Six Years Ago

Today marks our sixth anniversary of our arrival on Italian soil.  Another year is under our belts.  Thank you for your love, support, prayers and encouragements that allow us to serve here!  (It is a very busy day and week, so thoughts and reflections will be delayed in coming to you). 

To God be the glory, great things he has done, is doing and will do for His name's sake here in Italy!

Car Museum

For our children who are affectionately called MKs, there is a special relationship that they have with other field workers.  In a very real sense our coworkers become a part of our extended family here on the field.  Our children therefore, have numerous "aunts, uncles and cousins" that touch their lives in a unique and special way.  Although, the kids do not call Catherine, "Aunt Catherine" she is pretty much that to them.  Each year for the kids' birthdays she gives them a coupon to redeem for a special date with her.  The kids love these outings with her!  And we so appreciate her love and desire to invest in our childrens' lives.

With her caotic spring months of moving, Samuel's February birthday was finally celebrated last Friday.  They had lunch together at McDonald's and then headed to The National Automobile Museum in Torino.  The museum was recently renovated and looks like a good museum to revisit as a family.  Samuel took some pictures to share with you, so here goes!  

     

Tortillas

I used to get so disappointed and frustrated when I could not find food items here in Italy.  The first few years of living overseas, I depended so much on having family send us food items.  There was the unfamiliarity with products and foods here and the mentality that it could only be found in the states.  I have come a long way, thankfully.  Now, if there is something I am craving or need to have I search the internet for recipes and/or find substitutions.  There are still things I have to request from the states but they mostly fall in the spice category.  I laugh at myself now for packing cake and corn bread mixes, coffee creamers, baby food and peanut butter in to our precious pounds of luggage when we first came.  All of these things are so easy to make and a million times better homemade!

My latest cooking venture was making homemade tortillas.  My grandma always used to make them but she was the grand master that no one else in the family ever even attempted them.  I don't know why, they are not that complicated to make (except for rolling them out into a perfect circle).  Thanks to the adventuresome spirit and fellow ex-pat of a sister-in-law, who sent me a recipe for easy flour tortillas.  We can find tortillas here, but they are rather expensive and not that great.  However, knowing that Michelle and Cody succeeded in their attempts at making tortillas in Iraq gave me the courage to try them myself.  Oh. my. goodness.  They are so easy to make if you have the time and are absolutely delicious! Not being able to find food items here is turning out to be a VERY good thing!

This recipe makes 24 tortillas

Maybe a tortilla press would be a worthy investment

The final product of complete yumminess!

School Spettacolo

It is the end of another school year - so hard to believe!  We are thankful for this year and how our children have grown and excelled in school.  Luca has nearly completed his first year of "Scuola Materna".  Slowly, slowly he is learning the language, which was the major goal for this year.  He has one more year yet before beginning elementary school and hopefully by then he will communicate more coherently and willingly in Italian.

Each year the scuola materna has an end of the year program.  Nothing truly spetacular as far as programming goes.  This year was particularly disappointing as the kids did not participate much at all.  So there really isn't a lot to share in way of pictures or videos.  The school chose to bring in a magician to perform a magic show.  The children dressed up as bunnies and little magicians.  And the graduating children received their diplomas and recited a brief poem.  Luca was quickly bored with the magic show and soon after he spotted us in the crowd, inched his way over to us and wanted to play.  His "partner in crime", Ricardo, did the same thing.  Can't say we really blame them.  We left after an hour and a half and the program was still not over.  We had our final film discussion night so we had to jet out to get dinner before leaving for that.  Anyway, here are some pictures.

 The inching away from his seat begins as does his refusal to wear his bunny ears.

 The kids were all saying "Luca, move!" as he slowly passed in front of them.

 The only two kids who determined they would rather be playing.  Luca and Ricardo are two peas in a pod.  Alike in so many ways, that one day they are the best of friends and the next they are fighting.  Mostly though they love to play together and race each other in to school.

So many people there, but unfortunately we were unable to converse and mingle after the program. 

Oh, and right before we left for the spettacolo, Emma lost another tooth.  She is very proud!

Book of the Month: April

I had to laugh at my dear husband the other night when I told him I really need to post about my book of the month for April.  He sincerely asked (or maybe he was mocking me) if I was posting on THE best book I read that month?  Seriously?!  He should know by now what a great feat it is for me to get just one book read a month!  Maybe I'll be able to rise to the challenge during the summer months and double up on my reading time, we'll see.

The book I read in April was A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller .  It was a wonderful, challenging, honest and insightful book.  I actually was reading this book at the same time that I listened to the 2011 Pastor's Conference put on by Desiring God.  Paul Miller was one of the featured speakers for the conference and really the book and conference audio together were an amazing blessing to my heart.  I would highly recommend both to you!

This editorial review written on the book reflect my thoughts as well of the book:

Prayer, the concept and the practice, exposes our core doubts and desperation for God. Paul Miller captures the promise of prayer as a gift that connects us to the heart of the Father and as a path for transforming the world. Paul Miller's honest struggle with living a life full of prayer and his childlike delight in hearing the heart of God invites us to gratitude and calls us to speak boldly to our God. This book will be like having the breath of God at your back. Let it lift you to new hope.

Or for any even better and more elaborate review of the book go here.

Spring Street Fair

Our table under the blue tent

Yesterday we as a church participated in our second street fair held in Caselle.  (Go here to read about our first experience in December.)  This is an all day event and we are again thankful for the participation from many within our church to distribute the gospel of John, information about our church and other evangelistic materials.  Jonathan went to help set up at 7:30am and then stayed until around 1:30pm.  During that time they passed out about a couple hundred books of John.

Cinzia, Giulia and Pino

The top two reasons given for not accepting our gift was 1. "I don't know how to read" and 2. "I am on my way to church."  Maybe we should start to offer literacy courses at the center too. J  The second response I can only gather to mean that the priest will tell me what I need to know from the Bible.

Pino "chasing" people down.

We will get a better report of how things went in the afternoon and the exact numbers of literature given out when we reconnect as a group this coming Sunday for church.  (Jonathan left for Portugal today and returns on Thursday).  We pray that all who received this gospel will in fact take the time to read it, and that the Spirit would open their hearts to receive the truth of God's word and his gift of salvation.  Only God knows what seeds will be planted through this.

Lino placing bookmarks at John 3:16

I was unable to attend once again.  If Jonathan didn't have to get some much needed rest and prepare for his departure the following day, no doubt we would have gone in the afternoon as a family.  Next time... My participation was in preparations as I printed and cut out 300 business cards with our church information and made matching table cloths.  It was something that made me feel like a contributor at least to this very meaningful opportunity.

Friends for Life

So all you Cedarville College gradudates will remember the whole marketing slogan that if you come to the 'ville you will make "Friends for Life".  Apart from meeting my husband who is my friend and partner for life, I did make friends who have stood the test of time and whom I consider true friends for life.  Granted our paths cross minimally because of our geographic locations, but I am so thankful for the encouragement and support they continue to be in my life.  They are the kind of friends that even though we go years without seeing each other, we can still pick up where we left off when those precious times do come.  That is the amazing thing about being sisters in Christ who keep Christ the center.

Sarah, Tara, Noella & Jodi - April 2008

Last week I received this gorgeous family tree necklace from Sarah.  A gift that brought tears to my eyes.

She sent it to be a reminder as I pray for my family and model Biblical family to those around me.  She also did so to support her brother in their pursuit of growing their family by adoption.  I love how missionally minded these dear friends are!  I am humbled and honored to have such godly friends.  It just makes me long for a closer connection and the desire to have the daily connection with those who have the same goals, heart desires and passions as I know it would sharpen and challenge me.  We really need to figure out a way to do that on a more regular basis girls!!  Love you my dear faithful friends for life!!