Two weeks down, two weeks to go!

Caio to everyone!

This evening (Saturday) we will complete the three night "Learning to Love to Pray" seminar at the Francavilla Church of Christ (Cheisa de Cristo). There have been people from this church and the Latiano Church of Christ as well as others that the mission team is working with to lead to Christ. We can't thank you enough for your prayers. God is present and working. The people are hearing, accepting and responding to the teaching. Please pray that the Lord can overcome some of the cultural things that will stand in the way of people applying this teaching to their lives.

We've been having meals in some of the homes of the members. We've really enjoyed learning about the food and culture of this area. The food is unlike anything we've ever experienced before and is delicious! Not only in the preparation but there are foods here that we do not have in the states - especially fruits and vegetables. Oh, they eat horse here too - bleh! There are butchers that sell only equino carne (horse meat). I don't think Marie would be able to choke it down if she knew. The missionaries here tell us it is a sweeter tasting meat. I think we could possibily had some meat balls that were equine in Murano because I couldn't recognize the taste. It wasn't until after we had eaten that it dawned on me what it could have possibly been but I didn't ask because I didn't really want to know. Other than that possible instance I think we've managed to avoid it. There is a fruit here called "cockrel" that looks like a tomato but is soft and sweet. They eat it with a spoon directly from the skin of the fruit. The meals we've had have been three and four course meals. The first course is usually a pasta of some type - lasagna or something else. Then, the second course is a meat and vegetable - fried chicken and eggplant or veal scallopini and peas. The third course is usually salad - the only dressing available is olive oil and vinegar and it is delicious. Always on the table are fresh veges like cucumbers, celery, fennel, etc. The fourth course is always fresh fruit. Then sometimes there is a fifth course that is a sweet - ice cream or cake of some type. The last course is served with coffee - not coffee "Americano" but Italian coffee, which is expresso.

Well, we are off to the Italian market today. It is like a flea market but offers everything from food to clothes to household items. And you have to bargain with them on the prices! Jeff says this is right up my alley - it's in my blood (from my father!).

Please pray for Marie who is very homesick for her animals - everyday she talks about how much she misses them. Yesterday (Friday) she was very down. We're at the halfway point of our trip and looking forward to being home.

Love to you all!