Thanks to the few who sent me Christmas cards! I had a lovely Christmas between friends in Rome, my adopted family here in Frascati (and other friends including my new Romanian friend Michela), and ending with my Australian missionary friend in Pisa for New Years.
I'd like to share a little story from one of my students:
Before Christmas I took the "cultural" opportunity to share the story of Jesus' birth in class.
Me: Does anyone know what else we celebrate at Christmas? Is it someone's birthday?
Girl 1: Gesù Bambino comes out of our tummies!
Boy 1: Yeah it's his birthday!
Girl 2: Baby Jesus, I know him! One day when I was scared in my bed, he came to me! But he wasn't a baby...but he wasn't too big.
Me: Did he say something to you?
G2: Yes!
Me: What did he say to you?
G2: He said, "(Name), I love you very much."...
Me: Wow, it's true Jesus loves us more than anyone and no one can take his love away from us.
G2: And he already knew my name!!!
I pray we can all be awed that Jesus knows our name. We don't know Him well. But He knows us.
CHURCH
We had a very blessed Christmas outreach with Life Road--a multi-church worship band from the Rome area. The event brought many churches together as well as unchurched, and gave us a vision of what could be in the Castelli. We had a low-key Christmas service in church with a potluck. It is a hard time with low attendance due to grave physical and emotional and economical problems among members. We pray for God to continue to establish His church here and comfort and challenge His people.
We have a lot coming up this spring: Easter outreach, Women's tea, Church day-retreat, hosting a Christian counseling course for pastoral training in the Rome area (June)! More details to come....
PERSONAL
I have lost a lot of joy in work, which frustrates me because I should be a good witness there, and I don't feel that I am at the moment. I am now working Saturdays which has created some conflict. They are overtime hours outside my contract but they insisted I do them. But there are no buses on Saturdays, and it interrupts a lot of ministry commitments. Other ministry commitments. Not to mention rest. If anything it has affirmed my decision to leave the school in July (not renew my contract). This sermon is shaking me up a bit.... http://realityla.com/teachings/questions-how-does-faith-affect-my-work/ My colleague Raffaella is devouring the devotional I gave her but still refuses to come to church. Pray for her.
I have a few possibilities coming up from next summer including a lay-counseling program, clearing my CA teaching credential, or staying in Italy and working part-time and writing Sunday School curriculum, children's books, blogging and building up the ministries here. There's so much I want to do but I don't have the time. Anyway, it seems that this year or next I will take a furlough in the States. We need to raise more support. We need more laborers. A lot of exciting possibilities for whoever wants details.... Anyway, PLEASE PRAY FOR ME as I make these decisions by March.
After a month break, we will start up Schiavitù Mai Più again next week. Pray for God's direction and strength this year. We've got a campaign coming up. We had such a great Christmas outreach and I God let me meet M again after almost a year! I was so blessed. But it remains a slow, hard road with the girls. We did not resolve the issue with the minor. We want to see girls free. In every way.
ANNIVERSARY REQUEST
I have a special request for those who have a bit of extra money to spare. My amazing Pastor and his wife have their 25th wedding anniversary coming up in August 2015. His DREAM has been to take his wife to America. I think it would be the most encouraging, unexpected gift. I am looking to raise about $3000 for their airfare. We would like to present them with 2 tickets to Seattle in August, for next December. If you have anything extra to spare, or loads of airmiles and you'd like to buy their tickets haha....let me know. You can send tax-deductable donations with a note "For Robert and Chantal Diamubeni Anniversary Fund" to Calvary Chapel Eastside 5130 164th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98006 USA. Oh yeah, and it's a SURPRISE. ;)
Thanks for your love and support! God bless you richly.
xxx, A
