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.

faith at the end

FOLLOWING STARS
This morning I had the privilege of praying in a park grown up around the Roman aqueducts. Our small church leadership is trying to get out once a month to pray together. We'll spend an hour alone, and hour together. Reading and praying. We didn't meet last month so it was an especially refreshing time, and the sun shone bright.

I meditated on Matthew 2 where the magi go to Herod thinking they've "arrived" only to find no one has heard of the prophecy they are following, and they are sent to find this "king" off the beaten path as it were. I found myself imagining--for the first time--what that shorter trip must have been like. I think of the trek across the desert. But this one? How deluded and confused I would have been. Thinking myself crazy for following a star. And then to find a poor BABY? But these men were wise enough to know they didn't know everything. They needed something. Their faith helped them in this shorter SECOND trip, perhaps even more than the first, and caused them "with great joy" to throw themselves off their camels, prostrate on the floor, gifts in hand, to adore a Baby King. I thought about Abraham. I thought about myself. I thought about our church here. I thought about the feeling of being so close but so far. We desire many things. And faith and hope must be our companions from beginning to end (even when the end doesn't land where we imagined) if we are to have that JOY in following.

CHURCH
This said, please pray fervently for our church. Spiritual growth, maturity, leadership, reconciliation. Pastor Robert told me this morning that Franco, a man who comes to our church with his wife and 2 daughters (who moved to France but are moving back now!) came to Biblestudy last night even though his wife stayed home. He said he brings his Bible to work and can't get enough of it on his breaks! This is the kind of growth our hearts long to see. Commitment. We are seeing this also with Barbara, a new member. I hope to have time to disciple her a bit. Please pray for our day retreat coming up JUNE 29--we are really excited about it! And the New Zealand rock band Red Rain coming to us at the end of July. We are in desperate need of a location to hold the concert.

WORK
May has been a very stressful month for problems of administration and my particular students having a lot of issues while I have no assistant. I am nearly burnt out. I just ask that I can be calm and enjoy students this last month. Please pray for my parent-teacher meetings next Tuesday and Wednesday. I need to be able to communicate well in Italian--in some cases, things that are difficult to hear. Pray also for Raffaella--I am hoping to invite her to our retreat in June. We talked last week about God and what real love is. Good things!

SCHIAVITU' MAI PIU'
After taking a break for the month of May, I will be heading up to Turin next Thursday for an international conference training my "team" in anti-sex-trafficking causes. Pray that we are given fresh vision and tools to reach the sexually enslaved with the hope of Jesus.

Thanks for all of the love and prayers. I am still behind on my driver's license. Would like prayer for that. Strength. Joy. Peace. Continue to pray for my friends Fation, Roberto, Livia, Olga...and new friend Alessandro (that we met getting lost in Rome!)...who need Jesus.

xo, Allie

          Tania and I goofing off on the train...we just celebrated her birthday last night! x

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!