hope and the cage

Thankful to have this rainy Saturday to reflect and catch up on some things. It's been one of those full weeks that should have been much fuller, but by God's grace, some people cancelled different things, and I've had some breathing room.

I've been thinking today about God's hope. The hope of our salvation. The hope that we cannot see. The hope that does not disappoint. I've also been trying to figure out why I have been so angry these last two weeks. It's like a cage. Rabbia. Rage. You don't feel angry. You don't think you are. But then you hear your student mocking you, 'I'm the teacher: That's enough! Stop it! Sit down!'...all he thinks of me is shouting. And I've certainly lost control. And my colleague asks, 'Are you ok?' to my shock because everything is 'fine.' Ok then if I'm not angry, why does it feel like my joy is in a cage?

Missionaries have many faults. One is to ask others to pray...for them...and then not pray themselves. To write lists, to do and do and do but without heart. I just want to be honest that I've had a reality check. I have some really exciting things coming up...things I don't deserve to participate in. And I want to do them with hope, and joy, and fullness of heart. I pray also that you will be filled with this vision wherever God is using you.

CHURCH NEWS

Tuesdays nights are growing to a steady 12 people...sometimes more. It is the JOY of my week. So excited especially to see the growth of Raffaele and Patrizia...also Matteo who prayed aloud for the first time Tuesday (once a month we have no study, but just a prayer evening). It was nice 2 weeks ago to see Andreas (Hilda's son) come out as well and stay for dinner (and also make fun of my disastrous bedroom condition when he gave himself a tour of our house haha). Monica has been coming as well. She has seen a doctor and is officially NOT bipolar.

Friday nights are growing as well. SUCH a different flavor. But we continue to have Simona and her daughters Sara and Veronica as well as their little Lorenzo (4) who needs lots of prayer but whose best friend I have become whether I like it or not! I praise God, because it makes him excited to come to Sunday school. Claudia and Valeria continue to come with their parents which is so sweet. We have a new lady Barbara...a dietitian I've met with, who is so sweet and sincere and coming out of a strange cult to walk in the Light.

Association LA SPERANZA. We have had our first meetings for our non-profit The Hope. It is a bit overwhelming. As secretary the lot of book-keeping has also fallen to me. This is all in Italian and has to do with NUMBERS. Not my strengths. Please pray for me. And pray for us as we get organized. We are seeking someone to come do a Christmas concert outreach for us. We are praying for evangelistic teams to come work with us. Whatever your talent is we can use it!

OTHER MINISTRY

I am attending another show of the INCREDIBLE documentary on prostitution, Nefarious, and bringing Tania and Matteo. The non-profit I work with, Schiavitù Mai Più is starting up it's street outings again this month. We are also hosting 2 Christian, American dancers at the end of October who will do flashmobs, classes etc. to raise awareness of the sex trade here in Rome. We are REALLY excited about this and have rented the amphitheatre at Furio Camillo downtown. Please be praying for this from October 22-30. Pray for the girls I hope to reconnect with: Adriana, Christal, Stella, Christina.

Coffee Bar. Some of you have heard that I have the opportunity to collaborate on a project to open a (Christian) American-style coffee bar here in Frascati. We want to create a culturally relevant center for people to get together and for us to hold events such as classes, debates, concerts... We had our first official meeting Wednesday to brainstorm planning. It is too much for me right now. It means opening another non-profit and starting from scratch. Businesses are SO hard to start here. Even if we have a few connections. It will be a miracle. Please pray that God CLEARLY guides my friends from a neighboring church in Monte Porzio and us here in Frascati. A joint venture could be awesome on so many levels, but we still need the right personnel and confirmation.

If you are at all interested in sponsoring the start-up costs of a business like this that will be used for evangelistic purposes, please let me know. This also means that I am prayerfully considering not renewing my contract NEXT year, but going full-time into these projects. Lots to think and pray about.

Thanks everyone. Lots of love from Italy.
Allie

         My sweet Aunt and Uncle stopped by Frascati for dinner this week... LA via Berlin! 

 Tuesday night gatherings. You can't see everyone very well, but it's very international and intergenerational!