sono grata (i am thankful)

I know it's not November. But I am giving thanks. Like, really, intentionally. I'm thankful for this lesson God is teaching me. A few days ago I arrived home exhausted, frustrated, feeling manipulated and half-Christian...I was thinking about all of the bad things from that day. Then the Holy Spirit stopped me. I began to recount the GOOD things. Because--believe it or not--there were quite a few: Remember Mario your coffee barista who gave you a muffin he made at his house? Then you arrived at school and the twins gave you 'flowers' they made out of napkins? Then Azzurra's mom gave you SUCH a nice compliment. And Raffa is such a great colleague to work with.... I started to write these things down on little post-it notes. I put them up in the kitchen; a section for me, and one for Tania. It is fostering a new spirit of thankfulness in our hearts...and I am thankful. The Lord is gracious.

Three big praises:

TANIA. Only a few hours after writing my last newsletter last Sunday, Tania and I had a good talk and I see some great fruit of 'transformation.' This is a work only the Lord can do. Thanks for your prayers. Continue to pray for love and wisdom on my part. May we love and follow Jesus always.

BOOK. Haven't written about this in some time, but my book, 'The Wall,' will be out by the end of the month. This is really exciting and a long time in coming. You will be able to purchase it (before I get a copy, no doubt, with the Italian postal system) on Amazon. Details to come ladies.

TRACTS. Thanks to my amazing German friends Dorit and Stephan Spielau in Gorlitz, I was able to get translated (from German to English to Italian--what a process!) some really awesome gospel tracts with our church information. Stephan designed them and they are really relevant and engaging. We are so thankful and excited to get some printed. Praying for funding (around €300).

Other requests still stand...friends (Fation, Roberto, Alberto, Erica), church family (Monica, Lorenza, Concetta-new), colleagues (Raffa, Iram, Peter, Annamaria, Maison, Ruhma), etc. We are still hoping to sign our Association contract to become an official NGO this week (the church). We are also hoping to hear this week about a location for our church to meet (praying the county gives us one--they are deciding). Praying for Matteo (new convert) to get plugged into church. Praying that my boss does not require me to work in July.

Thanks! Remember to be saving some time for visits the first week of August for those in LA! Looking so forward to it. xo

Me and baby Giulia before church. I love this girl so much it hurts.