Festa!

Despite a brief shower of hail this afternoon, spring seems to have finally arrived! We've been doing work in the backyard and planting flowers. It's been so much fun spending time outside preparing the yard to be a nice place to relax or have parties during the summer!

The word "festa" refers to both holidays and parties. We are now apparently in the season for lots of them! April 25 (Saturday) was Liberation Day, commemorating the Americans' rescue of Italy in World War II. That evening we had our friend Winter from Prato and our Nigerian friends from Empoli over for dinner! It was great to spend time with them, and Debbie made me an early birthday cake! Afterwards we went to a beautiful choir concert in Prato. My birthday yesterday was a fantastic and very special day! I am very blessed to have already made some wonderful friends who threw me a surprise party : ) Ermenita orchestrated the festivities, which included friends from church, English students, American and Catanian visitors to Florence, one of Sarah's delicious cakes, and thoughtful presents! May 1 (Friday) is Labor Day; my students are very excited about all these holidays because it means they get a day off from school!

Debbie departed for the States on Monday, and David will be joining her in a couple weeks. Their youngest daughter, Erica, is getting married in Searcy on May 23! They will then return to Italy in time for a conference at the Bible School the last weekend in May.

My Wednesday slate of students has changed entirely in the last week! The girlfriend of one of my students began studying with me last week; she is in high school and is very sweet. My other Wednesday students, a girlfriend and boyfriend who study together, told me today that they will be unable to come for the next month because they are very busy with all their exams. A few minutes after I found this out, another student showed up at the Bible School to take their time slot. She is the grandmother of David's eight-year-old student and wanted to come talk with me at the same time as his lesson, so it worked out perfectly!

My schedule is a combination of weekly events and different opportunities that arise. I am really enjoying getting to know the church members better and meeting more of them each week. A couple weeks ago I began helping in the children's class; when there are enough kids to have two classes, I am with the younger ones. They never cease to entertain me! Next week I will add one more English student on Tuesday. Several others have expressed an interest but have yet to set up appointments. A waitress at a local restaurant, a lady we met on the bus, and a friend of a student are all potential students!

Bologna conference on Easter Monday

Ladies' Prayer Breakfast at Liliana's