Monday, April 22, 2013

and something for today

Hi I just want to add that this morning on the playground with our classes, I had a sad conversation with Raffa. Your typical playground convo, I'm sure. In short, we were supposed to hang out Saturday but she didn't call and was telling me why. She said she 'cried' all weekend. It was really dark. She even had suicidal thoughts. She's 41, left a recent of many relationships, has the ache and longing for children and good things that never seem to find her. Maybe she 'deserves' this she wonders. Please pray that I can speak boldly about the hope I have and be a good friend to her.

I also had a chat with my colleague Daniela today. She explained a bit of her story how both she and her current partner were married before and left their spouses for this complicated international relationship. A lot of chaos in her life.

Sometimes it is difficult to share truth and not judge. Also I literally don't know what to say many times. Pray that God uses me nonetheless in my workplace. Thanks!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

pray for the pigeons

Hi.

I am going to start with this because it is becoming a source of great frustration. The pigeons are against me. I walk through the streets of Frascati pass a pigeon, and am filled with offense and personal loathe against the bird. Can't look it in the eye. It could be one that makes its home behind my house. So violating. If you've ever had pigeon problems, you know what I'm talking about. I like to laugh about it but I am now so thoroughly disgusted, I am taking it personally.

We've tried to set up mirrors, owls, pour bleach, clean, everything and they will not leave this area behind my apartment. They make an awful noise and are unsanitary. I don't know if they are at all connected to the reason why I am sick EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND or not, but it's odd. Last week I had a virus taking me to the toilet every 30 mins. This week I woke up with itchy skin and oddly swollen allergic eyes. Some weekends I have fever. It's insane. I know it could be spiritual warfare as well...but why I am rambling on this awkward story??? Because I am going to ask you to do a very silly thing: please pray for the pigeons. Pray that they go away and never come back.

Haha but seriously. Pray that we can find a solution and that I have wisdom on how to deal with my health. Thanks.

ALSO:

The youth sleepover went well!! We had our usual 3 faithfuls Moira, Eli and Giulia, but it was still sweet. Pray for more depth and growth in their walks with Christ.

Church location: this week we are becoming an official organization/church in the county. This is the first step into getting a real location and will allow us eventually to open a bookstore, etc. I am named 'secretary' haha. Pray for all of the details and that God continues to provide for us and lead us to a good building location.

Unity and maturity, reconciliation and vibrant faith are continued requests for our members.

We always have a lot of health issues: Giulia and her battle with leukemia, Paola (not officially 'dying') from Colleferro study who has 2 young daughters, Michelangelo recovering from knee surgery, Chantal with cateract problems....

Continued pray for my Italian language acquisition.

Praise for progress and growth in situation with Tania. More grace. More wisdom please, Lord.

Tania's gotten back in touch with a college friend Luca and he really needs the hope of Jesus! We had him over this weekend. Continue to pray for him.

Work: so thankful for my precious precious students. Can't believe I've come to love them this much!!! Pray God gives me joy and strength this week. SO THANKFUL to be working 3 out of 6 days due to Italian holiday. Thank you Jesus!

BIG FAT PRAISE: our friend Matteo has accepted Jesus!! Pray that he gets plugged in to a church and grows in a profound, transformative way. So blessed by this miracle and pray he holds fast.

Thanks everyone. Love to all!

Below: Almost ready for dinner at our sleepover! Eli (headed to cooking highschool next year) made a vegetarian feast!

Luca and Ivano trying our Wii Just Dance!

Practicing some worship songs before church :) We've given Michelangelo a break since he's on crutches!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

a righteous [wo]man

Been meditating on this since it leaped out at me yesterday in my One Year Bible:

'A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray' -Prov. 12:26

What is it that is so penetrating? I think it is this idea of being led astray. I am seeing too much of it around me. God is faithful to protect and guide. If we follow.

I don't want to pretend that I am different from any other human. Easily influenced. Vulnerable. May God give me and my Christian community caution, care and intention for the people around us. Righteousness. Peace. To be found and not lost.


CHURCH UPDATES

*We have our 2nd (quarterly) youth sleepover event this weekend! It comes at the end of a really busy week for me, so please pray I can have energy to love these kids for 24 hours. Pray that we have an edifying, bonding time and that ultimately hearts are opened up more intimately to Jesus. Pray for Moira, Elijah, Giulia, Beatrice, Matteo, Filippo, Leo, Michela.

*Tuesday nights. We have kind of stopped the Biblestudy that was Tuesdays and used it for prayer since it was just us leaders. However, we want to be open to using it to meet certain needs such as doing events for non-believers or ?? If you have any creative outreach ideas let me know!

*We are still praying that the county grants us a public building to use or the Lord grants us money to rent or buy our own place. Last Sunday was packed in Robert's house. We'd like to be more established in the community.

*Children's ministry. I need continued wisdom on how to nurture, teach and prepare for this group from 7-16 yrs. each week!

PERSONAL UPDATES

*I love my colleagues so much. Pray that I can be diligent, excellent, and faithful in my chaotic workplace--a refreshment to my colleagues. Pray for Ruhma, Raffa, Gino, Daniela especially I feel like I want to reach out to them at this time.

*More wisdom in how to invest in my current friends and to make new ones.

*More wisdom, boldness in my relationship with Tania. Transformation for her.

*Praise God I get 'summer' off!! I plan on using July to be with people here and invest in ways I can't when I work. Then a trip to CA/WA somewhere end of July-beg of August. I will keep you posted!

Thanks. Lots of love to all!!
Allie

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

easter updates


EASTER/PASQUA

Thanks for praying for our service! Things ran pretty smoothly thanks to our small little team of leaders and though we didn't have many new people/outsiders, it was sweet to have members from all of our outlying community groups in the Castelli region together for worship. Paolo, our new believer, came with his elderly mother. Matteo (remember he's on my 'prayer hitlist'? haha) came which was awesome! My Muslim-background boss said she might come as did my landlady (genuinely open) but they didn't. In the end, it was encouraging to know that they were at least open to the invitation. God helped me with my rough Italian presentation of the Gospel with the 10 kids that came to Sunday School. Again, good to have everyone together as it doesn't often happen on Sundays.
Michelangelo leading worship on Easter :)

DAY AFTER/PASQUETTA

The Monday after Easter is like a national picnic-bbq holiday here. I spent it in the country with a big group from our sister church in Rome. It was sweet.

THE REST

I've been enjoying a few days off... going by TOO fast! Back to work tomorrow. Anyway, it's been much needed and I've actually been able to connect with 2 American girlfriends doing ministry in surrounding areas, which has been a huge encouragement/refreshment to me! Of course I'm not here to hang out with Americans, but it is so stimulating and supporting get to know other people of my language and work. Please pray for me as I need to confront my boss asap about SUMMER. We've already verbally agreed about renewing my contract for next fall, but I am afraid she is going to pressure me to work the summer school (renew my contract--that expires June--in June instead of end of August). I really want to use my summer to invest in the church and a visit to America. Pray that she is understanding.

Sorry I am vague about this--but keep praying for my room-mate Tania, for the Lord's transforming power in her life and guidance of His Spirit for me as she lives in my home and is my dear friend.

(Above: pasquetta lunch and games!)

Thanks lots of love to all!!
Allie







Monday, March 25, 2013

Buona Pasqua!

Happy Easter!

It really came so fast this year. Wow. I am remembering-- with too much good memory (a little homesickness perhaps haha)--the wonderful Easter I spent last year, with some of you, at Reality LA. I pray that each of you, from Seattle to LA (and abroad!) celebrate the joyous victory that comes through Death and Resurrection and the HOPE of Jesus Christ.

Some updates:

WORK/FRIENDS etc.

I was sorry to be sick during my friends' visit, but that hasn't stopped us from hitting the sights. It's been sweet and given me a chance also to get out in Frascati a bit more and really be a part of my town. Introducing Amanda to my local grocer he had to mention, 'You know your accent has gotten a bit worse I can tell' (implying since I had these American visitors, my Italian was declining by lack of use). Gotta love their honesty. Haha... it'll pick back up I'm sure. LANGUAGE continues to be a constant prayer request however. Lord, anoint my tongue and give me boldness!

I ran into Alberto a few days ago. He was bummed to not have made it to the concert, but it turns out he likes folk music (not common here) so that's sweet! Fation ended up coming to part of the concert, but needs a lot of prayer--he's in a really dark spot now and needs Jesus. Pray that he chooses not to run from Tania and I, and most importantly from GOD. My colleagues Raffa, Foari, Gino, Iram and Ruhma need special prayer! I love them so much, but I see a theme of loneliness, abandonment, restlessness. Jesus is the answer. Ask the Lord to give me opportunities to talk with them about His hope and especially this week, to invite them to our Easter service. Pray also that Tania and I can get to know the 3 young people that run the club below us. I know they are there for a reason.

In general--I have the same request for friends. It's a sort of uncomfortable diet, going from lots of wonderful friends and family members around me to...this. Christian, non-Christian, male, female...not quite sure how to meet people. As a 'foreigner' I find myself even shyer than normal. I ask for prayer to get established in this community--to be an inviting person. A friend-maker. And then for the time and energy to sustain friendships :)

Continued prayer for my room-mate Tania and wisdom in how to help her.

CHURCH

Due to weather and time constraints we didn't make it out to the fair. However: the city has given us a hall free of charge to hold our Easter service! We are very grateful for this as Pastor Robert's home holds only a few families. Please pray with us that everyone God wants to come can come. Pray that we can spread the word--for me especially to have boldness and gentleness and wisdom in inviting people. Pray for the worship, message, ushering, children's program, dinner afterwards--all aspects to be unto the Lord and well-organized.

In our Friday night community group we've had a new guy (Paolo-converted his 2nd week!). We've also had a grandma with her grand-daughter coming recently. Last week the young middle-schooler opened up to Robert, crying. She seems soft and burdened. I have not been able to attend the last 2 Fridays, but I am super encouraged by the growth in this group. It is hard logistically because it's about an hour away, so I see these people only on Fridays and some of them Sundays. But pray nonetheless that God shows me how to help these young girls that are coming!

We also have the second sleepover with the youth group planned at our house for the first weekend in April. We hope to add 2-5 other youth we are reaching out to, so pray everyone comes and is built up in the Lord!!

GRAZIE

Personally, I just want to thank you for praying for me and this work. It is so humbling. I need it!! I see God's hand continually on me whether it is running into someone I've been praying for at just the right moment or getting a ride home when I'm stuck in Rome at night--always protected, always guided. Pray I continue to seek the Lord and listen and obey.

Love to all!
Allie
(pic: happy Amanda was able to come to church during her visit!! Love you A!)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

March Madness

Hi!

March is really flying by. It is rainy and grey here and I am home sick from work for the first time ever! God knows I needed this day to rest though. I am thankful for my job and my house and my friends.

I will be quick--here are a few things to pray for:

Fiera di Grottaferrata 16-24: There is a fair coming up in the neighboring town and we will choose one day as a church to pass out tracts and invitations to our church--get ourselves out there a bit. I am curious because I have a lot of students and coworkers from Grottaferrata. I pray God shines His light.

Church: Wisdom and Grace for growth and reconciliation and healthy leadership. We want to do what God wants. We also are waiting and praying for favor regarding new location opportunities, so we can move out of our house-church.

This past Sunday we had a (single?) mom with 2 kids come. They are originally from Togo and the boys are exactly the same age as Lorenza's kids: 5 months and 7 years. Lorenza wasn't at church, but this presents a 'problem' in that we have about 3 different Sunday school age groupings and only me doing a poor job at teaching whoever actually shows up each week. Needing wisdom on how to meet this need.

Friends: Continued grace and wisdom with Tania and our non-Christian friends. Now we have Matteo and possibly Alberto coming to the concert with us this weekend as Fation and Roberto backed out. However, yesterday I had an interesting conversation about prayer and hell with Fation. We want to have more events at our house to mix our Christian and non-Christian friends so pray for God's guiding and creativity. Seeing how we have mostly male friends here, we invested in a used Wii recently to have something else to do when people come over. It's been fun.

Hopefully I will hang out with Raffa this week or next outside of work.... Trying to be intentional when I'm so busy!! Possible dinner at Alberto's next Monday or Tuesday.... SUPER blessed to have my college friends Amanda and Danielle visiting these last two weeks of March. I know I will be refreshed.

Lots of love to all, sorry this is sort of blah. Energy zapped. xo




Candid shot of me with baby Giulia at church
Walking home in the rain with my awesome transparent-mustache umbrella
Our Wii characters :)


Monday, February 25, 2013

heaven & earth



“I know The Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:8-11 NLT)


Perhaps it's a mixture of talking with my elderly grandparents over skype, spending time with 13 year-old Giulia who has cancer, watching Daisy Merrick's memorial live at 1am, my cousin hearing someone scream as his NY subway ran over them, and the hopelessness of voting in my first Italian presidential election---I'm thinking about Heaven. One day soon. We will not have to choose the lesser of evils. We will not suffer. We will not want.

And until that day--God only knows how weak I am!!--until THAT DAY. I want to be faithful. This earth is such a fleeting glimpse washed up in Eternity. Despite how tired I am, I want to be hopeful and live with the Eternity of Heaven in my heart. I pray we can all strive better after this, with the Holy Spirit, to share this Hope with our friends and family.

Prayer Updates:

CHURCH

We really want a location! The house was packed yesterday and we are eager to move out of the house church-phase. Pastor Robert has drafted a letter to the county to possibly receive a public space to be used as non-profit. We know a Christian lady who works there and are praying for the Lord's favor. Ultimately, we hope that one location helps to foster unity among the different 'groups' in our church and calls each to serve and participate in a deeper way.

Slow progress with Lorenza...maybe this weekend?

Our youth group is growing! 2 other kids have returned to the group making 5 (Lorenza's neice and nephew). We are also praying that Giulia's brother (16) decides to come. Currently, Tania has stepped back from Kids Min for personal reasons and it has put me in a rough spot with language etc. (2 kids are half American so they can help me, but I'd much rather assist Tania because she is really gifted with them). Anyway, pray for growth and wisdom.

PERSONAL

I've been praying a lot for my friends and for more friends in general. Process is slow, but I am feeling encouraged:

Andreas & Brenda remain hard to get together with, but communicate now and then.

Fation & Roberto are coming to see Mumford & Sons with me in 2 weeks (friends gave me 2 extra tix to be used 'missionally')!

Alberto has invited us to dinner at his place.

In the mean time, two of my precious college friends are coming to visit in March!

I am using the local stores more and trying to be known on my street however shy I am.

Still need lots of wisdom in the situation with Tania--how to challenge and support and counsel her.

We hosted a Bible Study with the church in Rome last Saturday. Matteo (pictured @right)came and continues to open his heart to Jesus! Keep praying.

Marco, Michi, Tania & I just had our 2nd of our monthly meetings and it went SO well in the sense that there was a lot of vulnerability and productive, honest discussion. PRAY SO HARD with me for these 3 precious people. They are the only young adult Christians in our church/city and carry a lot of responsibility in their influence. Pray for hope, vision, conviction, courage, comfort, wisdom.... The last picture is Michi and friends playing an acoustic set at the opening of their youth association--proud of how they bridge the 'gap.'


Lots of love to all.
A.
(I love this song!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc8x33lAnAk&list=PLM4MVfz1v3LVOY2S1ORgU53Pc92xJQ46_