Will you model for me???

It was mid afternoon in Florence and I was doing a little Christmas shopping after a meeting. As I walked out of a store an older man in his sixties quickly came walking up to me and asked "Will you model for me?". I was so caught off guard that I said "what??". He launched into a discourse about how I had the perfect form for a marble sculpture, my eyes were beautiful and I had a great face. He said "I'm an artist and I just look at the form so will you model for me?". I told him I didn't live here and I wasn't really interested. He insisted that he was a professor of art at the university and that he paid very well hourly. He asked if I lived in Florence and when I said no he asked if I came there often. I said not really. It was becoming awkward at this point. I said once again that I wasn't interested and that yes I too was an artist so I know what your talking about but still not interested. The next line was priceless..."Well I'm gay so you don't really have to worry about that". I tried to hold back the laughter. He asked what my job was in Italy and I told him I was a missionary that works with univeristy students. His reply was well Jesus was naked wasn't he so it shouldn't be a problem for you. You can do that too can't you. I have a gallery on the Ponte Vecchio that you can come and see my work was his next line. I said maybe next time I'm around I'll stop by. Not! He just couldn't believe that I wasn't up for modeling nude for a marble sculpture of me that may or may not be displayed for a bazillion tourists to see everyday on Ponte Vecchio. Lastly has asked for my number and well... I panicked. I had no way out without being super rude. So yes I lied, the Lord forgive me, that I didn't have a cell phone. I said Pisa was a small place and well you just see everyone all the time. He couldn't believe that. So I said you just give me yours and Lorenzo is his name for those interested. Before we parted ways he said you're not going to call are you because you have too much else to do. I kindly said Ciao and hurried away still in disbelief at what just took place. Oh the every day life of living in a foreign country.

To the ends of Italy- Irsina and Matera

The morning started early for us as the rest of the Salerno team slept in. Walking the silent, empty streets of Italy in the morning is one of my favorite things. You can soak it all in uninterrupted; the architecture, vintage signs, and one or two elderly early risers going for a walk. We arrive to the station just in time and quickly grab some breakfast before jumping on the train. Our trip wasn't super planned which is how I like it. This provides a little more adventure or in some cases trouble. An hour and a half past and soon we were at the Potenza Centrale station. Since we couldn't locate a bus schedule on the internet we figured we'd just ask when we got there. Well, seems there are no buses on Sunday. Haha. I sheepishly call our friends and they laugh and inform us also there are no buses. They tells us they will findd us a ride nad calls us back. 30 mins or so go byand I get a call from our friend's son, Pietro. He's coming to get us but it's a 40 min. drive. We are now regulars at the train station cafe that is filled with men constantly. They can't seem to figure out why foreigners would be here of all places. Time goes by and a sweet Italian guy walks in and asks if I'm Martina. It's Pietro. yeah! We grab our bags and we're off for a speedy drive through Basilicata to Irsina with Pietro and his brother, Saverio. We arrive just in time to all sit down for lunch then the boys rush off to the soccer match. Later that night Rosetta took us for a walk through town and into the old city of Irsina. The streets were filled with groups of cute old Italian men taking their 3rd walk of the day. You must know that the population of Irsina is about 3,000 and they all know each other. So immediately we are spotted and the whispering and questions begin. Our other feature that draws attention to our being foreigners is that we are seriously a foot or more taller than every single person in town. We were quite the talk of the town that night and for the days to come. Rosetta took us to see Rafaelle's mom while we were out as well as to eat panzerotti with her.We wrapped up the night with a trip to the pizzeria for dinner at about 10:30, which is totally normal here.

Monday-

We slept in a little then headed up for breakfast with Rosetta and her mother who also lives downstairs. She made us delicious cappuccinos and gave us sweets. Apparently cappuccino is not really considered you morning cafe, too much milk maybe not sure. So it was followed by a simple cafe. Amanda and I headed out for a walk through the historic old town and to take some pics. The low lying fog was rising though the valleys as we looked down from the city wall and it was beautifully breathtaking. Words cannot do it justice nor can pictures. We walked back to the house for lunch then hang out time speaking Italian with grandma, this was a language immersion trip for us. Some friends came over to visit then we ventured out again before a late night dinner and visit with some of their friends.

Tuesday-

After breakfast with the family and a stroll through town and lunch Amanda and I headed out to Matera. We made a split second decision to go and I'm glad we did. We'll definitely have to go back when there are more daylight hours. Teh bus was crazy curvy getting there so Amanda was sick most of the time. Once we arrived we asked hte bus guys how to get where we wanted nad he gave us a free ride to the panorama of the Sassi, which is where the Passion of the Christ was filmed. It was so beautiful. It looked just like it did in the movie. Afterwards we walked around town then grab a bus home in time for dinner.

The Sassi at night

The Sassi in Matera

Wednesday-

Up bright and early as we were going to tour the town today. Raffaele returned just after breakfast to take us to the local bakery where they make sweets specific to Irsina. Every region in Italy has different food plates and sweets as well as bread. We saw the works and then tasted most every cookie there. After the bakery, Raffaelo took us for a private tour of the cathedral built in the 1400s and to see the famous statue of St. Eufemia that will go to the Louvre next year. It was very simple but pretty inside. Filled with marble design work and beautifully carved statues. They even have a painnting of Christ from the 300s. The curent church is built on top of the old church, which you can still go see. We were unable to find the keys to get down there but upon leaving we ran into the priest. He told us to come back later and he would open it for us. The next stop was out to the country where we saw the family's country house, olive trees, and small patch of farm. We rushed back to the house for a full lunch then a quick cafe nad rest before more tours. Just after lunch Rafaelle took us and nonna to see the crypt at the church. It was quite amazing to stand under the current church were mass was held in the 1400s. I can only imagine the things those walls have seen. The next stop was just at the edge of the city where you will find water fountains that were once the clothes washing area for the entire town. Last on the tour stop was a trip down the hill from Irsina to see a few more archeological finds and to get a view of the city sittinng up on the hill just as sun was setting. Back to town and then dinner with the family. We enjoyed lamb rolls filled with chopped heart, liver, intestines, etc and lamb chops. It was quite the dinner. Off to bed

us at the cookie/bread factory

Thanksgiving Hilarity

So you haven't really lived until you experience a Thanksgiving outreach in Italy. This year Amanda and I went to Salerno to help them with their student outreach. The Wednesday before Turkey day Mario and I spent the day making 14 pumpkin and pecan pies. Ricky made all the crusts from scratch. During the baking times, we passed the time by seeing what would explode the best off a 4th floor balcony. Tina, Amanda and I made the team dinner that night as well. Grilled cheese with cheddar straight from America accompanied by some warm tomatoe soup.

Turkey day arrived and I woke to the sound of green bean casseroles and sweeet potatoe pie being made. Yum! 5 of us us girls set off for the butchers to pick up the turkeys, of which they ordered 3. Our mouths dropped as the first bird or small dinosaur is hauled out. Yes, a whopping 17 kilos or 37lbs if you will. We're scared at this point! Birds 2 and 3 arrive and though slightly smaller weigh in at 32-33lbs. each. The butcher, with a straight face, asks " so who's going to carry these?". To which we replied us of course and then he broke out in laughter. We called in the guys for reinforcement. The question also was asked so who's cooking these and where. To which again we replied us and at home....laughter continues. We hike uphill for 5 mins with these birds until we meet 2 of the guys. Mario, Rick and I carried the birds about 10-15 mins uphill through Salerno drawing many stares. Once we arrived, we surveyed the insanity. Local pizzeria friends agreed to cook one of the turkeys in their big oven while we would cook one at home and the third we would have to carry about 30-40 mins. across town to our friends hotel. The cleaning, de-feathering, and seasoning began. DUring this time Tina, Katherine and I went on a potatoe peeling spree. I think we went through 5 bags. This provided hours of entertainment and laughter for us all.

Turkey 1 Nina- Katherine and I locate a pan and drop this big bird wrapped in foil on it. We're praying it fits in the guys oven. Well.... we try to shove it in and the sides of the oven that hold the racks start to fall off. Panic erupts as the bird begins to fall. The the bird drops. Ah!!! Plan B- yell for Mario and he takes out the side racks with a screwdriver then we find something to raise the bird up just off the oven coils. After about 10 mins and several attempts, the bird is in. I think it was touching every side and the top of the oven.

Turkey 2 Santa Maria- Piece of cake. Amanda and Mario put all 37lbs. of it in a bag then drop it in a rolling suitcase and head across town to the restaurant. Yes, turkey in a suitcase, we're very creative.

Turkey 3 Pinta-my favorite. Katherine and I threw the bird in a giant black garbage bag then layed it in the guys laundry basket. It looks like a corpse at this point. We started out for a good 15 min. slow walk down to the bus stop. The laundry basket hurt so bad that we each had to wear one winter glove. We looked like completed weirdos. We arrived just in time to catch the bus. We each grabbed a handle and load the bird onto the bus. At this point, we are drawing some serious stares. Finally, we arrived to the port where we needed to change buses but sadly our new bus was packed full, no room for 2 girls and a raw bird. There was some discussion then a crazy rash decision to just walk down the ocean boardwalk to the hotel carrying this bird. It was a serious 20 min walk and we had to keep switching sides because of the basket cutting the circulation to our hands off. Yes, we see it, the hotel. Our friend's dad meets us outside and he is very happy to help. He calls his wife, who is not quite all there, and she refuses at first but dad insists. She accompanies us into the kitchen where she takes one look at the bird and says it's too big and gives it a big slap. She then points wildly and says "but I can give you the microwave". Katherine and I exchange looks of sheer laughter inside and are you freakin kidding me, a microwave! We kindly refuse, as the bird is 4 times the size of the microwave and who cooks a turkey in a microwave?? She keeps saying their oven is only for delicate things like croissants not turkeys and continues to slap the bird. A distress call was made back to the guys apartment. We didn't know where to cook the bird and we refused to carry it another 40 mins back across town. After much awkwardness, we left with the bird and stood on the curb by the main street wonderinng what to do. All of a sudden, I look at Katherine and say TAXI. hahaha. sheer laughter at this point erupts. We make the needed calls and get a taxi. While we're waiting we decided to talk about what we were thankful for in hopes that it would cover over our frustrations. In conclusion, we load the turkey in the taxi, never telling the driver just what's in the basket. We arrive at home and within an hour our restaurant friends tell us to bring it over. They ended up cooking one in the normal oven then they put this one in the wood burning pizza oven.

All ended well. We came out with 105l bs. of yummy turkey and 80 students attended the outreach adn were able to hear about God's free invitation to salvation through Jesus Christ and having a personal relationship with God. It was a success!

Caserta and Language Learning

I left Pisa on Nov. 15th after another brief ER visit. Amanda and I headed for Caserta to spend a few days with friends and do a language immersion. From the moment we arrived I felt at home. I absolutel ylove the community of believers there. They have become like family to me. On that Friday night, we went to prayer at the church then a whole group of the college students and adults went out for pizza. I had such a great time getting to build deeper relationships with the girls over dinner. I love getting to live part of my life with them. I desire for each of these youth to really walk with God for a lifetime and to learn what the true life of a believer looks like. It's not just about knowledge of the Bible or going to church but about being a light for Christ in a country that has strayed far from Christ.

This is me and Mena. She is a single mom with a great son Antonio.

On Saturday we spent time with Mena, one of our many Italian moms. She took us shopping then afterwards we headed back to the church to prepare dinner for after the ministry meeting. This night we learned about all the ministries in the church adn how you could be a part of them. I am amazed at all the things they are involved in. This is very rare in Italy. i had a long talk with the pastor about our work and how much they appreciate us. I thank God for htis partnership withthe church here. Afterwards we enjoyed some yummy pasta fagiolo and then headed out to town with some of the college kids. Once again more time to really invest and live life with these kids who have no one to look to in following Christ. It was a fun but cold night of taking a walk and drinking hot chocolate.

Sunday we went to church where we got to see everyone else we hadn't yet seen. I just love going to church here. Lunch was in typical Italian style. We went to a local rustic restaurant where we proceeded to have a 4 course and 3 hour lunch. I enjoyed getting to meet new people at the church. They are such a blessing in my life. A couple hour nap followed lunch then we headed off to Naples. SO much fun!!! I love Naples. We got a great tour of the city and played games in one of the piazzas. We ate sfoglias just baked and pizza slices later followed by croissants with nutella. Yes we're geting fat. Then we headed back to Caserta at midnight. I thank God every day for the provision of the believers in Caserta.

Losing Focus

I recently got back from our Agape Fall Retreat in the mountains above Florence. While I was headed to the conf. on the train, bus,etc. I realized I left my new 80gb Ipod on the train. It took me a day to realize I didn't have it. I think I was so distracted and concentrated on the conference and falling down the train stairs that I forgot it. I clearly remember packing it and then taking it out on the train to listen to it and then leaving it in the seat when I was gathering luggage. I noticed late Friday night when I was about to listen to some music that it was gone. It was strange but I wasn't really that upset. Something in me kept saying you should be really mad. This should ruin your weekend...cast a shodow over it all...draw you away from why you really came to the conf. But I felt like God was trying to show me something about how I've been living my life and what I've been focusing on these last few weeks. The focus has certainly not been the Lord and growing in my walk with Him. As I work on 100% l language here in Pisa there is ample time for the enemy to draw you away and to whisper in your ear that you are missing out on some of the things the world says are important or are worth having. For some stupid reason I've unknowingly been draw into thinking I need all these new cool electronic things over here...like a new video camera, new ipod speakers because what I already have just isn't up to speed and it's not good enough. Little did I realize these things had secretly come into my life and drawn me away from Christ, my true treasure. How come I don't see that what I have of Christ is too little and what I know of Him isn't enough??? Why do I not think I'm behind the times in growing closer to Him ???...because I am. What I have of Christ in my life is out of date. So from Friday until late Sunday night I felt a huge conviction and I felt sad because I let things of this world take the place Christ should have in me. I know it may not seem like a big deal to think about electronics,etc. but I believe God uses the most random things sometimes to open our eyes to how far off track we've gotten. So instead of feeling mad over the loss of the ipod I started praying for the person that found it. That they would listen to the music and that they would know Christ in their life. I prayed that I would become a better steward of the things God has given me and that my focus would come back to Christ. That I would daily see how little of Him I really have and how much of Him I really need to live moment to moment. Fastforward to last night, Sunday. I checked both customer assistance offices in Florence and Pisa to see if some really nice Italian found it. The train staff all laughed in my face. I was talking to my parents on the phone and telling them what I was feeling and what I think God was trying to teach me through all of this. As I was talking to my mom, I started unmaking my bed to go to sleep when I pulled back the covers and and great gasp and holy crap came out of my mouth. There laying right in my face was the Ipod. My mom started laughing. I thought I was losing my mind because I KNOW I tok it with me in my luggage and pulled it out on the train. I can't explain it but I just might be going crazy. All that to say that God was teaching me to regain focus and He wanted to see if I really knew what was most important in my life when things are taken away. I'm sure this will not be the last time He does something crazy like this to show me where my focus has gone and to get my attention. Are there things in your life that you are unknowingly letting rob you of your focus on Christ? What are those things? Have you really taken time to evaluate where your focus is today?

2 days in Santa Chiara Hospital... oh joy

Last week, I got pretty violently sick. Throwing up, sever pains, nausea...the works. I called my mom at 4 a.m. Italy time telling her I was dying. She didn't love hearing that news. Told her I was getting pretty dehydrated. Thought I could make it until sunup then head to the ER. Seven a.m. arrived and I was half dead at this point so I woke up my roommate to take me to the er. I could barley walk at this point for lack of fluids. Got to the er at 7:15 and we were in pretty fast. I was lined up in the hall on a gurney for a five foot tall person. They only have like 3 rooms in the er so everyone is lined up in the hallways and one area up front. I got an iv that hurt like heck and they ordered some x-rays and sonogram. Meanwhile I got pain meds. but still kept throwing up. I was in the fetal position with nausea and pain. You would think fluids and nausea meds would be a first but nope. None. Waited in the hall butted up next to some other lady's gurney. Finally the tests. I get rolled back up front where I am now butted up next to 4 other gurneys. I could have crawled off the end of the gurney to go throw up but they put three gurney cross ways at the end of ours. psycho at this point. then all the 4 different types of ambulances keep arriving with more people. Some girl comes in with a cut hand and they sow her up in the hallway as she stands at the medical cart. Two super cute doctors arrive so things get a little better at least to look at. One of them talks to me and orders more pain meds. He just keeps walking by. Then another dr. comes over. Still no nausea meds or fluids after 2 hours and just feeling worse. Saw the cute guy one more time and he ordered more pain meds. Nice guy. Got a new IV in my other arm since the first lady messed up the other one. After almost 4 hours they move me to a room. The route was quite fun. A man who looks like he should be on Hannibal Lecter came to wheel me through the building. We pass through he laundry room and supply room and arrive at my room. My roommate is like a 100 yrs. old. I was told I would get meds and fluids now as soon as the dr. came. So after 2 more hrs. of waiting and my teammate yelling at the nurses. Nothing. She went home to get my clothes, etc. Two more hours in the fetal position pass and now the sickness has moved to the lower stomach so I'm in the bathroom every 5 mins. Misery! The roommate comes back and finds the garbage cart left in my room with dirty smelly diapers. Just what you when when you are nauseated. She moves the cart and gets yelled at that visiting hours are over. I think they hate her by this point. She leaves. Finally after 6 hours a Dr. shows up and gives me some pain med orders and a nausea shot. The nurses don't talk and aren't nice. At 8 p.m. after 12 1/2 hours I finally get iv fluids after being dehydrated since the night before. I couldn't even pick up a bottle of water at this point. My teammates come by and then sleep time. Except nurses are in and out all night. Everyone asks me if I have a fever. I'm like I don't know you got the thermometer. Apparently, you are suppose dot bring one with you and take your temp every 2 hours for them. I am in the bathroom and have to get meds from the nurse every time I go to the bathroom. Another really nice Dr. comes at 1 a.m. Then they take my blood at 3 a.m. No sleep in 2 days but the night nurses are awesome. At about 8 a.m. I get 12 sticky things attached to me for an EKG. They loves doing those here. It's like taking your bp. Everyone gets one. Finally morning comes and a new dr. who says I can go home later but need a liquid diet for 3 days. So I wait to be dismissed for hours. I ask everyone when can I go. Each nurse says um not sure when they get your papers done. Finally at 3 p.m. I ask the new nurse who says this are your dismissal papers we were just waiting on you. AHH. She comes and yanks out the iv with no gloves mind you while the ambulance people transfer the old lady. The nurse asks you think hospitals in America are better. I said yeah some things to which she responds no I'm telling you they are better. HAHA.I shuffle out of the hospital and there are no taxis available. So I have to walk to Jim's house and he takes me home on the scooter. I feel like crap again at this point. So I am in my bed sleeping for days living on Gatorade, water and sweet teas. The pounds are dropping off. I developed a blood clot in my arm from the iv. Fun times. Still trying to start back eating. The energy is still low and I can't eat much food. But I can't complain I guess. It was all FREE!!!

How to get an x-ray in Italy

Recently I've had a couple of encounters with the Italian health care system. The adventures were just too good not to share. I can't imagine if we went to a social system in the states. yikes. The first adventure was about mid-Sept. I had been to the doctor in Florence and he asked me to get some x-rays done. He told me to just do them in Pisa then fax him over the results. So I headed off one day to the hospital looking to get an x-ray. I had already been once and was told I need to go to the guarda medica to get a new prescription. ON this day I was looking for the guarda medica..whatever that is. I wandered around for about 10 mins inside the mass of buildings then asked the security guard. He told me "oh it's far from here.. started to give specific directions then said just go that way and pointed to the left." I started walking to the left with no luck. I looked for people to ask..no one. Finally I asked some cleaning ladies who took me to the quinta medical building. Apparently, my accent sucks and they thought I said quinta not guida. Anyway, a bust. Off to look for another smart person to ask. I went into the neurology building and yet again no one to be found. I wandered around and a middle aged well dressed man walked by. Five mins. later he walked back by and saw my desperation/frustration. I had been wandering for an hour by this time. He asked if I needed help. I said yes and told him what I was looking for. Again quinta medical....AHH!! He asked if I knew where I was at that moment. YES!! Neurology. Then he asked my problem. He took me up to his office and we chatted for a while. He looked at my foot. We discussed medicare in America, the social health system,etc. He ended up calling over to the er for me and telling them i was coming over. He wrote me out a prescription to give them. All this from a neurosurgeon. I arrived at the ER and talked to the triage nurse. She was confused why a neurosurgeon would order foot x-rays. ha. I told her he was a friend to which he response was oh great why didn't you say that. So it is all about who you know around here and probably how cute you are as well. So the ER lady prints me out an x-ray order then I walk back to the other side of the hospital and get lost in the orthopedic dept. building. Finally, a lady takes me to the place I need to be. I talk to the radiology tech guys. I see a dr. pretty fast who tells me he thinks there's no fracture but man my feet are awful. They've got to hurt. I told him yes they always do I was born with the problem in my joints. It has now been 2 1/2 hours and finally I get an x-ray. NO fractures.. Yeah!! But still pain. He wants me to see the specialist. I walk the maze back out of the hospital and am a block away when I hear a whistle. I think oops maybe I was supposed to pay or forgot something so I walk back to the radiology tech guy. This is my fave part. He says..um do you think I could get your number and we could hang out sometime. I was so shocked/surprised that I lost my mind and actually gave it to him. No sooner than I got home(30mins) he sent a msg. saying I would have asked you out tonight but I already have dinner plans. If it ends early can we hang out. AH... This was the start to excessive texts and phone calls. Had to brutally end that relationship.

Back in Pisa in Italiano

Sto pensando di scrivere qualcosa in Italiano solo per divertente. Io non scrivo perfetto o benissimo ma al minimo provo. Questo post è solo per me stesso perche devo praticare a scrivere e pensare tutto in Italiano. Io uso troppo Inglese e voglio imparare meglio la mia seconda lingua. Allora....Sono ritornata a Pisa il 5 Settembre e sono stata malissima con un male di gola e un grande stanchezza. Ho viaggiato troppo quest'estate. Sono stata nella casa mia solo 12 gironi in quasi quattro mesi. Cmq sono contenta di essere a casa per un po di tempo. Ma Pisa è troppo tranquila in questi giorni perche tutti gli studenti stanno studiando per gli esami ancora. Penso che le lesione comminciano fra due settimane. Ora sto lavarando un po a casa e sto studiando Italiano. Voglio che vado a letto un notte e poi quando mi sveglia la prossima mattina saro la lingua perfettamente ma questa è impossibile. Vediamo... La storia continua. Basta sono stanca e ora vado a dormire. Buona Notte Amici.

Vacation

After 3 months of moving, traveling, living in suitcases, camps, etc. etc. I'm taking a little vacation. Some good friends from all over are flying into Rome to travel with me. I've been staying at a friend's apartment in Rome for 4 days now. The last of our group arrives tonight and early tomorrow morning we'll head out driving for Salerno. We'll be staying at another friend's apartment in Salerno for a couple of days before driving way south to the Calabria region. We'll be driving along the A3 (interstate), which runs down the western coast of Italy. We have about a 6 1/2 hour drive so we'll be stopping at all the little towns along the coast for some photo shoots and stretch time. The day will end at Reggio Calabria where we hope to have dinner with a couple of my Italian friends. On the 31st we'll take the car ferry over to Sicily and head for Palermo and Taormina. I've never been to Sicily so I am excited to see it and hear some of the dialect I learned at camp. I have had numerous friends from Sicily over the years and they all say you MUST go. On Sept. 2, my 26th birthday woohoo!!, we'll be doing an 8 hour drive back to Salerno. Hopefully we'll get there early enough for a birthday dinner an hang out time. Sept. 3 the day ends back in Roma and the others get ready to head home. Pray for safe travels, lots of fun, and good health as we drive all over. I'll be back in Pisa Sept. 5th ready to start up the fall semester!!!

St. Peter's Cathedral in Roma. This was taken at night through the rows of columns.

Near the end of the camp students were challenged to give their lives to Christ and develop a greater passion for reaching Italy.

Passione per La Nazione- Passion for the Nation

Week 2 of Camp...Well it feels like we've been here an eternity all ready after last week. This week we get to be actual campers and enjoy a little more relaxed time. On Sunday afternoon, I moved out of my sweet Bungalow on the hill and back down to civilization. Lunch was a fun time but sad in that I had to say goodbye to all my girls. Though the week started out rocky it ended on a super high. I was really sad to leave them. But we remain in contact on messenger.

So onto the second week. The theme for this week was

Passione per La Nazione...Passion for the Nation.

Isaiah 12:2 says "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

The week started out with a little timidity as I knew no one coming and we're were now just one of the campers. It was up to us to meet new people and makes friends. The excitement of meeting young Italian believers pushed me to overcome my fears of feeling inadequate in language and awkward in entering into existing friend groups. I'll admit it was hard, at times my feelings were hurt and I considered pulling away from trying. I continued to pray and ask God to create bridges for me into the lives of these Italian students. After a few days, I began to meet people and develop friendships with people from all over South Italy. I loved it! The environment was such a change from life in Pisa where we have little to no Italian believing community. Each morning began with a praise and worship time under the big oak tree followed by a time of teaching from the Bible. We heard talks on true worship, discipleship, Christian relationships, and the importance of having a believing community in your life. Just before lunch everyone split into small groups to discuss several questions on the talk from that morning. This was one of my favorite times. Normally in this setting I almost panic at having to talk in front of a group of strangers in Italian and express my thoughts/ideas. But the Lord heard my request and granted me boldness in speaking. I felt like there was a real breakthrough in my language and in my ability to enter into ongoing discussions.

Lunch was crazy to say the least. Picture a small room with rows of long picnic tables stuffed with people age 18-27. Now create the sound of pounding on tables and chanting in your head. I Barese primo nemico....Siamo noi siamo noi. Add in some serious clapping and you've got lunch time as well as dinner. Complete chaos but none the less fun!

Afternoons were spent playing soccer, volleyball, and other games on the beach. This was a time to build relationships with the students. Many of them were growing Christians but there were just as many non-believers or those whose lives hadn't really experienced a change. I got to meet several girls Roberta, Anna, Antoinetta, Manu, etc. and talk with them about their faith. Many of the students from the Caserta church we are working with were there so I got to spend good time with them. I feel like were able to connect more with Caserta and strengthen our friendship with them.

Dinner was around 7 each night followed by a time of amazing praise and worship lead by Paolo. It was one of the first times I felt like I could connect with God and truly worship Him in a second language. It wasn't just singing Italian words anymore. A heart connection developed and I even began to pray more in Italian. If you've never tried to be fully immersed in a second language it's hard to understand these struggles but trust me they are huge hurdles God has allowed me to cross over time. I felt renewed and refreshed each night.

Salvatore, from the Caserta church, gave a talk after the praise time. He spoke on several topics and shared the Gospel each night. Many students gave their lives to Christ or decided to allow Christ to take control rather than them. It was so encouraging to see God working so visibly in Italy. Over time I've noticed my vision and passion for Italy starting to shrink. I know the enemy is at work trying to discourage me and the rest of us laboring here in Italy. He tells us lies that we are wasting our time, nothing will ever happen here, you'll never see Italians lives changed, and you'll never learn the language. Daily we fight these lies because we have a greater hope in Christ. He says His Word will not go out in vain. Through his power alone we are able to resist the enemy and his lies to discourage us. This camp was just the encouragement I needed. I saw Italians get on their knees before God and offer up their lives to Him. A challenge was given to each of them to develop a passion for the nation of Italy. Many committed their lives to spreading the good news of Christ's love and salvation in Italy. I have a picture in my mind from this day that will remain there for eternity as an encouragement. God is at work in Italy in bigger ways than we can see or imagine. It's about faith in the One that is bigger than us.

I always go back to Habakkuk :

1:5 "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. "

2:3" For still the vision awaits it's appointed time; it hastens to the end-it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Italian Church Camp- Camp Counselor

Ciao Friends & Family,

Just dropping a line to let you all know I am still alive over here in Italy. I spent the first two weeks of August working at a christian church camp in south Italy. We didn't have any phone or Internet access so I have been MIA for quite some time now. We were in the very toe of the country in the region of Calabria. The landscape there is very different from Tuscany but I loved it. Each morning, I got to see the rugged mountains, hear or see the daily wildfires, or enjoy the beautiful ocean. The goal of the first week of camp was for the four of us Agape staff to serve the church and camp in whatever ways they needed. Turns out that I got assigned to be a camp counselor with two of my friends, Magdi and Paolo. So I moved up the hill away from the rest of the Americans and into my little Bungalow for the week. I was really excited about the week but anticipated that it would be a real challenge for me. I started out being the counselor for 6 girls then we increased to 9. My mornings started at 6:20 with personal time then a counselor meeting and prayer time at 7:30. That's when my Italian speaking began and continued throughout the day until we went to bed around 3:00 a.m each night. I spoke a max of about 10 mins. of English each day so between rounding up 12-15 yr. old crazy girls and speaking a second language I was tired. But the Lord provided some great girls to help me and good support from the other counselors. I knew the Lord placed me in this environment to teach me some things and to strip me of my comforts. I had to swallow my pride and humble myself before the others to ask for help with the language, the girls,etc. every two minutes. I saw that I need to trust God more to provide for me. I need to see that He always has my best interest in mind even when I think He's given me something crazy to do. But in the end I LOVED the camp and the girls. My Italian improved rapidly and so did my ability to understand different dialects and accents. I wish it could have lasted longer than a week. I was blessed beyond measure in ministering to the girls, praying with them, crying with them, and living daily life alongside them. My vision for Italy youth has increased ten fold and I was encouraged by what God is doing in South Italy. We saw 3 students receive Christ that week and many more begin to let down walls to wrestle with God about the things going on inside them. Please pray for the students that attended the camp that their experience wouldn't just last for a couple weeks but that their relationship with Christ would be their rock for eternity. Pray specifically for my camper Samuela who accepted Christ. It is a baby step for her and she has much growing to do. Pray that she would fervently seek Christ as her supplier and fulfiller rather than the things the world has to offer.

Thank you thank you thank you for allowing me to be a part of something so huge going on in S. Italy. Without you some 40 junior high Italian boys and girls wouldn't know about the possibility of a personal relationship with Christ, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, God's unconditional love for them, or the freedom that he comes to offer the captives. Thank you for helping me to be a part of the spiritual journey of Italian youth and pour out God's love on them daily. May God richly bless each one of you.


Below this post are pictures of the girls in my Bungalow for the week. They were so much fun!!!

Me and Samuela

Mimma and Me

Ilaria

Sara and Lidia

Sonya and Miriam

me and Elisa

Me and Claudia

On the Move

Now that our summer plans have been revised a little it looks like we'll be moving again. We're going to spend the month of June in Salerno disciplining the MLK students, following up new believers, and doing evangelism on campus. I am pumped about the time I get to spend with such great staff from the states this month and the much needed fellowship of the summer project students. At the end of the month my ICS team will move about an hour north to Caserta where we will live for July. In August, we will move to two different camps being hosted by this church. Our hopes during July are to build relationships with the students involved in the church at Caserta and lay a foundation for a Campus Crusade team to be placed there. The church in Caserta is a new model partnership for us. We are hoping to work together to build up a student movement to reach the university campus in Caserta and the surrounding campuses in Naples. During July we will also be checking out what is going on in Naples spiritually. We'll be asking questions such as: Are there any existing groups of believers?, are the students there just as fertile ground for the Gospel as Salerno students, etc. It will be a time of adventure and exploration. These are the things I thrive off of so I am excited to be leading this time. Pray for Caserta that the foundation for deep relationships with the students would be constructed before we arrive. Pray for our relationship with this church that we would be servants of them. The students will all be coming down to Salerno next week to spend time with the American summer project students to catch a vision for ministry. We are hoping to show them a picture that you can be young, fun, relatively normal and still be a revolutionary Christian that shares their faith.

MLK Group in Salerno

So the first couple weeks or so here have been beyond hectic. As well all know we can plan and plan but things won't always go the way you planned. I've spent most of the time in meetings and figuring out just what our job as ICS looks like in Salerno this summer. I am excited to say that we actually have what looks like a schedule for us and our role has been more clearly organized. We met with the group of believers in Salerno, MLK, and talked with them about our desire to come alongside them. We talked with them about how we have a piece of the puzzle in reaching Italians for Christ and how they also possesses an important piece of the puzzle and the need to put these two pieces together. One of the pastors, Antonio, is completely on board. He has invited us to disciple/train the MLK group of believers for the next 4 weeks. We will meet on Mondays for training and time in the Word and on Wednesdays we will go out on campus to put into practice what they learned on Monday. There will be a time afterwards to talk about you experiences and ask questions. I am super excited about this partnership with MLK. Our desire is that they would be raised up to disciple other Italians that come to Christ through the stint team and summer project teams here in Salerno. Please pray for wisdom in teaching each week. Pray that we would be humble and show them we are not here to grow our name but rather to grow MLK into a powerhouse of evangelism and discipleship on the Univ. of Salerno campus. This Sunday Antonio has asked us to bring the entire summer project to the church and tell them about Campus Crusade for Christ and why we are here. Pray for clarity in our Italian speaking and that this church would catch a greater vision of reaching the world.

Monday in Salerno

I slept much better last night which I am so thankful for. I actually feel a little rested today. Thank you for praying and please continue to do so. It has been a pretty low key day for my team. We spent a few hours driving and shopping at the Carrefou (Italian walmart) for the essentials i.e. toilet seat, shower rod, clothes rack, etc... I am thankful that's over & done and we can settle a little more in our house. Our landlady, Sarah, came over to meet the Davis' and give us more keys. She is very interested in what we do. She has talked ot us about how she see her friend really feeling and living her faith rather than it just being a ritual. Pray for her that she would come to a real realtionship with the Savior. One problem for our apt. is the water it has intermittent times of ice cold water with scorchingly hot water therefore showers are not the most entertaining. But overall the place is great. Such a blessing.

In the afternoon I had a meetinng with the leaders to talk about each of our roles for the summer. We are all really excited and have big visions for the minsitry in Italy. I walked away excited about the possibilities for this nation. This afternoon I may walk a little with the summer project kids to get to know them a little better and enojy much needed community.

Ahh! Mosquitoes!!!

Ok so I'm sitting here writing these posts and putting up pics and I am realizing it's going to be one lonngggg summer. The mosquitoes here are insane maybe even worse than Pisa. The bad part is I have severe allergic reaction to them, they itch for weeks at a time and swell while leaving scars. So for me this is counting the cost a little!! I am currently getting eaten alive. I forgot to buy bugspray in the states and bring it back. It is ridiculously expensive here. That will be the first package I ask from my mom.

Salerno Arrival

I arrived in Salerno two days ago and I have seen the answer to many of our prayers. We have a great apartment very close to the summer project. The rent is in our budget and we are going to be able to use the same free internet that the project gets. In light of that, I am going ot try and update my blog as often as possible. I haven't been very good about making it a priority but this summer I'd love to keep you update so that you can be praying with us day by day as we work here. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about the opportunities the Lord has given us here this summer. We are going to be able to take part in so many different ministry environments. It's going to be busy the next 3 months but this is the lifestyle that I thrive off of. The Lord has placed this project in my path at just the right time. I am learning more and more that I really was created for change, challenge and to juggle 3 balls at onne time in my life. It's how I work the best.

There is one thing you can be praying for me specifically and that is my sleep. I often have active dreams that cause me to wake up feeling strange emotions or overwhelmed. Last night was one of the worst in a while. There was real panic and fear as I slept and when I woke up I was overwhelmed with unexplainable emotion. I am certain that it is attacks from the enemy to make me devoid of energy as we enter into such a busy and critical summer for our ministry. Please pray that the enemy wound be bound and that I would wake up rested each day. Pray this not only for me but also for each of my teammates/roommates this summer: Angela & Jim Davis, and Amanda Craig. Thank you for joining with us in praying.

Asparagi anyone??? It's like grass it's so tall here.

The lungomare in Salerno. Looks pretty in pics but there's a lots trash on those beaches!

Can you guess what this is?

That's right Baby food and the ingredient is none other than horse. I just love the photo on the box. There is also a sheep variety in case horse just doesn't do it for you. MM Good!!

Slacker

Yes slacker that is what you can call me right now. Things have been crazy busy around here. I'm just keeping my head above water getting things done or trying to get them done. I haven't posted in a while. I promise though I will do soon asap. This week we have a vision trip in from Ole Miss to do ministry with us for the week. I will have lots of stories by MOnday to share with all of you. So keep holding on and one day there will be a new post. If only if could do verbal posts that owuld type for me oh you'd be in luck.

Permesso, Permesso, oh where are you??

I just need to vent a little on some of our small frustrations in Italy. This morning we got up early on our Saturday off to head to the Questura (office for foreigners). It opened at 9:15. We were in high hopes of getting our permesso (a permit to stay in Italy) after 6 months of waiting. The doors were opened and piles of people already waited in line ahead of use when we arrived. Oddly they were moving rather quickly this morning which is super unusual here. A large sign is placed above one of the windows stating that only permessos before Sept. 12, 2006 are ready to be picked up. Amanda and I submitted our paperwork in the middle of August so were ready. Our turn at the window comes up and the lady loudly and with hand motions directs me to read the sign above her. I said I had read it and then she draws a big sign in the air with her hands and gives me a look. The look basically said "are you stupid, Look at your receipt the date is Sept. 29th. There was some miscommunication on the dates actually they told us the wrong thing. All that to say we have to wait two more weeks and hopefully they will be ready and one day this year we will get internet. We need this permesso to apply for residency which will allow us to get internet with the company we have chosen. The company told us before we couldn’t have internet with them because we were foreigners and didn’t have enough paperwork to be trusted. We would have to pay all two years worth of internet bills up front. Sounds fun huh. Funny thing about this is you are required by law to apply for a permesso within your first 7 days in country. You can only stay 3 months without a permesso. But you have to wait 6 months to get your permesso after you have applied. Something about these time lines doesn’t add up. I think a computer system might help the process tremendously. They do everything by hand and use an 11”x17” 1950’s log book to write appointments in. I think we’re a little behind the times here when my friends in Africa have DSL internet and it takes us 6 months to even get close to applying for internet services. I’ll end my ranting for now and say living Under the Tuscan Sun is not always so glorious.

Thoughts on the Gospel & Believing God

It has been 2 weeks of deep thinking for me and seaching the depths of my own heart and mind in relation to the Gospel and my belief in God. Since September the main discussion and study of my team here in Italy has been the Gospel-what is it, who is it for, how do you communicate it, what does it have to offer that I do not. My frequent confession to my team was unbelief in the power of God to work here in Pisa, in such a dry and hard place. The height of the discussion came for me this week when a fellow teammate from Florence, Gary, came over to talk with us about the Gospel and evangelism. In my mind, doing evangelism means telling people about the Gospel of Christ. But I thought the greatest obstacle to doing that here in Italy was Italians disinterest, difficulty in meet students, language, etc. Never once did it fully cross my mind that I might be the main obstacle in communicating Christ with Italians. Gary posed the idea that there were 2 main barriers one being "language" and the other being "our own experiential knowledge of the Gospel". First of all, I wasn't even sure what that second one meant. But, as he explained it, I finally grasped it and had an ah hah moment. He's talking about the degree that we as believers experience the Gospel in our daily personal lives. whoa! That struck deep in me along the line of thoughts and internal discussions I've been have for months. We went on to discuss what is the core of the Gospel? It comes down to Jesus Christ:his life, death, and resurection. That's it nothing else. I read in Romans, Hebrews and beyond that yes the Gospel is also for me not just for unbelievers or those who have not heard. It is for me, Marti. Everyday I need the Gospel in my life. One of Gary's points was to the extent the Gospel is working in our lives effects everything we do. It effects my love for others, my belief in Christ to work, my hunger to share the good news of Christ,etc. I realize that right now I am not believing the power of God in my life as a believer and I am not believing most times that the Gospel is good news for me thus my "job" here in Italy becomes just that a job rather that a burning passion to share something incomparably valuable in my life with lost Italians. I began this semester on a search to figure out what it means to truly and deeply believe God not just believe in Him and to figure out what is the Gospel for me. The road ahead looks to be long but holds great growth for me in my walk as a beloved daughter of the King. This is not something I will figure out overnight, next week or probably even by next year. Pray that God would show me what it mean to truly believe in Him, how I go about doing that, and what the Gospel means in my life and in my calling to Pisa.

Back In Italy

After a trip home to Mississippi for Christmas, I have returned to Pisa. Things here are pretty slow this time of year so the transition back to life here has been gradual which is good for me. The students are all studying for January and February exams. Classes begin the end of February. This gives me a lot of time to think and process the trip home, my calling to Pisa, the semester ahead and the growth taking place in my life. I would like to have spent more time seeing family and friends while I was home but between traveling, doctors visits, and my grandmother going back into the hospital there just wasn't time. I am thankful for the opportunity just to go home and spend Christmas with my family this year. While I was in America I didn't find too many things that made me say "wow, you know I miss that". Though I do miss taking long drives in the country listening to music. I have been experiencing a lot of personal growth over the last two years that has allowed my family and friends to mean more to me than ever. I see the value of building and maintaining relationships with people. My team here always reminds me that we weren't made to live life alone and thrive in isolation. We were made for community. In light of this growth, community/fellowship with family and friends is what I miss most. I realize more each time I go home that there is a great sacrifice being made to serve overseas. It makes returning to the mission field more difficult emotionally. I find myself longing to do and take part in the everyday things with my family like going to dinner, weekend trips, walmart shopping, etc. I am praying that God will bring about a greater community of ICS(long term laborers) here in Italy and especially Pisa. Amanda and I pray for more single teammates often. Join me in praying that God really would send out more laborers into the sowing and harvesting fields of Italy. I am looking forward to what hte Spring semester will bring us here in Pisa. As time passes and I think through more things I will fill you in on them. Right now I am so tired and have been very sick for 3 days so I think I will go to bed now. More later.