Mamma mia!

My mom came to visit me during all the volcanic ash chaos! She made it to Madrid without incident, as the northern European airports were the ones in crisis. Then northern Italy shut down, so she flew into Rome instead of Venice. By this point the trains were filling up, but I managed to get down to Rome to rescue her, and then we returned to Vicenza on an overnight train, arriving bright and early Sunday morning, so she was still able to go to church with me and meet everyone! Considering how many people got stranded or had their travel plans entirely disrupted, I am thankful that my mom was still able to make it with relatively little delay! The luggage, however, arrived five days later. When you don't have much with you (just what was in the carry-on), you realize how little you really can get by with.

To sum up the first week of her trip, which we spent in Vicenza, here's a quote from my mom: "I loved hanging out with you in your apartment and cooking, exploring Vicenza, and experiencing your life on a day-to-day basis, including attending church and seeing how you interact so creatively with the children in the Bible class, visiting with your adult English students, going to your ladies' Bible study, going to markets and of course eating all the great food! I also loved seeing how much everyone there loves you and how it encourages them that you are a part of their lives in Italy (not just in Vicenza but also in Naples, Rome, and other churches where you have met people through a mission trip, summer camp, retreats, and convegnos). You are truly letting the love of God shine through to them!"

Thanks to her love of pizza, my mom helped me acquire a new student! The hostess at a pizzeria (pictured below) that we happened upon was wondering what we were doing in Italy and is interested in learning English. I gave her my phone number, and she called yesterday; on Thursday we're going to meet for breakfast so I can tell her more about the English lessons and set something up!

The second week of my mom's trip we traveled south to Naples, Sorrento, Capri, and Rome! In Naples we stayed with the family that hosted me for a week during my mission trip to Italy with a Harding group two summers ago! It was wonderful to see them again and also worship with the Naples church on Sunday morning!

with the family that hosted us in Naples


overlooking the Roman Forum


gelato on my birthday :)

Then we were also able to attend the Wednesday night Bible study at the church in Rome with whom I had also worked two summers ago. Something I especially love about being in Italy is having connections with Christians all around the country, and then running into them again during my travels, or at the various nationwide events, or even more randomly. It was great to re-connect with the Rome church before venturing up (after dropping my mom off at the Rome airport) to the family retreat they organize at Velletri, which my campaign group had also participated in.

Avanti Italia group photo at Velletri (left-right): Recruiters Howard Bybee and Jim Woodroof; Avanti workers me, Emily Woodroof, and Jillian Shackelford; Directors Debbie and David Woodroof

The theme of this 30th annual Velletri convegno was "Sulle Vie Della Fede," or "On the Paths of Faith," such as the road to Damascus and the Emmaus road. I enjoyed hearing excellent speakers and being entertained by the adorable children. Emily, Jillian, and I were put in charge of an impromptu children's class :)

Back in Vicenza after all these wonderful and uplifting travels, yesterday I had lunch with my dear friend Kendra from high school, whom I had not seen in five years! She has been teaching English in a nearby town, and I'm so glad we had the chance to get together to catch up and reminisce before she moved to Israel today!

five-year high school reunion :)