"ben tornata!"

Those were the words an older man spoke to me as he entered our house-church today: "Welcome back!" It's not a visitor's welcome. I kind of liked that.

Yes, I am here in Frascati! My Italian passport worked perfectly, and tomorrow begins the hard initiation to Italian systems. What, the post office is a bank?! Oh yeah, supermarkets close every day from 1-4pm. Wait, if I rent an "unfurnished" apartment that means it has NO kitchen (counters, stove, etc.)?

It comes as no surprise that LANGUAGE has been the most overwhelming aspect of living here. It always has been. It's hard enough being an introvert--and yet how I long to speak!! I understand sermons, casual conversation...but I'm completely lost at family dinner. I can't understand TV programs. Long road ahead.

Church was so sweet tonight. The sister of a church member here, came from Genova (they did a church plant--north) to share her testimony with us. She had a fatal, incurable heart disease. She battled it 6 years and was dying. This year she was healed and, I must say, is the most radiant beauty. A miracle. I was choking back tears the entire time. Her husband shared a message from Habbakuk: "Oh Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you will not hear? Or cry to you, 'Violence!' and you will not save?" It was so powerful to hear of what God brought them through.

Something in Habbakuk caught my attention: "So the law is paralyzed and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice never goes forth." After a long talk tonight with my pastor, I really feel that this is what the young people in the church are struggling with. Really caught in the confusion of worldly friends and church life. There are virtually no Christian peers. But they've learned to compartmentalize so they almost don't like Christian peers. We're praying to start something really honest and inclusive, next month. A regular sort of Bible study of some kind. If you have any ideas as you pray, let me know!

I hope my next update includes a photo of my new apartment! Pray that my friend Tania has a successful time leaving her parents' home to live with me, and that she opens up, and we live peacefully to spur each other on.

Thank you!
Allie

PS, attached is a pic of the fridge when I arrived at my pastor's house. His sons had messages for me :) Spanish? Don't ask me why.... :)