love and other things x

I'd like to take a moment to share about my beautiful students. I spend most of my time with this little tribe, and don't know how I can ever appreciate them enough. They are God's gift to earth. It's really difficult to be the kind of teacher that is half-mother. I am thankful for the love and everything they give me. It overflows my cup. Below are some tidbits from the last few days:

Francesco: Why is Venus called Venus?
Me: I think it comes from...
Francesco: Oh I know! VINO [wine]! Because it's made of vino that makes sense because of the name!
________________

Me: And next year class, when you move to Class 4 we will have a graduation party! That's very special because it means you are growing big!
Giulia: I want to stay always with you Ms. Allie
Me: I know, but Mr. Peter is a very fun teacher...
Filippo (from TIME OUT across the room, quite fed-up): Well I'm going wherever YOU are going Ms. Allie! Wherever you are going I am going to follow you.
__________________

Me: What did everyone take from the treasure box [imaginary]?
Ludovica: I took a crown!
Manuel: Me a sword!
Ephraim: YOU Ms. Allie! You're my treasure! *Cue hug and consequent dog-pile by all students*
__________________

Giulia at snacktime: Hey why is everyone looking at me am I beautiful or something?
(later in completely pure, matter-of-factness): (sigh)...I'm the most beautiful.


A LESSON

I found it interesting the other week when I realized the profundity of a little scherzetto I play on my students. If I happen to be giving attention to one, another may ask, "Why is ____ first in line?" "Why are you holding ____?" "Why does he get to do that?" I just smile and say, "Because ____ is my favorite." What is so interesting is that from the first moment I did this, the response was laughter. Absurdity. It was so obvious I was pulling their legs. Ms. Allie doesn't have favorites! What a sarcastic bunch. I thought, how beautiful. They are so confident in my love for them that they will whine and bug me with questions they don't need to answer, but they can't believe for a moment that what I am doing is because I don't also love them. I think that would be a very admirable spiritual goal. To be confident in God's love. And maybe stop asking annoying questions.

SCHIAVITU MAI PIU

Good talks last week as I met up with two of my favorite girls in the rain. S (Hungarian) and D (Romanian)...in different streets. Some intense stuff. But I feel such a connection with them. Pray as we help with another campaign and increase our outings to weekly instead of every other. The roots are so deep. By April we should have a "red light" sort of zone in Rome which will be quite a mess.

CHURCH

Things going well, but we are praying about new ways to evangelize and gather people to community. Lots of physical and emotional healing needed among members. Monica's daughter Erica came last week which was a MIRACLE.
We were excited to have a new guy, Paolo at our house study on Tuesday.

FRIENDS

I've spent some time with two different friends Michela and Fation. Please pray for Michela: stable job, feeling of belonging, knowing Jesus. Fation: healing from anxiety and depression, good friends, family reconciliation, knowing Jesus. I'd also really like to invest more in getting to know my two same-age colleagues Claudia and Carlotta. Tiiiime!
I've also reconnected with my ex-student Matilda (mom died last March). We should be getting together sometime this month. So very thankful to her dad for letting me stay in touch.

GRANDMA

Thank you to all of those who sent their condolences about the death of my very beloved Grandma Jill. I can't believe she's gone. The woman who has been such a tower of strength for me. It has been devastating, but I don't morn for her. Her suffering is over and she is now more ALIVE than ever in the sweet presence of our Saviour. I just can't be thankful enough.

The rest...still a lot of decisions to make...got some trips and some SISTER in the horizen, so I am just taking one day at a time and asking for confirmation. Thanks for the love you make evident to so often, God bless you all!

                                                                           Sundays

kicking off 2015

Happy New Year Everyone!

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

december decisions!

Happy Advent to you all!

I'd like to share a beautiful Advent project from my university, BIOLA, if you don't have another program: http://ccca.biola.edu/advent/?_ga=1.12669941.315596822.1416940337.

CHURCH

We have an inter-church choir coming to do a Christmas outreach with us on DECEMBER 23. Please pray for this event! I will be participating in an evangelistic sketch that will open the concert. It takes place in the town hall, and is listed on their banner as one of the holiday events. Frascati is bursting with Christmas spirit these days! Last night I popped into mass at our local cathedral. It was nice to see so many people in church! Pray for the "coldness" of spirit here among Frascati residents. Pray I can make some local friends. I'm so shy and don't naturally chit-chat.

I am trying to spend more time with Sara (17) showing great spiritual growth! Proud of her. She comes from a very difficult family.

Many members have been battling serious sicknesses. Please pray for Simona, Giulia, Thereasa...and that nothing would hinder people from coming Sundays. Unity. Love. Faithfulness.

We will have our church Christmas dinner/service on DECEMBER 28.

SCHIAVITU MAI PIU

This Saturday DECEMBER 13 we have our Christmas outreach. We have prepared little satchels of tea and honey and hand-written notes. Last time we were out we called the police because we spotted a minor working the streets. After waiting an hour with numerous calls, the police never came (like they said).There was much darkness. We pray for light.

PERSONAL

My cousin left. It was such a gift to have him! I've been blessed with some of my dearest friends visiting this fall. Very thankful. I am continually dumbfounded at how God has given me his BEST as friends. Despite this, I have been convicted to have a guest-free "fast" January-March, concerning overseas visitors. I need to focus on my own health and the ministry at hand.

Some major decisions need to be resolved:
1. My teaching credential expires next year. There are various solutions to this, some including a return to California to renew it (about one year).
2. In my time here I have noticed MAJOR ministry needs in family/marriage/relationship counseling, sexual abuse counseling and of course issues related to children or prostitutes. I am considering returning to the US for more training.
3. At any rate, I have communicated the termination of my job come July 2015. I will need to find the right job that can sustain me part-time. I feel very strongly about working part-time because the hours I work now prevent me from many ministry opportunities (even if I value work as ministry). I would like to focus on: writing a Sunday School curriculum in Italian; writing Italian worship songs; discipling and supporting various church members; contributing more to Schiavitù Mai Più....

Please beg the Lord to guide me in these things. As it should always be: whatever brings him more glory. In this time of Advent may we empty ourselves to receive.

Thank you for your love and support. It is real and steadfast and not forgotten! Hugs to all from Italy x

Above top: my dear friend Heather and co-laborer in Schiavitù Mai Più at our Thanksgiving party (which only about 10 people came to by the way...oh well)

Below: "Thanksgiving" dinner at my pastor's home!

november hibernation

PERSONAL

After such an insane October month, the bustle of November feels like hibernation. A night at home to do whatever I want!? 3 hours between getting home from work and when guests arrive!? Haha...I knew October would be crazy, but I am also a little concerned that I've become accustomed to the buzz and will continue to compulsively overbook myself. I desperately need some solid chunks of time for reflection and prayer. Pray that I can make this important in application, not only thought.

I continue to hear things like this from visitors: "Wow, you really have a full life here!" "You have so many friends" "You're like an Italian"...it's almost funny because I don't know how I could stay here if I didn't embrace these things! It's true that I've tried as best I could to embrace the life here, and to make it full. It continues to be difficult to choose Italy when my grandparents are in the last stage of their lives--or a dear friend wishes you could be in her wedding (again)--or a new baby is born in the family. But in all things I try to remember that I choose GOD. He directs and sustains and makes everything worth it. And in this time of THANKSGIVING and reflection, I am just so thankful to be His.

Tania and I will be hosting a Thanksgiving after dinner party and have a list of about 50 friends we will be inviting. We don't know who will come but of course our heart is for Christians and non-Christians to mix and people to see Jesus.

I can't believe my time with my cousin is already halfway gone! He has been such a delight and blessing to my soul. We had an amazing time in Puglia and are looking forward to hopefully hosting some of our friends here in Rome soon! Please keep my cousin in your prayers--that his heart is turned toward Jesus.

Our unexpected house guest ended up staying for 2 weeks. We thank God that there were no major problems and hope she saw the hospitality of Christ.

CHURCH

We are experiencing a lot of physical needs among our members. Please pray for healing of Simona, Giulia, Thereasa, Laura--and the emotional needs of Jenny, Monica, Piero. I am concerned that Julienne has not been able to come to church since her baptism. Please pray for this beautiful woman and her two lovely sons and their difficult family situation. We have a new older man Piero coming on Tuesday nights. Pray for encouragement and truth and steadfastness in faith.

We are also starting to prepare for Christmas outreach. We need wisdom and creativity for all logistics and planning and creating. Tania and I are in charge of creating a dance/skit.

SCHIAVITU MAI PIU

We were unable to head out last week due to missing team members. Please pray we can make it out this Friday. We continue to meet lots of new girls, but we are also being more selective about who we talk to now in our prayer to see fruit and receptivity. Sara, the 17 yr old from my church was touched by the event last month and is planning an event at her school for after Christmas. This is exciting!

WORK

Oh my goodness I am so in love. My students this year are so adorable and lovely. If you can imagine--my major interruption is someone talking over me to tell me "I LOVE YOU Ms. Allie!". I am so thankful for each one, and pray I can continue to be a good influence at work, do my best, stay out of gossip, and love the families and colleagues I reach. The problem of teaching Saturdays has come up again. Pray I can avoid this for my own health and conflict to ministry duties.

Thanks for praying! Have a blessed weekend!
Allie

                                          Lake view from Castel Odescalchi, Bracciano <3 p="">

unexpected adventures

Hi Everyone.

Thanks for taking the time to read and pray. I am really being sustained by the Lord in what I feel may be the busiest I've been since living in Italy. God is good.

WORK UPDATE

Getting used to my long hours and enjoying it--miracle of miracles. I've also picked up tutoring an ex-student Thursdays after work. It is a lot, but they seem important opportunities. Still wanting time to invest in colleagues, new and old.

CHURCH UPDATE

I've been able to spend some good time with the young girls in the church. They seem hungry for more relationship and I feel I have so little time to offer. We also desperately need help with Sunday School. We are paying off a last bit of debt that remained from the old church building tomorrow, praise God. We are encouraged by growing faith and praying for physical healing of many: Simona, Thereasa, Giulia, Stefano's mom....

SCHIAVITU MAI PIU

We finished a "successful" campaign, thank the Lord. We had a great showing Saturday for the documentary, and really good responses. We are excited to see what we can do in the new year and are praying for direction with our street work. Please pray in particular for D---a girl I really connect with on the street. Pray for her deliverance. For more workers on our team. Italian and Romanian would be ideal. By the way, we have not seen the girl Maeva that Tania met again, but we have discovered the strip-club in Frascati where she works. We are praying about what to do.

PERSONAL

It's been great having my cousin. He seems curious about the Gospel. We are off to Puglia this weekend to visit where my great-grandfather was born and I am really excited to re-connect with the friends I made there last time. I don't know what God has in store. I made the mistake of writing one girl to invite the group to dinner while we were there. She responded, "You are OUR guests. We invite you." Of course. The intense southern hospitality. Who was I to invite them in their own town??

Tania and I also have a young American woman staying with us in an urgent situation at the moment for we don't know exactly how long. Please pray we can handle this situation wisely and encourage her in the Lord with the little time we are home.

Other prayer requests for Fation, Roberto, Livia, Olga, Simone, Raffa...remain the same. They need to surrender to Jesus!

new friends

FRIENDS

Since being back, all of my old friends began writing me to get together. I felt very loved. Tania and I are also noticing a pattern that God has been bringing "new friends" into our lives. This is exciting, but also overwhelming. How do we reach all of these people? How do we find time? Please pray for us in this. God has really helped us to unite peacefully towards His purposes this month, and we want to hear from Him.

For Tania:
Egyptian Muslim girl on bus
French girl Maeva (we are learning a lot about her and think she may be in a slave-like situation)
Laura (ex coworker)

For Me:
Michela (Romanian babysitter of one of my students--wants to be friends)
Claudia (new coworker)

I am growing closer or trying to connect with these dear non-believing friends:
Fation (told me yesterday that he is filled with fear before he goes to bed)
Roberto (likes dark, pagan things)
Luana (and Andrea P.--Andrea P's girlfriend pursuing music therapy for kids)
Andreas- struggling with depression and addictions
Livia- living for herself
Olga- manipulator, curious
Paolo- lost
Raffaella-sweet coworker, needs to know Love

We'd like to have some kind of party or something to mix our Christian (very few!) and non-Christian friends. Pray for creativity, time, etc.

There are also quite a few fellow missionary relationships I'd like to invest in here in my area. NO. TIME.

WORK

I was devastated to find that my schedule had been altered to work more hours than last year. This has been very difficult to accept. But I am praying for strength to be a good witness. To have a good attitude. I miss my old students, but my new class is excellent. Please pray for:
Giulia
Delisha
Viola
Ginevra
Paolo
Pietro
Filippo
Daniele
Francesco
Melissa

There is also a new autistic boy in my old class. Pray that I can help or that his situation is handled in an appropriate way.

I am also trying to figure out times to tutor Alessandro and Matilda (mom died in March) who have moved to other schools in Rome. Please pray for God's guidance.

CHURCH

Baptisms were BEAUTIFUL. Pray for more growth and desire to be baptized among other members: Matteo, Veronica, Simona, Alessandro, Stefano...

SCHIAVITU MAI PIU

Our training went well if low-attended. We keep seeing lots of new girls on the streets. We are asking the Lord for more workers. Specifically ITALIAN and ROMANIAN and ALBANIAN Christians. So far we are all Americans plus Fjori who is Albanian. We have a big awareness campaign from October 1-18 and would like prayer for this. Personally, I hope that the subject of sex-trade comes up more among my friends so I can share God's heart of FREEDOM.

PERSONAL

I have dropped studies for my license. No time. In the meantime God provided coworkers to get me to and from work and couches to sleep on if I'm stuck in Rome. My cousin Dylan will be in Rome 2 months. Please pray that he opens his heart to Jesus.

Thanks so much for interceding with me!

                                                  Sara and Julienne's baptism at sea <3 p="">

                                              My Sunday School eating after church <3 p="">

Flowers we bought this morning from our Bangladeshi flower seller friend on the street. Agash is a man who has suffered much. He is returning home for 5 months because he has a new daughter there. We are trying to think of a way to bless him before he leaves in 2 weeks. Pray for Agash!

the return: year 3.

I'm back in Frascati!

It's been nice the last 6 weeks to detach a bit from technology and just enjoy visiting people and being at the whim of the moment. If I saw you while on the West Coast, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My travels home included: 1 taxi, 2 planes, 1 bus, 1 train, 1 subway ride...an airport strike waiting for my luggage, a long line waiting to buy tickets, and my pastor and his wife who graciously met me at the end of the subway line to take me HOME. Maybe that's why I slept 10 hrs. straight last night!

UPDATE FROM SUMMER MINISTRY

God held back the rain for our 2 concerts. It was so miraculous. All 4 guests I invited came, even if they didn't stay the whole time. Our church was encouraged and unified by the event! We hope to have more people come out next time and to improve with advertising. Red Rain was a huge blessing!

I was also able to delegate 4 youth to teach Sunday School and various members volunteered to bring drinks for Sundays. I hear it went well and am eager to be back tonight in Church!

STATESIDE SUMMARY

California, Oregon and Washington were great. I rested. I "tried" surfing. I got some new clothes and teaching supplies. I went to the beach. I saw THREE musicals. I biked with my cousins. I ate Thai, Mexican and Indian. I went to a rooftop wedding. I saw loads of friends and family. I attended my churches. I saw my sister in concert. I said some really hard goodbyes.

Please pray for me as I consider many things for the future. The next few months I will be deciding what to do "next." Before I left for the summer I told my boss that this year 2014-15 would be my last year at the school. I really need to hear from the Lord about what to do after July 2015, so if you can keep that in your prayers I would be very grateful. Send me any verses or words God gives you!

Meeting my "nipotino" Noble <3 p="">

                                                                         Cousins :)

                                                         Siblings in the hot-tub

                                             Austen's show with my aunt and uncle <3 nbsp="" p="">

RLA Community Group Dinner

WHATS UP

I go back to work tomorrow. Please pray that God renews my strength, joy and creativity to welcome a new class of students this year! I am sad to be passed up by my old students and pray that I can somehow stay connected with them. Please pray for solid, uplifting communication between all staff.

Next Sunday, September 14 we will do church at the sea as Sara (17 yr old sister of Veronica 19, and Lorenzo 5) and Giulianna (Togolese, mom of Leo 9 and Dylan 2 in Sunday School) get baptized!!

I need wisdom to grow up other members to share in serving with Kids Ministry and Hospitality. Pray that others would see the value and commit. Please pray that someone raises up to takeover accounting because it is too much for me.

Schiavitù Mai Più (anti-trafficking/prostitution ministry) is back in full-swing. We have a meeting with a US Government labor official Sept 12, an outing Sept 19, a Training Day for new volunteers Sept 20 and our Freedom Days Campaign the week of October 18.

I am thrilled to host my dear friend Michelle from Japan (Biola) and her parents next week! I am also very thankful to have my cousin Dylan in Rome for 2 months...arriving in 2 weeks! God knew I needed a piece of "home."

Coming back to Frascati was difficult. But I am praying for a deeply fruitful year. I want to be loved and used of the Lord. I feel a bit like Job's friends: "Tell us! What are we to say to Him? We are unable to prepare because of the darkness" (Job 37:19). Thanking God He is Light.

Love to all!
Allie