church retreat and july goals

CC FRASCATI CHURCH RETREAT

I wanted to give an update about our church retreat this weekend. We were at an agriturismo in Frascati that gave us an incredible, affordable deal. Pastor Craig Quam (founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Italy) came down from Veneto and didn't let the fact that he just started chemotherapy treatment stop him from sharing with our little church about life in the Holy Spirit from Acts 1:8. We had 40 people in attendance from our different home-groups. Actually, there were quite a lot of people missing, but we were still so encouraged by this number and those that came out (from Monte Porzio Catone, Genzano, Albano, Colleferro, Grottaferrata, Frascati and Rome--also a visiting family from Frosinone!). Raffaella did not come. Michelangelo did an excellent job with worship. Jenny (who will moving to London in 2 weeks with our sweet Giulia--please pray for them!!) organized the venue. I was in charge of children's ministry all day. We were blessed and encouraged. We had just the funds to cover everything with 5€ leftover. We pray that the impact of this event is deep and lasting.

One interesting thing happened: a lady visiting the Bed & Breakfast part of the venue heard us and sat in on the worship. She then talked to Barbara and Robert about offering us a meeting place for the church! We are meeting with her today at 6:30pm if you can pray. Our dream is to have a place in the community. A place where all of our groups can meet together more regularly.

JULY GOALS

I've got lots of people to see: Olga, Paolo, Iram, Raffaella (all different colleagues/ex-colleagues I want to get in touch with). Livia (my Roman friend). Going to the sea with the young girls from church (Sara, Veronica, Valeria and Claudia--who have returned from France). Spending time with Monica (needy lady from church). Spending time with Barbara (another needy lady from church). Connecting with Fation (he just told me he is reading the Gospel) and Roberto. Supporting Jenny and Giulia with whatever they need before they move to London.

I've got visitors: My dear friend Amanda and her mom visiting me this month! My uncle should also be passing by. July 23-26 I'll be hosting the New Zealand rock band "Red Rain" in my home for outreach with our church.

Please continue to pray for my work with Schiavitù Mai Più this month. My team leader Sarah needs miraculous prayer for her heart. She has just come home from the hospital.

Please pray for logistical things with the Red Rain concert coming up. We need: 400€ to put this on. We need a smoke machine, a bass amp and a drum kit. The band will be split into 3 homes. Pray that they are blessed. We are thankful for their servant hearts and flexibility.

OTHER UPDATES

I almost left my job last week. After lots of drama and prayer I am staying one more final year. Prayers for my future would be most appreciated.

Pray that Jesus pursues and reveals himself in supernatural ways to my friend Fation who just confessed he is reading the Gospel. "You know Jesus says a lot of really wise things. I really agree with it."

Tania most likely has a fixed job starting in September. This will help me economically, as well as give her life a bit more direction. Praise Jesus.

I am in LA and Seattle this August and hope to see you! Taking appointments now :)


Thanks for praying. Lots of love to all!
Allie

                                    With Nicholas & Lorenzo chowing down! (kidsmin)

                                         Great worship time together at the retreat!

                                                                Football!

                                       The whole gang (minus Michi taking the pic)

                                          I hit the beach as soon as I finished work.
                          Nothing like first sun and first fresh coconut of the summer!

june. andamillionthoughts.

TESORI RAGGIANTI International Conference Against Sex-Trafficking

Well. I don't really know how to process the 4 days I spent last week outside of Turin. SO THANKFUL to Jesus that I was able to attend this conference sponsored by Operation Mobilization (OM). Dr. Sandra Morgan from Vanguard University, along with a panel of experts (Italian police, social workers, lawyers, ex-sex slaves) and all of US... the Christian ministry workers that have been plugging along by ourselves in various cities the last 5 years. For the first time, we were all together. It was stimulating. It was enlightening. It was overwhelming. It was exhausting. It was encouraging. It was informative. It was heart-breaking. Perhaps the best thing was that it was applicational. Dr. Morgan's passion was to get us contextualizing and planning for the "treasures" we know. For the cities in which we live. Another goal of the conference was to get us united across Italy with similar training, using standard vocabulary etc. God is doing great things and longs to release Italian men and women and children from: 

1. An oversexualized culture

2. A morbid, corrupted and violent sexualization

3. Selling of human beings

4. Identity confusion

5. Sexual dominance

6. Sexual abuse 

7. Lies from media

8. Broken families...

 Of the 25,000 sex-trafficking victims in Italy, there are 4 major ethnic groups: Nigerian, Romanian, Albanian and Chinese. Our team in Rome has been working with Romanian-Albanian girls (the only two groups that work together to take advantage of each other). But in the fall we hope to start up the team with Nigerian girls. It's a completely different area. It's a bit more dangerous in the country roads without lights and sidewalks and we would be out in the day. Please pray for the preparation of this team (of which I will  be a part). 

“Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” (Psalm 34:5)

CHURCH

We are seeing some growth (spiritually and in number) which is exciting. We continue to pray against divisive or lazy spirits among members. It is difficult to maintain fellowship with our home-studies spanning from Colleferro to Frascati. Please pray that our church members take ownership of their faith and become hungry to serve and encourage one another. We are encouraged recently by Franco and Barbara and Stefano and Alessandro. 

June 29th is our big all-day church retreat. Please ask the Lord to bless our speaker and all of the preparations and those who will come. I am hoping to invite Raffaella this week. PLEASE ASK GOD TO OPEN HER HEART TO COME.

WORK

Some drama at the end of the year--a few teachers not coming back. This will mean a bit more chaos next year with new staff etc. once again. But I am thankful to have this job and to hold a testimony here. My two students that will be leaving (the one whose mom died and another) are "randomly" moving to the same school in Rome, and their parents have asked me to stay in touch. That is a blessing. At this point, I only plan on putting in one more year at the school and moving to more flexible part time work the following year. Lots of thoughts for the future, but more to come later. Just pray for now that I can finish this last school month well!

I'm excited to have my cousin Dylan visiting next week. This summer I'm hoping to invest more time in friendships and studying for my drivers exam which has fallen behind!!!

xo

                                  Below: panel of experts, our Schiavitù Mai Più team

And this... my colleague took this photo of me on 

fieldtrip and titled it "Angry Allie" haha...don't mess with me.