Squirt Guns

Now that the kids have outgrown their kiddie pool, keeping them outside and cool has been a challenge.  When there is no air conditioning and no where to escape the heat, hanging out outside becomes less than desirable because you just go from really, really hot to really hot.  Last night it was 30°C (86°F) upstairs in the bedrooms.  Soooo not comfortable to sleep when it is that hot even with fans.  But my brother in Iraq is enduring 125°F temps, and as I write this a thunder storm is rolling through bringing some cool breezes and rain so I will complain no further!!

Today was grocery shopping day so we made it a point to hit the water toy aisle and get squirt guns for the kids.  No complaints from them to get outside and run around today!

New Tricks

Luca is perfecting the art of bubble blowing.  He shampoos his hair, then rubs his hands through his head and then sucks the soap off of his fingers.  Totally nasty, but so made me laugh.  Usually he can transfer them to his hands to show me how big the bubbles are.

Kitchen Fun

Baking and cooking with kids is always an adventure...lots of fun...and a whole lot of mess!  I don't always have the patience like I should to involve them, for my space is limited and barely allows ME enough room to move around myself.  If you have ever been in my kitchen you know what I mean.  But when the kids can use the kitchen table for baking projects I let them have it.

Luca might just scare that tortilla into rolling into a perfect circle!

Helping make tortillas per Jonathan's Father Day request.  Round or not, he loved them!

The kids helped make lots and lots of sugar cookie stars for the ESL party.  Plain sprinkles are much easier than frosting.

Lots of food for the party...just image another pineapple cake and...

...2 trays of pasticcini to the table (brought by some students)

Fruit Pizza that is pretty much my new summer favorite dessert.  Green, White and Red for Italy and Red, White and Blue for America (yes, that was intentional)

Splurging on berries.  125g (32 raspberries to be exact...and yes, I counted!) for 1.48 euros.  And that is a great price!  Usually the same amount costs more than 3 euros!  Does anyone want to send me a blueberry bush??  Two of my favorite berries that I only get to indulge in when stateside.

My work space and mess.  I have a single basin sink so washing dishes is a pain.  It's the cost of having a dishwasher so I shouldn't complain too much. 

X Italian Ministries National Conference

This week we were able to participate in the Italian Ministies national conference held in the heart of Tuscany from June 12-15.  We are members of this association and you can read more about it here (in English of course).  However, this was our first official presense at a conference.

Italian Ministries exists:
• to facilitate the development of missional vision and action for the church in Italy.
• as a missional network in Italy bringing together like-minded missionaries to form a field-based. fellowship.
• to offer a window of opportunity for Italians to be involved in mission service (in close collaboration with GMI and 9.37).
• work alongside local churches, organisations and individuals (in Italy and elsewhere) to facilitate a vision for mission.

We so enjoyed our time with the 50+ people in attendance.  It was a refreshing and encouraging time to network and build relationships with both foreign and national missionaries alike.  We were encouraged and challenged by the speaker, Keith Walker, the UK Director for Serving in Mission (SIM).  He taught through the book of Philippians.  The Director of International Outreach from Desiring God Ministries also made a brief appearance (and give away books!) along with another speaker from Germany.
 

The ladies break out session

Meeting room and worship time

Our kids had a blast playing freely with their new found friends from morning 'til night.  The center was a perfect setting for them and I never had to worry about them running off the compound.  They were exhausted the end of each day that was for sure!  We are so glad we went as it was a great encouragement to each family member.

Luca had so much fun he asked if we could just bring Mac to camp, because he did not want to say goodbye to his friends.

Singing is always more fun with a friend

Emma, Michaella and Giulia

For every crazy picture...

...there is one nice picture.

Jonathan is excited as well about the efforts and work being done for Acts29 to begin in Italy.  The President of IM has been instrumental in getting this off the ground.  Jonathan offered to help in any way he could and was taken up on that offer.  Not sure how he will be involved but that will unfold more over the course of this year.

I conclude this post with pictures from the picturesque setting of Tuscany.  We stayed in the countryside and basically it was equal distance from Pisa, Florence and Siena.  We did not stop to sightsee but maybe we will later this summer:

View from the camp

Poggio Ubertini Evangelical Center

Castle on a hill

Catching Up

A lot has happened since the beginning of June.  And now it is time to catch our breath and catch you up on a few things.  I will not fill you in on every party for there have been a lot.  In fact, in one week of June I made a total of 5 cakes!!  We had a missionary from Portugal stay with us for 4 days who has a gluten allergy, so he got a special flourless chocolate cake.  Then Jonathan celebrated his 32nd birthday and had a carrot cake.  Catherine celebrated her birthday with an angel food cake.  I made a pound cake for our ESL end of the year party, that was cancelled 2 hours before the event due to the horrible discovery of lice in Emma's hair.  The kids finished school on Friday the 10th and I was asked to bring my chocolate cake for the school dinner.  Um, we are sugared out for a while I think!

Samuel had his end of the year spettacolo on June 6th.  He was so excited for us to come see him and the other 2nd and 3rd graders.  He had several lines and did fabulous in reciting them.  We are so proud of his growth this year in the language.  His teachers always comment on how many questions he always has.  Um, yes.  A sure sign he is comforable with his teachers and classmates!  Here are a few pictures and brief video clip from the program.

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!