All Roads Lead to Rome

After surviving the Christmas Eve blizzard and escaping the Arctic freeze that hit Oklahoma City as I was departing, I pretty much felt like I was in the tropics when I arrived in 50-degree Rome on Saturday morning. I am so happy to be back in Italy and able to resume my work with the Avanti Italia program! God worked out all the details of my return, as a meeting to plan the summer camps was being held in Rome that very afternoon, and a couple friends from Vicenza were in attendance. They picked me up from the airport, and having a ride home that night saved me 5+ hours' worth of train rides with all my luggage! We had lunch at the home of a wonderful family from the church in Rome, and then while the others went to the meeting at church, I got some much-needed sleep. Apparently I was volunteered to help in several areas; I cannot wait for camp to come in June! On the way home we stopped for dinner at a gas station and ran into the Avanti Italia people from Florence: David, Debbie, Emily, and Jillian! They had also been at the camp meeting, and I was so excited to see them! Later this week I will be going to Florence to take care of some legal paperwork, so I look forward to visiting with them more as well as seeing my other friends and English students.

Sunday morning was a combined worship service; typically separate services are held in Italian and the Ghanaian language Twi. I enjoyed meeting many of the church members and am eager to get to know them all better. The last couple days I have spent a lot of time with Titus and Angie, who have been missionaries in Vicenza and are returning to the States tomorrow morning. They have been so wonderful in helping me get settled and introducing me to people, and I have enjoyed learning more about Vicenza from them and playing with their adorable little girls while they finished packing! One of Titus' English students called me today to see if he could continue his studies with me, so I am delighted to already have one student lined up!

This afternoon I signed the contract and received the keys to my apartment! Tomorrow I have to go put in a request for my utilities to be turned on, and I can start moving in. In the meantime I'm staying with a very kind and hospitable family from church. My apartment is in the center of town and basically down the street from our church building, so it will be very convenient.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and encouragement! I cannot wait to get settled in and begin my work here!