A Day in the Mountains

Since the spring and the increasing restoration of Jonathan’s health, he has been walking to the center of town on a daily basis often both in the morning and afternoon. He will stop in a couple of different coffee shops, sit and read his Bible or write and interact with the baristas and clients as he gets to know them. He has become a known regular as a result. His active presence of just walking in and around Caselle has opened up so many doors for spiritual conversations and only is increasing as time passes. He kind of (ok, really) has a distinct look with his red beard, Bible in hand and toe shoes. Yes, toe shoes have opened up lots of conversations! If they don’t do a double take at his Bible, then you can count on the toe shoes drawing a second glance. He even went out of his way to order a pair on Amazon for the florist who really wanted to try them out. She paid him upon delivery and she cannot stop raving about them.

After a coffee (or two) he makes it a point to frequent other local businesses. He’ll stop in at the bakery and buy some bread or treats for the kids, the butcher to get some meat or the vegetable and fruit store. Although this type of shopping from store to store on a daily basis is common in Italian culture, for our larger family we have in the past relied primarily on the larger supermarkets with lower prices and of which also accept credit cards. However, you cannot beat the quality and benefit of supporting the small business owner, even if paying in cash and higher prices are less convenient. Therefore, our shopping has now become a blend.

The shops are not known so much by their store name on the front of the building but by the owner’s name. For example, we buy fruit and vegetables from Massimo and Sabrina, not “Il Mercatino.” Everyone knows who you are talking about when you just say the owner’s name because they are the sole vendors. Jonathan has struck up a relationship with this couple and they invited our family to join them for a day in the mountains where they escape for weekends throughout the year and vacation for the entire month of August. We have for a long time wanted to explore the mountains surrounding us but did not know where exactly to go. So this was a welcomed invitation to go with someone who knows the area.

Ghigo - Prali

On August 23, in between hosting Munga and Gramma on their European visit, we took the opportunity to visit our friends in Prali which is about 1.5 hours from Caselle and on the border of France. The day was absolutely spectacular with cooler temperatures, clean mountain air and breathtaking views. The warmth extended to us by this family was truly amazing considering they had not met half of us, including myself. They were ready and waiting to take us on a morning hike at 10:00 when we arrived, but only of course after a quick coffee. Massimo knows that we are evangelical and so he really wanted to show Jonathan places in the area significant to the Valdese (Waldesians), the branch of the Italian Reformers that endured much persecution for their beliefs in Piemonte. Massimo loves to talk and his knowledge of the area and its history was fascinating. Our first hike was up above the village of Ghigo.

In 1533, on this open grass field high above the town, the Sinodo Pra Daval
was held to discuss and confirm the acceptance and participation of the valdesi into the Protestant Reformation movement.

"Il giusto vivrá per fede"// The just shall live by faith

A learning from each other lesson in Italian reformation history
 with Jonathan and Massimo

Walking down the ski slopes back to Ghigo

Unfortunately the Valdese museum was closed, but Valdesian presence
and influence in this zone is still very strong.

When we completed our first hike, we went back to their apartment where Massimo’s parents had prepared lunch for us. The kids loved the fact that Massimo and Sabrina’s high school age son is a magician. Oh, the entertainment and wide-eyed fascination of watching our kids try to figure out his tricks. Fabio is super good and he appreciated our interest in his life and hobby.

With satisfied stomachs and rested legs we set out again after lunch to take in the other side of the valley. It rained on and off for this hike which prohibited the kids from taking a dip in the water near the waterfall, but maybe next time on a sunnier day. We walked through each little borough of a community along the mountainside and enjoyed our conversations with locals and seeing lots of animals.

In each borough we saw a building that said "Scuola Beckwith" and Massimo did not know the historical significance, but Jonathan did. Charles Beckwith was an English colonel and is  one of the most important characters in the Waldesian cultural panorama in the 19th century: he is the man who is responsible for organization and education in the "Italian Evangelical valleys", to which he moved in 1827, promoting the building of schools of primary education and at the same time organizing the training of teachers. 

Original furnishings in this Beckwith School.
It is no longer an active school but opened and used monthly
for village meetings.

As Jonathan was explaining this to Massimo some elderly people stopped and started to listen in and were fascinated that Jonathan knew this part of their local history. When he told them he too was evangelical they lit up with smiles. From there the doors were burst open as they began to share their life stories. One woman attended elementary school in this one room schoolhouse back when the Germans occupied the village of Ghigo in WWII. I wish we could have stayed longer to chat with this generation of locals who experienced this part of history and who continue to live this mountainous life.

This man confirms Jonathan's history knowledge 

We spent quite a bit of time conversing with this group.
They still on occasion will wash their clothes on those wood boards
in the mountain spring water.

The locals recounted how this outdoor communal wood oven was used to make
bread on a monthly basis. Everyone cooked their bread on the same day to
maximise the oven heat and resources. They loved baking day because
it was the one day of the month they enjoyed fresh bread.

Any house adorned in flowers is beautiful

After drinking their fill of icy cold amazingly clear water, the kids had
competitions of who could hold their hand in the water the longest
before going numbness forced them to pull their hand out.

It was a full and very special day and one we had to sadly conclude before it got dark so that we didn’t have to drive down the mountain road at night. We have since seen this family regularly around town and in their shop and imagine another mountain visit will be in our future.