christmas & important info for the new year!

Merry Christmas Dear Family & Friends!

Here I am about to pass my first Christmas without family and I must say I am missing you all. Frascati is full of festive spirit with Christmas markets, lights, and street performers. Rome is even more spectacular. So far, I am enjoying my 2-week break, which will include visiting Bracciano Lake district and heading south to find some relatives when my uncle comes. We have our citizenship through my great grandfather born in a small Puglian town, Bovino, so we are heading on an adventure to discover our roots!

This year has been full. I’ve seen my students through a 2nd year, and formed new and deeper relationships with my coworkers. I’ve been teaching Sunday school, serving in hospitality and secretarial capacities at church as well as hosting Tuesday night Bible studies and attending Friday nights. I’ve been busy with an anti-sex trafficking ministry in Rome called Schiavitù Mai Più, seeking to move prostitutes off the streets and into the arms of Jesus. Not a dull moment! And all by God's grace and your love, prayers, and financial sacrifices.

THE BIG DECISION

As the year comes to an end, I want to reflect on the reasons why I believe God called me here. I don’t want to just assume things are going right or that I should stay here or keep doing what I’m doing year after year. I want to stay tuned to His Spirit. That said, I have a big decision to make by the 2^nd week of January. My boss has requested that I inform her whether or not I would like a teaching position next year. Honestly, it has been a very stressful place to work and I feel that my inflexible schedule inhibits some other ministry I would like to do. Conversely, the love I receive from my students is very special and I know I would miss them and my coworkers.

Here is the alternative. While many things pull my heart to yearn for 'home' in the States, I don't think my time here in Italy is finished. I have been praying together with some other missionaries about starting a coffee shop, and have already had an encouraging meeting with an accountant! I do not come from a business background, but this project sounds stimulating and worth trying if the Lord is really inspiring us. The ideas are these:

1) To have a living-room like place with tables to sit (not common in Italian coffee shops), play games, talk, eat American treats (bagels, muffins, things can't get elsewhere)....

2) To have a place that will host events for community such as: English courses, sewing classes, cooking classes, music lessons, lectures, concerts, open mics and more.

3) To have a place young people can go to stay out of trouble, and be met by Christian staff who can build bridges between them and God/the church.

Our non-profit would need to pay at least 2-3 salaries (the baker, barista, cashier), but my manager type role would be covered by full mission support. This is something I am interested in starting and potentially handing over full time to the Italian team that will be with me. I want to commit one year to this. We would be spinning off of some other models and using volunteer help, but it gives me great joy to know I could have created a job for even one person in a country of very poor economics.

In the new year, we will meet again with the accountant to get an estimation of costs. Roughly, I am estimating 50,000€ start-up costs for the first year, not including paid salaries (rather rent, furnishing, utilities, supplies). This is a discovery stage. We will move forward until God slaps the door in our faces, at which point I will be more than happy to do something else--including staying at my current job! 

However, because of the time constraint on my own job situation, I would ask you to pray about personally sponsoring me in this year, starting next summer. Also, if you have any insight into raising funds for a project like this, I would love to hear from you! Either way, I am taking pledges now, to have an idea and help inform my decision as finances are PART of the equation.

I ask you, as people who have faithfully prayed for me the past 16 months, to pray and seek the Lord with me on this next step. I trust that the Lord will speak to us all. Let me know what God reveals to you as you pray. If I get continued confirmation, I will step out in faith, and you will receive an invitation to donate to the cafè on "KickStarter." If not, God is good and I will continue another year at the school! Or whatever else God has in mind.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! 

Jesus, the amazing God wrapped in flesh, is the hope that makes this weary world rejoice. Still. 2000 years later. Praise the Lord! 

Lots of love from Italy. 
Allie

 Above: church Christmas dinner next to a table of Croatian priests-in-training singing Croatian folk songs! I was very proud of the 4 Albano girls and Tania--our dramatic presentation went SO well and the church was blessed!

 Above: my faithful little Lorenzo (4) and I making baby Jesus/mangers on Christmas Sunday at 'Sunday School'...

Above: some pomegranate cheese I admired at the Christmas markets...

las vegas, christmas, and other random stuff

RADIO

This Wednesday at 2:30pm Las Vegas time, I will do a radio interview for my book, "The Wall: A Conversation for Single Women." Thankful for this opportunity when I am able to do very little marketing from Italy. I would REALLY appreciate your prayers for clear thinking (late at night for me) and that I can summarize the parts of my book (or add new thoughts) according to what the Holy Spirit has in mind!

CHRISTMAS

We are having our first rehearsal this Friday with the young girls from Albano. Tania and I have modified a mime skit and these girls (baby Christians) will experience something like this for the first time! Pray that I can direct well without Tania as she'll be working. This is for an event we are hosting with the Comune di Frascati (town hall): showing The Nativity Story film in Italian with the skit and a little gospel sharing. Please pray for every facet of the event on December 20! We really want to reach this community.

I am also knee-deep at work with Christmas recital (which right now is so horrifyingly bad I am quite nervous about my kids performing!) and tomorrow and Wednesday I have my parent-teacher meetings for midterm reports. Please pray I can communicate well in Italian--especially with parents of some of my problem children.

OTHER MINISTRY

Thanks to those who wanted prostitute ministry updates via WhatsApp...I've got it set up now, the only problem is that my phone died after the first text. Will be better prepared next time! We met a transexual Evelyn (Brasilian) and some Romanian, Albanian, and Russian girls. This was in a different zone we hadn't been back to in a long time. Honestly it was so hard for me to get out of the van. I don't know how they stand out there in the freezing cold wearing nothing in the middle of the night. But God gave us strength. Pray especially for Evelyn and the healing POWER of the Holy Spirit to open more doors and more meaningful conversations. So far all of the girls will talk to us, but with some it is hard to get past the superficial.

Church is going well. Please pray for Jenny in my home-group and her daughter Giulia with cancer. Things are very difficult financially for them and Giulia's health has not been good. She struggles with a lot of normal teenage stuff right now too. Just pray for them.

I would like prayer for Sunday School. That I can be more creative and joyful about teaching when it is not my favorite thing.

Please pray for my colleagues Olga and Raffa... I love them!

That's it for now. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I made pumpkin pie for the first time from fresh pumpkin and it turned out! A lot to be thankful for... and you are included.

xo

but i don't.

Some of you may have heard me joke about how much I do NOT enjoy taking the bus on the return from work. It's a different company than the local one I take in the morning, and I have to walk out on a busy street where there is NO sign post or anything, so I literally feel like a prostitute sometimes. I have even had cars with men stop a few times. Lots of honks at least (this is the gross/after-work me!). The reality is, when that car slows down...there are some girls that have to get in. But I don't.

My involvement with Schiavitù Mai Più continues to progress. We are back into our pattern of every other Friday outings. Please pray for us. If you would like to receive free texts (for those with smartphones, download WhatsApp) or emails DURING our Friday evening (US daytime)...we will send you play-by-play updates as we meet girls during the night. Just email me your number or email if interested: alliecase@gmail.com.

2 weeks ago I met Stella, a Hungarian girl from before. I really love her. It's not like these girls smile, but there's something about her that is almost welcoming. She had a cough. It is getting SO COLD here now. We kissed like friends do when we parted ways (because a car of controllers came up). It was sweet. I also met a new, young, smiling, Romanian girl, Delia. She apparently has some std/infection and is hoping to get out of this 'work' and back to Romania when she has enough money. Please pray that I can see her again THIS FRIDAY when we go back out. We ask for Divine intervention on every level and protection.

CHURCH

Lots of great growth going on in our home groups. Please pray for our Christmas outreach--Tania and I are organizing a small skit with the girls from Albano. Pray we can get things together in time and that it is a formative experience for the girls' spiritual lives. Pray for me as I organize the Children's program.

FUTURE

The meeting with the accountant went so well. Thanks for praying. We felt quite encouraged by this man which is rare. We know he will be in our lives for an eternal reason as well. Please pray that we can organize in a Spirit-led way this dream of opening a coffee bar next year.

WORK

A bit overwhelming. Always. But especially this period before Christmas. Pray for joy for me, creativity, energy, and miracles in the hearts of my little Ephraim, Nicolò, Alessandro, Liam who are QUITE DIFFICULT. Tania did not get hired at my school. Please pray for a stable job for her.

INTERVIEW?

I have been contacted to do an interview for a radio show in Las Vegas regarding my book. This was surprising but fun! Pray that it works out and that God continues to use my little book to bless people and gives me more opportunity since I have no time/resources to market it anymore....

May you all be blessed richly this week! As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thankful for YOU. I'll be making my first pumpkin pie from scratch. Wish me luck :)
xo

fish

I inherited a fish tank of sorts...and the gadgets that went with it. I was supposed to inherit the fish that lived inside as well, but it died right before my friend moved back to America. I took the stuff anyway, since I had already gotten used to the idea. I like having a little bit of life around the house, even if it seems cruel to confine them in such a small body of water.

Sitting here staring at my two fish tonight, I am thinking about what Jesus said to his new friends--an odd bunch of men to ever be expected to work together on any sort of task--"Go and be fishers of men." But men are just as slippery as fish. And I am convinced that different "baits" will "catch" different "fish." God draws people to Himself in many mysterious ways. I am thinking a lot about evangelism these days. Partly because I notice a lack of boldness and conviction in my own life. And partly because I don't always know what bait to use. Truth is truth. But I mean...how should WE in Frascati approach THESE Italians with the hope of Jesus? Where do we cast our net? Pray with us for inspirition and guidance. Write me if you have an suggestions.

Church

I write the above also because I just returned from a prayer walk around Frascati with Pastor Robert and our church member Monica. It was a beautiful and humbling experience. Monica is very childlike in many ways, but very bold in her faith. In one hour only TWO guys took a tract that we had. Yes, maybe soliciting is not the most effective approach, but the coldness of the people was really startling to observe. People of all ages. Anyway, Robert went up to a group of young people and started talking with a guy in dreads, Ryan. Pray for him. He was quite defiant thinking he could scare off Robert with his first comment: "Yeah well I don't believe in God." But Robert prayed that he may know Jesus and lead his group to Truth. Monica and I talked with a guy, Michele. "I am God...I don't need anybody"...that was his speech. I want to pray a specific prayer that GOD WOULD REVEAL HIMSELF TO MICHELE in dreams and visions that he would know His presence. I invited him to our Tuesday night group even though he refused our tract. Pray I can run into him again out and about.

Otherwise...we continue to pray for a place to meet, for spiritual growth and reconciliation, for Sunday School help (I will do a training this month), and for our Christmas outreach in December.

Work/Personal

Last night I had my colleagues over for dinner. Like last year, I had comments: There is such a peace in your house! Well praise God. Mostly my boss and our secretary dominated the conversations but I was thankful for the chance to just laugh and be together. Pray I have more opportunity to talk about Jesus and that I can be a good testimony at work. Olga, a new colleague, wants to hang out soon. ALSO, yesterday Tania interviewd to be my assistant at LGI. Pray that she gets hired if God's will. Pray for the challenging behaviors of some of my students. Ahhh I love them so much.

I need direction on what to take on what to cut out...feeling a bit exhausted.

Finally got together with a friend (of Tania's), Anais, to meet her new baby on Sunday after her dedication! What a precious little angel. Children are GIFTS.

On Sunday I am headed to the President of the Republic's estate with my friend Livia. Her parents invited me (Dad works for president). Never know what connections that may bring...if anything I can spend more time with her and her family! They have invited me to be with them for Christmas. Pray for wisdom in this decision because I want to be where God wants me to be.

Schiavitù Mai Più
Wonderful outreach with the girls from Without Words Movement. There were not tons of people, but it was a good effort. We start up again with our street outings November 15.

American-Style Coffee Bar

In 10 hours I will be waking up to go to a meeting with an accountant to ask about quotes and licensing needed to open a coffee bar for outreach purposes. After this meeting I am hoping to have a better idea of how to proceed. If we go forward with this, I would leave my job for next year. There are soooo many coffee bars here. One on every corner. What we have in mind is really unique, but we don't want to move forward if it isn't the Lord's will. It is a project COMPLETELY out of my league. Please pray for direction and confirmation.

Lots and lots to pray about. Thanks for being faithful. It blesses me!!
Allie

                                                       Baby Grace! xxx

Girls who participated in our Stop Sex Trafficking Flashmob at Piazza Navona :)

42

CHURCH

42 was the count on Sunday. Pastor Robert's little house was exploding. You can't tell from the hall but people poured out into the hall and kitchen. Only 3 little kids were in the boys' bedroom with me for Sunday School, and maybe 2 new people came by. It was mostly just the strange situation of people from our various studies deciding to come on Sunday (and still many were missing). We are typically about half that size on Sundays.

This makes me repeat our urgent prayer request: PLEASE ASK THE LORD TO PROVIDE US A PLACE TO MEET. We would like the city hall to offer us something for free. Or a place for cheap rent. Or...God knows.

SCHIAVITU' MAI PIU'

This is the prostitution ministry I work with. We have a lot going on this month as we kick back into gear. Monday we welcome two award-winning dancers from America. They will be coming from Romania to Rome to do various courses (daytime), flashmobs, and then 2 performances (free thanks to grant from Ravi Zacharias) at the Teatro Furio Camillo. Their themes are sexual brokenness and restoration in modern dance. We are so honored to have them help us do outreach as they have huge hearts for Jesus! We hope to raise awareness in the city. I am personally inviting friends and colleagues so pray that Jesus uses this in my life as an evangelism tool!

Next, we will start our street outings in November. It is hard for me because it means I will skip every other Friday night Bible study. Pray that God arranges a way for me to still keep up with the girls in Albano....until we start doing outings on the weekend in the DAY here in MY area...probably in the new year.

Here is a link about the dancers: http://vimeo.com/53354270

WORK

Two new colleagues: Olga the Italian teacher and Martina my student teacher. I really love them and hope to get to know them better. My students are quite challenging. Liam, Ephraim and Alessandro that is. Please pray for patience, love and creativity for me. And calmness and attention from them. I also talked with Matilda's mom yesterday. She has cancer and 'received some bad news this week' for which she has to 'make some difficult decisions.' I pray I can be used how God wants me to be used in the lives of all my students.

REST

Need help prioritizing my time.

COFFEE BAR ETC.

We need direction on moving forward with this business plan. I need direction on whether to leave my job next year for full-time ministry.

If anyone wants to come on short-term teams we are open wide!

THANKFUL

My bus schedule changed 30 mins earlier. I was upset about the loss of sleep. Now I am thankful for extra time to read my Bible. In prayer for 'friends' (my age, to get connected etc.) God has put my two new colleagues in my life, I ran into Alberto at the market, and Fation & Roberto and I are playing facebook-tag. Anyway, any contact is encouraging. Pray I manage to get together with everyone before December. This is a goal of mine for November. Also Lorenza and Laetizia. My friend and fellow minister Heather has gone back to America to raise support to come back next year. In the mean time I met another American Christian girl this week who is here as an au pair. Also, I re-connected with Fjori an Albanian Christian girl I want to get to know better. God provides. It is just TIME needed for all these things. ALSO, this week Tania and I were able to have tea with Jenny (mom of Giulia--14 yr old with cancer in our church). It was sooo sweet and I thank God for that encouragement.

Thanks for the love and prayers. Thanks also to those who financially support me--I just found a bunch of postcard thank you notes I wrote I think in August. Ooops. Coming your way now! Better late than never?

Alla prossima!
Allie

                     Above: prayer at the roman aqueducts this morning... Jesus is Living Water!

                                                    Above: crowded church!

                                            Above: silly Sunday school time!

111 deaths and counting

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/04/world/europe/italy-migrant-boat-sinks/index.html

COMPLETELY forgot to link this tragic, important story to my last update. Please pray for this ongoing problem. Pray for North Africa (I am praying about when to go back to visit). Pray that the corrupt, disorganized Italian government gets its act together.

hope and the cage

Thankful to have this rainy Saturday to reflect and catch up on some things. It's been one of those full weeks that should have been much fuller, but by God's grace, some people cancelled different things, and I've had some breathing room.

I've been thinking today about God's hope. The hope of our salvation. The hope that we cannot see. The hope that does not disappoint. I've also been trying to figure out why I have been so angry these last two weeks. It's like a cage. Rabbia. Rage. You don't feel angry. You don't think you are. But then you hear your student mocking you, 'I'm the teacher: That's enough! Stop it! Sit down!'...all he thinks of me is shouting. And I've certainly lost control. And my colleague asks, 'Are you ok?' to my shock because everything is 'fine.' Ok then if I'm not angry, why does it feel like my joy is in a cage?

Missionaries have many faults. One is to ask others to pray...for them...and then not pray themselves. To write lists, to do and do and do but without heart. I just want to be honest that I've had a reality check. I have some really exciting things coming up...things I don't deserve to participate in. And I want to do them with hope, and joy, and fullness of heart. I pray also that you will be filled with this vision wherever God is using you.

CHURCH NEWS

Tuesdays nights are growing to a steady 12 people...sometimes more. It is the JOY of my week. So excited especially to see the growth of Raffaele and Patrizia...also Matteo who prayed aloud for the first time Tuesday (once a month we have no study, but just a prayer evening). It was nice 2 weeks ago to see Andreas (Hilda's son) come out as well and stay for dinner (and also make fun of my disastrous bedroom condition when he gave himself a tour of our house haha). Monica has been coming as well. She has seen a doctor and is officially NOT bipolar.

Friday nights are growing as well. SUCH a different flavor. But we continue to have Simona and her daughters Sara and Veronica as well as their little Lorenzo (4) who needs lots of prayer but whose best friend I have become whether I like it or not! I praise God, because it makes him excited to come to Sunday school. Claudia and Valeria continue to come with their parents which is so sweet. We have a new lady Barbara...a dietitian I've met with, who is so sweet and sincere and coming out of a strange cult to walk in the Light.

Association LA SPERANZA. We have had our first meetings for our non-profit The Hope. It is a bit overwhelming. As secretary the lot of book-keeping has also fallen to me. This is all in Italian and has to do with NUMBERS. Not my strengths. Please pray for me. And pray for us as we get organized. We are seeking someone to come do a Christmas concert outreach for us. We are praying for evangelistic teams to come work with us. Whatever your talent is we can use it!

OTHER MINISTRY

I am attending another show of the INCREDIBLE documentary on prostitution, Nefarious, and bringing Tania and Matteo. The non-profit I work with, Schiavitù Mai Più is starting up it's street outings again this month. We are also hosting 2 Christian, American dancers at the end of October who will do flashmobs, classes etc. to raise awareness of the sex trade here in Rome. We are REALLY excited about this and have rented the amphitheatre at Furio Camillo downtown. Please be praying for this from October 22-30. Pray for the girls I hope to reconnect with: Adriana, Christal, Stella, Christina.

Coffee Bar. Some of you have heard that I have the opportunity to collaborate on a project to open a (Christian) American-style coffee bar here in Frascati. We want to create a culturally relevant center for people to get together and for us to hold events such as classes, debates, concerts... We had our first official meeting Wednesday to brainstorm planning. It is too much for me right now. It means opening another non-profit and starting from scratch. Businesses are SO hard to start here. Even if we have a few connections. It will be a miracle. Please pray that God CLEARLY guides my friends from a neighboring church in Monte Porzio and us here in Frascati. A joint venture could be awesome on so many levels, but we still need the right personnel and confirmation.

If you are at all interested in sponsoring the start-up costs of a business like this that will be used for evangelistic purposes, please let me know. This also means that I am prayerfully considering not renewing my contract NEXT year, but going full-time into these projects. Lots to think and pray about.

Thanks everyone. Lots of love from Italy.
Allie

         My sweet Aunt and Uncle stopped by Frascati for dinner this week... LA via Berlin! 

 Tuesday night gatherings. You can't see everyone very well, but it's very international and intergenerational!