A Birthday and A Break

Unbelievable that Gavin turned six on Wednesday!!  What a year it has been for him.  He has grown (physically and socially/emotionally) SO MUCH.  God is shaping him into such a neat little man.  He still has his sweet, tender heart, but he grows more into a warrior every day.  He is loving everything boy!  And Daddy is having a great time introducing him to many new adventures.

For his birthday, his Uncle Scott and Papa got him some model rockets.  At first, he didn't have any idea what they would actually do.  After school on his birthday we went out to launch one, and WOW!  He had a blast!  (Pun intended!)  Here are some pics from his big day.

Prior to Lift-Off

Getting it set up

3-2-1. . . 

There she goes!

I think this was launch number three.  Gavin could have done this all day.

Trying to catch the falling rocket was half the fun!

"Iron Man" blowing out his candles

Tonight we will have a full-on Birthday Party with friends from school.  Gavin's never really had a Birthday Party before, so he can't wait.  He's taking his best little friends to see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and then dinner at Pizza Hut.  He really couldn't ask for a more perfect day.

I know this entry is a little late, and it might be the last one until we return to Bologna.  We are busy taking care of all the last minute details we need to get done in order to return.  And trying to rest and enjoy the Holidays at the same time.  We fly back on January 3 and would covet your prayers for our trip and our re-entry.

Merry Christmas to everyone!  Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving over the little baby whose birth we celebrate and who we are so privileged to proclaim.

American Holiday Fun

In the past two years, we've done our best to make the fourth Thursday of November NOT just Thursday but "Thanksgiving in Italy."  We've given it good attempts!  But there really isn't anything like Thanksgiving in America.  The fried turkey, the green bean casserole, the stuffing, the pies. . . Wow, it was good.  Here's a picture of Ben enjoying perhaps his first piece of pie ever.  He went for the chocolate but then followed it up with pumpkin.

Needless to say, he was a fan.

On the day after Thanksgiving (yes, after some early morning Christmas shopping), we set to work decorating every square foot of my parents' house for Christmas.  We had such a great time!  The kids loved unpacking all of Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas ornaments and decorations.  We have a great time decorating our apartment in Bologna for Christmas, but because of the lack of space, it has to be a lot more reserved. 

Daddy and Papa putting together the GINORMOUS Christmas tree.

Gavin taking a self-photo when he was in charge of documenting our decorating.

Yep, this is one of Gavin's pieces of photographic art.

One more from Gav.  This one's pretty avant-guard.  His five-year-old perspective gave him a distinct advantage.

Grandma and Hannah hanging stockings by the chimney with care (with Hannah enjoying the entire day in pajamas).

What would a day decorating be without egg nog for the adults and hot chocolate for the kids?

Ben LOVED hanging ornaments.  They all ended up in the same spot, but he liked it that way.  Our new favorite words to hear him say are "Santa Claus" and "Christmas."  He rocks.

What would Christmas preparations be without mailing letter and lists to Santa?  Let's just say Gavin's list was extensive. . . He has pretty high expectations of what Santa can afford. :)

Sending the letters off to the North Pole!

We return to Bologna in four and half weeks.  It is a special blessing to have our last days in the States be around the holidays.  We are going to soak up every minute of it.

The Good Gifts

This past weekend Hannah was given a very special gift.  She got to celebrate her birthday a little early with a splendid tea party honoring her and her best friend Chloe.  She was surrounded by her dear little girl friends in Houston and savored a time with them she didn't think she'd ever have again.  To say it was a sweet gift just doesn't do it justice.  As her mom, my heart is overwhelmed with God's goodness to this little soul who has been so brave and has persevered through more than her share of intimidating circumstances.

Hannah and Chloe.  Best friends since they were four.

Throughout our journey to move and minister in Italy, we have tried to communicate over and over to our kids that God honors faith.  When we walk in obedience, He showers us with His good gifts.  We have also tried hard to communicate that those good gifts are most of the time not things like new toys or ice cream.  They are far better, more fulfilling and more satisfying gifts.  A big concept for a five and eight-year-old.

Having Tea.  

But this party was one of those very good gifts.  Mom and Dad are not the only members of our family who have sacrificed a great deal to take the gospel to Italians.  Our kids have had to completely leave the friends, city, church and life they knew.  God has given them great tenacity as they have forged ahead.  He has given them some really good new friends.  But it has still been hard to be away from dear friends in the States.  Especially for Hannah.

As I look at these fun pictures and think back on the Tea Party, my heart is SO FULL for how well the Father takes care of my kids.  He doesn't just meet their needs, He blesses their socks off, just as He does mine.  The rewards of walking in faith can come in no other way.  Thank you, Father, for this incredibly sweet time you gave our precious little girl.

The girls all decked out in the hats and purses they made.

Happy Birthday Chloe and Hannah!  May God continue to knit your hearts together despite the miles that separate you.  May you continue to put all of your nine-year-old faith the Great God who honors your faith in ways you couldn't even dream to ask for.

The Joy of Worship

So my mom hates when I post entries without pictures.  I can understand that.  We just happen to be in a season when I don't have a lot of pictures that correlate with what I'm blogging about.  But, in an effort to keep my mom reading, at the end of the post, I have a few pictures from Halloween.  The kids had such a good time with this American tradition.  Enjoy!

Perhaps THE thing I miss most while we are in Italy is worshiping in English.  I don't think I have ever longed to worship--just to acknowledge and praise God for who He is--as much as I have in the past two years.  In the midst of all the craziness and challenges we've faced, simply looking at God and acknowledging His goodness and sovereignty and His heart and vision for Italians (and the world) is the only thing that calms my heart.

God's Word has literally nourished my soul.  I have craved any worship music I can get my hands on.

So the greatest highlight of my time back has been going to church every Sunday.  I have savored every minute.  Since we are living with my parents in Ft. Worth, we had to find a new church to get plugged in to during our furlough.  We jumped in to a church close by who partners with Agape Italia, and it has been such an incredible blessing.  The kids have loved it too!  They love going to church, and they love AWANA.

As I have been savoring my time worshiping among a Body of Christ who speaks my native tongue, I came across a quote from Beth Moore quoting Eugene Peterson that so beautifully captures how I have felt.  I hope you are encouraged, as you read it.  I hope it causes you to throw yourself deeper into the worship of our MOST WORTHY God.  And when you have the chance to be with believers worshiping together, you can remember how much I long for the same.  And rejoice in the opportunity you have.

Worship has endless side effects in the life of the everyday psalmist.  Among them, it exalts God to the highest place, thereby relieving the sojourner of the backbreaking burden of ego.  It defeats our enemy.  It answers grace with gratitude.  And it ends in joy.  "God is a personal reality to be enjoyed.  We are so created and so redeemed that we are capable of enjoying him.  All the movements of discipleship arrive at a place where joy is experienced.  Every step of ascent toward God develops the capacity to enjoy.  Not only is there, increasingly, more to be enjoyed, there is steadily the acquired ability to enjoy it.  Best of all, we don't have to wait until we get to the end of the road before we enjoy what is at the end of the road."

Amen.


And now, the random pictures. . . (love you Mom!)

Our little Puppy, Indiana Jones and Hannah Montana

This was Ben's first Halloween, and he was so shocked people were giving him and candy (and Mom wasn't taking it away) that he hardly knew what to do with himself.

Cody's most excellently carved pumpkins

INCREDIBLE!

Who is this man, and why is his picture on our blog?  This is Charlie Duke, the 10th man ever to walk on the moon.  Charlie is follower of Jesus, and last week he came to Bologna to share about the role Jesus has had in his life.  (You can read more of Charlie's bio at http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/espeakers/5572/Charlie-Duke.html).

The only other full-time Campus Crusade staff in Bologna are a couple named Jesse and Tricia Marcos.  Charlie has been a supporter of the Marcos' ministry for years.  For the past year, we have been working to bring Charlie to Bologna.  God moved in the most amazing ways!  I've pasted Jesse's e-mail, giving us the update on all that had happened.  I know it's a little long, but the way God moved is worth reading every word.

"INCREDIBLE!!!  This morning we have no words to describe what just happened these last two days here in Bologna. I will let the words of the Brucato’s and others who have lived here speak for themselves. “Whave been here 23 years and never have we seen these kinds of crowds and never have we seen doors open like this.” If you recall we told you that when this all began, the university said; “No way he can mention God at all, nor can we mention Agape Italia.” So we had everyone praying that God would break through all of that. So the Lord KICKED DOWN those walls like none of us would have anticipated!! I want to let you know how it all went and at sometime we can fill you in on the more details.

Monday morning we had to have Charlie at the TV station for an interview on the regional morning show that covers all of Emilia-Romagna. The last question he was asked in the interview was, "What do you today?” So he could there launch into sharing that he speaks all over the world and shares the love of God. The man then closed by saying Charlie was speaking Monday at the U of Bologna. We were all horrified because that was wrong. When then they realized the mistake, they had to change it and announce it on the news--which was repeated several times in the day!! That mistake ended up being more air time to advertise it.

We then went to a press conference held at the hotel at 10AM. There the head of Astronomy at the University, who said there could be no mention about God, asked him in the interview, "What do you do now?"  Again he repeated what he was doing to share Christ around the world.

Next was the scientific high school where nothing Christian is ever let in the door. This is the school where a 15 yr old student shot himself right before Charlie came. He was able to share his story in detail. Part of their testimony is his wife was suicidal. He shared that, and the students were riveted to his every word and listened intently. After he was done with his testimony and closed, the principal came up and thanked Charlie for coming and reviewed the main points he made about his story!! WOW, never in our wildest dreams in a school where atheism is their god could we have imagined this to happen!!

We were able to give them postcards with Charlie’s picture on it and that also had Youth for Christ and Agape Italia websites.  We were introduced as well.

Monday night the outreach night for the community was standing room only!! Many non-Christians came, and many who are in the science community came. The exciting part was that night Charlie held nothing back. Both Charlie and his wife spoke, and wow that was POWERFUL. We had appetizers afterward and people stayed and shook his hand and talked with them.

Tuesday morning he spoke at a private high school, one of the top in the city. These students study Aeronautics and will all go to university. This school was not one we had planned on, but there was cancelation in the schedule. It happened that a connection was made two weeks ago which got us into the school. Once again standing room only!! Students heard about Youth for Christ and then heard about Agape Italia briefly. Once again in Q&A, he was asked what he does now. We were not sure how much we could say here. When asked, he took advantage of it and answered with a gospel presentation. The creativity he used was incredible but yet very clear.

Next was speaking at the U of Bologna in the Astronomy Dept and guess what. . .standing room only. The University of Bologna and everyone had told us if you have 100 – 150 that will be a GREAT success.

Everywhere he went they planned for those numbers and were shocked to see the interest. Over 120 students came, they were standing outside in the halls listening. This was set up by the university and specifically the man who said no God. After speaking, there was Q&A and the man who said no God asked Charlie to share about the challenges of life after reaching the pinnacle of his career at age 36. WOW!  He who said NO GOD knew what he would say!!! Then that night at dinner, he told Charlie again to make sure he talked about his personal life.

Tuesday evening we met for dinner with all the university officials who were responsible for the evening. His lecture was to begin at 9:00PM. It was 8:55 and we were just ordering our coffee. The professor said no problem, we were on Italian time!! So we left at 9:05 walked into a room that seats 300 and it was STANDING ROOM ONLY again. It was an estimated crowd of at least 400 so you can imagine it was PACKED OUT!!!! Charlie walked into the hall. I was behind him and had not seen the crowd yet. We then heard a HUGE loud applause and were overwhelmed, as were the school officials.

He opened his talk by thanking Agape Italia for bringing him to Bologna. He then talked about how he and his wife have known Tricia and I for years, which helped Agape build credibility.  The gospel went out clearly and wow, was it incredible again. We felt like we were with a ROCK STAR!! He was amazing and the crowd was not disappointed. We can promise you that crowd was all non-believers!!!!

THANKS FOR PRAYING!! Pray now for the followup of all of this and we can continue to build strong relationships with the university and these high schools!!!  Wish you could have been here for it, because the ground had to be prepared for this to all happen and you have been a part of preparing the soil for God to work!! Thanks and see you soon so you can enjoy being a part of the harvest God has used you to be a part of!!"

We have been telling everyone we meet how we feel like this is a unique time in Italy's history.  We really believe God is moving in unprecedented ways.  We could not be more excited to a part of what He is doing.  To God be the glory!!

The Normal Things

I'll confess life has been crazy for Cody and I since we stepped off the airplane four months ago.  And the next two months don't look any different.  We have been spinning far too many plates and spending a few more miles on the road than we would have ever chosen.

But the kids. . . we have worked hard to make sure they have the most consistent, most "normal" American experience as they could possibly have.  And we think they are.  

Last week, Gavin's Kindergarten class took a field trip to a Pumpkin Patch.  Before I even saw the information form, Cody said, "I am going to chaperone this one."  He was almost as excited as Gavin!  They had the best time.  It was so much more than just a pumpkin patch.  They spent the day wondering around mazes, exploring an Old West-style town and going on a hayride.  And Gavin did come home with a pumpkin.

It is Texas.  This is how they do mazes here. :)

This is Gavin with his best friend Jack.

They definitely do not have hayrides in Italy!

After the Pumpkin Patch on Thursday, the kids' school had a Carnival on Friday. On Saturdays, Gavin has soccer games.  On Tuesdays, Hannah takes piano lessons.  We go to AWANA on Sunday, and the kids LOVE going to church.  Ben attends Mother's Day Out three times a week, and he went to a zoo for the first time last week.  During our time back, the kids have gone to a Rangers game and Gavin saw TCU play.  This weekend we will carve a pumpkin and go Trick or Treating.  All normal American things you probably don't think much about.  But none of those things do we get to do in Italy.  

So "normal" is actually such a special treat for our kids!

We realize they probably won't have these experiences again until we move back to the States permanently (years from now, we think. . . ), so we are really grateful for the six months they are getting of it now.  Not because they hold any real significance in and of themselves but because they're a part of a shared experience with their home culture.

God has provided many sweet gifts in the past few months.  These are some of them.

Some Reality

Today I'm posting a link for an article Time Magazine ran on the reality Italian college graduates are facing.  It communicates one of the reasons for the overall hopelessness we are hearing from the Italians we talk with--not only college students, but our peer-aged friends too.


Please take a few minutes to read it.  It communicate well an aspect of life in Italy that is hard for Americans to understand.  It's also an aspect of life we are trying to use to point Italians toward Christ, the only reason for hope.


http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2024136-1,00.html

Being Cared For

* OK, I really did get the comment option fixed this week!  If you have to use the "anonymous" option, leave us your name anyway. :)

Back in August when we shared about our decision to stay in the States for a full six-month furlough, we shared that part of that time would be spent processing through our first two years in Italy with our Campus Crusade leadership, talking with counselors and attending a debriefing with Campus Crusade staff who were back from their first term overseas.

Last week we traveled to Austin for our official debriefing.  It was so deeply good.  There is a gal who works for Campus Crusade whose sole job is to make sure all the staff serving overseas from our region are doing well and have the resources they need to thrive in the location they're serving.  When we come home on furlough, she is the one who looks out for us, provides counselors for us and leads a time of debrief.  Having spent a significant amount of time overseas as a missionary herself, she is well acquainted with all the highs and lows of living overseas.

There were six of us who attended this debrief--us, another couple serving in Italy, and two guys who have been in East Asia.  The majority of our time together was spent sharing the stories of what our lives have looked like for the past two years--the good, the bad, and the ugly.  It was so therapeutic to know that those listening understood completely what we've experienced and have similar stories to share.  It's so easy to believe the lie that we are the only ones "going through" the ups and downs we face.  Being in an environment that promotes authenticity and safety really dispels those lies.  And it greatly encourages us to return again to the work.

In addition to the time we spent sharing about our battle wounds (and the glorious ways God has met us in those wounds), we heard from a counselor who works specifically with pastors and missionaries and has extensive experience helping missionaries deal with the very unique challenges of re-entry and living between two cultures.  She did an incredible job helping us to understand all the nuances of living in transition.  It was eye-opening to see just how much stress one incurs when living in two very different worlds.

Add to this time some good ol' fashioned Tex-Mex, beautiful weather, and good friends, and we had a great couple of days.  It's hard to put into words just how encouraging this time was for us.  As the gal who directs this time says, "You don't know what you don't know."  So true! We had no idea how much we needed to hear some of the things that were shared.  Again, we are so thankful to be working for an organization that cares so deeply about our spiritual and emotional health.

Expose Us!

As you can tell, we've been doing some work on The Phipps Five!  As the internet continues to grow as the world's most significant method of communication, we wanted to create a place where current ministry partners could keep read weekly of how God is moving in our midst, where we could post up-to-date prayer requests (check out the Ways to Pray page), and where people we have just met--or haven't even met at all--could check out our ministry.

We will continue to post weekly about what life looks like for us, from family-life to ministry opportunities to our cultural learning experiences.  It is our greatest desire that those who partner with us feel like they have a vivid picture of what they are investing in.  We can't say enough how strongly we feel about our ministry being so much bigger than us on the ground in Italy.  Our ministry consists of every person who gives financially to allow us to cover our living and ministry expenses and every person who goes before the Father to ask for His Spirit to move on our behalf.  No part is greater or less important than the others.

We also want this to be a place where you can point people who might be encouraged to read about what God is up to in the country of Italy.  Expose us!  Tell everyone you know how to find our site (we do!).  The next time you're on Facebook, would you post a link the blog?  We would be so grateful.  We hope anybody who stumbles upon this site is blessed by the stories of God's faithfulness to our family, as we take His gospel to a people who once led the charge for Christ and yet now are so far away from understanding the simplicity of His grace.

We are overwhelmed by the privilege it is to be Italy right now.  Truly, we feel the Spirit of God is beginning to move in this country in a way He hasn't in generations.  We want as many people as possible to hear about what God is doing and join with us!

A few other new pages to point out (the links are found just the right of the most current post).  The Italian Reality paints of picture of the current spiritual reality of Italy.  It answers the question of "Why do we go to Italy?"  It's a great place for folks new to our ministry to read about the spiritual climate we're facing.  La Dolce Vita provides some fascinating snip-its about Italy-- its history and its present.  And finally, HowYou Can Be a Part of What's Happening provides information about how you can give financially to our ministry.  Oh, and we've also made it easier to leave comments. . . give it a try!

Enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by.  Thanks for telling others about us.  Thanks for caring about Italians understanding how they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

An Italian Perspective

November will mark a huge milestone for the Agape Italia ministry.  An Italian national will be taking over leadership of our National Ministry.  Ultimately, this is our desire for every country we send American staff too--that eventually it will be a Nationally-run ministry.

Franco Bosio is one of only four Italians currently on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ in Italy.  He has been directing the Family Life ministry up to this poine and seeing God move in some incredible ways.  He will now be providing leadership to our ministry as a whole, and we are so excited to see how God is going to use him to help make Agape Italia even more effective.

Below is a video clip of Franco sharing a little of his vision.  Again, we rejoice in the incredible ways God is at work in Italy.  Truly, it is a privilege to be ministering there during this time.

The Downside of a Calling

As I write this, I am in tears. Every bone in my body is literally aching to return to Bologna tomorrow. There is so much that stands in my way, and I am grieving it. I don't long to return to be comfortable (it's not), I don't long to return to escape the process of raising the support we need to return (I LOVE sharing what God is doing in Italy). I am longing because for some crazy reason, God has written Italy on my heart and I cannot be free of it.

It is a gift to be so sure of our calling. When we are enduring the Questura or literally melting from the heat, we can press on knowing God has some very specific plans. And the steps of faith we have to take every day feel a little less scary knowing that He will finish what He has begun.

But the downside is the incredible ache we feel to be doing what it is God has called us to do. I long for the people and the conversations and opportunity to talk about Jesus with so many who want to and know nobody to do so with. I long for, yearn after, want with every fiber of my being to be in the place where God has called us. It is permanently a piece of me.

We have shared how thankful we are for this furlough God has provided for us to get some rest before returning. We really are. And He is providing that rest. As we soak it up, and our energy returns, we find ourselves now struggling with what is between us and the place God has made for us in Bologna.

Time. We have to be out of the country until January because of tax reasons. Nothing can change that. We are trying to make the most of these days to prepare us to be fully-charged to return. Waiting is hard. Really, really hard.

Money. We still need to raise almost $2000 a month to cover our increased cost of living needs. In the past, I would have been really anxious about how God was going to provide this money. I think I am able to better walk in faith these days. I know God would not have written these people so deeply on my heart if He didn't still have plans for us there. Still, we need Him to provide. And quite frankly, I am so in awe of what God is doing in Bologna that I want to tell everybody about it! I want everyone to partner with us and have a chance to be a part of an incredible, humbling, amazing work by the Spirit of God! I want everyone I meet to catch a glimpse of what God is doing and be a part of it.

The ache hurts. But it is beautiful. It is evidence of God, and I rejoice! I am driven to pray and ask and claim like I never have been before. Would you please pray with us? Would you please join in praying for God's provision of the support we need? Would you pray for our little corner of the world and the place God has made for us there. . . that He would continue to be at work and that we would have the privilege of seeing a harvest in Italy that has not been seen in generations. Pray for the sweet friends we have made. Pray they would one day live in the freedom Christ died for. Pray they would one day know eternal life.

Thanks friends. Thanks for aching a little bit with me.

A Stranger at Home

I know, I know. . . you are thinking that since we are back in the States for a bit, we should have plenty of time to keep up the blog. Life has been crazy since our airplane touched down two and half months ago. We keep thinking, "after _______ it will slow down." But the reality is that raising support is crazy. We have been traveling non-stop. We are thankful to be so busy, even if we have to apologize for our absence from the blogging world. It is my goal to again be a faithful Monday morning blogger--OK, I'm going to say a Tuesday morning blogger. That's when Ben goes to Mom's Day Out!

I don't have a great picture for what I really want to blog about today, so I'm throwing in a random one. Last week Cody and I celebrated our Tenth Wedding Anniversary. On our honeymoon, we spent a week in New England. So for almost a year we have been saving to take an extended trip to Boston. We spent four days there last week, and it was awesome. The weather was perfect, and the whole trip went a long way toward the rest we've been pursuing.

Now, to what I wanted to share. . . in the months leading up to our trip back to the States, we talked about how much we were looking forward to "going home" for a bit. We couldn't wait to enjoy some of the comforts of America. Looking back, I think we were looking forward to the feeling of home more than anything else. A place where we belonged.

The painful reality is that America doesn't feel like home anymore. Yes, it's nice to be able to speak the same language, enjoy the same foods and understand how the culture operates, but we don't have a life here anymore. And who else around me understands the weird Twilight Zone I'm living in--trying to savor such everyday blessings as helping the kids with homework we actually understand and worshipping in English while also trying to prepare for returning to Italy by taking language classes, working tirelessly to maintain relationships long-distance and stocking up on taco seasoning packets to take back with us. I am now saying, "I can't wait to go home," and I mean Italy. That's where our life is. To be saying that marks a great milestone in our transition overseas.

But the other reality is that Italy isn't really home either. My life is there, but I'm not fully comfortable there. There is still so much that is foreign to me.

This week I was doing a Beth Moore Bible Study on the Psalms of Ascent, and in Psalm 120, the author says, "Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace." She makes the observation that the author is neither from Meshech or Kedar and he is exhausted living as a foreigner. And then she asked the very timely question, "Have you ever felt like a foreigner?" Oh wow. Do I ever. And even in my own country.

Never in my life have I understood my citizenship in heaven as concretely as I do now. This place I'm at is weird. I find it hard trying to put it into words. But I am also thankful for it. I would never know the goodness of being a stranger at home--the longing for the sense of "home" that will only come in heaven--if we hadn't stepped out in faith to leave what we felt was that place all along.

The lessons never stop. The blessings never stop. God is good, all of the time.

Back in the States

The blog returns....after a month long hiatus. We've been back in the States for about a month now and have spent about three weeks of that time on the road visiting friends and family in Texas and New Mexico. When not traveling, we usually find ourselves in some doctor's office getting something looked at.

One of the trips we took was out to Albuquerque to visit friends and share about our time in Bologna. Whenever we spend time in Albuquerque, we always stay with some friends who we've known since before we got married. We've always valued their wisdom and faith as we've walked through marriage and what God has called us to. Our kids see them as another set of grandparents and are getting old enough to begin learning from them as well.

With that in mind, I really wanted Gavin, Jim, and I to get some time out in the wilderness of New Mexico so we could be boys. Jim and I talked about it a bit and decided to take a day hike at the peak of the the Sandia Mountains. Jim knew a great trail that would be just long enough and interesting enough for Gav. It began at the top of the mountain and led down through the forest for a bit before coming to an old stone house that marks the halfway point. We spent some time climbing around the old house before making the return journey.

Gavin thought it best to go armed with two water-pistols and spent much of the hike looking for small woodland creatures toshoot, but only managed to scare off two birds. It was a great trip for him and we all enjoyed being out of the city for a bit. The hike concluded with a hearty lunch at The Frontier, a popular dive right across the street from where I went to college.

Our Final Weekend

This past weekend was our last weekend in Bologna till the Fall and we felt like sitting in the house was not a great way to spend it. The Italian team had already been bounced from the World Cup and the U.S. was not playing till Saturday night. So....we decided to take a short roadtrip! We have some friends who had visited two towns just northwest of Bologna a few weeks before and thought our kids would like it. So, we piled in the car Saturday morning and headed out.

Fidenza is a smal town about an hour and a half from Bologna along the old Roman road called Via Emilia. This road runs the entire length of the region of Emilia-Romagna. Yet for all the historical-ness of this region, Fidenza is known for the brand new Outlet Mall that just opened. While shopping is not my cup of tea (Cody here), they had a really nice playground for the kids to play on. After running around for a hour or so and then a quick lunch, we headed to our primary destination of Castell'Arquato. It's believed that this small town began as a Roman military settlement and developed into a rural farming center during the Imperial Era of the Roman Empire. As you can see from the pictures, the castle itself was built into the hillside to take advantage of the surrounding area.

The picture above was taken about 10km outside the town as we drove in. It was a beautiful drive through pastures and vineyards and one of the few times we've not been on the Autostrada as we've travelled. The kids had a great time climbing all over the castle grounds and surrounding hills.

At one point, Gavin stumbled onto a smal cave that had been cut out from the hillside directly below the castle. Needless to say, he was in Heaven exploring the town.

It was a great way to spend our last weekend as a family before the mad rush of our final week. We're currenty in the throes of packing, cleaning, organizing, and prepping for our time in the States. As you think of us this week (especially on Thursday as we fly), please pray for us! The blog will take a short break, but we hope to be back with you in a couple of weeks! Ci vediamo dopo!

MONDIALE 2010!!!!!

Here we are four years removed from our first trip to Italy and we have the privilege of experiencing another World Cup in Italy. While little was known or expected from Gli Azzurri (the Italian squad) four years ago, this year Italians are even less expectant of a successful World Cup.

"The squad is too old, they have not played together long enough. The coach is no good." These are just a few of the exclamations we have heard from our neighbors and friends. Regardless of how Italy does this year, the level of involvement on a communal level is still so much fun to be a part of. . .and this time we have the added experience of knowing the langauge.



As the Mondiale 2010 (World Cup) approaches, one sees more and more Italian flags going up in windows and shops. And flat screen TVs appear out of nowhere at gelato stands and pizzerias. The photo above is a scene from our local gelato stand, which we frequent almost daily. This was taken moments before Italy kicked off their first game of this year's World Cup. While most people won't argue that the Super Bowl is the sporting event of the year in the U.S., one doesn't see the total community experience like that which exists here in Italy for soccer. Everything from daily conversations to work schedules on a national level are affected by when Gli Azzurri play. In otherwords, EVERYTHING stops when Italy is on the field. There is nothing that one can do aside from join in and cheer them on.
This past year, we've also seen Gavin take a keen interest in playing soccer ("calcio" in Italian). We tried to introduce it to him when we arrived two years ago, but he was not interested in the least. After a year at school, where he plays it everyday with his friends on the playground, he has become quite adept. Going outside to kick around has become a daily activity in our household, and as far as he is concerned, Italy is the best team in the tournament. Hopefully, he won't be too heartbroken if things don't work out this year....

Gelato Season is Here!

Cody and I have said that after last summer we both suffer from a little "Post Traumatic Summer Heat Disorder." Knowing that the heat is on its way is enough to send us both into a little bit of a panic.

It's definitely warming up. The past few days have been in the upper 90's, and we finally rolled out our portable air conditioner to set up in the living room during the heat of the day. The one perk (and we're really stretching to see a bright side!) is that when the heat comes, gelato is no longer a special treat but a neccessity.

This was the first time we let Ben have his very own cup. He did really well and was only slightly sticky for the bus ride home.

Italians know how to do gelato well, and they optimize it for summer cool-downs. Gelato is more dense and less creamy than ice cream, so it isn't nearly as heavy. And there are usually more fruit/sorbet flavors offerred than any other kind. The average serving size is probably less than a 1/2 C. It's just a bite of cold. That's really, really yummy.

Conveniently, there is a really good gelato stand on the way home from the kids' school. Since we have to pick the kids up at 4:30 in the afternoon, it often takes all we have to gear up for the walk. Knowing there is a little treat to look forward to somehow makes it a little more bearable.

The kids celebrate in April when the gelato stands open, and so do we. They are kind of like coffee bars--the commraderie of trying to survive the heat brings you together somehow. And it's a sad sight when they close up shop in the Fall. But for now we are enjoying the gelato season in full swing!

Another Year of Answered Prayer

Friday was Hannah's last day of school. She now has two years of Italian schooling under her belt. Next year--third grade!

There could not be a more tangible example of how the Lord has answered prayer over the past two years. We prayed and prayed and prayed for Hannah's school experience. For her, for her teachers, for friends. We could not be more grateful for all the ways He has answered abundantly. Hannah's experience is far above and beyond what we could have even dreamt to ask.

We've written before that in Italy you have the same class, and the same two main teachers for all five years of elementary school. It can be a great thing or a horrible thing. For Hannah, it's been incredible. We think her teachers are great. They have done such a good job helping her transition into Italian schooling. They have been gracious with her and they have pushed when needed. And we generally think they are really good teachers.

But an even bigger answer to prayer have been the friends God has provided. Her class is just a great group of kids. Not that they're perfect, but we have heard very little about the cliches and caddiness we've heard about from friends with kids in school in America. We don't think it has anything to do with the fact that they're Italian. . . they're just good kids. There is a group of about seven girls who are all good friends. Every Monday after school we would rotate going over to someone's house to play. What a sweet, sweet gift.

And then there are the parents we've gotten to know. We feel completely welcomed and included. They have demonstrated such patience with us in language and cultural learning. Our sense of feeling like we belong in Bologna and have a life here is largely due to Hannah's school and all the relationships we have there.

Cody and I are blown away by the incredible blessings we've found through our brave daughter walking into a classroom not speaking a word Italian and persevering for two years. She is thriving. She has been the reason we've met our closest Italian friends. She is getting a great education (things change in the Italian system in high school. . .). She knows the ways God has answered prayer on her behalf, and it's grown her own faith.

So we celebrate this day! We celebrate God's continued hand on Hannah. We say thank you for joining us in praying for her. And we say thank you to God for caring so much about such a thing as second grade.

They're Here!

On Wednesday, 22 students from Texas and Louisiana arrived to work with us for the next five weeks. Here is the group enjoying some of their first Italian pizza:

This is a great group of students! We have spent the past several days getting them oriented to Bologna and the ministry and basic survival in Italy. They have asked such great questions and have really communicated a genuine desire to speak the gospel with boldness this summer. For many, committing five weeks to doing ministry in a different country is the biggest step of faith they've ever taken. It is huge! We can't wait to see how God blesses their faith and the fruit that comes from it.

The picture above is Cody talking to Luke, the leader of the group, and also a student. He was on the Project last year and developed such a heart for what was going on that he wanted to return again this summer. Secretly (or not so secretly), we're praying God would move his heart to come and work with us for a year or more after he graduates.

On Saturday, Cody led a time of evangelism training. One of the things we're really trying to emphasize is the power of God's Word. As we're processing through the gospel with Italian students, we want to be sharing as much of what God says in Scripture as we can. If we do that, then we feel we can be confident that seeds were planted, and we can leave the results to God. A study we saw recently said that Italy is one of the least Bible-literate countries in the world. As we bring everything back to what God says in His Word, it is refreshing to hear Italians awe at all God has spoken on.

Please pray for these American students. Pray they would experience God in a powerful way this summer. Pray He would increase their compassion for the people of Italy and that many would be moved to return and work with us in a longer capacity. Pray for the Italian students they will talk with over the next five weeks. Pray for ongoing relationships to be formed quickly. Pray for relationships that are focused on the gospel. Ultimately, pray they would see Italians put their faith in Christ.