there&back

HOME-TRIP

Seattle was a beautiful, joyful time. I really could not have asked for a better trip. My brother married his beautiful bride and gave me a new sister. God was glorified and our non-Christian family was really taken by all of the love.

While home, I was able to share a bit about ministry and life here in Italy at Calvary Chapel Eastside. If you are reading this blog for the first time, welcome and thanks for signing up. And praying!

I also had the pleasure of interviewing for Carrie Abbott of Legacy Institute on KCIS radio. Such an encouraging time. Thanks to everyone who listened. I think God gave my jet-lagged self some clarity! I hope to understand better the next steps I should take in writing. It is hard to find time and mental energy even to keep up my blogs, but I would like to keep writing. Children's books next....

BACK IN ITALY

It was hard to leave. I don't know if it gets easier. Traveling can make you feel both weak and strong. I am thankful for family and friends that make it hard to leave. Being back has not been as rough as I thought (except jetlag!). I am thankful for a relaxing week at work. I seem able to enjoy everything so much more. My students have grown and matured so much! I really see the results of this at the end of the year. I am trying to enjoy these last 7 weeks with these beautiful children.

I got to support my coworker Olga in her band's new debut yesterday and that was fun. It really blessed her that I came! I hope we manage to get together soon to play music together for a side project.

Had a good chat with Raffaella today. I just love her so much. Pray for her heart. That she understands TRUTH. She has a lot of dreams and is pretty superstitious. Pray that Jesus reveals Himself to her in her dreams.

I REALLY need to find time to study/apply for my driving exam.

PRAISES

I just bought my ticket for Turin and the Anti Sex Trafficking Conference at the end of the month. The conference center has been so accommodating and is picking me up from the train station as I get in quite late at night (due to work). Thankful.

We have a lot of opportunity coming up with Schiavitù Mai Più as we have been asked to participate in the European Freedom Network's campaign leading up to the EU's Anti-Trafficking Day October 18. We are a small team, but are praying for contacts, gifted people, and open hearts so we can make a scene in the Lazio region!

Sunday School went well while I was gone. I've attached a little picture Barbara sent me from Easter. Only 2 kids, but praise God! I am hoping to train up Barbara to help more, especially when I am gone.

Thanks so much for praying with me. This month it's my goal to buy tickets to the US for summer. Until then, there is a lot to look forward to in work, church, and play. Here's to not relying on my own strength!

xo

                                                  Easter Sunday School in Italy

My brother and his wife! (and Dad)

Sister, mom, Me at wedding

Olga & I after her gig

are you in 3?

THE STREETS

"Che fate?" ('what are you guys doing?')...came the voice of an invisible man behind me. I say invisible because for some reason, that night, I didn't want to look. I just wanted him to go away. I will never know what he looked like. But he didn't go away. He waited. Easily 20 minutes....

You see, last time I wrote, we were getting ready to get back on the streets with Schiavitù Mai Più. After team prayer and a sad group decision that we could never take a 'team photo' to send to prayer warriors because of the risky nature of our work...we set off. After talking with a few girls...including the beautiful, trembling 'D' I've talked about before and 'S' (who says she wants to go shopping)...my team-mate Fjori and I went to talk to 'C'. There was a new girl with her. New Girl looked a bit younger. A bit rougher. She stuck her tongue out at the passing cars trying to get attention. C joked about how New Girl had said "Where are the young, hot guys?" and C retorted, "I tried to explain to her the old ones have all the money...". Anyway, the funny thing is that when we introduced ourselves, C said immediately, "She doesn't speak Italian" and then muttered something to New Girl. Suddenly I heard Fjori in a torrent of Albanian! She turned to me, "These girls are Albanian, do you mind if I speak in Albanian?" OF COURSE NOT! After a quick scold to C ('You told me you were Romanian' ...'Oh yes well...' haha), I realized my purpose was to PRAY the night away. C came and went with clients about 3 or 4 times during the hour. But after a good 30 minutes of talking with New Girl, Fjori turned to me, "Ok, she says we can pray now." I'd been completely in the dark. Just asking God to guide Fjori. YES. Let's pray. Fjori's prayer lasted much longer than I would have ever had the courage to pray. The 3 of us on the street corner, holding hands. Me praying and praying that the Spirit would tell her what to say, would open New Girl's heart. Would send the curious client behind me with his engine still on--away. At one point I looked up to see New Girl's face flooding with tears. It fueled my prayers. When--after what seemed like an eternity--Fjori 'amen-ed', Mr. Client (who had settled in and turned his engine off) called out, "Hey are you in three?" New Girl didn't understand. Fjori translated. New Girl looked back, "No!" He left.

Why do I tell you all of this? Because I don't tell enough stories. Because I want you to better understand what I do on Friday nights. Unfortunately, Fjori herself is back in Albania for an undetermined amount of time. Pray she can come back soon! Pray for at least one Italian and one Romanian as well to be added to our team. Pray for New Girl. We didn't make it to her end of town with the visits we did last Friday. To date, no one has called our team phone.

Please continue to pray for God's direction and power in this ministry to prostitutes and trafficking victims in Rome. It has started to become quite heavy for me. I see the world as a different place. I've gotten bolder about asking my own friends about their experiences. Sexual depravity is rampant. It is beyond discouraging. Yet God is alive and at work. I don't begin to understand the depths of darkness...nor the depths of His love. And I remember: A CORD OF 3 STRANDS IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.

I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Joshua 7:12

OTHER...BECAUSE I AM TOO TIRED...

• A hard thing: the girls I trained for Sunday School suddenly moved to France. A blessing: God raised up someone to teach the kids for Easter. Praise Jesus for Barbara and her servant's heart!
• Work...continues to be crazy. Lots of stuff going on. I am tired. My kids are needy. Please lift it up. 
• Church...lots of logistical, administrative stuff going on. We need time and help to get organized. 
• My driver's license. I need motivation and time and energy to study for exams.
• Sex Trafficking Conference. I was told I could go, then that I might not be able to. Please pray problems are resolved (I get subs) so I can go.
• Travel. I leave Saturday for Seattle. Please pray for safe travels (I am already feeling a bit rundown and sick), that I can get everything done before that I need to, and that Tania manages things well while I am gone. I have a busy schedule when I'm home: missions event, doctors appointments, radio interview for book, visiting friends and family and OF COURSE the wedding! Pray for my non-Christian family in attendance, that they would see TRUE LOVE of Jesus.

Thanks you.

ALSO PRAISE JESUS FOR A NEW LAUNDRY MACHINE!

Lots of love x

                       Above: new machine. Below: Me at annual Orchid Festival last weekend. 

convinced & involved

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Things going well over here. Last night I dreamt about being in Seattle for my brother's wedding. I must be getting excited! The beginnings of spring and sunshine are causing me to think long thoughts of the LA coast as well.... Home is always home. At month #19 here in Italy, I can say March has probably been one of the most dark and difficult. For various reasons: major conflict with someone here; stressful and tragic conditions at work; physical exhaustion; heating/hot water problems (a month of bucket showers!); spiritual growing pains.... It has all been good. I am thankful for it all.

I've been reminded of the persuasion of Paul: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, NOR ANYTHING ELSE in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). God's love is a cosmic reality AND a personal experience. It is pure. It is constant. It is rageful. It is gentle. It is indestructible--neither by the finality of death nor the distraction of life. Nothing. Can. Separate. Us. From. That. Love.

So what are we waiting for? What can't we do?! We've already overcome it.

SINCE I LAST WROTE...

• Raffaella remains difficult to pin-down. Please keep praying for this precious friend/coworker to know Jesus!
• I was able to resolve the conflict by God's grace. 
• We have someone (after a million failed visits from our repair guy) coming to replace our boiler on Tuesday.
• I did a short Sunday School teaching training with sisters Valeria and Claudia last week! We have seen them come consistently and take the Bible teachings to heart, so I've asked them to come on board! They will shadow me and then we will start rotating in April! Just in time for me to leave for America. But the exciting point is: they're being raised up!
• Had a great lunch with Monica (older lady from church) last week. Since she has made some drastic decisions to follow Jesus (kick boyfriend out of house, take care of her mental/physical, spiritual health, etc.) God is doing great things in her and I am very proud of her! It was sweet to be together. Her daughter Erica says she will come to church tomorrow. It would be a miracle! Please pray for this.
• Schiavitù Mai Più has been unable to hit the streets this month due to logistical difficulties...but we have met for prayer and are excited about these things: new team member Fjori, getting an anti-slavery/prostitution petition passed, that we have a contact cell-phone for the 'treasures' to call, 4 of us women (yes, PRAISE JESUS after some difficulty my boss gave me the day off I needed to go) will be headed to Turin in May for an international anti-trafficking/prostitution conference, we hit the streets again next Friday!
• WORK. My student Matilda's mom has passed away. The week before I discovered Nicolò's dad has stomach cancer. I got a new student last Thursday from Poland. My emotionally-behaviorally challenged students continue to test me (I am at 15 4-5 yr olds and no assistant). My heart is so full of love for these kids. Pray for patience, energy, creativity...leading of Holy Spirit as I comfort my little Matilda.... Also to stand firm amidst gossip and manipulation among staff....
• Our church CC Frascati has decided on a day retreat June 30 and God provided a place at low-cost. 
• We also have the New Zealand Christian rock-band RED RAIN coming to us the end of July for outreach. We are so excited!!!
• My dear friend Heather is returning to Rome (missionary) next week!!

HOW YOU CAN BE MORE INVOLVED...

Currently, there are some specific ways you can be more involved in the ministry here:

• If you would like to be on the bi-monthly prayer chain to pray on-call as we are out with the 'treasures' every other Friday night, download WhatsApp on your smart phone and email me your telephone number. You can also like Schiavitù Mai Più on facebook. 
• If you would like to receive CC Frascati's newsletter blog updates (about 6/yr), send me an email alliecase@gmail.com. 
• Financial needs of the church: printer (€200), funding to host NZ outreach band (€500 their costs + €500 food, gas, advertising, renting a place=approx 1,000)
• My personal financial needs: washing machine (save on outrageous laundromat prices--€600), Italian driver's license (€400). 
• Come! We are always interested in ways you can use your gifts and talents to edify the church here and reach the lost.

Donations can be made to Calvary Chapel Eastside: 5130 164th Ave SE, Bellevue WA 98006 USA. Please write on check memo "Allison Case Italy-washing machine" for example so we know where the money should go! 

In any case, thank you for the love, prayers, encouragement, finances.... Tomorrow my coworker Olga has agreed to come to church with me. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. Pray she doesn't bail! More miracles please Jesus!!!

xo

                                                 (Keep Calm & Have Faith)

Ave. SE

Bellevue, WA 98006, USA

suspended.

Ciao.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and prayers. Been feeling sustained in addition to a lot of other feelings :)  One of the words that Requestscame to mind when I sat to write now was "suspended." Lots of things that should happen (real chat with Raffa, guitar practice with Olga...), and things that will happen (deaths, moves, events). Though I am not sedentary, I am trying not to just survive each week. New vision to be proactive. We will see how it goes.

Praises (sorry I should include them every time!)

• Sexuality event went VERY well. I messed up my Italian discourse and managed to land it with some kind of understanding, but the others were excellent!!! Sara, Veronica and Moira did not come which was very sad to us. But we are thankful for Barbara, Claudia, Valeria and Giulia that came and pray to do another event like this soon!
• I am continually thankful for the Diamubeni family. Love.
• Those of you who have written me, prayed for me, and have communicated about supporting me financially. 
• Music. Today in the piazza. Brought to tears by a disabled band singing and playing and dancing. JOY.

Requests

• That we can resolve problems with our furnace/hot water heater thing.
• That I can organize a small team of children's ministry leaders. 
• EASTER. Our next outreach. We need a location. Ideally I'd like to organize another sketch with the girls but I need inspiration. And time....
• Church unity, purity, maturity...and a meeting place.
• WORK. That I can be a good witness. That I can be a good teacher. That my students have PEACE. My nerves are on end. I need a real miracle for Giulio especially. I have also discovered that besides Matilda (losing her mom), my student Nicolò may lose his dad soon to cancer. So strange that both of these are in my class. To lose a parent is tough at any age. Please pray as the Lord leads you to pray.
• Tania. For her growth and that I would know how to challenge and support her.
• Fation & Roberto. Back in touch with them and saw them at Fation's graduation dinner last week. God's will be done with these friendships.
• Schiavitù Mai Più...pray we can go out this month. Lots of complications logistically with our team but we don't wanna miss! Pray also that my boss gives me the day off for the anti-sex-trafficking training conference I hope to attend in May. 
• My license. Pray that I make the time to study for the "impossible" driver's tests. If at all possible for me to still qualify for an international license, pray I can get one when I'm home in April instead.... And that I can budget the maintenance of a car etc.

Lots of randoms. God will understand.

Thank you!! Love and blessings.

                Above: the band today. Below: Coworker Olga and I at the school's Carnival Party!

the mustard seed

Hi Everybody!

I'll give some quick updates since my last post.

1. Did not end up making it to Bovino last weekend. I'm still hoping for an opportunity to see these new friends...will have to wait til summer I think!
2. After LOTS of scheduling difficulties and drama, we are moving forward with our girls' breakfast/tea THIS SATURDAY for the young girls in our church. We will talk about Biblical Sexuality. Please pray for Tania, Marti and I as we prepare. You can't even imagine the questions we get...please pray for Sara. Her sexuality is the one thing keeping her from surrendering completely to Jesus. We want to have a deep, honest, fruitful time and establish support for these girls!
3. Heading out again this Friday to visit with the "treasures" on the streets. Pray I can re-connect with S and M and that God allows us to meet with girls outside "work hours."
4. Radio: I might have the chance to play some songs on an Italian radio show...connection through the buddhist son of a church member. Never know what God has in that! It's an answer to prayer as well because I am wanting to use my musical gifts despite feeling shy or busy....
5. Matilda. My lovely student Matilda's mom is dying. I don't know how much time she has, but there is no cure and she is at the end. Please pray that she may know Jesus and that God helps me to know how to support Matilda and her family...and the rest of my class when it "happens."

THE MUSTARD SEED

Recently I'd read story about a missionary in Ivory Coast. She would visit a remote village each month and pray for a crippled woman. Each time she returned to her town, she felt guilt and burden. Why couldn't she just say, "Get up and walk!"? Her faith was so small. This really tormented her. After much study and counsel, she was encouraged by the words of Jesus (Mt. 17:20): I say to you if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move!'" A few months later, she returned emboldened to the remote village. The crippled woman was not at her usual post! The missionary knocked on the door of the house. The crippled woman opened the door. She was walking! The missionary, astounded, asked what had happened. The lady explained that each time she had prayed for her, she felt a little better. But then her family would give her tribal medicine and chant demonic prayers over her, and she felt worse. She noticed the connection between her health and the missionary's prayers. One day when her family was enforcing their ritual upon her she said, "That's enough! I will walk in the name of Jesus!"

This story touched me to tears. So often I feel like this woman. I moved across the seas, and yet my faith is still SO SMALL. But even if I had the greatest faith in the world it would be small to the Lord. I can't impress Him. It's not about me. HE WORKS. With any offering. Last week my coworker Raffaella came to me as school started. "I need to talk to you," she said, "I think I need a Bible...I wanted to go to my priest but then thought, 'I'll talk to Allie.'" This was my mustard seed sprouting! I brought a Bible the next day with a daily devotional. She has been eating it up!! We haven't been able to talk much, but are organizing a time we can get together. I see her so open. Such a miracle. I love her more than anyone in Italy!!! God knows. God works. When I am weak. Then He is strong. Please keep Raffy in your prayers.

I'm sorry that I don't have time to recount so many stories. There is so much to say that my blog becomes very list-y. But know that God is working! Thank you so so so much for your love and prayers.

xo, A

trips! (overwhelmed).

Hi Everybody.

BUILDING UPDATE:
About the location request we had put in at the town hall. THANK YOU to everyone who prayed. My request now is: please continue to pray. In true Italian style, the meeting they were supposed to have months ago, was actually postponed on Friday. We don't know when they will actually assign spaces to different organizations that have made requests. Hopefully this month! It is hard to live with such a constant level of inefficiency. We pray to have a building in time for our Easter outreaches.

TRIPS:
A sudden rush of opportunities seemed to almost knock me over today when I had a moment this afternoon to look at my calendar, finances, time commitments. They look like this:

• Event in Puglia (Bovino) Feb 22 hosted by the Radio of my new friends I met last month...my room-mate Tania and friends Olga and Nina said they would all go and make a road-trip of it!
• Women in Ministry Conference in France the following week (Feb 28-Mar 1)...to go I need to register/buy ticket asap and re-schedule my Biblical sexuality event here at church.
• April 31-May 1 All-Italy Calvary Chapel Church retreat. A time of unification and growth I hope.
• May 30-June 1 is a Human Trafficking ministry training in Tuscany. My team here in Rome has been invited to participate and it would be very important for me to go. I need God to move in my bosses heart to give me the Friday off. 
• My friend Livia and her mom have asked me to find a weekend we can go to the Marche region together to visit their family. They have invited me so many times and I would love to be able to go and invest more in this sweet family!
• Visitors--I also have various requests from friends to come visit starting June. Need wisdom in organizing time.
• We are also hoping to plan a church retreat just for us in June. Lots to organize for that.
• Of course: I have a big trip to Seattle coming up April 19-27 for my brother Ian's wedding.

When I am gone a weekend, it creates problems in that I could miss Friday night (Bible study/Schiavitù Mai Più) ministry or Sunday night (children's ministry at church). I need wisdom to decide what to say yes/no to. It also is difficult not to rest from work or have time to do lesson planning. Please pray that I can hear the Lord's will on these things!

SAN VALENTINO

A little reminder to pray for us this Friday as we hit the streets to minister to the "treasures." We are bringing special valentines treats. BIG NEWS: our team has purchased the cell phone we hoped for to make contacts with the girls. Pray now that we will have opportunity to use it! 

STUDENTS

A little prayer for my students and the various behavior/learning problems would be much appreciated. I need Jesus to help my heart stay calm and full of love. I need energy and creativity.

Thank you!

1st pic: friends Olga and Nina walking downtown in glorious Roman SUN. 2nd pic: Shepherds and sheep behind me while waiting for bus from work.

tomorrow.

Hello!

I wanted to send out a quick prayer request. Tomorrow (Friday) we are supposed to hear from the town hall about a request we made a year ago to use a public building as our church meeting place. Please pray God moves in the hearts of those at the Comune di Frascati to give us a place where we can have space to expand out of our house-church phase and be more of a presence in the community!

Also: Keep in prayer our Schiavitù Mai Più outing on Valentine's Day. We are preparing soaps and cookies as something special for the girls. M and S are particularly on my heart. Pray God moves them closer to Himself. I am concerned that I didn't see S on the streets last week (a strange thing to say but...).

Plus: March 1 we will be hosting a girls tea to discuss Biblical Sexuality. This has already been a hot topic for 2 of the young girls in our church and I. Please pray for Marti (my friend I've asked to help share) and I as we prepare and that the girls are enlightened to live honoring the Lord with their bodies-minds-souls.

And finally: We have set March 20 as the date we will present the documentary NEFARIOUS on global sex-trafficking here in Frascati at the town hall. Pray that many people come and are informed, and ultimately open to the Gospel. Pray for wisdom and energy in the organization of this.

Thanks!! Love to all.
x