in class

Friends!

THE END OF ONE ROAD...
I want to pause and thank God for the opportunity to attend BIOLA and for all that I've learned in my many years there. Yesterday finished my last assignment for my Masters in Teaching, and it is bittersweet. I took some time to reflect on all of the professors who have influenced me and all of the people I've worked with. I am truly humbled and grateful. I only pray God continues to open doors for me to use and sharpen these things I've learned, for His purposes.

OF ANGELS & DEMONS...
That said, I will continue to be one of those "life-long learners." NO. I am not getting any kind of doctorate. Not happening. However, as I've been involved for about a year and a half now with the L'Istituto Italiano di Cultura (LA's Italian Cultural Centre), taking language courses and attending other events, I am praying about a few things. Up to now, I have moved up with the same class and the same professor. We have become a sort of family: an Indian business-man, a high school exchange student from Spain, a newly divorced female film producer, a gay man who works in marketing for Disney, a middle-aged business woman with a daughter named Allison, a recently retired engineer who I've inspired to get HIS dual citizenship.... Each of these have a story. They have shared the most personal things and my heart just goes out to them. They all have different worldviews and burdens and I am the only Christian.

This past Monday we got into an intense conversation about spirits and the supernatural. Please pray for Camela who regularly sees a palm-reader (the producer), and my professor AnnaMaria (from Rome!) who is TERRIFIED of the presence of the supernatural. She admitted she's been in therapy for it before. She can't sleep alone. Pray for Zita (from Spain) & Sanjay (India), who don't believe in God or spirits at all.

Here are some things for which I need direction: I want to host maybe a monthly luncheon at my grandmother's to combine my Christian Italian speaking friends with those of my class. ALSO, next term, the class is potentially moving to Tuesdays. I told my professor that I have my church home-group on Tuesdays and ANY other day but that would do! She started asking me all of these questions about it, what we do, etc. Please pray it does not move to Tuesdays and that I can continue with my same class. Pray also that I can invite people to church. Pray that God helps me to be bold and truthful. Pray that He anoints my tongue to speak Italian.

Thank you so much.
Allie
*Also, check out the pictures I've posted at the bottom of the page!