Some of you may have heard me joke about how much I do NOT enjoy taking the bus on the return from work. It's a different company than the local one I take in the morning, and I have to walk out on a busy street where there is NO sign post or anything, so I literally feel like a prostitute sometimes. I have even had cars with men stop a few times. Lots of honks at least (this is the gross/after-work me!). The reality is, when that car slows down...there are some girls that have to get in. But I don't.
My involvement with Schiavitù Mai Più continues to progress. We are back into our pattern of every other Friday outings. Please pray for us. If you would like to receive free texts (for those with smartphones, download WhatsApp) or emails DURING our Friday evening (US daytime)...we will send you play-by-play updates as we meet girls during the night. Just email me your number or email if interested: alliecase@gmail.com.
2 weeks ago I met Stella, a Hungarian girl from before. I really love her. It's not like these girls smile, but there's something about her that is almost welcoming. She had a cough. It is getting SO COLD here now. We kissed like friends do when we parted ways (because a car of controllers came up). It was sweet. I also met a new, young, smiling, Romanian girl, Delia. She apparently has some std/infection and is hoping to get out of this 'work' and back to Romania when she has enough money. Please pray that I can see her again THIS FRIDAY when we go back out. We ask for Divine intervention on every level and protection.
CHURCH
Lots of great growth going on in our home groups. Please pray for our Christmas outreach--Tania and I are organizing a small skit with the girls from Albano. Pray we can get things together in time and that it is a formative experience for the girls' spiritual lives. Pray for me as I organize the Children's program.
FUTURE
The meeting with the accountant went so well. Thanks for praying. We felt quite encouraged by this man which is rare. We know he will be in our lives for an eternal reason as well. Please pray that we can organize in a Spirit-led way this dream of opening a coffee bar next year.
WORK
A bit overwhelming. Always. But especially this period before Christmas. Pray for joy for me, creativity, energy, and miracles in the hearts of my little Ephraim, Nicolò, Alessandro, Liam who are QUITE DIFFICULT. Tania did not get hired at my school. Please pray for a stable job for her.
INTERVIEW?
I have been contacted to do an interview for a radio show in Las Vegas regarding my book. This was surprising but fun! Pray that it works out and that God continues to use my little book to bless people and gives me more opportunity since I have no time/resources to market it anymore....
May you all be blessed richly this week! As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thankful for YOU. I'll be making my first pumpkin pie from scratch. Wish me luck :)
xo
Monday, November 25, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
fish
I inherited a fish tank of sorts...and the gadgets that went with it. I was supposed to inherit the fish that lived inside as well, but it died right before my friend moved back to America. I took the stuff anyway, since I had already gotten used to the idea. I like having a little bit of life around the house, even if it seems cruel to confine them in such a small body of water.
Sitting here staring at my two fish tonight, I am thinking about what Jesus said to his new friends--an odd bunch of men to ever be expected to work together on any sort of task--"Go and be fishers of men." But men are just as slippery as fish. And I am convinced that different "baits" will "catch" different "fish." God draws people to Himself in many mysterious ways. I am thinking a lot about evangelism these days. Partly because I notice a lack of boldness and conviction in my own life. And partly because I don't always know what bait to use. Truth is truth. But I mean...how should WE in Frascati approach THESE Italians with the hope of Jesus? Where do we cast our net? Pray with us for inspirition and guidance. Write me if you have an suggestions.
Church
I write the above also because I just returned from a prayer walk around Frascati with Pastor Robert and our church member Monica. It was a beautiful and humbling experience. Monica is very childlike in many ways, but very bold in her faith. In one hour only TWO guys took a tract that we had. Yes, maybe soliciting is not the most effective approach, but the coldness of the people was really startling to observe. People of all ages. Anyway, Robert went up to a group of young people and started talking with a guy in dreads, Ryan. Pray for him. He was quite defiant thinking he could scare off Robert with his first comment: "Yeah well I don't believe in God." But Robert prayed that he may know Jesus and lead his group to Truth. Monica and I talked with a guy, Michele. "I am God...I don't need anybody"...that was his speech. I want to pray a specific prayer that GOD WOULD REVEAL HIMSELF TO MICHELE in dreams and visions that he would know His presence. I invited him to our Tuesday night group even though he refused our tract. Pray I can run into him again out and about.
Otherwise...we continue to pray for a place to meet, for spiritual growth and reconciliation, for Sunday School help (I will do a training this month), and for our Christmas outreach in December.
Work/Personal
Last night I had my colleagues over for dinner. Like last year, I had comments: There is such a peace in your house! Well praise God. Mostly my boss and our secretary dominated the conversations but I was thankful for the chance to just laugh and be together. Pray I have more opportunity to talk about Jesus and that I can be a good testimony at work. Olga, a new colleague, wants to hang out soon. ALSO, yesterday Tania interviewd to be my assistant at LGI. Pray that she gets hired if God's will. Pray for the challenging behaviors of some of my students. Ahhh I love them so much.
I need direction on what to take on what to cut out...feeling a bit exhausted.
Finally got together with a friend (of Tania's), Anais, to meet her new baby on Sunday after her dedication! What a precious little angel. Children are GIFTS.
On Sunday I am headed to the President of the Republic's estate with my friend Livia. Her parents invited me (Dad works for president). Never know what connections that may bring...if anything I can spend more time with her and her family! They have invited me to be with them for Christmas. Pray for wisdom in this decision because I want to be where God wants me to be.
Schiavitù Mai Più
Wonderful outreach with the girls from Without Words Movement. There were not tons of people, but it was a good effort. We start up again with our street outings November 15.
American-Style Coffee Bar
In 10 hours I will be waking up to go to a meeting with an accountant to ask about quotes and licensing needed to open a coffee bar for outreach purposes. After this meeting I am hoping to have a better idea of how to proceed. If we go forward with this, I would leave my job for next year. There are soooo many coffee bars here. One on every corner. What we have in mind is really unique, but we don't want to move forward if it isn't the Lord's will. It is a project COMPLETELY out of my league. Please pray for direction and confirmation.
Lots and lots to pray about. Thanks for being faithful. It blesses me!!
Allie
Baby Grace! xxx
Sitting here staring at my two fish tonight, I am thinking about what Jesus said to his new friends--an odd bunch of men to ever be expected to work together on any sort of task--"Go and be fishers of men." But men are just as slippery as fish. And I am convinced that different "baits" will "catch" different "fish." God draws people to Himself in many mysterious ways. I am thinking a lot about evangelism these days. Partly because I notice a lack of boldness and conviction in my own life. And partly because I don't always know what bait to use. Truth is truth. But I mean...how should WE in Frascati approach THESE Italians with the hope of Jesus? Where do we cast our net? Pray with us for inspirition and guidance. Write me if you have an suggestions.
Church
I write the above also because I just returned from a prayer walk around Frascati with Pastor Robert and our church member Monica. It was a beautiful and humbling experience. Monica is very childlike in many ways, but very bold in her faith. In one hour only TWO guys took a tract that we had. Yes, maybe soliciting is not the most effective approach, but the coldness of the people was really startling to observe. People of all ages. Anyway, Robert went up to a group of young people and started talking with a guy in dreads, Ryan. Pray for him. He was quite defiant thinking he could scare off Robert with his first comment: "Yeah well I don't believe in God." But Robert prayed that he may know Jesus and lead his group to Truth. Monica and I talked with a guy, Michele. "I am God...I don't need anybody"...that was his speech. I want to pray a specific prayer that GOD WOULD REVEAL HIMSELF TO MICHELE in dreams and visions that he would know His presence. I invited him to our Tuesday night group even though he refused our tract. Pray I can run into him again out and about.
Otherwise...we continue to pray for a place to meet, for spiritual growth and reconciliation, for Sunday School help (I will do a training this month), and for our Christmas outreach in December.
Work/Personal
Last night I had my colleagues over for dinner. Like last year, I had comments: There is such a peace in your house! Well praise God. Mostly my boss and our secretary dominated the conversations but I was thankful for the chance to just laugh and be together. Pray I have more opportunity to talk about Jesus and that I can be a good testimony at work. Olga, a new colleague, wants to hang out soon. ALSO, yesterday Tania interviewd to be my assistant at LGI. Pray that she gets hired if God's will. Pray for the challenging behaviors of some of my students. Ahhh I love them so much.
I need direction on what to take on what to cut out...feeling a bit exhausted.
Finally got together with a friend (of Tania's), Anais, to meet her new baby on Sunday after her dedication! What a precious little angel. Children are GIFTS.
On Sunday I am headed to the President of the Republic's estate with my friend Livia. Her parents invited me (Dad works for president). Never know what connections that may bring...if anything I can spend more time with her and her family! They have invited me to be with them for Christmas. Pray for wisdom in this decision because I want to be where God wants me to be.
Schiavitù Mai Più
Wonderful outreach with the girls from Without Words Movement. There were not tons of people, but it was a good effort. We start up again with our street outings November 15.
American-Style Coffee Bar
In 10 hours I will be waking up to go to a meeting with an accountant to ask about quotes and licensing needed to open a coffee bar for outreach purposes. After this meeting I am hoping to have a better idea of how to proceed. If we go forward with this, I would leave my job for next year. There are soooo many coffee bars here. One on every corner. What we have in mind is really unique, but we don't want to move forward if it isn't the Lord's will. It is a project COMPLETELY out of my league. Please pray for direction and confirmation.
Lots and lots to pray about. Thanks for being faithful. It blesses me!!
Allie
Girls who participated in our Stop Sex Trafficking Flashmob at Piazza Navona :)
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