craig Quam and has recently been handed over to Jim & Margie Stewart to pastor. Prior to serving here they were in Hungary where Jim pastored the CC in Baja. There is also a Calvary Chapel in Rome pastored by Brent Harrell. The new Bible College is directed by Brian Cambra. As of now there are about 13 students. They will be completing their first semester on December 19th. Please pray for the preparations for the upcoming semester as it will be a busy one. All of the ministries that we have mentioned above God is working mightily through and we are excited to be apart of each of them in anyway the Lord allows. It is so neat to see the fruit and growth in each of these churches and how some of them are even out growing there buildings. There are over 100 people attending CC Montebelluna alone. CC Treviso is in need of a bigger building as their children's ministry is too small for all the kids as well as adults. What a wonderful problem to have!

We know the Lord brought us here to Italy. As we begin our new ministry we pray for grace to get familiar with the language, culture, and our new co-laborers. One thing our experience in Poland has taught us is to be flexible and without expectations beyond simply trusting in the Lord to do His will. With that, we are of course are open to whatever the Lord has for us now and in the years to come!

We have one week left until we return to the States for our furlough. Over this next week we plan on doing some more things at the Bible college and have begun making arrangements for the housing we will need when we return in April.

Furlough plans... Our main focus while back will be to rest, enjoy our family and friends, and also obtain our Italian visas. In addition to these things we will also do whatever we can to prepare ourselves for this new country, language and ministry. We will be attending the missions conference from January 5-8 in Murrieta, CA. Also CCCM will be hosting Meet the Missionary day at the church on January 10th which we will be attending as well. This is usually a fun filled day with booths representing ministries from all over the world as well as wonderful guest speakers and great fellowship. They truly go all out for us and we are always blessed to be apart of it.

Some important things to pray for...

1. Our flight: We leave December 8th but have a 24 hour layover in England. Please pray for safe travels and getting to our connection on time the next day. We will be arriving in Los Angeles on the 9th around 3 pm.

2. Fruitful time while we are back: We look forward to enjoying the fellowship of the various churches who support us both financially and through prayer. We pray the Lord's blessing upon the open doors we have received to share about the work, and to minister. We also pray for new opportunities as well to be a blessing in whatever way we can.

3. Financial provision: We will have many expenses while in the States and when we return. Move in costs in Italy are very high. We are also in need of a new laptop as ours is older and is quickly fizzling. Most of the guys working in this area are using Macs so we are hoping to purchase one also, as that would allow us to share information more effectively.

4. Health: Good health while we are back. Suzie's cough is getting better. Also pray for opportunities to see doctors for different health needs Suzie has, as well as any needed X-Rays. Our insurance only covers emergencies while in the States.

5. Suitable housing in Italy: We would like a place large enough to house guests and use for ministry purposes in the location the Lord wants us in. Most places in Italy are completely unfurnished which means the kitchen too (i.e. no cupboards, sinks, nothing!!) and no light fixtures except wires in the walls so you can put something in yourself. We are looking and praying for a place with a furnished kitchen at least. We know the Lord will provide the means to buy what we need for our new home, when the need arises.

6. Family: We ask the Lord to bless us with special times with our families, especially in light of the loss of our brother-in-law. Also pray for our continuous blessing upon our marriage, that God would give us continuous unity in the Spirit in all that lay ahead. The Lord is so good!

7. Last but not least: We ask for your prayers for our friends listed on the sidebar of this blog. In future blogs there will always be new missionaries and ministries every time we update the blogsite whom you can pray for in addition to the work that the Lord has us doing. We'd like to point out two people especially. First can you please pray for our friend Anja Kell that will be leaving to Israel in January for 9 months or so to help in the work at the Calvary in Tel-Aviv. She has such an awesome heart to serve in whatever way and we are blessed to pray for her. She will be getting married to our friend Janos Hench when she returns which we are also blessed to hear. We ask that you pray that God would guide and protect her while she is there and come home safe to her future husband and church family in Siegen, Germany. Second, we ask that you pray for our dear friend Mary Rogers who has been serving in Radom, Poland for the last two years and has recently been called to Lahinch, Ireland. There she will be doing whatever the Lord calls her to do as well as co-laboring with the saints from the different CC's in Ireland. As of now she is headed back to the States for a furlough in mid December 08'. She will be there for two months and then move officially to Ireland. Please pray for her trip, furlough, & the time of preparation the Lord has for her also that the Lord would provide for all her needs!

Thank you all for reading and for your faithfulness to be a part of the work the Lord has called us to. We appreciate you standing in the gap!

May God Bless You All and Keep You in His Grace,

Frank & Suzie Gonzalez