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.