Lindsay in Italia: Not a Coincidence!

This week one of my English students asked me to tell my story of how I came to church, like if my parents brought me when I was young. A benefit of church, she observed, is forming friendships with fellow worshipers. She told me that she believes God exists because of the ways she has seen Him work in her life. For example, she was wanting to find a way to learn English, and then my mom and I showed up at the restaurant where she was briefly working (in April). I am also grateful for this "coincidence," for I gained not only one new student/friend, but four! She has become my best recruiter! Today her older sister began studying with me. The middle school daughter of a friend, whom she had sent to me a few weeks ago, today sent one of her friends.

My friend's sister (age 28) moved to Italy from the Ukraine just two weeks ago, and she is very talkative and fun. Her previous study/work experience includes dancing, making clothes, and speaking on television. She is working in a pizzeria as she endeavors to learn Italian...which means we have no common language to fall back on but must speak only in English!

The friend of my middle school student is also from the Ukraine; she has lived in Italy three years and speaks three languages fluently. She is in her first year at a linguistic high school and thus is also studying English, Spanish, and German. Both of these new students are at an intermediate level, and after trying out various activities with them today, I know better how to tailor future lessons to their needs. This increase in students also means the Russian speakers have officially overtaken the Sri Lankans!

A coincidence can be defined as when God chooses to remain anonymous. If only we have the eyes to see, we can catch glimpses of Him at work in our lives in countless ways. That fateful April meeting might not have occurred had it not been for the volcanic ash saga that delayed my mom's arrival; we would have had that Sunday lunch at the home of a family from church had they not thought my mom was too tired from the more-chaotic-than-usual transatlantic travel. But we went in search of a good pizza, and the rest is history!

Last weekend was full of fellowship with church members! I

-ran into a lady from church and her husband on my way home from English class, so we paused for coffee (or in my case, pear juice. I must confess that I still do not like coffee!)

-went to the movies for the first time in Italy, with two Latin American girls. Two differences from the American movie-going experience: when you purchase your ticket you are assigned a particular seat, and there is an intermission.

-had Sunday lunch at the home of a couple from church who often spontaneously invites over guests and those who do not have a family of their own to dine with. This week there were ten of us!

-wandered around the monthly antique market with some young adults from church. We brainstormed ideas for more church programs.

-had pizza for dinner at the same home where we'd eaten lunch. A full day with my dear "family" here!

The first week of October, strands of white Christmas lights appeared on two side streets! At some point, they'll take over the piazza, à la Harding front lawn. The second week of October, unusual decorations appeared down the entire length of the main street, strung from one side of buildings to the other, every few meters. Based on the appearance of this decor, and the town's obviously exuberant anticipation of Christmas, I wondered if they decided to get ready for Mardi Gras five months early. Then I came across an advertisement with this same pervasive image and picked up a brochure to discover that a giant craft fair is coming to town next weekend. Mystery solved.