Epiphany!

Last Thursday, thanks to the Epiphany holiday commemorating the adoration of the magi, was Padova's annual convegno! Vito Ligorio from Latiano spoke about perseverance, and sessions were held in the morning and afternoon. I helped one of the Padova missionary ladies teach the children's class, in which we examined the topic of prayer! We sang, discussed, read, played, and... prayed.

with some of the ladies at the convegno

Saturday was one of my favorite English classes, even though only two boys showed up. Instead of translating the story into Italian for them (which I usually do to ensure comprehension), I taught them the vocab words and had them translate it piece by piece. They insisted I act out each word, and the translation turned into a very enthusiastic brotherly competition. Somehow we got way off topic, and they were asking me all about Jesus' second coming (our story was about Paul's shipwreck on Malta). They took to heart rather quickly the moral of the story: "When we have hard times, we can remember God's love and care. We can tell our friends, too!" My little students ran to open the window to the street below and shouted this message in Italian to all who could hear! Then they were so engrossed in the craft of constructing a boat that they didn't want to leave when their father came to pick them up. I'm going to miss these kids and all the hilarious and unpredictable moments that come with teaching them!

The other highlight of the week was on Monday when, at the end of a particularly successful afternoon of running errands, the lady at Mailboxes Etc. gave me a gigantic piece of bubble wrap (enough to cover at least one whole person) for free! Oh, the small joys in life!

Please keep me in your prayers for these last few weeks as I wrap everything up and bid my final farewells!