Ten Thousand Reasons for my Heart to Find

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

​​And called from its farthest regions,

​​And said to you,

​‘​You are My servant,

​​I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

​​Fear not, for I am with you;

​​Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

​​I will strengthen you,

​​Yes, I will help you,

​​I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:9-10

Two weeks in Austria was time well spent. We are so blessed to have such a lovely family in Christ and so thankful that the Lord provided for us to go!

For the Italian conference James and I both helped out with worship and the Children's ministry. 
The kids learned about the armor of God and had made a full suit of armor by the end of the week. They really enjoyed the craft and story time... most of the kids were boys and naturally just wanted to get to the craft where we made the sword! They were fun to work with and Lord willing the lessons will stick with them as they grow in the Lord.









 When there weren't sessions it was a blessing to hang out with people and fellowship with them. The week was challenging in the respect that we had SO many opportunities to use what little Italian we know- especially when working with the kids! But we're so thankful that everyone is very encouraging... even if what we tried to say didn't make sense!












There was a day in-between the Italian conference and the Missions conference and we were able to take a trip to Salzburg with a couple of our good friends. The city really is beautiful and full of music! There were horse drawn carriages rolling around on the cobblestone streets and classical music playing almost in every piazza. We had a nice wander, at some schnitzel for dinner then drove back to the castle.










The Missions conference was wonderful... the week was full of refreshment and rest. I loved being able to talk with other missionaries who had been on the field for years or had just finished their first year as we had. We listened to their stories and learn from them. We had three teaching sessions each day and those who came to teach were definitely anointed with the Spirit. The Lord always knows which part of our hearts need to be worked on, touched with His hands of healing, or corrected and encouraged. All in all we loved it and needed every minute of it.   





Prayer requests:

• The new semester is coming up and with that life is going to get very very busy.... so please be praying that we keep Jesus first in everything.
• James is teaching Ecclesiastes class at the Bible College. Pray for him as he studies and teaches!
• We are coordinating the outreaches this semester so be praying as we try and figure out all of those details.
• One of our main worship leaders is going out of town for a few months so pray for me as I'll most likely be doing a lot more leading.
• Pray for the students as they come that their hearts would be soft and ready to receive the remolding that the Lord wants to do.
• The Montebelluna church and the Feltre Church are both looking for new building... pray for financial provision and buildings.
• Please be praying for our trip to America in November for my sister Ashley's wedding!

It is the Lord's doing

August is here! It's hard to believe that July flew by so quickly. We had a really lovely trip to England visiting our family and meeting our new nephew Theo! On our flight to England a man from the local print shop, Carlo, and his family were on our flight and it was so nice to be able to chat with them a little bit and hopefully begin developing that relationship. The fact that someone from our town was on the same flight amazed me- the Lord always seems to know exactly where we need to be. While we were in England we were very encouraged through those at Calvary Oxford and had an opportunity to share with them what has been happening here in Italy. Other than that we were spoiled with family time and British weather :)

 When we arrived home there was a team in from Calvary Chapel Canyon Hills, California to do some local outreach. On Thursday nights in July the main street of Montebelluna turns into a hub of activity. Most, if not all, of the Piazzas have different bands playing or other types of shows, art exhibits, or hand crafted goods for sale.  We were so very blessed to have this team in to play worship music and share the gospel for two of those weeks. The second Thursday we had a different and more central piazza so it was more accessible for people to come by to listen. We also set up a station to do free face painting and balloons for the kids. We saw a lot of people we knew and it was a great opportunity to share about the church. Pray that those who heard the gospel or received a track would come to know the Lord. While the team was in we also got a lot of practical cleaning and organizing done at the church and the Bible College dorms! It was definitely a blessing to have them.

Sunday the church had a baptism at the river! Many people who were not even apart of the church stood and watched as about seven believers took another step in proclaiming their faith. We are so glad that we get to experience and see how the Lord is working in the lives of those in the church.

The Lord has provided for us to go to Austria for the next two weeks. We will be attending first the Italian conference and then the Missions conference. We will be serving for the Italian conference doing the kids ministry during the teaching sessions and also helping with some of the worship. Pray for that time that we will build better relationships with those in the church and also that we would be able to bless the kids.

Prayer

• Any seeds that were planted during the outreach last Thursday would take root
• For those who were baptized on Sunday that they would continue to grow in their faith
• Our time in Austria- that it would be a blessing to those we serve and a refreshing time during the Missions conference
• Relationships with people in town that they would grow
• Our language learning and our marriage
•  
• In preparation for next semester:
• James as he prepares for his class
• Financial support for the students coming and that their hearts would be ready to receive what the Lord will do.
• Continued unity within the staff

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” -1 Peter 1:13-16-

Happenings

"The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of the life is its unobtrusiveness. It is like a corn of wheat, which falls into the ground and dies, but presently it will spring up and alter the whole landscape"

 Oswald Chambers

It's summer and life has slowed down a bit... Here is a bit of what we've been up to!

Celebrated our fist anniversary

James teaching on a Wednesday night

Warm weather means more bike rides

Schools out so we had a sleep-over!

Lead worship

More time to study

Graduation Spring 2012

"Non te l'ho io comandato? Sii forte e coraggioso; non aver paura e non sgomentarti, perchè allora farai prosperare la tua via, e allora avrai successo." Giosuè 1:9 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9

Graduates Edney, Federica, and Gioele with Director Brian and his wife Maria

The first three Italian graduates with Pastor Craig

Spring semester 2012

The semester has ended and the graduation ceremony was beautiful and not without tears. Please pray for Edney, Federica, and Gioele as they are moving into this new phase. We have been so blessed to see how the Lord has worked in them over the past two years and we are going to miss them very much!

Trento

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

Fontana di Nettuno

Late Baroque Fountain of Neptune

We had the wonderful pleasure of taking a trip with all of the students to Trento. This city is where the council of Trent took place from 1545- 1563, although only seven sessions took place in Trent. Basically the Council of Trent took place to condemn Protestant teachings and redefine the Catholic church teachings.

Because of this council Pope Pius IV issued the Tridentine Creed, which simply reaffirmed that the Church had the authority to interpret the scriptures, the use of sacraments, the Eucharist, faithfulness to the Pope, and condemnation to heresies. Being able to visit the actual church where these events took place was really interesting. It was great spending a free day with all the students as well! We had a lot of fun with them we are so blessed to have such a great group!

Here are a few pictures from our day!

Sharon and Dany

The Duomo

All of the students plus a few staff...

looking like tourists

Some kids fishing for coins in the fountain

Sharon, Ilenia, Federica, Krizia, and Gioele.

Found a park with a seesaw... couldn't pass up the opportunity

Prayer

Thank you all for your prayers!!
Next week is our outreach week so please continue to pray for the students and the work the Lord is going to do.

A Little Bit of Life.....

Wednesday is the open air market. From one of our skylights upstairs we can peer down into the center of town and watch the ordeal take place. However, what is even better is actually walking through.

If we need to go anywhere on a Wednesday this is absolutely unavoidable, since the whole center of town  becomes alive with stalls, booths, a myriad of smells, and practically the whole population of Montebelluna. I think people become more alive on Wednesday mornings because they know they'll be getting fresh air and a bargain. Perhaps also because it's an extra morning off! Most of the shops in town are shut for the morning because of the market.

THIS is an artichoke- how did I not know?

There isn't much that the market doesn't offer. The merchandise can range from a common kitchen pan to a pet turtle so we love walking though just to browse. The options are endless. Personally, though I feel that the food stalls are unrivaled- but perhaps that's because I love food...


Tuesday and Thursday nights we have been going to Italian classes. These have been very helpful in helping us to understand better sentence structures and also increase our vocabulary. We are making progress- slowly but surly! I feel that James has really been grasping the language a lot faster than I am.... which of course doesn't bother me even though I might be a little bit competitive :)

Our class and teacher Giovanni

The majority of the class is full of Chinese- many of which have been in the country for a long time (some even as long as ten years) and are still struggling to learn the language. A few weeks ago the topic of religion came up and so our teacher was teaching us how to say the different religions in Italian. I believe that only two of our other classmates (one of which is a fellow missionary) claim to be Christian. The others are either Buddhist, atheist, or Muslim. I think our teacher would claim to be Catholic but whenever we begin to talk about religions he doesn't seem to know the real truth about Christ. All that to say- they all are definitely in need  of Jesus!

James painting at the church

The Bible College semester is beginning on Monday so life is going to get a lot busier! Over the past few months we have been able to help get a lot of practical things done around the Church and the student housing. James has been doing some painting both at the church and the girls dorm. Caryn, Tracey, (also missionaries involved with the Bible college) and I have been able to get a lot of organizing and cleaning done at the dorms. The students have already begun arriving and we are looking forward to a full three months! James is going to be overseeing both the Christian Ministry class as well as an independent study and I will continue to be involved with worship and the womens discipleship course.
This semester we are going to have Friday afternoons are reserved for outreach opportunities. Also, we are going to be involved in hosting an English club called English Time! This program will allow people who know some English to come and practice speaking with mother tongue speakers through games and activities. We are really looking forward to this since so many people in the area are interested in speaking English. We hope that it will not only bless people in the Church but also act as an outreach to the community.

Prayer

"With God we have freedom of speech. He is always listening, more ready to hear than we are to pray. We never need to force our way into his presence or compel him to pay attention. He is waiting for us to come." 

- That Jesus would remain the center of our marriage and all that we do here!
-Unity in the staff team throughout the semester as well as the student body.
- That we would be a light to our classmates and teachers as well as learn the language.

"For he [King Hezekiah] held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses." 2 Kings 18:6

"The Lord is to be our Source of supply. In Him are springs, fountains, and streams that will never be cut off or run dry.To those who are anxious comes the gracious promise of our heavenly Father: If he is the Source of our mercies, mercy will never fail us. No heat or drought can dry the "river whose streams make glad the city of God" (Ps. 46:4). 
Yet the land we are to possess is a land of valleys and hills. it is not all flat or downhill. If life were always smooth and level. the boring sameness would weigh us down. We need the valleys and the hills. The hills collect the rain for hundreds of fruitful valleys. And so it is with us! It is the difficulty encountered on the hills that drives us to the throne of grace and brings the showers of blessing. yes, it is the hills, the cold and seemingly barren hills of life that we question and complain about, that bring down the showers... We cannot see what loss, sorrow, and trials are accomplishing. We need only to trust. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today." -Nicholaus Ludwig Zinzendorf

Whatever this year may hold we are looking to the Lord to lead and guide us! Praise Him for all His mercies that are new every morning!