Lindsay in Italia

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2011-06-27T18:57:00.004+02:00

Just wanted to share a pair of quotes that I have been returning to for inspiration as I am in a season of waiting for...whatever will come next!

"Patience is not indifference;

patience conveys the idea of an immensely strong rock

withstanding all onslaughts."

~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

"To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment

when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder

and offered the chance to do a very special thing,

unique to them and fitted to their talents.

What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified

for that which could have been their finest hour."

~Sir Winston Churchill

The job search has proven more difficult than anticipated. Underlying the surface activity of endeavoring to obtain employment are deeper questions of vocational direction, identity, and life goals. Doors have shut, yet countless doors remain to be discovered, evaluated, and knocked upon. At just the right time, the right door will open, and I would appreciate prayers for wisdom and perseverance until the arrival of that blessed day!

As I helped explain at one of the application centers during Vacation Bible School last week, we all experience "lemon days" and "lemonade days." Lemons are inevitable but can be both character-building and heighten our appreciation of sweeter times. Life can be sour, but sugar abounds in the form of support and encouragement from family and friends, life lessons learned, protection and blessings from God, a positive attitude, perspective gained in time, and, above all, the knowledge that GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

Hopefully the fourth and fifth graders left "The Lemonade Stand" not only with a vivid distinction between lemon juice and lemonade, thanks to our taste-testing game, but also with a greater ability to locate the bright side in a difficult situation and see God at work. The discussion with the kids demonstrated how we can each make a conscious choice to find a positive element in absolutely any circumstance, following the apostle Paul's admonition in I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice ALWAYS, pray CONTINUALLY, give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

As I am earnestly seeking God's will for my life, perhaps, in a more general and fundamental sense, I already found it a long time ago... Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks. Be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Be sanctified. Take up my cross and follow. Live by faith, not sight. Love God. Love my neighbor. Give in Jesus' name a cup of cold water...or lemonade.

The First Seventy-Five Days

2011-04-25T19:36:00.003+02:00

Ten days after I returned from Italy in February, two young men in Vicenza were baptized!! [Yes, I should've reported this news two months ago.] Praise God for His incredible work in their lives; I will relate in part their amazing stories as best I can.

Davide (17) comes from a Christian heritage: his father always leads singing, and his aunts and cousins make up a substantial part of our church, but he never attended until after camp last July. At camp he demonstrated a remarkable change since the previous year's camp, completely surprising the counselors. His good friend Marco, whom Davide had actually introduced to the camp, was baptized at the end of that week, and Davide then began to think about taking that step himself.

Giovanni (21) had also been contemplating baptism since last summer. During that time his older brother, who lives in Moldova, where his family is from, was basically on the brink of death and in spite of various medical mistakes miraculously survived. Giovanni wrestled with some hard questions and last summer began working with Davide at his family's company, which gave them an opportunity to talk and reflect together. Marco has also been very close to these two boys and was a great encouragement to them. Being able to witness Marco's growth over the last few months was a blessing, and I am thrilled that now all three can walk together on this new journey of faith. Of course I wish I could be there to see these transformations in person and encourage these boys. The people and places in Italy are all still so vivid in my mind, and being so far away and unable to know everything that's going on in their lives is hard.

meet my new brothers: Davide, Giovanni, Marco !!!

Thank you all for participating in my journey through reading my blog and lifting me and my mission up in prayer. I truly appreciate every comment and word of encouragement! Getting to catch up in person with so many of you since my return has been a delight.

At the end of February I traveled to Searcy, Arkansas (the home of my alma mater, Harding University) and enjoyed getting to see many friends still in town plus quite a few who now live elsewhere but came back that weekend.

dinner with several of my closest college friends who are still in the country

While in Searcy I had three opportunities (two planned, one impromptu) to speak about Italy to large groups. I was the guest speaker for the Women in Missions class in which I was a student three years ago, so being on the other side and sharing what I have learned since then was interesting. I also spoke briefly to the girls in my social club about Avanti in order to spread the word about this opportunity to join God at work. And I "just so happened" to be in town on the weekend College Church was honoring Howard and Doris Bybee for their years of work for the Lord as missionaries in Italy and now with the Avanti Italia program. I was honored to be asked to say a few words at the reception for this wonderful couple who planted the congregation in Vicenza where I was blessed to have the opportunity to work a few decades later!

My mom and I went on a grand Texas road trip (nine nights in five towns) to visit various and sundry cousins and friends and attend the wedding of a dear friend I've known since second grade. Seeing the town where I grew up and the schools where I have so many fond memories was quite nostalgic.

Lamar Consolidated HS reunion at Ashleigh's wedding

Earlier in April I attended a re-entry retreat at my church with the InterMission team who put together the missionary retreat I attended in Italy last August. Hearing the stories of the other participants who had recently returned from the field and being able to discuss the process and difficulties of cultural adjustment with others in my shoes was refreshing!

Last weekend I returned to Searcy for the annual Spring Sing spectacle and got to see many more wonderful people. It was all so exciting that it took my mind off what I was missing in Italy: the Easter weekend youth retreat in Bologna and the fun cultural traditions such as the giant chocolate eggs and the giving of dove-shaped cakes.

In-town highlights between all these travels have included translating letters from Hispanic inmates for the prison ministry, teaching fourth and fifth graders on Wednesday nights, taking advantage of the chance to be in two ladies' small group Bible studies, watching more basketball than I ever have in my life thanks to March Madness and especially the Oklahoma City Thunder, and witnessing the exuberant blossoming of the Bradford pear trees all over town. After having time to rest up and reconnect with family and friends in America, I am about to begin the job search per forza. Pray that God leads me to just the right opportunity!

I suppose it's about time to start unpacking...

"i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)"

2011-02-13T15:35:00.003+01:00

Greetings from OKC! Ironically, the only segment of my trip that went according to plan was the flight into Oklahoma City, as the airport was thankfully able to reopen in time in spite of the snow. My first two flights were canceled (fog in Venice, mechanical failure in London), and I ended up flying out of and into two airports I had no intention of being in, resulting in some cross-region and cross-town bus travel with all my luggage in tow. I was glad when the 44-hour saga came to a close Wednesday night and am now resting up in my old home / new home. En route I picked up sinus and ear infections, so prayers for my speedy recovery are greatly appreciated!

My entourage and I getting ready to traverse London:
at least I got fish and chips with minty mushy peas at the end!

Okay, back to my last week: I had lunch with the awesome Padova missionaries, bequeathed Bibles and books to my English students, hung out with my friends, finally finished and printed the church directory (a harder task than it may sound: cue the Hallelujah chorus), organized the Sunday School cabinets, reprised my role as a pack mule many a time in the process of vacating my apartment, received an array of presents, made enchiladas for the potluck, went to the post office four times thinking each was my last trip, created one final church window display, and said goodbye to people and places in my neighborhood, such as the beloved fruit and vegetable market:

Since no one is coming to work in Vicenza after me, I tried to pass the baton to the extent possible. Two of my students, the Ukrainian sisters, and I met up with two of the Padova missionaries at a Brazilian restaurant there so that they could get to know each other and work out details for continued studies. The Sri Lankan family of three (the mother is pictured below) is preparing to move to England next month; they asked me to find someone there with whom they can continue to study the Bible, so I have been working on making some contacts for them. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the spiritual journeys of each of my students and, though we will continue to keep in touch long-distance, now entrust the watering of these seeds to others and the growth to God!

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." ~I Corinthians 3:5-9

Four Avanti workers plus David, the director, came from Florence to visit me for the weekend, picking up another friend on the way! It was great to see them one last time! Saturday night we all ate at the home of a family from church, and various church members hosted the guests overnight. Here we are after our delicious dinner:

Sunday we had a combined worship service with the Ghanaians followed by a potluck, in honor of its being my last Sunday. The church presented me with a photo of the congregation and a book about Vicenza that they had all signed. The Ghanaians coincidentally sang my favorite song in Twi and dedicated to me their version of Sweet By and By: we'll see each other again in heaven, if not sooner! Four of my English students came to church for the first time, and another arrived during the potluck when she got off work. One of my little English class girls and her mom also came for a while but had to dash off when the mom, a midwife, was called upon to deliver a baby! I'm glad I got to spend the day with so many of my favorite people.

While everything was being set up for the potluck, I played Jeopardy with the kids to review all our Sunday School stories from the last year, and I was delighted at how much they remembered. I really wish I could be there to see all these kids grow up! Please pray for them and for whoever will be their next teacher!

Somehow I had time to accomplish everything on my massive to-do list plus work in all the last-minute social encounters. I am grateful that I was able to end well and give my all until the very last second.

Sunday night three-generation cake and tea party with my landlords' family!

My last supper in Italia: this sweet family wanted to thank me for my work and temporarily rescued me from the mire of packing and cleaning.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

~I John 3:16

Time Flies, and So Do I

2011-02-07T15:45:00.001+01:00

"'The time has come,' the Walrus said,

'To talk of many things:'"

Thus begins my final post from Italy; it might be somewhat scattered and shall be full of quotes, hopefully less random than this opening statement taken from Lewis Carroll's The Walrus and the Carpenter.

Details and photos of my last week and final Sunday will be coming in a few days, unless the Oklahoma snow thwarts my arrival.

When I began my work with Avanti, I could never have imagined all that would transpire during my time here. I still cannot believe that I have come to the end of this journey. Continuing with the Lord of the Rings trend begun in my last post, here's a thought from Bilbo Baggins:

"It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to."

Even if you do keep your feet, so to speak, you can be swept off to places (physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually) that you'd never have imagined. Each day that you go out your door, whether intentionally embarking on a journey or just going about your daily business, is full of life-changing and life-enriching possibilities.

I now return from this particular, extended journey to the land where I will have a dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, air conditioning, legitimate shower, and car. I really did just fine without all these modern conveniences (except maybe the shower), though a car would've been convenient at times. I will, however, miss being within walking distance of the church aka my place of employment, grocery store, post office, park, utilities company, town square, market, and train station (the farthest away of these destinations at 13 minutes). I have enjoyed living more simply and also experiencing the seasons more fully as I am outside more often here.

The process of giving away possessions, rather than being stressful or nostalgic, has been more like getting to be a belated Santa Claus. I enjoy being able to pass along to other missionaries and church members the blessings I received:

"Freely you have received, freely give." ~Jesus (Matthew 10:8)

The reality and finality of this move is at times hard to fathom, but I know that God will be with me as I make my transition just as He has been all along:

"if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast."

~Psalm 139:9b-10

God's been clearly at work on this side of the ocean, and I trust that this promise will hold true back on the other side as well, though I know I will experience some reverse culture shock. I take comfort in the fact that on all previous returns to America from overseas travels, I anticipated being somewhat traumatized or discontent, but when I got there I really was okay.

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." ~Paul (Philippians 4:12)

"Wherever you are, be all there." ~Jim Elliot

To give you a little insight into the adjustments, whether monumental or superficial, of a cross-cultural worker, here are some differences that have already come to mind: I will... rejoice at the prevalence of free water.. be shocked by the smaller length of printer paper (this has already happened on the couple occasions in which I've come across a stray American sheet).. shed a tear or two upon hearing a hymn that reminds me of Italy.. bemoan excessive air conditioning and revel in sufficient heating.. miss being at a church where I know everyone and can greet them all every Sunday.. be able to run errands more efficiently but miss the feeling of victory at getting something accomplished in Italy.. think of phrases in Italian and not find a satisfactory way to express them in English (some things just sound better in one language or the other).. use prepositions improperly.. find people and places so familiar that it may feel as if I never left..

"But seas between us braid hae roared,

Sin' auld lang syne."

~Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne

{Americanizing the Scots vocabulary = But seas between us broad have roared, since long ago.}

Literally and figuratively, this distance between two years ago and now has been an ocean. People come and go. Relationships change. I am not the same person I was when I left America. Though everything may look the same, everything cannot ever be the same. Mostly positive, sometimes regrettable, it is most certainly inevitable: a part of life and a part of growing up. As a previous stanza of the same Burns poem notes:

"But we've wandered mony a weary foot,

Sin' auld lang syne."

Weary feet, perhaps. Much wandering, certainly. Time elapsed. Hearts encouraged. Transformation and growth witnessed. Love poured out. Wisdom taken in. Experiences gained. Worries lost. Independence enacted. Community felt. Memories made. Innumerable snapshots in my mind.

I can't sum up my time here any better than Paul's declaration in I Thessalonians 2:8:

"...we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."

Farewell Tour Part Two: Back to the Beginning

2011-01-29T18:44:00.006+01:00

Shortly after my excursion to Catania, I traveled to Scandicci/Florence to visit my friends, former English students, and fellow Avanti teammates. Scandicci is also the home of Harding's semester abroad program, which first introduced me to Italy four years ago, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I was in town for both the Thursday night Bible study and Sunday worship and enjoyed surprising the members who didn't know I was coming.

Saturday I went to Pistoia (a town half an hour or so from Florence) for lunch with a dear Italian-Filippino family, got to see the missionary family there as well, and attended their monthly ladies' Bible study!

some of my very favorite children (Pistoia)

My several days in Florence were sprinkled with many encouraging conversations. It's nice to see my former English students still involved at the Bible School with new teachers! One student (pictured below) thanked me for being her first teacher and told me how her participation in the Bible School has been beneficial not only for her language skills but more importantly for the human aspect: building friendships. She has recruited various family members to study there as well! My friend who owns a cooking school came to church Sunday because I invited her, as she had done the last time I was in town, and remarked at the example I've set for her in persevering through my illness and always having a smile on my face. I paid a visit to the former Bible School cook, now in her 80s, whom I had visited a few times when I lived in Scandicci but hadn't seen in a year and a half. She commented that just five or six days before she had been wondering what happened to that Avanti girl who had come to visit her with Frankie Mitchell. All this to say, I've learned so much and been blessed by the people here, and it's nice to know that I've made an impression in their lives as well!

Also, I partook in two wonderful meals with Rosa (the beloved Bible School cook) and the rest of the Avanti crew, participated in the Monday night ladies' Bible study hosted at the Bible School, and went on my last medieval Tuscan hill town excursion (to Volterra).

the girls in Volterra

A new semester of Harding students had just arrived, including two girls from Edmond who were in my same social club! I can't believe it's been four years since I was in their shoes, nor that since then I've spent almost exactly the same amount of time in Italy as in America.

Edmond/DGR reunion at the Florence church!

Since I've been back in town (in Vicenza), I've had the Thursday night Bible study attendees over for dinner before the study, and last night another friend came over for dinner! I redecorated the church bulletin board with pictures from the last year and also printed off lots of pictures to distribute to the church members. Lots more excitement is planned for the upcoming week, and my motto these days is a quote from the wise wizard Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring:

"All that we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

10 days...

Farewell Tour Part One: Under the Sicilian Sun

2011-01-18T21:01:00.005+01:00

This weekend I went down south to visit the congregation in Catania, where I worked during my first month in the Avanti Italia program. Though it had been nearly two years, it seemed like I had seen these friends just yesterday! The buildings and streets were all so familiar, including the intersections in which no direction has a stop sign, not to mention the wide streets and highways with no lane divisions: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line!" Get ready for a lot of pictures in this post, for some of you know these people and I'm sure would like to see them!

The day before my trip, Etna, the volcano at the foot of which Catania lies, was erupting! The following photo was taken by a church member from his balcony. The flow of lava disappears from sight thanks to a most convenient valley that collects all the lava, protecting the inhabitants below.

I arrived in time for the Thursday night Bible study, which is attended by nearly all the church members. Seeing firsthand the changes in the past few years, since my first visit on a summer campaign in 2008, was a joy: engaged couples now married, babies growing into adorable little girls, and new babies welcomed into several families. The church has also had a relatively large (for Italy) number of baptisms recently: six in 2009 and five in 2010. A man who, interested in studying English and the Bible, had randomly stopped by the church building when I was there two years ago is now my brother in Christ! The most recent sister converted had been struggling with depression and visiting psychologists for years, to no avail, until she met the Great Psychologist, who transformed her life. The Catania church is so loving, active, enthusiastic, and evangelistic, and seeing God at work among them has been such a blessing!

I stayed with the very hospitable Spina family! Saturday morning, Giulia, the 8-year-old daughter, wanted me to go with her to see some horses...

...and on the way home we stopped by the (Ionian) sea! The sunshine and temperatures in the 60s were a nice change from the winter up north.

Stefano Spina, Catania's evangelist, celebrated his birthday Saturday, and so I joined in the festivities with all his kids and grandkids!

Stefano, Rina, and Giulia, my wonderful hosts

Massimo and Cinzia with Davide, the baby I did not even know had been conceived

Saturday afternoon I helped out with the weekly distribution downtown of flyers about the marvelous grace of God. That evening I went out to eat with half a dozen young people from Catania and Paterno (a town about half an hour away and, for all of you from FCCC, the home of the Giordano clan). I set a new record, breaking the previous one also set in Catania, for my latest ever dinner: a quarter past midnight! The "normal" dinner time in Sicily would be 9:30 or 10...or so.

Sicilian supper, technically on Sunday morning

Sunday at church I of course enjoyed seeing everyone again!

Giorgia, Elisa, and Viviana

the amazing Mililli family, who hosted me during my campaign

After church a large group of young adults went out to eat appetizers together.

almost half the appetizer group:

Giada, Nino, me, Sara, Giorgia, Claudia,

Miriam, Massimo, Luisa and the baby on the way

Then for lunch I went to the home of this young family...

Adele, Ester, and Orazio

...along with her sister's family and their mother. They are among the most hilarious people I know, so needless to say it was an enjoyable afternoon. That evening we all went to a gigantic mall, in the parking garage of which we ran into another girl from Paterno and her boyfriend from Rome, who had been supposed to meet up with our group the night before. I love surprises like that!

Somehow the trip gave me perspective on my two years and my life, not to sound vague or melodramatic. I'm so glad I was able to see my Sicilian friends again! Here's a parting shot from my trip home yesterday:

Catania and a much calmer Mt. Etna!

Until our next encounter, I'll echo the words from a framed cross-stitch in the Spina family home:

"May the Lord keep watch between you and me

when we are away from each other."

~Genesis 31:49

Epiphany!

2011-01-12T16:04:00.007+01:00

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!

Castles in the Air...and on the Sea!

2011-01-04T20:16:00.010+01:00

Happy New Year! I hope you all have enjoyed the holidays and that 2011 will be an incredibly blessed year for you! My mom came to visit me for a little over two weeks, and we ran around visiting the various castles, piazzas, museums, churches, and villas in Vicenza and nearby towns that I wanted to see before leaving the country. We took day trips to Milan, Padova, and Venice and a two-day Christmas trip to Trieste, on the Adriatic Sea a few kilometers away from Slovenia! Here are some of the highlights (except for the amazing art, such as da Vinci's Last Supper fresco in Milan, where photographs are of course forbidden):

Chocolate chip cookie kids tradition comes to English class!

Milan's Duomo...

...the roof of which we climbed on (in the snow)

Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia, the largest waterfront piazza in Italy (Trieste)

feet in the Adriatic

Castello Miramare, on the sea outside Trieste

Prato della Valle, the largest piazza in Italy (Padova)

Doge's Palace with St. Mark's domes in the background (Venice)

sunset from the belltower on the Island of San Giorgio (Venice)

Year in Review

2010-12-20T20:39:00.002+01:00

Though 2010 has not quite drawn to a close, my Christmas break has commenced, and I have begun to reflect on my year in Vicenza:

32 Saturday children's English classes

10 one-on-one English students

2 weeks of camp with a total of 94 campers

5 youth retreats

5 women's or family retreats and conferences

2 ladies' small group Bible studies on the army base

4 conferences hosted in Vicenza with guest speakers

3 potlucks with 2 children's skits

6 Old Testament Bible characters (Ruth-Elijah) examined in Sunday School

8 overnight guests in my apartment

9 congregations around Italy visited for worship or special events

3 baptisms witnessed + 4 more (heard about) of friends

1 wedding + 1 baby born in our church + 2 children's birthday parties

6 new church window displays created

5 kids babysat for extended periods of time

23 chapters of I and II Corinthians covered at our Thursday night Bible study

4 theatre, music, or chorus recitals of church members

2 natural disasters, 8 simultaneous computer viruses, 1 lingering health ailment

countless hours and meals in the homes of church members

countless conversations

countless challenges

countless blessings

I feel like my mission has been lived out as a jack-of-all-trades: children's minister, youth minister, English teacher, friend, encourager, tenant, photographer, writer...

"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."

~I Corinthians 9:22b

My motto during the middle of the year, as a new role outside my comfort zone was thrust upon me, became "And who is equal to such a task?" (II Corinthians 2:16b). At the missionary retreat in August, I found my answer a few verses later: "but our competence comes from God" (II Corinthians 3:5b).

With my health still sub-par all year, I am grateful that I have still been able to be here carrying out my work. My temporary thorn in the flesh has given me the opportunity to rely on God's grace and power: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' [...] That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:9a, 10).

This following passage is a little dramatic for my situation, but I really like the idea it represents: "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead" (II Corinthians 1:8-9).

This year, working on my own most of the time, I have learned to rely on God for everything, and He has proven Himself faithful over and over again in the little details of life as well as the big picture.

I know that God has put me in the perfect spot for now to use my gifts and talents to serve others and Him. As I bounced all over the country (and world, for that matter) in 2009 before landing in Vicenza for 2010, Paul's speech in Athens, long a favorite passage of mine, was played out in my life: "[H]e determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26b-27).

In each location of my Avanti Italia journey, I have learned and grown so much. I look forward to seeing where God will lead me in 2011!

The Youth Retreat That Wasn't

2010-12-10T20:49:00.002+01:00

Last weekend's youth retreat did not go at all as planned: multiple date adjustments, a last-minute location change, fewer participants than anticipated, and no concrete schedule (believe me, it wasn't for lack of trying). Nonetheless, I feel that I can say it turned out okay...

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed."

~Proverbs 16:3

We were supposed to go to the mountain home of a family from church, as we did for the youth weekend in September, but a meter of snow on the road leading up to the house precluded the possibility of arrival. Thus our sessions took place at the church building, leaving time for the teens to also get together with friends in town. The theme of our studies was marriage, and I was delighted at how much the teens participated in the discussions, asking questions and offering their observations. We also watched and discussed two movies demonstrating Christian faith and love, threw together some meals, and played intense rounds of UNO. Our five participants came from three different cities, and six young adult tag-team teachers and chaperones lent a hand. Due to the small turnout and laid-back nature of events, at the end we joked that we had been involved in the youth retreat that never happened :)

Wednesday was the annual December 8 convegno in Conegliano! Certain churches have staked out holidays to have youth retreats or one-day convegni, since everybody is off work on these days, and Conegliano's is always on the Immaculate Conception holiday. About 100 attendees, mostly from the Veneto region, gathered for a morning of speakers, lunch in a nearby restaurant, and an afternoon discussion session regarding the theme verses, Romans 12:1-2. Everything was translated into Twi for the large Ghanaian contingent; generally the congregations in the North have more Ghanaians than Italians. Overall the day was a wonderful time of fellowship: seeing friends and kids from camp, meeting new people, and traveling with my Vicenza family (we took the long way home and saw a couple castles and WWI monuments)!

Sunday in Vicenza we took a church picture: Our average attendance is less than the square root of that of my home church in Oklahoma, which also probably has more Christians than all the congregations in Italy combined...

White Black Friday

2010-11-26T19:07:00.006+01:00

Last weekend we had another round of Florentine visitors! Emily brought the two new married couples, Eric and Jessica and Ryan and Laura, to visit Vicenza and get acquainted with the Christians here. Saturday we had a wonderful lunch at the home of a family from church, and in the afternoon they cheered on our friend Marco at his soccer game while I taught a special Thanksgiving-themed English class.

The story of sharing by Barnabas and the early church was a nice segue into the tale of the first Thanksgiving. We then created feathered Indian headbands and donned them while working on the next craft: turkeys with handprint tail feathers. On each handprint we wrote something we're thankful for. The kids were particularly attentive that day and thoroughly enjoyed the crafts.

Saturday evening we walked around downtown and then came to my apartment to eat take-out pizza and chat with some of the young people from church. Emily spent the night with me, while other members hosted the two couples.

Sunday School had an unusually high attendance, and Jessica and Laura helped me out with the vivacious bunch. Having concluded our long study of Samuel/Saul/David/Solomon, we began a series on Elijah, complete with "ravens" delivering waffles to the eager children.

For Sunday lunch, we went to Marco's house. His mother, who grew up in a restaurant, has lived in several countries, and speaks five languages, served an amazing meal. We enjoyed their hospitality and company and, needless to say, were very full by the end of the afternoon, when it was time for the other Americans to head back to Florence. The couples have been visiting various congregations and are in the process of deciding where to work for their two years; please pray for their wisdom and discernment!

lunch at Marco's house

Wednesday I visited an Englishwoman from church, whom I hadn't seen in a while, in her new apartment and had lunch with two of her granddaughters.

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all of you who read my blog and encourage me in my work. I of course missed gathering with relatives or helping cook meals up at church, but I reflected on my many blessings and tried to have a somewhat thematic meal: pumpkin ravioli with cream cheese sauce and sautéed spinach and red onion...and a sweet potato. Italians had told me that sweet potatoes are not available in Italia, but my mission to find one was successful, more or less. Having washed all the dirt off, I discovered that the skin was cream-colored, turning brown while cooking. I was somewhat disappointed to find out that the inside was the color of a regular potato, and it refused to finish cooking before I had to run off to my English class. Though it was a variety of sweet potato different from what I'm used to, when I finally got to eat it for dinner, I was thankful :)

Thanks to all who prayed for the atmospheric conditions around Vicenza! Though we were in a state of alert for several days, the town did not flood a second time. Work must be done around town to prevent a repeat; this week the brick wall on the riverbank opposite the church was heightened.

Today I awoke to the sight of snow! This is the first place I've lived where it's snowed as early as the day after Thanksgiving, and I'm sure there is much more to come!

Because the Word of God Lives in You...

2010-11-17T20:37:00.004+01:00

Last weekend Franco Verardi, an evangelist from Puglia (the heel of the boot) and one of the summer camp directors, came to visit. Saturday evening we had a youth conference with about a dozen participants in which he spoke about I John 2:13-14:

"I write to you, dear children,

because you have known the Father...

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God lives in you,

and you have overcome the evil one."

Sunday Franco preached to a combined worship service of the Italian-speakers and the Ghanaians, and we had an agape (potluck). Having worship in a mix of Italian, English, and Twi is quite exciting...and it means the service lasts about two and a half hours. For those of us who stay til the very end, the agape is an all-day affair (we left at 5 p.m.).

If you want to mystify and enchant Italian children, start breaking up uncooked Ramen noodles into your cabbage salad. The little boys, who were running back and forth carrying the ready dishes to the serving table, all inquired as to the nature of this strange specimen and wanted to try a piece. They pronounced them delicious!

After the agape, the kids presented a timely skit of "The Wise Man Builds His House Upon the Rock." Of course they wanted to don all manner of costumes, so by the time we were ready, a lot of the little actors had been taken home by their families, and I was conscripted to portray both the wise and foolish builders.

Jesus narrates as the house is built on the rock.

The rain and the wind attack the house on the sand...

...which "fell with a great crash" (Matthew 7:27)!

Yesterday I added another student: a fourteen-year-old girl from church who is in her first year at a linguistics high school! In other English student news... Who knew the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24) could provide fodder for discussion for a whole hour? That's what happens when your student is an event planner and PR specialist! (Normally she reads 3-4 stories each lesson.) Another student is coming three days in a row this week because she wants to "catch up" after missing some lessons while putting her house back together after the flood. She took a placement exam at an English school this week and jumped from level one to level five! I have no idea what sort of rating system this school uses, but I can say that, in my opinion, she definitely wins my Most Improved Student award!

This evening I went to visit a friend from Panama who recently had hip surgery; she is currently in the hospital but will soon be transferred to a rehab facility for more physical therapy.

Just when almost everything appeared to be returning to normal after the flood...yesterday the river behind the church building rose almost to the level it reached on November 1. The Red Cross tent popped up in the piazza again and the volunteers were remobilized (summoned by text message to dispense sandbags): yellow and orange neon vests dashing up and down the street. We also spotted the mayor a couple times, not to mention a plethora of TV cameras and fire trucks. In front of the church building we rigged up some nylon sheets, wooden planks, and sandbags, and all our neighbors did the same. Also in the store next door I helped move anything near ground level up to higher shelves, just in case. Every few minutes the police passed by broadcasting, "Attention! Attention! The level of the rivers is rising! Secure your belongings and cars!"

Today was really lovely and sunny, and the river has calmed down quite a bit, but since the rain is predicted to resume tomorrow, we're leaving the church barricaded, and my English lessons have thus migrated to my apartment. Please continue to pray for Vicenza! Here are some pictures from yesterday.

The river is almost to the bridge, yet again!

The green balcony is on the second floor of the church building.

through the window of the first-floor "auditorium"

through the window, broken by the flood fifteen days ago, of the store next door; contrast the red brick wall here with the second picture below

And for a basis of comparison, here are some pictures from four, four, and six days after the flood, respectively: the water was almost down to normal but still muddy!

i saw the PRESIDENT today...twice!!

2010-11-11T18:28:00.005+01:00

This afternoon the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, spoke to an admiring crowd in the piazza between my house and the church building. This piazza serves as the headquarters for the volunteer program, which has seen 2,568 lend a hand to the flood clean-up. Napolitano thanked these "angels of the mud" and was presented with an honorary neon yellow volunteer vest. Witnessing the post-flood spirit of solidarity and desire to serve has been inspiring, and seeing the head of state up-close (at a distance of 4m as he greeted volunteers after his speech) was also an unforgettable experience for this international politics enthusiast (who three years ago had done a presentation on Italy's goverment which included a slide on Napolitano)!!

President Napolitano lauding Vicenza's volunteers:

He's standing under the white part of the flag.

Then I stopped by the coffee shop where one of my English students just began working to get some hot chocolate and peruse the newspaper, where I read about the government's pledge of 300 million euro in aid to the flood-ravaged Veneto region.

Then on my way to the grocery store I came across a congestion of citizens waiting for President Napolitano to exit the building where he was meeting with local mayors, so I joined the watch party. He finally came out and waved to all his enthusiastic supporters (passing 2m away from where I was) before getting into his vehicle.

Everyone trying to get a glimpse of the President!

He's the clearest face on the center-left (no pun intended) of the photo.

The aftermath of the flood has provided the opportunity for a beautiful demonstration of Jesus' teachings. Here are my renditions of excerpts of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:36-37) and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-21):

Jesus: Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of [the flood]?

Expert in the law: The one who had mercy on him.

Jesus: Go and do likewise.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where [floods] and [mud] destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where [floods] and [mud] do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The rest of today's post is a compilation of odds and ends and updates on topics mentioned in previous posts.

My first post-flood English student invited me to go to her home for the lesson, as her zone was better off than that of the church building. The next student walked all the way from her house, which isn't particularly nearby, because some of the roads downtown were still closed to cars, and she wanted to be sure to be able to make it! Another student spent the night at my apartment Saturday, as her house was temporarily uninhabitable.

This week at church we received a letter confirming that the boxes of clothing, shoes, hygiene items, hymnals, and cash we had sent to Zambia safely arrived and have been delivered to our Christian friend in prison. Thanks to all who prayed for the safe transport of these packages!

Yesterday I went to visit my landlady's mother in the rehabilitation center where she is recovering from a stroke. She initially had not been able to speak at all, so I was pleasantly surprised at her progress: she speaks slowly but conversed quite easily and was so happy to see me. Being able to brighten her day made my day as well! She is re-learning how to write and will soon be moving home (she lives in the apartment below mine).

My French friend finished up her internship but got a two-year contract with the company, so she will be sticking around for a while! Yesterday afternoon I visited her in her new apartment.

En route to these various social calls yesterday I passed through some of the hardest-hit areas of town and was glad to see streets and businesses returning to normal.

The bathroom/plumbing accessory store next to the church building was devastated by the flood. The owners live above the store and are good friends of the church: the man is a Christian but now due to poor health is practically a shut-in, and his wife takes care of him and runs the store. One day last week I helped with the process of throwing out items ruined by the water and mud and gathering what could potentially be salvaged. Their daughter commented to me about how sad it was to see sixty years of her grandfather's and father's work in ruins. Her two boys are among the most faithful attendees of my English class, and that day I also picked them up from school and watched them for a while as the mud was being pumped out of the store's basement (the church balcony provided an optimal vantage point for this most-intriguing activity). Pray for the Magnabosco family!

The grandchildren of the above-mentioned family throw their colorful coats to the ground and re-enact the Triumphal Entry in English class!

A few Saturdays ago a group of young adults wanted to distribute flyers about our church around town, so we meandered through the annual chocolate festival proffering papers posing thought-provoking life questions and our congregation's contact info. Afterward we picked up kebabs and ate at my house, and then we talked and sang til midnight...had I been sitting in my window, I might've met the fate of Eutychus :)

My middle school English student (who once upon a time had inquired about Peter Pan's possible presence in my Bible storybook) read the Lord's Prayer several weeks ago and liked it so much that she wrote it all down in her notebook. The next week she told me that she had read it every night. This week she discovered that I will not be in Vicenza forever and immediately wanted to exchange skype names so we can talk when I'm in America!

Did y'all see the LSU-Alabama game?? Tigers unRoll Tide :)

Continuing with today's theme of random tidbits, I will close with two of my favorite pictures from October:

Autumn is my favorite season! [I just decided that this year.]

Thursday market flowers in front of the pink post office!

I Hope Heaven is Like a Gigantic Eternal Convegno and... The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up

2010-11-04T17:19:00.010+01:00

Last weekend I went to a youth retreat in Aprilia (near Rome)!! Those of us coming from northern Italy met up at the Florence Bible School and journeyed to the retreat together. About forty young people ages 15-25 participated, and Vittorio Vitalone from Rome spoke on the theme of evangelism. The weekend consisted of times of singing, study, prayer, fellowship, charades, a movie, and worship and a potluck with the Aprilia congregation on Sunday. Church members hosted us in their homes for the weekend. I enjoyed getting to spend time and catch up with friends from different parts of the country. Vittorio's messages were really encouraging, and the theme verse was I Peter 3:15:

"Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have."

Avanti Italia workers and friends outside the Aprilia church building

all the Avanti Italia workers

some of the retreat participants and their younger siblings at church on Sunday

The highlights of the potluck were 1) the lasagna and

2) getting to hang out with the little kids from camp.

The kids insisted that I find a way to be at camp next summer. Knowing this was probably the last time I will see most of these people before I move back to the States in February made saying goodbye and heading home even harder than usual. I've gotten used to running into friends all over the country at the various convegni (retreats, meetings, conferences), and, not knowing when our paths will cross again, I can at least look forward to the reunion that will one day be like the ultimate Italian convegno, where nobody has to go home at the end, for we will already be home...and I hope all these precious souls I've been working with the last couple years are there, too!

On the way home Monday I received the news that Vicenza was flooding. Three days of rain and a sudden temperature rise that caused the snow in the mountains to melt created an unforeseen crisis worse than the flood of 1966. We got as far as Padova with no problems other than a little holiday traffic, and then what should have been an 18-minute train ride to Vicenza turned into an 8-hour saga when our train was re-routed to Verona, skipping the Vicenza train station, which was partially under water. The highways in the area were also closed. We were stuck in the Verona train station overnight until we could get out on the first train, which thankfully was able to stop in Vicenza. Thus I got home at 5:30 a.m., nineteen hours after my departure from Aprilia :)

The crazy trip home, however, provided an opportunity to already put into practice what we had learned at the retreat. In the Padova train station we befriended a traveler (Pasquale from near Naples) who up to that point had been having a worse day than we had. On our wayward train, Marco (the teen who was baptized at camp this summer) pulled out his Bible and began to read, and immediately Pasquale began to ask questions and was really interested, and Marco shared his story. Pasquale wanted to know if he could participate in these convegni, and I told him about the church nearest him (strangely enough the little town he's from is one of the places my mom and I visited in April). Marco left him an informational brochure, and they exchanged phone numbers. We don't know what may or may not come from this encounter, but it was a prime example of how evangelistic opportunities are born out of questions and curiosity, as Vittorio had outlined at the retreat. Who knows? Our tiring trip might just have been a divine deviation.

The flood came really close to but did not enter my apartment building (except for the underground storeroom of my landlords' lampstore). North, east, and south of me the streets are really muddy, and in some places the water was as high as 1.5 meters! There were 40 cm (15.75 inches) of water in the church building. The water has been pumped out, and we've mostly cleaned up the building, which is in pretty good condition, all things considered. The street in front of us flooded (and is still partially closed off), and the river behind us got higher than the level of the windows.

inside the church building, two days after the flood

All the king's horses and all the king's men
trying to put Vicenza back together again!

City workers, the army, the media, and the volunteer registration booth have all set up shop in this piazza between my house and the church building. Yesterday 200 volunteers set out to tackle mud around town: students, retirees, Scouts, and immigrants. To see photos of the zone near us on the day of the flood, I encourage you to visit the flickr link below [#1, 2, 4, 8 are just south of the piazza; #3 is the river behind the church building; #5 is the bridge; #6 is our street, and our church is almost in the picture; #7 is the piazza between my house and the church]:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaviomagno/sets/72157625295126634/with/5135973903/

pumping out water in a piazza at the end of my street last night

"The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

The LORD gives strength to his people;

the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Psalm 29:10-11

The Rest of the Story...

2010-10-25T13:11:00.001+02:00

Four posts ago ("Fifteen Minutes in My Shoes" on October 8) I mentioned that two Ghanaians from our congregation had passed away unexpectedly. Since then a touchingly ironic episode has come to light, and so I wanted to share the rest of the story.

As of our church business meeting on the first Saturday of the month, only one of the men had passed away, and we were discussing how to help his family in Ghana. The Ghanaians told us of their custom of collecting money to help the family and wanted to establish a church rule to do this each time a death occurs. The Italians explained that their custom is to encourage good works in honor of the deceased, as the remaining family members are usually not left in dire financial straits, as is a family in Ghana who loses the man of the house. Instead of making a church rule for a cultural practice not specifically commanded by the Bible, we agreed to set a date for a special collection, for anyone to give as they decided in their heart to do.

Sunday after church, one of the Ghanaian men pulled aside one of the Italian church leaders to tell him he had been wrong about these circumstances not appearing in the Bible. Some of the Italians and Ghanaians remembered seeing these two men talking, but we did not know the content of their conversation until the next week. The Ghanaian had pointed out James 1:27:

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Little did he know that within 48 hours he would have a heart attack and leave behind a widow and six children, and we would be discussing how to help care for them, too.

To all who know the special significance of this post's appearing on this date: Thank you for putting this verse into action and for all the ways you have supported and prayed for our family. We love and appreciate you more than you could ever know!

And now for the real rest of the story, for all Christians, as depicted by C.S. Lewis in the closing lines of The Last Battle:

"And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

How Life in Italy is Like LSU Football

2010-10-22T11:58:00.000+02:00

In honor of my daddy and his alma mater, and in nervous anticipation of the outcome of the game at Auburn on Saturday...here are my reflections on the intersection of two of my passions: LSU football and Italy.

I am missing way too much LSU excitement this football season, what with a pair of last-second victories vs. Tennessee and Florida. LSU is a master at keeping fans on the edge of their seats and on the verge of a heart attack: crazy calls, foolish fouls, bizarre last-second victories, and the inevitable defeats along the way. That all got me thinking about how LSU football is like Italy is like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, resulting in this comparison of some of their more infamous characteristics and claims to fame:

Yellow flags. Red tape.

Death Valley. The Colisseum.

Diehard fans. Striking workers.

The Mad Hatter. The Godfather.

Mardi Gras colors. Carnevale spirit.

Touchdowns. Artistic masterpieces.

Goal-line stands. Mafia crackdowns.

White jerseys at home. High fashion.

Faked field goal attempts. Tax evasion.

Overtime victories. Penalty kick shootouts.

Laissez les bons temps rouler. La dolce vita.

Cajun tailgating. Pizza and pasta and gelato.

Hail Mary (2002 Bluegrass Miracle). Hail Mary.

3-time national champions. 4-time World Cup champions.

Excessive turnovers. Over sixty government turnovers since WWII.

Questionable clock management. Trains and buses unconstrained by the clock.

Must I geaux on? At this college and in this country, everything must be done with dramatic flair. Win or lose. Rain or shine. Absurd or agonizing. Unpredictable and undeniable. Implausible and improbable. Paradox: Somehow it works (in the long run). And thrives.

Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In Democracy Italian Style, Joseph LaPalombara explains how Italians have fashioned "stratagems" through the centuries to counter-act the seemingly overwhelming bevy of political excesses: "Democracy, Italian style, is above all else the art of permitting free government to endure under conditions that logically appear highly improbable." He compares the endurance and overall success of Italian political society to the famous tower with the telltale tilt: both somehow manage to remain standing against the odds.

Such is my team, with its counterintuitive stratagems. Such is my life: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (II Corinthians 4:8-9).

Leaning, but not falling down.

Pisa, 2007

Tiger Stadium aka Death Valley, 2006

Entertaining Angels

2010-10-20T18:02:00.001+02:00

Last weekend four Avanti workers from the Florence Bible School came to visit me! Here's the story of our weekend in pictures:

Angela, Emily, Andrea, me, and Ermenita

Friday night we went to a pizzeria out in the country with the two Ukrainian sisters who study with me; one of the sisters works there but had that night off. We enjoyed trying more exotic combinations of pizza toppings and chatting with the girls in a mix of languages for several hours.

me with the two Ukrainian sisters;

the one on the left wins "The Best Recruiter" award

Saturday four little girls from church (two sets of sisters, ages 14 and 11) came over to my apartment for lunch. We all cooked together, ate, talked, and sang until it was time to dash off to English class.

the girls all wanted to crack the eggs for the pasta carbonara!

the fullest my kitchen table has ever been!

With these special (English-speaking) guests as reinforcements, the English class went on a field trip to the park to play Red Light Green Light; What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?; and Duck Duck Goose (pictured below).

Then my friends and I walked around the center of town briefly until it was time to meet up at church for our next meal! We cooked dinner for half a dozen church members.

Sunday afternoon the girls returned home to Florence. Their visit was an encouragement to me as well as the English students, children, and Vicenza church members!

Today I added my ninth English student, another friend of "The Best Recruiter." She moved to Vicenza nine years ago from Kiev and is very well-traveled, having been all over Europe and the former Soviet republics, as well as to Bolivia. Every now and then she would throw in a word of Spanish without realizing it. She said the Bible stories we read today were interesting, and I look forward to getting to know her better!

Not a Coincidence!

2010-10-14T22:24:00.006+02:00

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.

Christmas (lights are) in the air!

the lady with the Mardi Gras-colored craft supplies bursting forth from her head! I spy 25 :)

Fifteen Minutes in My Shoes

2010-10-08T20:27:00.009+02:00

Since my last post, my life has consisted of mostly ordinary activities--if anything about my work here could be considered "ordinary." Yet somehow whenever I sit down to write, feeling like I do not have much news to report, I end up with the longest litany of items to share. You won't receive a magical blessing within fifteen minutes for reading to the end and forwarding this to your fifteen closest friends, but I sincerely hope you do read it all...and maybe you will be entertained or touched by something I've shared. To summarize my last three weeks, I present the most notable happenings in the style of fifteen superlative awards:

The Greatest Disturbance of the Peace

This morning I awoke to the noise of my windows vibrating to loud music and a ruckus in the street below. Intrigued, I peered out my window to see a parade-like student demonstration. The ones at the front of the mob had a microphone and took turns airing their grievances to their flag-waving high school companions. Yes, in Italy students (and teachers) go on strike, as often as once a month, from what I've heard.

Enjoy this 50-second video of the student strike demonstration!

If the video does not work properly, here's a still shot:

The Most Interesting Question Posed By an English Student

Flipping through my children's New Testament storybook, a girl asked, "Is the story of Peter Pan in here?"

Perhaps the Most Eye-Opening Dialogue: Out of the Mouths of Babes

The above-mentioned middle schooler is also the winner of this category. As she read "John Baptizes Jesus," she was surprised to see the picture of Jesus being baptized in the river and remarked, "Adults don't get baptized!" Thus we had a conversation (in Italian, as she's a beginner at English, her fifth language) about motivations for baptism and how babies do not understand what is going on. She shared her personal experience of being baptized as a baby. "Yes," she said, "my mom told me that I was red and crying." Though this brief dialogue may not have changed her worldview, her mind was opened up to a radically new idea, and I was impressed by her insight.

Most Likely to Happen Like Clockwork: A River Runs Through It

My youngest student comes two evenings a week, and in addition to his new-found love for playing Hangman with Bible vocabulary, toward the end of each lesson he keeps his ears tuned for the chorus of the duck reunion...yes, each day at the same hour, without fail, a paddling of ducks congregates on the river behind the church building.

The Most Exciting (and Delicious) Evidence of Autumn

A roasted chestnut vendor has set up shop right along my commute from home to church/work!

The Most 3D Sunday School Craft

Having finished our series on the life of David and moved on to Solomon, this week we studied the construction of the temple. Though nothing like the real one in scale or splendor, our craft allowed the children to attack a heap of toilet paper rolls with their architectural ingenuity.

The Latest/Earliest Arrivals at Sunday School

The Ghanaians hold their worship service after ours, and each week toward the end of Sunday School, the two adorable siblings pictured below arrive in anticipation of their class. So they jump right in and participate in our craft!

The Longest Thursday Night Bible Study

This week our meeting at 8:30 p.m. lasted until 11! We discussed recent church happenings (mentioned in the prayer requests below) and other pan-Italian church affairs, and I must say it was all very informative and interesting, as well as encouraging to hear others wrestling with some of the same dilemmas and challenges rattling around my mind for months. Mission work isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but I am blessed to be partnering with such heartfelt brethren dedicated to the expansion (in depth and breadth) of God's kingdom.

The Greatest Culinary Undertaking

Today I made homemade tortillas! A family friend had shown me how last fall, and this was my first time to make them on my own. As much as I love Italian food, eating something different (and especially Mexican) every now and then is a nice change of pace.

The Most Ambitious Project

I have inherited the task of updating the nine-and-a-half-year-old church directory! A lot of comings and goings have happened in that time frame, so I am attempting to collect and organize the data of the estimated 40 Italian speakers and 80 Ghanaians.

The Longest Half-Mile

Our church has been collecting items to send to a Christian man in prison in Zambia; he is the leader of a congregation in the jail, and our church has helped him out in the past through sending Bibles, etc. I was entrusted with the task of writing the letters to accompany our shipment of clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items, English hymnals, and schooling fees for his children...and also with the task of packing up and sending said shipment. In order to transport these two boxes (totaling 65 pounds) across town on foot to the post office, my rolling grocery bag became a precarious dwarf-sized dolly. We only had one mishap on the not-so-smooth cobblestone road, and after an adventure of filling out all manner of customs forms, the boxes are now on their way. Please pray that they make the rest of their journey unscathed!

The Most Impacting Literary Work

Speaking of Africa, I would like to make a book recommendation: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. The story begins with a missionary family's arrival in the Congo in 1959 and is a fascinating account of issues post-colonial, cultural, religious, familial, and political. Though I have thus far read only 70%, I can already tell that it will join the ranks of my new favorite books, along with Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series, which I devoured this summer. This fascinating and enlightening trilogy dramatizes early Christian life in the Roman Empire.

Favorite Quotes (From a Friend's Blog)

This category resulted in a tie between two quotes that I discovered in moments in which I truly needed to hear them. Thanks, Catie! [http://centerstreetsynopsis.blogspot.com/]
"If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me, and if my life is fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticizes me." -John Bunyon
"To be nobody-but-yourself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." -E. E. Cummings

The Highest Concentration of Tragedies: Join Me in Prayer

Recently hospitalizations and deaths have come in pairs. A young lady at church was in the hospital for a few days, and I went to visit her twice. Thankfully she has made a full recovery and survived a potentially dangerous episode. My landlady's mother, who lives in the apartment below mine and is one of the sweetest elderly ladies I've ever met, has been in the hospital for the last week and a half, recovering from a stroke. Please keep her in your prayers! At the moment she is unable to speak. Two Ghanaian members of our congregation recently passed away. The first was a few weeks ago while the man was back in Ghana for a visit. Then Monday a man in his 40s had a heart attack, leaving behind a wife and six children in Ghana. Such events highlight the ubiquitous nature of human tragedy that sooner or later affects us all. On the one hand, we cannot imagine what those most directly affected are feeling and enduring, yet on the other hand, we can, for we all share the frailty of the human experience. Thank goodness we have an ever-present Refuge to shelter us and enable us to bear these burdens together: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (II Corinthians 1:3-4). Please pray for these families and for our church's endeavors to help them, financially and otherwise.

My Best Attempt to Capture the Glory of God in the Sky

I love beholding the glory of God in nature. When glimpsing a spectacular sunset or traversing idyllic landscapes, I am reminded of God's majesty and sovereignty, and worries and troubles diminish. I took this picture when I was in the mountains in August, and it has become the centerpiece of the new display I made for the church window a couple days ago, along with the words of Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." What an awesome reminder that God is in control of all and shines down His light upon us!

O Fiorentinaaa...

2010-09-18T19:02:00.004+02:00

Last week I journeyed to Florence to participate in a youth weekend, welcome the new Avanti workers, and get together with friends and former students...

First was the youth weekend! We had times of singing and Bible study, an excursion to Florence and a picnic overlooking the town, high-spirited rounds of Italian pictionary and charades, a barbecue, and a pancake breakfast. We also divided into four groups and translated In Christ Alone from English into Italian, with each group translating one verse. We then presented the new song to the Florence church on Sunday and hope to spread it to other congregations as well.

Three different cities were represented among the young Italians; I brought along one from Vicenza. One of the girls in attendance was baptized a month ago and excitedly showed us a video she had compiled with photos and footage of the event. At the summer camp she had been seriously contemplating this decision, and we are so happy for her! I also found out that another girl from camp who had also been thinking about taking this step was recently baptized!

some of the girls at the youth weekend

Six new Avanti Italia workers have recently arrived in Florence (a seventh is coming in October), so it was fun to get to know and spend time with them. They are all so eager to learn Italian and build relationships, and I can't wait to see how God will use them to impact countless lives. On the right of this page, I've added links to their blogs, which exude their enthusiasm for this new journey and chronicle how God has called them to and equipped them for this mission. Monday night we had an orientation where several former and current workers shared advice.

The next morning I went shopping with Ermenita, who joined the Avanti program in April and is about to graduate from the University of Florence. Ermenita was looking for a dress and shoes for when she defends her thesis and thereby graduates a couple weeks from now, and I am glad I got to take part in this special moment. She has worked so hard on her thesis, and we are all so proud of her!

shopping with Ermenita

While in town, I got together with several of my former English students and enjoyed catching up on what's been going on in their lives. I was especially delighted to get to see a student who last fall had moved to Arezzo, an hour outside of Florence. We have kept in touch during the last year but were never able to get together on any of my trips to Florence last winter... so I went to Arezzo! She invited me to have lunch in her apartment, and then she showed me around town (where Life is Beautiful was filmed). A few months ago, she had written me, "I always remember our lessons with the reading of the Bible and it was very nice! You took part in my spiritual progress, so... thank you!" Probably I'll never see most of the growth from the seeds I'm planting in these two years, but I know God can use all our efforts to advance His kingdom and make eternal differences!

reunion in Arezzo!

forever young

2010-09-07T19:23:00.004+02:00

Since my last post, I have spent a majority of my days supervising children and teens... The last week in August, I went to the mountains to babysit three kids from church since their mother, a young widow, had to stay in Vicenza and work. The kids, ages 9, 10, and 13, were wonderful, and we had fun taking walks, playing in the park, going on a day trip to Asiago, playing card games, and cooking together. I also helped them with their summer English homework. I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by God's beautiful creation and getting to spend time with these precious children!

on a walk with the kids

picnic in Asiago

This weekend, several teens from Rome/Aprilia came to visit their friends in Vicenza. The first two days we were in town, and the next two days we spent at a mountain house belonging to a family from church. Not an official youth retreat, this was a time the kids had organized to hang out together before the end of their summer break. Each night we had a devotional centered on the theme of "Why Believe?" Being responsible for a group of teenagers, outside the church camp setting, was kind of a different experience, and thankfully the Padova missionaries helped out as well.

youth at the mountain house

In between these excursions, I added a new English student, a twelve-year-old girl from Moldova whose mother is a friend of one of my students. My other students are continuing to progress, and I enjoy hearing their insights and witnessing their dedication to learn.

I am delighted to report that I have quite comfortably survived a summer without air conditioning. I had to turn on a fan a total of about ten days in July and one night in August, and the rest of the time, weekly rains kept the temperatures between the 60s and 80s, and it was quite lovely. One advantage of growing up near Houston is that nowhere else I go feels humid, even if everybody else thinks it is (here it's 72-82% year-round).

I have now spent several winters, springs, and summers in Italy, but I have never been here during September-December, so I am looking forward to experiencing autumn here, as well as having everybody back in town after the mass exodus that was August, the month when all Italians flee to the mountains or the sea.

"Come with me... to a quiet place and get some rest"

2010-08-23T13:06:00.003+02:00

Last week I attended InterMission Italy, a retreat for American missionaries working in Europe. Three former missionary couples, who had served a number of years in Australia, South Africa, and Taiwan, came to put on the retreat and share their wisdom and experiences with us. Kent and Nancy Hartman are part of this ministry group, and it was so wonderful to see them. The participants came from Italy, Austria, Albania, and France. I enjoyed getting to better know Memorial Road's Vienna team, as well as the other inspiring missionary families. We were up in the hills outside of Bologna and had a refreshing and encouraging several days together.

We had times of worship, rest, prayer, play, study, and discussion. Topics included re-entry to America, prioritizing, spiritual disciplines, dealing with stress, marriage and parenting in another culture, and handling finances. We also examined II Corinthians, a letter from the heart of a missionary. The organizing committee showered us with gifts each day: tastes of America, tools for spiritual growth, and other fun items. We are all so grateful for the thought and preparation put into this week, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to participate and learn so much!

Memorial Road ladies

After the retreat, I spent the weekend in Bologna with the family who had hosted me for the youth retreat there during Easter. We went to a couple parks and to an overlook point to see the city all lit up at night. Pictured below are Rosa and I with some of the figs we picked from her brother-in-law's tree. I also enjoyed getting to worship with the Bologna church Sunday before returning home.

Every now and then, it's nice to take a step back and rest, as Jesus invited the apostles to do in Mark 6:30-32 upon their return from being sent out two by two: "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.' So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

¡Hasta Luego, Inseguridad!

2010-07-23T11:25:00.001+02:00

The summer session of the ladies' Bible study on the army base began last week. I'm in a group reading Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity.. in Spanish (the title of this post)! Having this opportunity to practice with native speakers will hopefully prevent my Spanish from being entirely corrupted by Italian :) I've read the book in English and can highly recommend it. I'm hoping this study will not only benefit me personally but also equip me to help the girls at church (and around the country) be more secure with themselves.

The Thursday night Bible study reached a milestone this week: we finished I Corinthians! When I arrived in January, we were in chapter 6... six months later, we made it through chapter 16 and are now on to II Corinthians. Another exciting development at the Bible study is that the couple who leads it has been bringing fresh produce from their orchard to share with the rest of us. This week I got zucchini, tomatoes, and a leek!

My English students are one by one finishing Mark and beginning to read Acts! I had a particularly good discussion with one of them last week as he was asking me why there are so many different churches, and as we studied Acts 2, we had more conversation than usual; typically he answers each question briefly and keeps on going. I'm glad to have growing relationships with my students as they are also having a growing understanding of God's Word.

A girl from France is doing a five-month business internship in Vicenza, so it's nice to have another person my age at church! We get together occasionally during the week as well, and this week she came over for dinner.

A Moldavian couple from church, who celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary last month, on the first of this month gave birth to an adorable and tiny baby girl!

In other neighborhood news... the entire length of the street the church building is on is under construction. With first one side shut down, then another part, this has made my commute a little more exciting, as well as complicated traffic patterns and bus routes, as the street and bridge have become one-way. Around here, there's never a dull moment!

CAMP!!!

2010-07-16T18:50:00.006+02:00

The Italian Christian summer camp was once again an incredible experience!! I returned home so full of joy and wish I could adequately communicate all that transpired... God was powerfully at work in our little nook up in the Apennine mountains.

The first week we had 71 little ones (ages 6-13), and our theme was the Fruit of the Spirit. I co-taught the youngest Bible class (twenty vivacious six-to-nine-year-olds, pictured below) and helped with the art class and sports. Last year there were forty-five campers each week, so this substantial increase of precious children also made everything even crazier than usual :)

The second week we had 23 teenagers, all but one of whom I already knew. It was a much more tranquil and intimate week as we focused on "Facing Your Giants," using the story of David and Goliath and Max Lucado's book of that name. I was in the Bible class with the 14-and-15-year-olds (pictured below) and co-taught the English class, which consisted of pictionary, charades, the "take a hike" game, and listening to English music to decipher the lyrics. For the Friday night end-of-camp showcase, our English class sang "The Battle Belongs to the Lord."

As we focused on identifying and combating our personal giants, we had a tangible reference point, a life-size replica of Goliath that some of the men had constructed! We wrote our giants on slips of paper and put them in a box, which, along with Goliath, was burned on the last night. Below is the English class with Goliath.

We had such a great staff of counselors and cooks for both sessions! Emily, an Avanti worker at the Florence Bible School (pictured with me below) was a counselor with me for both weeks, and working with her was so much fun! To read more about camp (as well as her work in Florence), I suggest you visit her blog: http://dafavola.blogspot.com/

The absolute highlight of camp was that two boys, from Taranto and Vicenza, decided to be baptized on Friday!! They both have amazing stories, which I will share in part. The one from Taranto (down south in the arch of the boot) comes from a Christian family but had fallen in with the wrong crowd, so to speak; due to past behavior problems, he was almost not allowed to come to camp this year. Before his baptism, he admitted (it sounds better in Italian), "I came to camp intending to wreak havoc, but instead God wrought havoc on me." The guy from Vicenza is from a non-Christian family but had been to camp a few times with a friend; last year he was selected as the Best Camper. Before his baptism, he prayed, "You know I've never had a father; now I'm choosing You to be my Father." In the absence of a typical baptistery, a giant freezer was filled with water, and we all gathered around to witness these two new births. Please pray for both of these new brothers in Christ, especially as they have now returned from camp to the regular world and do not want to revert back to their old lives. Pray also that I and others will know how to encourage and support them.

rejoicing with our two new brothers in Christ!!

(on the left in the bright blue and orange shirts)

On facebook I have uploaded lots more pictures of camp, as well as a ten-minute film created by a group of teens re-enacting the story of David and Goliath. "Tu ci credi ai giganti???" is particularly hilarious if you understand Italian, but I would recommend it to all who would like a glimpse of the campers and the camp's location. It was truly a special group of people in a special place, and we are grateful for all the unforgettable moments! God is good.

Ode on a Grecian Isle

2010-06-25T20:40:00.006+02:00

In early June I attended my first ever Italian wedding! Or perhaps I should say wedding in Italy, for it was between a Peruvian and a German. The bride and her sisters decorated the church building, and after the ceremony we had a big meal to which all the ladies of the Vicenza church made a culinary contribution. I enjoyed getting to help out a bit with the wedding preparations and festivities. Two girls who were Avanti workers in Vicenza five years ago came to town for the wedding, so it was neat to meet them and hear about their experiences here.

The following Saturday, Vittorio Vitalone, a doctor from Rome, came to put on a conference about spiritual and physical health, topics requested by the Ghanaians. He also preached Sunday morning, and after the worship service, a Ghanaian lady was baptized!

After my friend Jessica and I were in Milan for the ladies' day, she went up to Germany to visit some relatives, and then we met up to go to Greece for five days! Since she had studied abroad in Athens, she was my tour guide as we visited the Acropolis, other ancient ruins, and the archaeological museum. We of course also enjoyed plenty of gyros and wandering around the plaka (market). Reading Paul's speech in Acts 17 while sitting on Mars Hill and looking out at all the temples, which would've been even more impressive in his day, gave a new perspective to those verses. We then had a couple days on the island of Santorini: picturesque buildings, sunsets, and the Aegean Sea.

on Mars Hill with the Acropolis in the background

Santorini

Jessica then spent a few days with me in Vicenza before heading back to the States. Among the activities of daily life and work and showing her around town, we enjoyed watching several World Cup games in the cafe near my house :) Having her here was such an encouragement, and we made lots more wonderful memories. Her visit reminded me how blessed I am to have so many dear friends all over the world!

From Venice to Milan!

2010-06-02T20:36:00.008+02:00

My dear college friend Jessica has come to visit me! Yesterday we went to Milan to help out with their annual ladies' day, held on the Festa della Repubblica holiday (today). We spent the night with the wonderful missionary family there, and en route from the train station to the church building to their apartment got a quick tour of the magnificent city center. Jessica and I made visual aids, helped come up with the game and crafts, and got to make double recipes of sausage balls and apple cobbler for the potluck :) Our fellow travelers were quite curious when we broke out brown paper bags, aluminum foil, construction paper, scissors, twine, and metallic pens to make the posters during the train ride.

Though in years past this has been a regional event, due to the reconstruction work being done on the church building, this year it was held just for the ladies of the Milan congregation, in a member's home. At least seven countries were represented among the thirteen of us! Jessica and I had fun speaking Spanish with the two Latin Americans. The missionary lady spoke about the juxtaposition of reality and truth, the difference between the way we often see ourselves and the way God sees us, and how it is important to adjust our perspective and take hold of all God's promises to us. It was a lovely day of study and fellowship, and I'm so glad I got to participate!

truth vs. reality

paper bag garment = the old life, or how we view our reality from a worldly perspective
silver = garment of salvation (Isaiah 61:10) and how God sees us

At the end of May was Vicenza's sixth annual Bible Festival, organized by the Catholic church. The Vicenza Church of Christ has participated in years past by bringing in various choral groups, and this year they gave us a room for a speaker. With the theme of Hospitality in Scripture, these four days included conferences, displays, concerts, and lots of visitors (and nuns!). Dr. Earl Lavender from Lipscomb University spoke about Hospitality in the Early Church one evening as part of the festival, and he also had a conference on I Corinthians at our church building while he was in town. Two of my English students came to this conference, and another one came to the Bible Festival, where Dr. Lavender spoke to a packed house. His inspiring message challenged us to view hospitality not as an action but a way of life. We were grateful for the opportunity to take part in the festival, preach a good message to a wider audience, and let them know about the presence of our congregation.

publicity for the Bible Festival was all over town

Dr. Lavender speaking on Hospitality in the Early Church

I have another new English student who comes twice a week, the nine-year-old son of my Sri Lankan students. He attends an international school where half the courses are taught in English, so he already speaks quite well. In addition to the language learning, his parents feel they have a responsibility to instill values in him and so are glad for him to be studying the Bible as well.

Other highlights since my last post: I have...
-seen a play featuring a lady from church and two other mothers of my English class kids; it was an end-of-course performance for their acting class.
-met several former northeastern Italy missionaries and their friends and family, who were passing through town.
-dined at a pizzeria with one of my English students.
-taken my children's English class on an outing to the park.
-brought five loaves and two fish (literally) to English class.
-helped my kids practice their colors and numbers with woman-at-the-well bingo, the game card being a "well" they built of colored/numbered "stones."
-beautified the bulletin board in my classroom.
-sent my Sunday School class on an Easter egg hunt to find the phrases to the beginning of one of David's psalms, as we studied how he was hiding from Saul.
-become a familiar face to the girls at the bread store next to my house, as we now greet each other even when I pass by and don't make a purchase.
-when picking up Jessica in Venice, met up with another Harding friend and his friend, who were traveling around Italy. Thus I was in Venice one day and Milan the next; despite living relatively close to these two cities, it was my first time in over three years to go to either of them!

the result of the Psalm 18 Easter egg hunt:

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge."

Jessica and I in Venice

Jessica and I in front of Milan's Duomo

How my heart yearns within me!

2010-05-17T19:57:00.006+02:00

The Vicenza church is in the midst of an intense May, with the church calendar highlights being visits from beloved Americans. Yesterday we had a combined worship service with the Ghanaians, followed by a potluck, in honor of Howard Bybee, who came to Vicenza as a missionary in 1959. He has touched countless lives over the years, as evidenced by the high turnout, which included some who have not been at church in quite a while but came to see Howard. I was delighted that my landlady and her mother, sister, and niece accepted my invitation to come; their family has known the Bybees for years, as my landlady and Howard's daughter went to school together. Here are some pictures from the potluck:

with Begonia, my dear friend and English class helper!

We are all excited about her upcoming June wedding!

precious baby in a bundle

Our wonderful day of fellowship continued with Jim Woodroof's afternoon presentation of his book, "Between the Rock and a Hard Place," which was just translated into Italian! Due to a difference in idioms, the Italian title means "Between the Anvil and the Hammer: The Risk of Taking Jesus Seriously." Jim presented Jesus' method of placing his hearers between the incredible and the undeniable and encouraged us to follow this principle in our evangelism efforts. He has been traveling around Italy speaking at various congregations; I was blessed to hear both his first presentation (at the Velletri conference) and his last, as Vicenza was the book tour's final stop.

with the author and my very own autographed copy

Update on my newest English student: we got together for breakfast, and that afternoon she came for her first lesson! She comes two afternoons a week and is very eager to learn. Our lessons are quite different from those of my other students, as she is at a beginner level. She is a twenty-five-year-old Ukrainian, and I am delighted to not only have a new student, but also a new friend!

Last weekend I participated in the installation of a new church kitchen, which had been donated by one of the families from church. Here in Italy, a kitchen does not come with the house; rather, the various components are purchased separately and then move wherever the family goes. My main roles were handing the men the level upon request and teaching them words for some of the tools in English. Due to falling tiles and a leak to the floor below, the church bathroom and kitchen have both been renovated recently and are looking great. A great amount of dust has been created in the process, which was nearly the death of the photocopier, which has more years than I. I find it interesting that this is the third Italian kitchen installation in which I have been involved; last summer, the Florence church put in a new one, and the Bible School kitchen also underwent some updates. Who knew kitchens were so interchangeable and constantly on the move?

My house has been invaded by some unwanted guests! Termites have been creating quite a few holes in my lovely wooden living room floor. The floor was already quite holey when I moved in, and my landlords don't seem to be too concerned but plan to fumigate when I'm away at camp this summer, so that I won't have to inhale the fumes. In the meantime, I've cleaned up the damage and marked the 30+ new holes with post-it notes, per request.

One of my new favorite pastimes is timing how long a load of laundry takes. The previous record of one hour and forty-five minutes was recently trumped by a one-hour-and-fifty-nine-minute load. Drying everything on my handy drying rack (as I have no balcony) takes between one and two days, but I'm hoping that average time will speed up with the advent of warmer weather. The temperature finally got above seventy today! Vicenza has been having its rainiest May in thirty years!

My women's Bible study (on the army base) of Job has come to a close, and tomorrow will be the finale of the spring study session. This in-depth study has taught me so much, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this pilot group with the study's author. To close today, I'd like to share these inspiring verses that we examined as the turning point of the book (Job 19:25-27):

"I know that my Redeemer lives,

and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed,

yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him

with my own eyes--I, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!"

Mamma mia!

2010-05-04T15:48:00.004+02:00

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 :)

Not an April Fools' Joke

2010-04-15T18:48:00.003+02:00

Monday night the church in Padova (half an hour away) hosted a concert by Chorale Harmonie, an acappella group from Marseilles! They sang in both French and English, and it was a very uplifting evening. Several of the French songs also exist in English, but not Italian, so it had been many months since I heard them, so that was a nice surprise!

In case you heard about the landslide, caused by a burst irrigation pipe, that derailed a train in northern Italy Monday morning, killing nine people... that was about two and a half hours north of me.

This morning I had another random encounter with a faraway friend! While I was in the market getting fruit, I saw a girl from Sicily (the complete opposite end of the country, an island no less, and a good fifteen or so hours away) who was here on a high school field trip, just like the other teens from camp I encountered last month!

Then in one of my English lessons this afternoon, I got to talk to a customer service representative at a bank in England, attempting to sort out some address confusion on behalf of one of my students. Never a dull moment.

This afternoon I changed out the display in the church window! Begonia had the idea from an e-mail she'd seen with a Bible on a plate, symbolizing how "man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:3b), so I found a couple verses and made a little 3D exhibit. The timing and theme of the display is somewhat ironic, since on Saturday the Ghanaians are having a day of prayer and fasting up at the church building. Here are a couple pictures, with some lovely street scenes reflected in the glass:

"I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." ~Job 23:12b

My last post was long enough without including my latest apartment adventure, so I will close today with my April Fools' tale. At 11:30 p.m. on April 1, my electricity went out! At first I wasn't too concerned, since I was leaving town the next day, and I would have plenty of daylight to pack, since I never have to turn on my lights til dusk anyway. Then a few implications dawned on me: 1) No refrigeration. Hence a mass exodus of all my cold food to the fridge/freezer at the church building. 2) No heating during the night. 3) Ice cold mountain water shower in the morning. Having dealt with these minor inconveniences, I mentioned the problem to my landlords on my way to the train station, not knowing whether I'd have electricity upon my return from the youth retreat. To avoid the risk of burning down the whole building, I had left the power completely off, since there had been a suspicious burning smell when the electricity went out and when I had tried in vain to re-set it. Returning home Monday evening, I was delighted to find that my lights worked and noticed that a new breaker had been installed. On my way home from reclaiming my food from my surrogate fridge, I ran into my landlord, who told me that it had been repaired the day before. Props to my landlords on getting something of this magnitude accomplished on Easter, since Italy pretty much shuts down on holidays. [For example, on Easter Monday, my ladies' Bible study group leader was unable to find an open gas station.] Mission: Let there be light, 2.0 -- accomplished! And I live above a lamp store...

That's Bologna!

2010-04-06T21:32:00.000+02:00

This weekend I went to Bologna for the second annual Easter weekend youth retreat! The Bologna church has been hosting an Easter Monday conference for all ages for thirty years, and last year they added the Saturday/Sunday portion dedicated to ages 17-33. I enjoyed meeting new people and seeing friends from the far north to the deep south and in between. About thirty young people were in attendance (not all of them made it into the picture).

The themes were "Choosing a Christian or non-Christian Partner," "How to Preserve Your Body Before and During Your Engagement," and "The Difference Between Infatuation and Love." Having an opportunity to reflect on these important but not often discussed topics was an invaluable experience for these young people. Suffice it to say I learned more about the Italian Christian mentality in these three days than I had in any comparable amount of time, as I listened to the at-times contentious debates (particularly about the first topic). It was a good practicum in loving people, most of with whom I have theological (not to mention cultural) differences.

Between the keynote speakers and discussions, we had joyous times of fellowship. Those of us coming from out of town were hospitably welcomed into the homes of church members. I stayed in Chinatown with a family who has two daughters, one a month older than me and one a few years younger. Sunday afternoon we walked around the center of Bologna, and I very narrowly escaped having my Easter Sunday lunch at McDonald's, the restaurant of choice of the group. I and a half dozen other rebels went across the street for some delightful calzones :)

the sisters in my host family!

Despite having spent several months in Italy during the last three years, this year I have felt more than ever the philosophical divides between Italy and America. In these two wonderful countries I feel that I have two homes, which also means that sometimes I cannot be completely at home in either. I have come to better understand the truth of Norwegian novelist Johan Bojer in "The Emigrants":

"If you came back, you wanted to leave again.

If you went away, you longed to come back.

Wherever you were, you could hear the call of the homeland,

like the note of a herdsman's horn far away in the hills.

You had one home out there and one over here,

and yet you were an alien in both places.

Your true abiding place was the vision of something very far off,

and your soul like the waves, always restless and forever in motion."

Last Tuesday the women's Bible study on the army base had a special program day: a traditional Passover Seder meal! A Messianic Jewish chaplain lead us through the Hebrew songs and accompanying Scripture readings, and we partook of unleavenened bread, very bitter herbs, kharoset (an apple/walnut/honey/cinnamon mixture), etc.

I love how the Italian word for Easter, Pasqua, also is the word for Passover. Though we remember Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation throughout the year, this Easter/Passover linguistic confluence is an extra reminder at this time of year how "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (I Corinthians 5:7). Jesus' resurrection has so many implications, and the empty tomb is the starting point of Christianity. In his discussion of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15, Paul outlines a chain reaction of ramifications: "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead" (verses 16-20a)!

This hope of resurrection and eternity reminds us of our true citizenship. Amidst the hall of fame of faith in Hebrews 11 are these beautiful words (verses 13-16a):

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one."

and the walls came tumbling down...

2010-03-30T15:08:00.004+02:00

Sunday was my first agape (potluck) in Vicenza! The Italians and Ghanaians had a combined worship service, part in Italian and part in Twi, with some singing also in English. Then we enjoyed a smorgasbord of food and fellowship. The agape happened to fall the day before the 43rd anniversary of a couple from church, so we celebrated with song and tiramisu.

The children wanted to present a skit at the end of the agape, so for the last couple weeks we've been preparing to re-enact the story of the fall of the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6), which the kids selected since they had already constructed the Ark of the Covenant. The "city" consisted of songbooks set up in a circle like dominoes, which effectively contributed to the general clamor at the end of the scene when the warriors shouted to bring down the walls.

They had lots of fun getting into costume!

the priests sounding the trumpets

the procession around Jericho

The children did such a great job! Then the parents wanted them to demonstrate some of the English they have been learning, so we sang "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Father Abraham." I'm so proud of my kids for both their skit and spontaneous English presentation :)

For the last two Thursday nights, our Bible study has migrated to the apartment of a couple who lives next door to the church building, as the man is in poor health and unable to get out much. This 8:30 study usually finishes around 10 p.m. but is always quite lively, with discussions of the passage of the night, stories of life in Italy in years past, and two or three people speaking simultaneously in a combination of Italian and the Veneto dialect. It's neat to get to visit church members in their homes, especially when they are not able to get out due to chronic or temporary health concerns. Begonia and I have also been to visit a lady from church who recently had foot surgery; her recovery is going well, and hopefully she will be able to walk on it soon!

I just found out that the 18-year-old younger brother of one of my English students in Florence passed away due to a heart attack while playing soccer. Please keep the De Vita family in your prayers!!

Oh, how many feet you meet!

2010-03-24T06:02:00.001+01:00

Jesus instructed His followers to spread the Gospel "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8b). From Jerusalem, to these surrounding regions, to the rest of the world, the message has steadily advanced, resulting in believers in all corners of the globe. Increasingly, these corners no longer seem so distant, as chance encounters among Christians yield incredible stories.

These past two Sundays, our church has been blessed to have a couple visiting from Canada, who previously lived in Houston, are originally from El Salvador, and were on vacation in Italy. When they arrived, they met Begonia, who is from Peru and just so happens to have a cousin in Canada (not one of the smaller countries in the world). She mentioned this, and the man knew who her cousin was before she even told him her name, as they attend the same congregation!

The second Sunday that the El Salvadorian-Canadians were in town, a retired Italian couple from church, who always invites a group over for Sunday lunch, extended their hospitality to these visitors, Begonia, another church member from Colombia, and me. Everyone but the hosts spoke Spanish, everyone but the two out-of-town guests spoke Italian, and almost half of us spoke English. We had a delightful meal, and it was incredible to think of how God had brought us all to the same table from so many different countries, and with such an improbable story of a mutual cousin/friend living far away from her homeland!

Additional highlights from the past two weeks:

-In another episode of "it's-a-small-world-after-all," one Friday afternoon while waiting at an unusual bus stop, I saw three teens from last summer's camp who live in Aprilia (six hours away, near Rome) and were in town on a school field trip!

- I attended the birthday party of a now-seven-year-old boy from church! I have learned that when I leave my house Sunday morning (or even Saturday), I never know at what hour I will return home, nor what delightful fellowship may transpire in the intervening hours. On this particular Sunday, I found out about the birthday celebration after church, went home with the family for lunch, and then helped with party preparations: I was entrusted with the task of making all the finger sandwiches. Eighty-eight of them. Eventually assorted cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends arrived to consume the goodies. With such a gathering of amusing little children and extended family, hilarious moments were inevitably numerous. After these festivities, I went to a Chinese restaurant and the theatre with a family from church, their German exchange student, and their daughter's Chinese classmate.

- I have now been inside the Olympic Theatre located right next to my apartment! This Sunday, due to an annual race/walk, all cars were prohibited from entering town. In an effort to encourage people to still get out and about, all museums were free!

- I am delighted to report that Italian children appreciate Dr. Seuss! Or at least the ones in my class listened with rapt attention to the jovial rhymes and tongue-twisters. Hence the title of this post, a quote from The Foot Book. Next up: One fish two fish red fish blue fish! Here are photos from the last two weeks of English class:

The four friends lowering a paralytic through the roof so that Jesus can heal him (Mark 2)

Even the wind and the waves obey Jesus! Jesus calms a storm (Mark 4)

Per un Tempo Come Questo

2010-03-10T17:20:00.005+01:00

The women's retreat this weekend was an incredible time of fellowship and study! About sixty ladies from around Italy attended, and I loved reconnecting with friends whom I had not seen in months and meeting new people as well. We delved into the book of Esther, with the theme "Per un Tempo Come Questo," or "For Such a Time as This." Our time together included four keynote speakers; worship times with beautiful singing; various games and activities, including a re-enactment of the whole book of Esther, in which we all participated; and small group sessions to discuss the concepts of beauty, joy, faith, courage, obedience, and patience. We made wonderful memories and all left encouraged and refreshed!

The retreat was held up in the mountains outside Florence, and on Sunday we all journeyed into town for a worship service at the Florence church, followed by a potluck. While I was in town, I was also able to pick up my permesso di soggiorno card!

I cannot believe I have been back in Italy for two months already! Especially since it has been snowing all day, it's hard to believe it's the middle of March. I am really looking forward to the other retreats, camps, and events in upcoming months!

If you would like to see more pictures of the women's retreat, Verona, or Vicenza and the children I'm teaching, I have now uploaded albums on facebook! If you do not have facebook and would like to see the photos, let me know, and I can send you the links where you may view them. Thank you for your continued prayers for the work here!

"But encourage one another daily,

as long as it is called Today..."

Hebrews 3:13

What light through yonder window breaks?

2010-02-28T15:33:00.009+01:00

The repertoire of English games for my children's class has multiplied in recent weeks! Yesterday included a lively round of duck duck goose, and the kids also wanted to play telephone. "Elephant" was the only word to make it through the line unscathed. To practice giving directions (go straight, turn left, turn right, stop), we created a maze using a significant portion of the chairs, in conjunction with the story of Jesus' parents searching all over Jerusalem for him while he was in the temple. Another big hit was the application of heart tattoos (courtesy of Mardel's, via a Valentine's package from my mother), as Jesus recruited followers to spread the message of God's love.

In order to be able to properly act out the story of the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines, the Sunday School class this morning entailed a discussion of the ark and its contents and the beginning of the construction of the various pieces. With a combination of items from my recycling bin, the park, and the church, we are well on our way to having a veritable ark!

the golden jar of manna and Aaron's staff that budded

decorating the Ten Commandments

My first overnight guest came to stay with me this weekend! Studying abroad with Pepperdine University in Florence, she knows my relatives who live in California (in the town where my family also lived for a few years), and I know her relatives in Oklahoma. I am constantly amazed at how small the world is! One afternoon we spent a few hours in Verona, less than an hour away, and that town is now probably one of my three favorites in Italy!

Verona: the Arena, the third largest Roman amphitheatre in Italy

a sampling of the beautiful, colorful architecture

Verona is the setting of Romeo and Juliet; here is Juliet's balcony

In mid-February, the weather here in Vicenza began getting warmer! Who ever thought I would be excited about 50-degree temperatures? I am eagerly anticipating the full arrival of spring. In other exciting news, I finally have internet set up in my apartment!

Home sweet home

2010-02-18T17:05:00.004+01:00

My schedule now has additional weekly activities! Last week two new adults began studying English with me, and I have now met with each of them twice. One is the wife of my first student. The other is the son of the Russian housecleaner of a family from church; I had met her while I was staying with that family.

Also, I have begun attending a Tuesday morning women’s Bible study on the military base with my American friend Angy (at whose home I watched the Super Bowl!). Last week was a special program day, as a guest speaker from Germany challenged and comforted us with what it means to be a daughter of the King. This week was the regular small group time for the six different studies that started in January. My group is studying the book of Job; our group leader actually wrote the Bible study, and we are the first to use this material. I’m looking forward to having this encouraging time of in-depth study and fellowship each week!

As requested, here are some pictures of the inside of my apartment. The apartment was already furnished, the previous missionaries left me great kitchen and other household items, and a couple families at church are lending me some stuff, so I’m all set! God has certainly provided.

the entryway \ hallway

kitchen

bathroom

bedroom

one side of the living room

the other side of the living room

bookshelves and the fuzzy green wardrobe :)

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

This is how we know what love is

2010-02-15T10:58:00.002+01:00

Conveniently, the waffle-maker I inherited from the previous missionaries is heart-shaped. Thus the little ones in attendance on the Valentine’s Day’s Eve edition of the English class were in for another new treat. Italian breakfasts generally entail cereal or pastries, most certainly not eggs, meat, or waffles. A couple of the children were familiar with pancakes, and after trying this new snack, topped with honey, they wanted me to teach them how to spell out “Waffles are good” on the dry erase board. Hopefully they won’t expect me to bake a new American treat from scratch each week : ) Since doubling a recipe for six apparently produces enough waffle batter for 110 small hearts, I shared the love again on Sunday morning.

In honor of the holiday, the theme for the Saturday afternoon children’s English class was the love God shows us in providing for our needs and the love Jesus has for children. One of our activities was a scavenger hunt to find the supplies to make Valentine’s cards; I don’t think I’ve ever seen the kids as calm and quiet as when they were decorating their cards, and they used every single heart sticker available!

Two ladies from the Ukraine and Bulgaria eat lunch at the church building each Sunday, and they invited me to join them this week, insisting that I eat an excessive amount of several of their typical dishes, as Russian hymns played in the background. I enjoy the fellowship with Christians who have come to Vicenza from an interesting array of nations!

Sunday afternoon the kids from church got dressed up for Carnevale, and their parents and I went downtown to celebrate, a.k.a. throw confetti and thin streamers everywhere as we meandered through the antique market sprawled through several of the main piazzas. When kids in costumes encountered one other, they would throw confetti at each other. Our crew contained a cowboy, a pirate, Batman, King Kong, and a female devil. Fortunately the child who came to church without a costume this morning donned the full (plastic) armor of God before leaving, so at least he was able to take his stand against the devil’s schemes.

Hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day as well!

“This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
I John 3:16

"Throw Me Something, Mister!"

2010-02-08T00:55:00.000+01:00

The greatest culinary undertaking of my life was baking a king cake from scratch this weekend! When I was in elementary school, my grandparents from New Orleans would send this traditional Mardi Gras delicacy along with some beads so that my class could have a party. I wanted to share this cultural experience with the children in my Saturday afternoon English class, so after we studied the story of the Tower of Babel and practiced greetings in English and Spanish, I explained the Mardi Gras festivities, and we had snack time. Carnevale (the Italian equivalent of Mardi Gras) has its own set of special desserts and is celebrated with lots of confetti (which will remain in the piazzas for weeks afterwards). Children dress up in costumes similar to Halloween in America. At the train station this afternoon, I saw a group of young people wearing capes and masks; they were probably headed to Venice, the Italian equivalent of New Orleans.

Getting to the final product was quite a saga. Finding food coloring to make the essential purple, green, and gold sugar entailed journeying to a second supermarket outside the center of town; on the return trip, I could not find the bus stop and ended up wandering in the rain for an hour with more groceries than I should have been trying to carry. C'est la vie. Buying ingredients in metric units and measuring them with American measuring spoons was also part of the fun. Since my largest measuring apparatus was a tablespoon, I learned very well that sixteen tablespoons equal one cup, and its various derivations. Thankfully, the yeast dough, cream cheese filling, icing, and colored sugar all came together in the end to create this special treat.

Since my oven has no temperature markings (and neither supermarket sells thermometers) and is a little too small for a cookie sheet, I baked the cake at church, returned home to add the icing and sugar, and then brought it back to church for the English class snack time.

A plastic baby Jesus is hidden inside each king cake. Traditionally, whoever finds the baby is responsible for providing the king cake for the next party. In this case, the lucky winner traded the plastic baby for a chocolate egg with a toy inside. The name of the king cake comes from the wise men who visited baby Jesus.

Above is the Mardi Gras coloring sheet I made! When the kids said the requisite phrase, "Throw me something, Mister!" I threw them pieces of candy. The class size doubled this week to twelve, ranging in age from five to sixteen. My Sunday school class also saw an increase, as I had nine students learning the story of Hannah and Samuel. The church has a lot of books and curriculum, which has been a helpful starting point as I seek to come up with creative ways to present each story. If you have ideas for games (Bible- or English-related), I would love to hear them!

Saturday evening was a church meeting to discuss upcoming plans; this reunion is typically held the first Saturday of each month. Several conferences are scheduled in the next few months, which should be an uplifting time for church members as well as an evangelism opportunity. The church is full of ideas of how I can help, which include periodically changing the display in the case outside the building and updating the website. I have also inherited the task of compiling the first-ever church directory. I am glad that the church is so full of enthusiasm!

Right now I am watching the New Orleans Saints in their first ever Super Bowl appearance! Yes, the game started after midnight. A wonderful American family, who is stationed here with the military and hosts a Sunday night English devotional in their home, is letting me watch the game at their house and spend the night :) GEAUX SAINTS!!!

Back by Popular Demand

2010-02-03T19:27:00.001+01:00

Saturday I began teaching an English class for children! Our first lesson focused on the story of Noah, with vocabulary including animals and the colors of the rainbow. The class included color-coded bilingual versions of the story, animal charades, the "Noah Was a Man" song from the new Memorial Road children's cd (which the kids absolutely loved), a snack, and other games and activities. Basically, it's going to be like a two-hour Vacation Bible School each weekend. Last summer an intern had put together this class for about a dozen children, some from the church and others who have friends or grandparents who are Christians. The class was so popular that the children and parents were very eager for me to resume it. A Peruvian young lady from church came as well to help me with the energetic children :)

Sunday morning I presented the story of Ruth to my Sunday school class. The children are familiar with the beginning of the Old Testament and most recently studied Samson, so I am picking up where they left off and will continue with the major stories of the Old Testament. They already know the song with the names of all the New Testament books and enjoy searching for verses, and soon I hope to teach them the song for the books of the Old Testament!

The last couple days I was in Florence for my permesso di soggiorno appointment! When I showed up at the Questura building Monday morning, I was assigned a number. Over two hours later, I was summoned to a window only to receive another letter/number. Four hours later, I was called up to get fingerprinted and present a couple documents, which only took a few minutes. In one month I must return to the Questura to pick up my actual permesso card! David and Debbie also had their appointment Monday morning, and I was very grateful to have someone to wait with (other than the hundreds of unknown foreigners) all day in the austere room with no heating and no functioning bathrooms.

Only 254 more people to go until I get a new number!

After this adventure, I ran around Florence meeting up with various friends and students.

My friend Marcella, who owns a cooking school,

invited me to come to a class with the Harding students.

I went to the Tuesday market with one of my former (Bible School) English students.

My second tea time of the afternoon was with Tea, who is from the country of Georgia and studies English at the church building.

I have really enjoyed keeping up with my contacts in the Florence area. In a month I will return to Tuscany for the women's retreat! I just finished the Italian-to-Spanish translation for the study material to be sent to the ladies who register so that they can prepare by studying Esther, the theme for the retreat.

Last week in Vicenza it snowed three times! In the past week I have also experienced the hospitality of the Vicenza church, as a couple families invited me to meals in their homes. In the above picture taken from my living room, the church building is just to the left (out of sight) of where the road dead-ends.

Tomorrow morning a worker is scheduled to come install the phone line in my apartment! Getting internet may take a couple more weeks; in the meantime, I have become familiar with the libraries and am a card-carrying member :) I apologize for being behind in responding to e-mails, but I do enjoy hearing from you! Thank you for your prayers and support!

Let There Be Light!

2010-01-25T21:11:00.003+01:00

After the utilities guy turned on my electricity and gas, an electrician came to deal with the fact that no lights were functioning despite the presence of an electrical current, and two other men came to fix the hot water heater, I am delighted to report that this weekend I moved into my apartment, equipped with water AND light and heat! I am looking forward to putting everything in its proper place, and I love the apartment and its location. My landlords own the lamp store below on the street level; they are very friendly and have been so helpful in getting everything taken care of. I have been enjoying learning my way around town. Vicenza is not very large (population 110,000-120,000) and so easy to walk around.

Here I am with the awesome family with whom I stayed the past two weeks.

my apartment is on the top corner

view from my apartment of the main street through the center of town

Thursday afternoon I met my first new English student! He is from Sri Lanka and in his 40s. We began studying the Gospel of Mark, and he has a notebook in which he writes all the new words he learns : ) Thursday night was my first time at our mid-week Bible study, and we are currently in I Corinthians. The people from church are so wonderful, and I greatly enjoy their company.

Friday I went to visit a missionary family in the nearby town of Padova, as they had invited some friends over for a Christian evidences night. We watched two very interesting documentaries about creation and evolution, one of which focused on the Galapagos Islands. I spent the night there and really enjoyed getting to know this kind, hospitable family as well as the other missionary couple in Padova. It’s neat to have a mission team close by, since there aren’t very many American missionaries in Italy.

Yesterday morning I began teaching the Sunday school class for seven- to ten-year-olds! I made a Bible Jeopardy game to get an idea of what they had already studied, and we had a lot of fun. We had a smaller turn-out at church than usual because no cars were allowed in the center of town for the day except for those using methane or propane. Apparently the city does this once every few months in an effort to reduce pollution.

Take Two

2010-01-18T21:59:00.002+01:00

When it comes to accomplishing tasks in Italy, lowering expectations is imperative. If you set out with too ambitious a list of errands, or the notion that a particular item must be completed that day, your plans will almost certainly be thwarted. If you rejoice over each small step forward and glean cultural knowledge from each moment, you can have a great deal of fun in the circus that is Italian life. As futile or exhilarating as running errands can be, jumping through all the legal hoops we foreigners face is at a whole 'nother level.

Last year I returned home before actually receiving my permesso di soggiorno [permission to stay] card. Last week I sought to have my utilities turned on in Vicenza but was denied due to not having my permesso. But sometimes, the second time is the charm. I had a major dose of déjà vu as I turned in my permesso application at the Scandicci post office (almost everything important happens at the post office) to the same kind attendant I had a year ago. This time, I was assigned a follow-up appointment in two and a half weeks, as opposed to eight and a half months. How the Italians miraculously streamlined the bureaucratic process, I'll never know. Lest I get too excited, I won't actually have my permesso card in hand until a third appointment, projected to be a month after the second. The receipt for the application, however, is what I was really after, for with these three all-important slips of paper, I was able to go this morning to make the contract to get my utilities turned on. The workers are scheduled to come Wednesday morning!

While in Florence for the last few days on my permesso adventure, I also attended the Thursday night English class and Bible study at church, observed Emily and Jillian's weekly English lesson at a local kindergarden, sat in on a planning meeting for the women's retreat to be held in Tuscany in March, celebrated the eleventh birthday of a sweet girl in Pistoia, caught up with several of my former students, and enjoyed seeing everybody at church on Sunday. Here's a photo with one of my former students and Emily, her new English teacher:

All Roads Lead to Rome

2010-01-11T22:21:00.003+01:00

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!

Blest be the tie that binds

2009-11-24T17:25:00.003+01:00

"May the LORD keep watch between you and me

when we are away from each other."

~Genesis 31:49

Just wanted to write a brief update! My recovery has gone slower than expected, but I am feeling better and starting to get stronger. I should be able to return to Italy in January and am very eager to begin my work with the church in Vicenza! I've been keeping in touch with some of my English students and friends in Italy and am looking forward to seeing them again soon! Please continue to pray for my complete healing. Thank you so much for your encouragement during these last three months!

I am delighted to report that one of my English students in Catania was baptized this month! She is a very sweet and intelligent Chinese girl in her last year of high school; she studied extensively with both Kensey and Chad, and I am glad I had a chance to study with her a little as well. We are so proud of her momentous decision and are glad to have been a part of her faith journey.

Kensey and I with our new sister in Christ :)

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoy the holiday season with family and friends!

The best-laid plans of mice and men...

2009-08-30T21:13:00.004+02:00

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9

My plans with Avanti Italia have taken another slight detour. Unfortunately my health condition necessitated that I come home for the fall to recuperate. I am already starting to feel better but will need to rest for a few more weeks and then regain my strength. In January I will return to Italy and begin my work in Vicenza, if it is the Lord's will...

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" ~James 4:13-15

Before leaving Florence, I contacted my students to let them know that Emily and Jill will be in touch with them to continue their studies. I will also be keeping in touch with my friends there and some of my English students via e-mail or skype, as I will miss everyone in Italy dearly! While I am in America, I have volunteered to be a grader for Bible correspondence courses for women in my church's Prison Ministry and for Africans enrolled in World Bible School. Though I am disappointed about all the events and activities I will miss in Italy this fall, I know that God has a plan for this time and can still use me in His service. I would like to encourage each of you that no matter your current life situation, you can find ways to minister to others. And if you are not an invalid and can actually leave your house, the possibilities are truly endless!

Here I am with Sveta (Florence church member / English student / very dear friend), her husband, and their daughter Lisa (almost 3!). We skyped while she was visiting her family in Russia this summer and will continue to do so while I'm in America! I will miss hanging out at her house on Thursday afternoons!

Ermenita and I :)

Agosto con Amici

2009-08-20T18:46:00.005+02:00

August in Italy is a cultural phenomenon! Yes, the whole month. I had read about it before but had never witnessed the vacationing mentality to this intensity. Basically the entire country shuts down as everyone flees to the mountains or to the sea. Most businesses close for a minimum of two to three weeks, making running errands slightly complicated (as if it weren't already enough of an adventure).

Here at the Bible School we have been using this time to do much-needed renovations. For example, we have reorganized the library, and in preparation for re-painting the classroom, we have been scraping off the old paint (that which hadn't already fallen off).

We have also been spending a lot of time with our friends who are in town and with Italian Christians who have been traveling to Florence. Last week it was almost like we had a Florence youth group :) Twice I have had dinner in the gardens of my English students and their extended families (some of whom are current and former workers at Harding's villa). Both evenings were delightful, traditional big Italian family gatherings, and they shared photos of their travels.

Two Sundays ago, we had a cookout at the Bible School for Florence church members and their families and friends. We had a delightful meal, the inaugural of our new backyard, and sang together. Also last week, I attended the birthday party of a little girl from camp who lives in the nearby town of Pistoia; she is just about the most adorable and animated girl I know! A new team of AIM (Adventures in Missions) workers has arrived in Prato, about half an hour away, and we have been enjoying getting to know them as well.

On Ferragosto, the gigantic national holiday on August 15 commemorating Mary's Assumption into Heaven, we hosted an American pancake breakfast at the Bible School, attended by Americans (including the AIM workers), Albanians (Ermenita and her roommates), and a token Italian. Not that we were celebrating the Assumption, but it seemed like a good day to congregate for pancakes and bacon.

Tomorrow the Avanti workers who will be joining us in the upcoming months will complete their two-week training session in Searcy! August 26-30 (Wednesday-Sunday) is Florence's annual convegno di fine estate (end-of-summer retreat) held up at the Harding villa, with people also staying at the Bible School. In attendance will be almost 100 Christians from all over the country, and I am looking forward to seeing lots of people I know! A lot of preparation goes into this event, so please pray that all goes smoothly and that everyone has an enjoyable and spiritually encouraging time! Assuming that I get well in time (as some of you know, I've been quite sick the last few days), I will be helping with the younger children's class. If I have any exciting Italian hospital adventures when I go in for bloodwork Friday, I'll let you know.

the cookout in our backyard

Alexsandra's eighth birthday! (also pictured are the AIM workers)

with some friends in front of one of the castles associated with Dante

Venire a Vicenza

2009-07-30T14:05:00.004+02:00

Last weekend I visited the church in Vicenza (in the Veneto region of northern Italy, about an hour from Venice)! I had never been there before but knew some of the children and adults from working at camp, and I enjoyed getting acquainted with the church and its work. The structure of the Avanti program is for workers to spend their initial months in Florence and then have the option of being sent to a church in another part of Italy, and I have decided to accept Vicenza's invitation to come work with them for the remainder of my time here. Though my time at the Bible School this spring and summer has been valuable, I am very excited about this wonderful opportunity and plan to move around mid-September.

At the end of August we will be welcoming to Florence two new Avanti workers, Emily and Jill! Katy, who has been working with the church in Milan, is finishing up three years with Avanti and will be returning to the States next week. Pray for all of us as we make our transitions to new cities and countries!

Vicenza, Ponte degli Angeli (Bridge of Angels):

the back of the church building is on the right side

To see some more pictures from the youth camp and read an inspiring report by one of the directors, please visit http://www.aspettandoilsignore.it/luglio2009/inglese.htm

Momenti sul Monte

2009-07-15T15:20:00.009+02:00

Camp was incredible! I hardly know where to begin or how to describe it all. Getting to know 91 kids (divided between the two weeks) as well as my fellow staff members was such a joy. We were way up in the mountains (hence the name, which means "Moments on the Mountain"), and it was beautiful!

The first week I co-taught the nine-year-olds, and we had lots of fun with our various crafts. The second week I co-taught the seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds. Upon returning home, one of the boys from our group (who lives in Paternò, near Catania) decided to be baptized! He had been attending the church there for about a year, and we are so excited to welcome a new brother in Christ. Another girl in our class, also from Paternò, has decided she wants to be baptized and is planning to do so next Sunday. None of her family members is a Christian, so this is a very hard decision for her, and we are proud of her faith and courage.

Also, on Monday Chad's former landlord was baptized! He had been attending the church in Catania and studying English for a few months after having been invited by co-workers who are members of the church. Praise God for all these new births!

The campers were a combination of Christians, kids who have grown up in the church or started attending more recently but have not yet decided to become Christians, and their non-Christian friends. Thus the camp, and even the youth in the churches in Italy, are huge mission fields.

Hopefully I will have the opportunity to work at camp again next year! Lots of the kids asked if I would come back, and it's hard to think that it will be a year until we can all be together again.

Throughout the week we were able to see transformations in some of the kids, and in others we may never know how this experience affected them, but we know that seeds were planted, life-changing ideas contemplated, friendships forged, and memories made. Being able to participate in and observe God's work was such a blessing!

nine-year-old Bible class

the 17/18 class

This is what the kingdom of God is like...

2009-06-27T21:47:00.003+02:00

Last week I had the opportunity to attend my friend's cooking school with a group of Harding students! We made homemade pasta with tomato sauce; chicken with a mixture of spinach, pine nuts, and parmesan rolled inside; and biscotti. Everything was delicious!

This week I added two more students! One is a 29-year-old lady who found the Bible School online. She studied English previously but seems to have forgotten most of it. The other is a seven-year-old boy whose mother works at the Harding villa. He is adorable and brought his English workbooks from school to show me all the words he has learned!

Tuesday one of my students brought me a book by a Florentine author so that I can get some practice reading in Italian! Since she didn't have to go to work the next day due to a holiday, she stayed for three hours (until midnight)! Also Tuesday evening one of my students invited me to a pizzeria so we could have one last time to hang out before she goes on her summer vacation.

Tomorrow I'm going to work at the Italian Christian youth camp, Momenti sul Monte, for two weeks! The first week is for ages 6-13, and the second week is for ages 14-17. The theme is LOST: Stories of the Lost Who Were Saved, based on Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Each day we’ll be studying a different character (David and Bathsheba, Naaman, blind Bartimeus, the prodigal son, and the thief on the cross), and I’ll be helping with the Bible classes (for which I have created a pin-the-eye-on-Bartimeus game!), the theater/chorus class, the sports, and I’m sure many other activities. Please keep this camp, both the children and the staff, in your prayers! I’m very excited about this opportunity to meet people from all over the country and hopefully touch some lives. And I will be getting lots of great Italian practice!

Our backyard has now been transformed from asphalt to grass! Here are pictures of the work in progress and the lawn one month after the seeds were sown. It's a veritable jungle out there, and we are excited about envisioning how this area may be used for hospitality!

"This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” ~Mark 4:26-27

I will greet this day with love in my heart

2009-06-10T14:42:00.004+02:00

The seminar on the four Gospels was a great time of learning and fellowship! I enjoyed seeing friends from other cities and also meeting new people, and it was a very encouraging weekend! Hosting events at the Bible School is always so much fun.

Seminar on the Four Gospels

Saturday night our church, in conjunction with Harding University and the Italian charity ANPAS, hosted a benefit concert for Abruzzo, the region affected by the earthquake in April. A couple of my new friends were able to attend, and we raised over 1,000 euro!

The last week has also included a couple of fun cultural experiences. A lady who has visited our church a few times just opened a cooking school, and she invited me to the grand opening to see the school and sample some of her delectable cuisine. On Sunday afternoon our cook, Rosa, and her husband, Felice, were in a dance recital, so we went to cheer them on. The performance was quite elaborate and lasted over four hours!

Last night my 9-10pm student stayed an extra 45 minutes because she was really enjoying reading the Bible and wanted to keep going! She is very involved at her church but said they do not study the Bible a lot there, so she is glad to come here to learn more about the Bible as well as English! The day before another student commented that our studies have helped both her faith and her English. She expressed her conviction that faith is an important decision that each person must make, not merely following one's family or culture. When she was younger she was not as interested in it, but now she is truly exploring and is also reading her Bible at home in her native language!

This month, while Sarah, the church secretary, is in America, I will be assisting with some of her responsibilities, such as making the weekly church bulletin!

Recently I read a book recommended by a friend who was a missionary in Prague, and I would like to encourage you all to read it as well (it's only 111 pages)! The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino, is an inspirational story, set about 2,000 years ago, that includes principles for becoming a successful salesman, but it can also be read as an allegory of evangelism. I'll close today's post with a quote from the book:

"I will greet this day with love in my heart. For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force. My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay. I will greet this day with love in my heart."

I Was Ready for Some FOOTBALL!!!

2009-05-28T13:18:00.003+02:00

Spring has quite suddenly turned to summer! We have been busy with preparations for a seminar at the Bible School this weekend. The theme is the Four Gospels, and the speakers and attendees will be coming from churches throughout Italy.

As much as I love Italy's soccer obsession, I was ecstatic to attend last Saturday a game of the other kind of football, American football. Thursday night on the way home from the Bible study, Robbie, Ermenita, and I had stopped by to watch the Firenze Guelfi practice. They are currently in the third league of the NFL Italia, players are unpaid, games are free, and the field is 80 yards/meters. Robbie once played on this team and also coached the current coaches, and they gave Ermenita and me free [XL] t-shirts! We found out about the upcoming game on Saturday in which the Guelfi would take on the Roma Barbari [Barbarians], so we attended, along with some HUF students, to cheer them on, as both teams were 6-0! The game became exciting at the end as the Guelfi came from behind to tie it up in the fourth quarter and then go ahead (16-8) after running back an interception for a touchdown! Apparently they really like 2-point conversions. Ermenita brought a friend, and it was the first time either of them had seen American football. Her friend also came to church with her on Sunday!

Ermenita and I at the football game!

Last week Ermenita gave the HUF students a tour of part of the University of Florence. The various departments of the University are dispersed throughout town; the library and Law/Economics/Political Science schools are quite close to the church building, but I had never been there before! We enjoyed learning about the differences between universities in Italy and America.

Tuesday night I added another English student! She is 32, works for a subsidiary of GE, and teaches a catechism class at her church. Thanks for your continued prayers for my students as we delve into God's Word together!

Camaraderie

2009-05-10T21:57:00.002+02:00

Italians are notorious for going on strike, and I recently had my first encounter with this phenomenon! Going to Sveta's house before the Thursday night English lesson and Bible study at church has become a delightful weekly occurrence of tea and company, except, of course, when the bus drivers decide to go on strike. After waiting over 45 minutes on a bus that generally comes every 12 minutes, I learned from fellow would-be passengers that a strike had been declared for part of that day, which coincidentally was the day before Labor Day. At least Italians usually announce strikes in advance, which is helpful unless one misses the news! This week I was much more successful in arriving at Sveta's, and she brought a friend to our English study! The lady has a daughter about a year younger than Sveta's (who is 2-and-a-half) and is from Georgia (the country)!

Saturday night was our first English movie (and popcorn) night! We watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and introduced the American cultural marvel of coke floats during intermission. Only one English student, a young man who studies with David, was able to attend, so he got lots of English practice with four of us Americans, and we had an enjoyable time. Several of my students are interested in watching English movies but already had plans that night, so we will be having more parties in the future! We want the Bible School to not only be a place to study English/Bible but also to foster a sense of community and the building of friendships. Working outside in the yard so much has also provided ample opportunities to get to know our neighbors, such as the lady at whose request I trimmed our hedge (aka jungle) that was intruding upon her roses on the other side of the fence. Having neighbors who monitor our progress from their balconies is an interesting cultural experience!

Each day has a saint associated with it, and today is the day of the patron saint of Scandicci, San Zanobi, so the whole town has been celebrating. This afternoon a group from church played soccer! Several planned or random encounters throughout the last week with church members or students, outside their normal context, have been enjoyable ways to build rapport! I am so happy to be getting to know so many wonderful people, who are from over a half dozen different nations and have ended up in Florence for various reasons. Italians are usually in the minority at church on Sunday. Another neat aspect of being in Florence, and especially at the Bible School, is that so many visitors pass through. Though unfortunately they all have to leave eventually, meeting new people or seeing familiar faces has been very encouraging! A new group of HUF students arrives on Thursday. Last week Ermenita, Kyle (the HUF assistant), and I met to discuss ways to plan events incorporating the HUF students, Ermenita's friends from the University of Florence, and perhaps also some of my students or other people we know. My first trip to the University was that evening when we went to watch a new documentary about the history of Albania. Event planning (coordinating schedules and hoping people actually attend) can be somewhat complicated, but I am excited about the opportunities that abound and would appreciate your prayers for their successful actualization! Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me and my students and acquaintances! I am convinced that everything has been going so well here due to a combination of God's sheer awesomeness and the prayers of so many of you!

Festa!

2009-04-29T21:35:00.004+02:00

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

Living and Active

2009-04-19T17:14:00.004+02:00

Building relationships with my students and seeing them encounter God's word is such a blessing! Even between the first and second weeks of studying together I have already seen progress. One student was not particularly excited about using the Bible to study English, but at the end of our second session together told me how interesting he thought the stories he'd read were and thanked me at least three times for studying with him. Another student got an English Bible so that he can make notes in the margins, and his girlfriend wants to start studying with me as well. Tuesday night I added a new student, a young lady who works in a laboratory and is studying for a Ph.D. in pharmacology. I feel privileged to be part of these people's spiritual journeys and pray that in time the small seeds I am attempting to plant will bear fruit.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." ~Hebrews 4:12

David, Debbie, and I have begun to have a short devotional and Italian study each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. We have each selected grammatical concepts we wish to improve and are helping each other practice. These are also the days which Rosa makes lunch, so we get to converse with her as well. And Friday I helped her make home-made pasta!

Sveta invited me to her house to practice English with her Friday afternoon! She is a member of the church who studies English (her fourth language!) with David and me on Thursdays before the Bible study. I really enjoyed getting to know her better and sampling various Italian and Russian foods. Friday night at 8 p.m. was my first assemblea, a monthly meeting at church to discuss business matters and plan upcoming events. Everything was settled in record time of about half an hour; I've heard these meetings sometimes last until midnight!

Each Sunday morning a different man is responsible for the opening of the worship service, which can range from presenting an interesting thought to teaching new songs. Today we wrote cards to church members who are sick, needing encouragement, or are far away from the church either physically or emotionally. I actually haven't yet met any of the people we wrote to, though Wednesday morning I will get to meet Liliana. She was widowed a few months ago and is a shut-in, and we are having a ladies' prayer breakfast at her house! I am supposed to think of a short devotional thought to share in Italian.

Today while picking up lunch at the rosticceria, David got into a conversation with a man waiting on some chicken, and he happens to have studied English at the Bible School over ten years ago! He said he'll drop by the school later this week. I've also been in touch with a few other former and prospective students who intend to set up appointments to study with me, and I look forward to meeting them!

Buona Pasqua!

2009-04-13T20:49:00.002+02:00

Easter in Italy is my new favorite holiday! I've heard Christ's resurrection emphasized more in the last week than I have in years, and I love how the Italians joyously celebrate this time of year. Everyone, from shopkeepers to neighbors, has been wishing each other "Buona Pasqua!" [literally "Good Passover"] for several days now, and Easter Monday is even a big deal. Friday night we went to Grassina, a town about half an hour away where the communists put on an annual procession about the Passion of the Christ. Vendors of sweets, nuts, popcorn, and balloons were abundant, and the town square looked like a county fair. We found a pizzeria for dinner, and our waitress happened to be a girl from the church in Florence! After sunset the townspeople put on a show on a hillside about Jesus' life and crucifixion. Unfortunately, excessive rain necessitated the halting of the performance right after the arrival of the magi, and it was rescheduled for Monday night. A dear family from Naples was in town this weekend, so we spent time with them on Saturday and Sunday and had a big Easter lunch with them and a couple other church members!

Today David, Debbie, and I went to a conference in Bologna, a little over an hour away. Many of the churches in Italy hold annual conferences, which are a great opportunity for people from various churches to gather together. This weekend Bologna had a youth weekend for the first time, and today was the culmination of that with a meeting for all ages. A couple young people spoke, and a great discussion ensued. A lot of the youth want to get more involved in the church and in living out their faith, and it was a very encouraging day! I was surprised and excited to get to see a few friends from Catania and some people I had met on my mission trip to Italy last summer!

Ermenita, a university student and member of the Florence church, and I are going to be working together to plan events for young adults and teenagers in the hopes of providing an avenue for encouragement and fellowship, drawing back those who don't really feel part of the church, and creating opportunities to invite friends to join us. We met together on Friday and have begun formulating ideas. Please pray for our efforts and for greater participation on the part of the young people, of which there are few!

Make New Friends But Keep the Old

2009-04-09T22:01:00.001+02:00

The parents of the high school girl I studied with Monday brought me an Easter cake on Tuesday! They couldn't believe that we teach English for free. Easter cakes here are traditionally in the shape of a colomba (dove), and it was delicious!

One of the highlights of my week is the evening women's Bible study of Beth Moore's The Patriarchs. Though I am the only Avanti worker in Florence right now, two former Avanti workers are still in town: Sarah is the church secretary, and Kelly married an Italian and teaches English. Sometimes an Albanian lady joins our little group of Americans, which includes Debbie and Mona, and each week is so refreshing and full of new insights.

My newest English students all attend the university. Tuesday I met with the son of a man who works up at the HUF (Harding University in Florence) villa and wants to be a translator. Wednesday I studied with a girl in law school and her boyfriend. So many of my students have studied multiple languages, and I am very impressed with how much they know and how eager they are to learn!

Frankie Mitchell has been introducing me to her friends here, and I am glad to get acquainted with these ladies so that I can go visit them on a regular basis. Wednesday afternoon we went down the street to the Casa di Riposo (House of Rest). I talked with an 88-year-old widow named Anna for a long time and met a few others. The workers and nuns there were very excited to have a young new volunteer and want me to come back next week. This morning Mrs. Mitchell brought me along to visit Rosaria, who used to be a cook for HUF. She is so sweet and showed us around her house, insisted that I eat quite a few cookies, and gave me a beaded purse. Some of her children and grandchildren have studied English, and she wants me to meet them sometime. Being able to brighten a lonely woman's day simply by paying her a visit is such a joy!

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." ~James 1:27

My friend Claire is visiting me this week! We went to Harding together and also on a mission trip to Peru a few summers ago, and she is now teaching English in Spain for a year. This afternoon we went up to Fiesole, an Etruscan town with a beautiful panorama of Florence and some Roman ruins.

The death toll from the earthquake is now up to 281 with the search continuing and aftershocks disrupting rescue attempts. Tomorrow is a mass state funeral and national day of mourning. Easter will be bleak for many in the region, so please pray for peace and healing and that good will come out of this!

Though the Mountains Quake

2009-04-06T23:03:00.003+02:00

In case you heard about the earthquake in central Italy early this morning, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am alive and well! I am about 200 miles away from the epicenter in L'Aquila and did not feel anything. The earthquake registered at 6.3 on the Richter scale, and at least 26 towns were affected with 130+ dead, 1,500 injured, and 50,000 homeless. Please keep this area in your prayers!

"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging."
~Psalm 46:1-3

This afternoon I met with four new English students for the first time! In addition to conversing with them to get to know them, I began studying the Gospel of Mark with each of them. The student would read a passage and ask questions about any unfamiliar words, and then we would discuss the content and proceed to the next story. The students vary in their level of English and knowledge of the Bible, and I am excited to get to know them better and see their progress! One young lady is from Marseilles and has been in Florence a few years working as a tour guide; she is from a nominally Catholic family and said she is spiritually searching. I am also studying with a high school girl, a young lady studying to be an interpreter, and a young man who is a free-lance public relations specialist. I'm looking forward to meeting more new students in the next couple days!

There and Back Again

2009-04-01T16:20:00.009+02:00

The conferences in the four cities went well and had a pretty good attendance! Since the Catania church is the largest in the area, a group of us went to the conferences in the other cities as well to provide encouragement. Sunday was the monthly agape (from the Greek word for "love"), or potluck. Potlucks here are all-day affairs complete with a first course of pasta, a second course, dessert, coffee, and lots of fellowship. In preparation for the agape, I spent Saturday with the family I stayed with on my mission trip last summer and learned how to make eggplant parmesan! Here are some pictures of the last three weeks in Catania:

Kensey, Chad, and I with the Mitchells and Corbins

some of the young people at church

view of Mt. Etna from our apartment

the Ionian Sea

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. 'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" ~James 4:13-15

While I had intended to spend two years in Catania, plans have changed. Kensey decided for a variety of good reasons to conclude her time with Avanti Italia, and my remaining as the only American girl working in Catania would not have been the safest situation. The transition happened so suddenly due to the issue of the apartment contract. Since this is a public blog, I am not posting more details about our decision, but please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to hear more about it. Though I am sad to leave that wonderful church, I truly believe that everything has worked out for the best considering the circumstances, and I learned so much in the process.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28

Thus I returned to Florence this week. While I contemplate the possibilities of going to work with another church and await the potential arrival of more workers with whom I could go, I am helping out here at the Bible School. This afternoon I called those on the waiting list to study English as well as Kensey's and Chad's former students from their time in Florence last fall, and I already have several appointments set up for next week! I have also been hearing a lot about volunteer opportunities in the community and ways to help out at church, so I am excited about the possibilities and hope to soon be in a weekly routine! Since I am the only Avanti worker currently in Florence, there is lots for me to do, and I am looking forward to serving however I can and planting seeds for whatever length of time I am here.

Home Improvement

2009-03-25T13:28:00.005+01:00

Italians certainly know how to demonstrate Paul's injunction to "Practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13b). Over the past week, a family from church invited me to share a meal in their home just about every other day. I greatly enjoyed these times of fellowship and getting to know my brothers and sisters in Christ!

The last two days we have had adventures with wall repairs in our apartment. Workers came to fix the falling interior wall in the bedroom and the moldy walls and ceiling in the bathroom. I wasn't expecting the process to be quite so chaotic, but I am thankful to have a landlord who takes care of such matters for us! Also a couple weeks ago we had workmen rappelling off our terrace to fix some precarious marble on the side of the building so that it would not fall on unsuspecting passersby below!

We had more visitors from Searcy yesterday, Carl and Frankie Mitchell and Bob and Joyce Corbin! While people seem to be always coming and going through Florence, not as many make it all the way down to Sicily, and it was great to see them! Dr. Mitchell is speaking about depression at a series of conferences today through Saturday in Messina, Enna, Paterno, and Catania. We've been distributing flyers in these cities and are hoping for good attendance! Please pray that the conferences go well and are able to positively impact people's lives.

Give Me Your Eyes

2009-03-18T12:30:00.001+01:00

This week I'm teaching Kensey's students because she is in the UK. Brandon and Kristin are also in the UK for two weeks visiting churches to decide where they will work for the next 5+ years. Please pray for their safe travels! I would like to introduce you to some of our students, but I also want to maintain their privacy so won't be using their names.

A Chinese girl who is in high school has been coming for English lessons for over a year. She has read lots of Bible stories and recently asked Kensey about the overall composition of the Bible, so she made an outline of the books, authors, and genres for her. After presenting the outline, Kensey and I are going through a brief overview of the books and selecting stories for her to read. While sometimes she has seemed close to belief, at other times she is incredulous about the stories she reads. Last week she asked if the creation story came from someone's imagination. Her family has a Buddhist background.

Last Thursday afternoon a man saw a sign in the window of the church building advertising English lessons, so he came in and started talking to Chad and some Italian church members. He stayed for the Bible study that night and really enjoyed it and also came to church on Sunday. He plans to keep attending church as well as English lessons.

One of our most faithful students comes by the building often just to talk with whomever is available. His wife and three-year-old son also come with him sometimes to events at church, and he recently became Chad's new landlord.

For more about these and other students, you may read Kensey's post entitled "Nomenclature," currently the second from the top of her blog: http://www.kenseylynne3.blogspot.com/

Now that there are three of us Avanti workers here, we are hoping to acquire more English students. We also would like to get more involved in the community in order to serve and make more contacts. Please pray for opportunities and wisdom as we seek to expand our work and spread the kingdom of God in this city! While we have been generating ideas (finding a children's home or retirement center to work with, serving the homeless, or volunteering in schools), figuring out how to implement them here in Italy is the hard part. For example, right next to our apartment building is an all girls' school. A couple months ago two students killed themselves due to a new grading policy, and a group of parents stoned the school. The effects of the riot are still visible on the building and I'm sure still felt in the hearts of the students. Stories like this remind me that there are so many opportunities to reach out to people here if we only have the eyes to see them.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." ~Colossians 4:2-6

Brandon Heath's song "Give Me Your Eyes" portrays the type of vision I wish to have. You may listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTsYAZvHsEQ

Where Two or Three Gather, or A Kilo of Kiwi

2009-03-17T13:39:00.003+01:00

Each Saturday afternoon, several church members distribute flyers to let people know about the church. This week we went along Via Etnea, the main street in the center of town. It's technically a pedestrian road with only certain cars allowed and is lined with shops. Seeing people's reactions to the flyers is always interesting. Some won't take one, some look at it and decide they don't want it, some just take it and say "grazie," and some immediately throw it in a trashcan or on the ground. Occasionally someone will get into a good conversation with one of the church members. Regardless of the seeming lack of receptivity, at least the recipients of the flyers are forced to think, if even for a second, about how they relate to Jesus.

Sunday I had lunch at the home of a young couple from church! Everyone here is so hospitable, and I really enjoyed our afternoon of fellowship as well as a great meal of Sicilian pesto and a couple kinds of breaded meat stuffed with cheese.

Enna, the European city at the highest elevation, is about an hour away and is home to a church consisting of two people, a husband and wife. One Sunday a month they come worship with the church in Catania, and each other Sunday evening a few people from Catania go out to Enna. This weekend was my first trip to Enna, and it was neat to meet Carmelo and Lucia and have a small worship service together.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." ~Matthew 18:20

Right outside our apartment is a market every Monday morning. The vendors have a colorful array of very fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a wide selection of household goods and clothes. Yesterday was my first time shopping there. I came home with 9 zucchini, 7 pears, 19 kiwi, and 5 eggs, all for just 5 euro ($6.25). When I agreed on a kilo of kiwi, I wasn't really thinking about how much that is (2.2 pounds), but it was only 75 cents ($1)!

It's a Small World After All

2009-03-11T20:26:00.003+01:00

Sunday evening some of us from Catania went to Paternò for their worship service and agape (potluck). Their congregation has about 20 members and lots of energetic children and young people! I also got to meet some relatives of the Giordano family with whom I went to church in Texas. What a small world!

This week I've been getting to know some of Kensey and Chad's English students and starting to help teach. We're sort of in a time of transition now with Brandon and Kristin about to leave, and now that the new team of workers is complete, we will be re-evaluating our schedules and then start advertising for more English students and hopefully also begin some new initiatives.

The church meets together twice during the week, besides Sunday mornings. Tuesday night is a singing class, and Thursday night is a Bible study. This Tuesday we had special visitors! Shawn and Donna Daggett and Don and Joyce Shackelford are in Sicily for the week, and it was great to see some familiar faces from Searcy! Afterwards we all ate pizza together.

Snow & Lava

2009-03-08T14:39:00.002+01:00

Friday evening I arrived in Catania, my new home for the next two years! Catania (population 300,000 with a total of 750,000 in the metropolitan area) is on the island of Sicily and is situated between Mt. Etna (Europe's largest active volcano) and the Ionian Sea. Both are visible from my apartment since it is on the tenth floor (which would be the eleventh floor in the USA). Kensey and I are living with Brandon, Kristin, and baby Charlotte, Avanti workers who will be departing in April, at which point we will be taking over the apartment. It's so nice to already have a fantastic, furnished place to live!

Every Friday night a group (of men; I was the only girl) from the church plays soccer. The field is a little higher up on the mountain, and when we got there, it was snowing! Then a few minutes later we saw lava flowing out of Etna!

Saturday afternoon Kensey and I walked around town so I could familiarize myself with our apartment's surroundings, and we also went to the center, where there is a Saturday market with all sorts of food and household goods. I enjoyed both seeing familiar sights and exploring new areas!

Church this morning was wonderful! It was great to be back and see everyone and know that they are glad to have me here. Six-year-old Giulia even drew me a picture!

FYI: The internet connection at my apartment does not allow me to upload photos to my blog, but I will be posting them on facebook. If you do not have facebook and would like to see my pictures, let me know, and I will send you the link where you may view them. Also, if you would like to receive an e-mail notification whenever I make a new blog post, you may sign up in the "subscribe" box to the right under the blog archive box. Below that are several links where you may check out Kensey's fantastic blog, Debbie's newsletters, and Avanti's main website. Moreover, I highly recommend that you view this comparison of the differences between Europe and Italy for a nice little introduction to the culture: http://www.infonegocio.com/xeron/bruno/italy.html

Farewell, Firenze

2009-03-05T22:37:00.002+01:00

My second week here has flown by! Tomorrow I'm moving to Sicily to begin my work with the church in Catania. While I will miss Florence and all the wonderful people I've gotten to know here, I am extremely excited about joining Kensey and Chad and reuniting with all my dear friends there. Last summer I spent a week and a half in Catania and am so glad I have this opportunity to return and work with such an incredible, joyous congregation.

Wednesday afternoon I taught four of David's English students. Each lesson had a totally different dynamic, and talking with each of the students was enjoyable.

Today I got to have lunch at the HUF villa! Then this afternoon before the English class and the Bible study at church, I met up with two other girls whose mothers are in my mom's Moms In Touch prayer group! It was neat how we all ended up in Florence at the same time, and I'm so glad we were able to get together!

Rosa

2009-03-03T23:16:00.011+01:00

After church on Sunday, we and our friends from Prato had lunch with our new Nigerian friends in Castra, a little town in the hills outside Empoli. The landscape was beautiful, and our hosts were so hospitable and generous! Jacinta had made all sorts of food, and her uncle, the priest, kept insisting that we eat more and more. We ended up having twelve different items: salami, olives, liver pâté, lasagna, ribollita (minestrone soup with bread), a spicy Nigerian soup, chicken, pork, greens, roasted potatoes, ice cream sandwiches, and blueberries. We had a delightful time, and Jacinta wants to come to the Bible School again to hang out and so Debbie can teach her how to make rice krispy treats, etc.

a fantastic feast and fellowship!

Sunday night the HUF group came over for a chili supper to round out our weekend of festivities!

Today when we were out and about we happened to be near Rosa's house so stopped by so I could see where she lives. Right after we drove onto her street, so did she, so she invited us in. I met her husband, Felice, and saw their beautiful garden. I've really enjoyed getting to know Rosa and learning some cooking tips from her! She has had a cough for over six months, and the doctors hadn't been able to figure out what was wrong until last week when she was diagnosed with a hernia. She is glad to finally know what the cure is. Please keep her in your prayers!

Rosa, the cook

Tuesday Night Ladies' Bible Study

This week at the ladies' Bible study, we didn't just have Americans, so we did the study in Italian. This is such a great group of women, and I'm going to miss meeting with them when I move in a few days!

Family Convegno

2009-02-28T23:33:00.004+01:00

This weekend is full of big gatherings and birthdays! Thus a lot of my time recently has been spent preparing for these events.

Thursday afternoon I turned all my permesso di soggiorno paperwork in to the post office, after which a celebratory gelato was in order. That evening David and I went to the church early for an English study with a church member who is from Russia! The mid-week Bible study here is on Thursday instead of Wednesday; in attendance were four people and Mario's eternally happy dog.

Friday was Mona's 50th birthday! She and Robbie are the directors of HUF (Harding University in Florence). We had a surprise party for her at the Bible School with about seventy people and then paraded (literally) to Gallo's pizzeria. The parade involved fifty black balloons and about as many of those party noise makers, and Robbie pushed Mona in a wheelchair. It was quite a spectacle, and the Italian bystanders were definitely wondering what was going on, and some of them asked what kind of celebration this was. They only thought Carnevale ended Tuesday.

Sorpresa! Tanti auguri Mona!

Today was a Family Convegno (a word used for conference/convention/retreat). About 75 people from Florence, Prato, and Pistoia gathered at the Florence church building, and Vittorio and Tonia Vitalone came up from Rome to speak about parenting. Two other ladies and I watched the 18 children, which was lots of fun though of course slightly crazy. Since an adorable little girl named Deborah turned 7 today, Sarah made a beautifully-decorated and delicious cake. The convegno went really well, and I'm glad so many people were able to participate!

the children at the convegno

Scandicci

2009-02-26T11:59:00.016+01:00

I haven't taken many pictures since I've been here,

so I thought I'd post a few of Scandicci that I took two years ago.

il Comune, where I went to register with the police

pedestrian area

Saturday market

il Vingone

on the road to Harding's villa

motocicletta

I've only been here four days?!

2009-02-24T23:53:00.005+01:00

The past few days have been full of a variety of activities and new experiences! I will only hit the highlights since I can't possibly relate everything, but this post might be sort of long since there are so many firsts!

One function of the Bible School is to host visitors; thus, people are always coming in and out of this very hospitable place! Right now there are several travelers here from my hometown of Edmond! Last weekend a couple American girls from the nearby town of Prato were here. One of the girls had met a brother and sister from Nigeria who have been living in Empoli for the last year, and she invited them to church Sunday. It was great to be back with the Florence church again after being here two years ago, and I more or less understood everything that was said! A dozen people came over to the Bible School for lunch afterwards for a great meal and fellowship. The siblings from Nigeria really enjoyed it, and their uncle, who is a priest, invited us to Empoli for lunch with them next Sunday!

the Florence church building, formerly a chapel in a Russian family's palace

In the mornings I meet with David and Debbie Woodroof, the directors of the Bible School, for a devotional and to discuss upcoming events. Jim, David's father, is also here for 3 weeks helping out with all sorts of projects around the Bible School. It's been great to have him here!

Rosa, the cook, makes lunch every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. After working here for over twenty years, we think she has picked up some English, but she pretends to not speak any so that we all have to practice our Italian. Yesterday I got to help her make lunch, which was so much fun! She is so sweet and said she likes me because I can understand what she's saying!

Monday afternoon Debbie and I went to Sarah's apartment for tea and amazing scones! Sarah is a former Avanti worker and is now the church secretary. I really enjoyed getting to know her better and learning more about the work here.

This morning David and I went grocery shopping at the Coop, the largest European grocery store I have ever been in. It was quite an experience. More on Italian grocery shopping later...

This afternoon David and Debbie attended the funeral of the mother of one of the members of the Florence church, so I worked with David's English students. He had given them homework the week before, so we went over that and discussed their questions. In the first lesson we actually ended up speaking Italian about half the time as I was explaining grammatical concepts (isn't the logic of English verbs wonderful?), and then he translated the Parable of the Tenants. The second student spoke English very well and had read John 8:1-11. He asked lots of questions about the story and so we discussed concepts such as justice and forgiveness, and then cultural matters such as Carnevale (Mardi Gras), which is being celebrated today.

Tuesday evenings a women's Bible study meets here and has just begun going through Beth Moore's The Patriarchs. Tonight we had supper together and then studied Abraham. Events are always happening at the Bible School or the church, so I'm just helping out however I can and learning so much. I can't believe I've only been here four days! The two weeks I am in Scandicci/Florence before moving down to Catania are going by so fast. Each day is full of a wide array of activities and the many adventures that come with life in a foreign country.

I am here!!!

2009-02-21T18:02:00.008+01:00

Last night I arrived in Florence! Thanks to everyone for your prayers for safe travel; my flights went smoothly, and all my luggage made it! For the next two weeks I will be here at La Scuola Biblica di Firenze (Bible School of Florence, home to the Avanti Italia program), located in Scandicci, a suburb of Florence and home to Harding's villa where I studied two years ago. It's great to be back!

La Scuola Biblica di Firenze

Today I registered my presence with the Scandicci police (which entailed filling out some paperwork and getting lots of very official-looking stamps). Kensey and Chad, my future co-workers in Catania, were in town attending to their permesso di soggiorno (permission to stay) paperwork, and Katy, an Avanti worker in Milan, is also here for a few days, so it was nice to see them all before they head back to their respective cities today!

I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity to work in Italy for the next two years and am looking forward to all the joys and challenges that await me and to seeing how God will use me!