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.

Oh the Miles. . .

After four years, two continents, seven countries and hundreds (thousands?) of miles, our faithful stroller finally had to be laid to rest this week.

What a good life it had, and oh, how it served us well! We first got it just before we went to Florence on Summer Project four years ago. We went with an Italian brand, thinking they probably knew how to make strollers to survive the streets of Italy. And believe me, we tested its endurance in every way possible. We pushed, pulled, pummeled, dropped, beat, squashed and extreme-weathered it. Never did it hesitate or complain. Until recently.

Because we walk almost everywhere, and I almost always have a kiddo with me when leaving the house, I once commented that I didn't know what to do with my hands when I left our apartment without pushing the stroller. I felt like they were permanently attached to these handle bars. Good thing they were so cushy. :)

And oh, the places these wheels have gone! All across the US. The streets of Bologna, Florence, Rome, Venice and countless other Italian cities. Scotland. Austria. France. Belgium. The Netherlands. Pavement, gravel, sand, dirt, cobblestone and brick. . . you name it, our stroller tackled it. Superbly. It's been with us through some of the most significant changes in our lives--our family's first trip overseas, the birth of our last child, an international move. It's lugged groceries and backpacks and luggage, all the while allowing a child to sleep peacefully in its comfort. In Italy, your stroller practically gets more miles than your car. It's literally felt like an extension of our family.

And though it's exceded our expectations by two years and 500 miles, time has finally taken its toll. We've known things weren't good for a while, but we kept hoping we could make it 9-12 more months until Benjamin could make it on his own two feet. She just didn't have anything left give though. A piece on the wheel snapped, and in addition to making a horrible sound every time the wheel rotated, it drove like a car with four unbalanced tires. S-h-a-k-y.

It was time to say good-bye.

We've replaced her with the exact same stroller. We were excited to learn that Italian strollers are cheaper in Italy. The new one is tan. Not the same, but a reminder of all the ground we've already covered. The Inglesina Trip. More than just a stroller. A member of the family.

Pictures of Life

I thought I'd just post a few pictures from our everyday life this week. . . hopefully it will help you "see" what life for the Phipps in Bologna is like. Enjoy!

Do you have a stuffy nose just looking at this picture? Not snow, my friends. Cotton. It is everywhere! Needless to say, we're going through allergy medicine like nobody's business. It's getting warm enough that we need to open our windows to get a little breeze, but this stuff is getting all over our apartment.

So the biggest size of milk you can get is a liter. When I go grocery shopping, I buy 12 liters of milk, and it doesn't make us through the week. But I don't think our little fridge could hold any more. Cody's fairly convinced I'm going to completely break the top shelf one of these days. (That KC Masterpiece and Pace are precious imports! Neither salsa or BBQ sauce are to be found here).

Milk also doesn't last nearly as long here. When I buy it, the expiration date is five days later, at most. No fat-free either. This is the best we can get, and it's about 2%.

Cody with our friend Fabio, at Alice's birthday party (Fabio's daughter and Hannah's best friend). We've talked before about the incredible ministry we're able to do at birthday parties! We haven't been to one that has lasted less than 2 1/2 hours. This weekend we have two, and next weekend we have two. Between Hannah and Gavin both, I bet we're invited to about 30 parties a year.

Ah, the Italian soccer game! Here it is called calcio (cal-cho). This is Gavin playing with boys at a birthday party. Soccer is serious here from the earliest age. You can't just sign up at the community center for a beginner's class. You have to join a team. And when I mean a team, I mean one that has adult-competitive play. The idea is that you train under that team from the beginning, and as you grow and progress, you work up that team's competitive levels. So a "team's" club would have 5-45 year olds. There is even trading between teams, of which you don't get a say in. If you're traded (even as an 8-year-old) and decide not to play for the team you're traded to, you have to sit out play for a year before joining another team. It's serious!

Something else to note in this picture is that Gavin is the only one is shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. It was a very pleasant 70 degrees this day, but all the kids still wore pants and long-sleeved shirts. There is a great fear of "cold" here. We try to buck the system, but we've been called by teachers at the kids' schools on more than one occassion for not sending them in warm enough clothes.

Don't these look like sopapillas?!? They are a region-specific food to Emilia-Romagna (the region Bologna is in), and they are yummy! They're actually called crescentini. You put a little spreadable cheese on one side, with some salami or prosciutto, fold it in half and gobble it up. At Alice's birthday party, her grandpa made fresch crescentini, and they were so good. You can't find them anywhere else in Italy, and we actually just discovered them here in Bologna recently.

This was Gavin and I on Mother's Day. Earlier in the week, he asked me out on a date, so we planned it for Sunday afternoon. It was our first date, and he won my heart! He took me out for gelato (he paid!) and then taught me a few soccer moves. It was precious. Gavin is growing up into such a strong, tender-hearted little boy. It was a perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day!

Refreshment. . .

We just returned from our Spring Staff Conference, and we are feeling more significantly refreshed than we have in months. It was medicine for the soul! We have written before how key these conferences are for our morale, and this one was no different.

Twice a year, all of the Agape Italia staff (Italians and Americans) gather to hear from our leadership, talk with each other about what's working and not working across the country, and hear teaching from the Word to encourage us in the battle. We also get to just hang out with each other. This is especially encouraging for our kids, who for a few days twice a year, get to be with other kids who speak their native language and understand exactly how crazy their lives are. Hannah and Gavin literally played until they dropped for three days straight.

Our Spring Conference is held at a conference center on the Mediterranean side of Italy in a little town just south of Livorno. It was about three hours from Bologna. Every afternoon we had free time to play and catch up with staff friends who live in other parts of the country. After such a LONG winter, we savored every minute of sunshine.

This was Ben's first time to play in a pool, and though it took a little time to warm up to, he had a blast! It was so great to be able to splash all he wanted without Mom telling him not to make a mess. . .

We also savored great uniterrupted time with friends. It was so living-giving! Throughout the year, we miss the opportunity to sit for hours with friends who are in a similar season (i.e. a large, young family) and talk about living life in a foreign country. It was such a place of rest for us. We also had great conversations with other staff about things they are doing to help Italians grasp the gospel and the incredible grace God is offering them. As we enter into the busiest two months of the year, we are newly energized with some great reminders and new ideas.

More than anything else (and there was a lot!), we are so thankful to be returning to Bologna with a new spring in our step. We needed this kind of refreshment. We needed to get a boost of emotional and spritual energy before the wrapping up the school year with the Summer Project coming and then facing several months of ambiguity, as we work on developing the support we need to cover our new tax needs. We are so, so thankful.

And the kids are already asking when we're going to back to "the beach." They don't mean just any beach. . . they mean the beach where they get to be with their American friends. What a sweet gift that is.