A Weary World Rejoices!

Mince Pies!

Merry Christmas!

Bringing the tree home :)

Our very first Christmas "bush"!

Christmas carols for Christmas time!

A few highlights from this season...

We bought the cheapest Christmas tree we could find- and it was still wrapped when we were picking it so we just chose one that looked pretty fluffy. We brought it home on my borrowed bicycle and the walk was a good half and hour. I guess that sort of thing isn't very normal because everyone stared- good thing we're strange foreigners already! When we unwrapped it instead of opening up into a nice tree shape it just poofed out into a lovely little bush! We bought some decorations from the Euro store and a lovely lady at church bought a few ornaments from a Christmas market for us (I was very blessed by that!).
Our "bush" remained light-less for the majority of December because of multiple light misshapes. Let me just say many many trips to different store trying to find a bargain (who knew that lights cost so much in Italy!). Once the lights were broken and once the lights were 120 blazing blue lights on a very short cord! About a week before Christmas we gave up and just borrowed some lights from a friend.  

Christmas Eve was very quiet- we literally didn't do anything it was very relaxing. Christmas morning we opened a few gifts and then went to church, skyped family in the afternoon, and then attended a wonderful little Christmas party with our Church family here who also didn't have family near. Italian food is wonderful, our friends are wonderful, and the Lord is good!

I won't lie and say I didn't shed a few tears due to the fact of being so far away from family. At times it was very hard to rejoice and remember what the true meaning of the Christmas season is about. But the Lord is doing a work and has called us to labor in the field! Over all we were very very blessed and hope that you were as well!

"The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined." -Isaiah 9:2

Life so far...

View from our bedroom window

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Psalm 37:3

Unpacking!

 

We have been in Italy now for nearly two months! The change in the seasons from fall to winter has been refreshing and very cold due to wind coming from the mountains. But it has also a beautiful reminder of how the Lord brings different seasons into our lives yet remaining the same throughout them.

We have arrived!
We are now fully moved into our flat! Our things arrived from England about two weeks after we got here- and it was all in good condition praise the Lord. Having our own things which really helped make our new flat feel more like home. While we waited for things to arrive our wonderful neighbors, Edeny and Tatiane, a couple from the church loaned us many practical things we need and were constantly having us over for meals we are very blessed by them! The flat was semi furnished when we got here and the Lord provided two couches for free after we moved in! So we're definitely feeling more settled.

Residency...........
After about a month we got the contract in order which was great. Our friend David Downs who is also a missionary in Montebelluna has been such a great help getting everything we needed and also helping us with the language barrier! However, without the contract we couldn't start our residency process- but praise the Lord that we were finally able to complete James' requirements this week and now we only need to work on my “permesso di soggiorno” which literally means “permission to stay”. Once we have that we will both be fully legal to remain in Italy.

Fall 2011 Bible College group

What we've been doing:
Since we've been here it seems as if life hasn't really slowed down. Between attending speakers week in Austria, church events, doing things with the students, Thanksgiving, figuring our the residency stuff, and life in general it has made for a couple of very busy months. Also, at the beginning of November we returned to England to attend James' granddad's funeral. The time there was bittersweet knowing that while we won't be seeing his Granddad on the earth anymore we will be reunited in Heaven. Being able to spend a week with James' family was lovely. While the months have been busy they have also been blessed seeing the Lord move and work.
And now December is here and the students are leaving this week and Christmas is fast approaching! We will be staying in Italy for Christmas- which will be a whole new experience being away from family and also having our first Christmas together. We are excited to see what the Lord has for us the remainder of this month!

Prayer!
Please be praying for the Ladies Tea that the Church is holding this month. It is being used as an opportunity for all the Calvary Chapels throughout Italy to fellowship together but also as an outreach.

When Do We Go?

Oxford, England

All Packed Up

In Oxford: We are packed  and almost ready to go.... all that is left to do is sort out a couple of more details regarding support and pick a moving date. We need to give the moving company at least two weeks notice so Lord willing we will get there in the next few weeks.

It seems like a slow process however, the Lord has continued to encourage that we remain faithful in the day to day tasks.

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." Luke 16:10

So while we wait we have managed to keep ourselves busy. James has been working with his Auntie Helen doing accounting work and I have been gathering details for the move and packing.

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to Arran, Scotland with Jame's parents for a week. It was great spending some more time together and seeing some of the Scottish countryside... although it was very wet- I was told that rain was invented in Scotland. On the wet days though we did enjoy almost every coffee shop and tea house on the Island.

 

This Sunday Phil, the Pastor at James' home church Calvary Chapel Oxford, has asked us to do a small presentation on where we are going and what we will be doing. We are looking forward to it and hoping that it will give a clear view of what we will be doing in Italy and also encourage the body to keep us in prayer. 

 

In Italy: The semester started at the beginning of the week so please continue to keep the leadership and the students at CCBC Italy in your prayers.

Prayer:  

• Please continue to pray for our move! We are very anxious to get to Italy and get involved in the ministry there.
• Please also pray that things with our flat will be situated quickly and smoothly.

Summer

                                                                                     Head Waters Lodge, VA
                                                                                     Youth Development Inc 

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:12-14


 Summer is almost over and we will be leaving the States and heading for England in about two weeks. The time here has been both refreshing and challenging. James has been doing a lot of work outdoors which consists mainly of woodcutting and yard work. I have been helping with worship when camps that come in don't have a worship leader and also working in the kitchen. While we are going to miss this place, we are excited to take the next step that the Lord has for us. Here is a quick look at what our summer has been....
                                           

                                             The summer staff, kids from the doulos program, and a few extras

     . 

During one of the meetings we broke up into small groups to talk about the importance of Loving God with our minds from Luke 10:27

                                                                                                                  

                                                    James mowing the field on the John Deere tractor