Marie and Linda in Colleseum
Leadership Group from Francavilla Church of Christ
Friday, November 9, 2007
Pics
Jeff posing with his name carved at Colleseum
Marie and Linda in Colleseum
Leadership Group from Francavilla Church of Christ
Marie and Linda in Colleseum
Leadership Group from Francavilla Church of Christ
Home, Sweet Home
We arrived home last night around 10 p.m.! Boy, oh boy, was it ever good to sleep in our own beds! Eric (the young man who stayed at our house while we were gone) had left the lights on for us. It was so nice to come home to a lit and warm home. Thank you Eric.
My brother-in-law, David picked us up at the airport. He had Lucy with him. We were so excited to see her and I think she was glad to see us too. We really missed her - it was like leaving a family member to leave her at home. When we got home and finally got to bed, she jumped in and out of the bed about 5 times before settleing down. And everytime Jeff sits down she's in his lap. Even when he sat down to just put his shoes on!
I know you'll find this hard to believe, but Marie didn't even make it to the house before going to the horse pasture. She asked to be let out of the car at the gate. Of course, it was too dark to see anything but she went out and hugged the horses, first thing.
We have hundreds of pictures to share with anyone who wants to see them!
We'll continue to use this blogspot to post entries about what's going on in our lives and with the ministry. As Jeff travels and teaches, we'll keep it up to date with the exciting news about what God is doing across the nation (and world!) from our perspective.
Lastly, I want to say the most sincere thank you to all of you who were praying for us and our family. Many of you were praying for my parents while we were gone and it was so amazing to see how God answered those prayers. When we left the country in October, we had just found out about a medical and heart condition that was troubling my Dad. Early in our trip we received word from a couple of different people that he was doing very well. This continued to be the case the whole time we were gone. In addition, my mother had just started taking insulin for diabetes four times a day and was still dealing with wildly fluctuating blood sugar levels. I don't think they were aware of how many people across this nation were praying for them during this time. I'm not even sure that we know the extent of that prayer circle because I know that many of you passed the word to other prayer groups. I have the feeling that God was bombarded with these requests! And He was faithful. My Dad continues to do pretty well - today he told me that some days he feels great and some days he feels terrible so we still ask for your prayers. But, feeling great some days is better than feeling terrible everyday. He didn't seem to get out of breath as badly today as he walked to the car from the restaurant. So that's good news! Also, my Mom's doctor has changed her insulin and that has seemed to help. Today she told me her blood sugar levels are more under control. I know this must help to make her feel better too. Your prayers for my parents, while we were in Italy were such a comfort to us and we are appreciative to levels you cannot begin to know. Thank you, Mike, for visiting my parents while we were gone. That means so much to us!
That's all for now - we love you all. We'll be posting more pictures from our trip soon!
(post by Linda)
My brother-in-law, David picked us up at the airport. He had Lucy with him. We were so excited to see her and I think she was glad to see us too. We really missed her - it was like leaving a family member to leave her at home. When we got home and finally got to bed, she jumped in and out of the bed about 5 times before settleing down. And everytime Jeff sits down she's in his lap. Even when he sat down to just put his shoes on!
I know you'll find this hard to believe, but Marie didn't even make it to the house before going to the horse pasture. She asked to be let out of the car at the gate. Of course, it was too dark to see anything but she went out and hugged the horses, first thing.
We have hundreds of pictures to share with anyone who wants to see them!
We'll continue to use this blogspot to post entries about what's going on in our lives and with the ministry. As Jeff travels and teaches, we'll keep it up to date with the exciting news about what God is doing across the nation (and world!) from our perspective.
Lastly, I want to say the most sincere thank you to all of you who were praying for us and our family. Many of you were praying for my parents while we were gone and it was so amazing to see how God answered those prayers. When we left the country in October, we had just found out about a medical and heart condition that was troubling my Dad. Early in our trip we received word from a couple of different people that he was doing very well. This continued to be the case the whole time we were gone. In addition, my mother had just started taking insulin for diabetes four times a day and was still dealing with wildly fluctuating blood sugar levels. I don't think they were aware of how many people across this nation were praying for them during this time. I'm not even sure that we know the extent of that prayer circle because I know that many of you passed the word to other prayer groups. I have the feeling that God was bombarded with these requests! And He was faithful. My Dad continues to do pretty well - today he told me that some days he feels great and some days he feels terrible so we still ask for your prayers. But, feeling great some days is better than feeling terrible everyday. He didn't seem to get out of breath as badly today as he walked to the car from the restaurant. So that's good news! Also, my Mom's doctor has changed her insulin and that has seemed to help. Today she told me her blood sugar levels are more under control. I know this must help to make her feel better too. Your prayers for my parents, while we were in Italy were such a comfort to us and we are appreciative to levels you cannot begin to know. Thank you, Mike, for visiting my parents while we were gone. That means so much to us!
That's all for now - we love you all. We'll be posting more pictures from our trip soon!
(post by Linda)
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Last day in Oria
"Pronto."
"Pronto."
This is the way to answer the telephone in Italy. When you answer, instead of saying, "Hello?", you say, "Pronto". Then the person on the other end that called you says, "Pronto" and starts talking. It's kind of like you answering and saying saying, "Ready," and the caller replys, "Ready".
Today was our last day in Oria. After being here two weeks we almost feel like it's home. Jim, Carinita, Gianni, Stephany, Anyssa and Raphale have come to feel like family. Well, I guess they are part of our Christian family! So, now I can say I have relatives in Italy. And not just these six but many others that we've met and gotten to know over the last two weeks.
There is no doubt, as we finished up the leadership couples training today that God is moving among this group. We pray that He brings revival to the church at Francavilla and that He does it through His Spirit that is stirring in this group of exceptional people.
We've received an invitation to return here to Italy to continue the next step of training for the leadership. They are thirsty and passionate for more of Spirito Santo (Holy Spirit). Will you keep this in your prayers for us as we seek what God would have us do.
One thing that is desperately needed here are resource materials translated in Italian. There is almost nothing available. We've made an initial contact with someone who is able to do this. The next step will involve funding the work - paying the translator and publishing. Please keep this in your prayers for the church here in Italy. This type of resource will be utilized voraciously by the Christians here in Italy.
This may be our last post until we return home to the States. I'm not sure what our internet access possibilites will be when we leave here. If the opportunity arises we may be able to post once more. We are off in the morning at 6 a.m. to Sorrento. Then on Tuesday we return to Roma. By Thursday evening we'll be home.
Ciao, ciao!
"Pronto."
This is the way to answer the telephone in Italy. When you answer, instead of saying, "Hello?", you say, "Pronto". Then the person on the other end that called you says, "Pronto" and starts talking. It's kind of like you answering and saying saying, "Ready," and the caller replys, "Ready".
Today was our last day in Oria. After being here two weeks we almost feel like it's home. Jim, Carinita, Gianni, Stephany, Anyssa and Raphale have come to feel like family. Well, I guess they are part of our Christian family! So, now I can say I have relatives in Italy. And not just these six but many others that we've met and gotten to know over the last two weeks.
There is no doubt, as we finished up the leadership couples training today that God is moving among this group. We pray that He brings revival to the church at Francavilla and that He does it through His Spirit that is stirring in this group of exceptional people.
We've received an invitation to return here to Italy to continue the next step of training for the leadership. They are thirsty and passionate for more of Spirito Santo (Holy Spirit). Will you keep this in your prayers for us as we seek what God would have us do.
One thing that is desperately needed here are resource materials translated in Italian. There is almost nothing available. We've made an initial contact with someone who is able to do this. The next step will involve funding the work - paying the translator and publishing. Please keep this in your prayers for the church here in Italy. This type of resource will be utilized voraciously by the Christians here in Italy.
This may be our last post until we return home to the States. I'm not sure what our internet access possibilites will be when we leave here. If the opportunity arises we may be able to post once more. We are off in the morning at 6 a.m. to Sorrento. Then on Tuesday we return to Roma. By Thursday evening we'll be home.
Ciao, ciao!
Friday, November 2, 2007
New Foundations in an Ancient Land
The title was the motto for raising funds for this trip. As we are in the home stretch of our time here it is obvious that this was God's plan for our work here. The team of young leaders and the mission team that we have been working with have all sensed that this is what God has done these last few weeks.
As a result of our work here, two churches have been given a new understanding prayer and the role it should play in the lives of themselves as individuals, in the lives of their families and in the life of the Church.
Three couples from the Church at Francavilla have been taught about spiritual leadership. They've been provided with tools to lead their church to becoming a praying church. They are anxious to put into practice, the things they have learned.
The statement, "Laying new foundations" is so true because there really is no current foundation for spiritual growth. There is a lot of religion but little personal application. We are amazed that so many in America do not understand what a vast mission field Italy is.
The mission team of "Italy for Christ" now has a very clear mission statement. Jeff spent several days working with them to help them focus their energy into creating a very defined statement. They understand that their role here now is to raise up Italian spiritual leaders. They have also defined their major areas of emphasis for the next year and set clear goals and objectives. We are so excited about this because with this clear purpose in mind they can lay a foundation that will result in the development of many strong churches, lead by spiritual leaders who are native Italian and understand the culture intimately.
In addition to all of this work, we have come to love the people here and have developed friendships with several of the people in these churches. We are praying that the Lord opens the door for us to return in a couple of years and to build on the foundations we have helped start.
Ciao for now!
As a result of our work here, two churches have been given a new understanding prayer and the role it should play in the lives of themselves as individuals, in the lives of their families and in the life of the Church.
Three couples from the Church at Francavilla have been taught about spiritual leadership. They've been provided with tools to lead their church to becoming a praying church. They are anxious to put into practice, the things they have learned.
The statement, "Laying new foundations" is so true because there really is no current foundation for spiritual growth. There is a lot of religion but little personal application. We are amazed that so many in America do not understand what a vast mission field Italy is.
The mission team of "Italy for Christ" now has a very clear mission statement. Jeff spent several days working with them to help them focus their energy into creating a very defined statement. They understand that their role here now is to raise up Italian spiritual leaders. They have also defined their major areas of emphasis for the next year and set clear goals and objectives. We are so excited about this because with this clear purpose in mind they can lay a foundation that will result in the development of many strong churches, lead by spiritual leaders who are native Italian and understand the culture intimately.
In addition to all of this work, we have come to love the people here and have developed friendships with several of the people in these churches. We are praying that the Lord opens the door for us to return in a couple of years and to build on the foundations we have helped start.
Ciao for now!
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