God shows himself through so many different situations. I have been learning so much here in Italy, and I know these experiences would not be the same if I were in the U.S. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it’s going to be like when I get back … I’m going to miss Italy so much! I’m going to miss the family. I’m going to miss the culture and all of its quirks. I can’t express enough how thankful I am for this experience. Everyone needs to have such an experience where they are away from their comfort zone and completely immerse themselves in another culture. It’s good for the heart =)
Last week on Monday, God showed me something so amazing!! I felt like I was coming down with something and really didn’t want to get out of the house, but God was insistent. I’m really glad He is! I went for a walk. I found myself wandering through the old part of San Benedetto … the cobblestone streets, the old, ivy-overtaken buildings, and the houses with the small doors and cool old shutters. There is a bakery I’ve passed by numerous times, so today I decided to go in and take a peak. The old woman working there didn’t speak English, but I made the motions to tell her I was just looking. She asked (in Italian) if I was studying. I told her I was a teacher here. She said, “Oh, so young!” I told her how old I was and she said again, “Oh, so young!” The best part was she reached out with her old, Italian hand and touched my face. Then she rushed behind the counter and started gathering different breads in a bag. She insisted on giving me four different kinds of bread (technically pizza). I walked out of that bakery amazed at the workings of our Lord. I was expecting a look and then continuing on my way, but the Lord chose to bless me with meeting a wonderful Italian woman who I couldn’t communicate with, but knew she was also blessed by the encounter. God wasn’t done with showing me how amazing He is … I found a spot not too far away from the bakery to sit along the road and work on English lessons for the girls. I sat and watched people walk by, families driving home for lunch, and students riding their bikes after getting out of school. A young black couple were about to walk by me and I asked them if they knew what time it was. The man responded in English! So unexpected! He said, “You speak English?” I said, “You speak English?!” Haha, we were both amazed! I asked where they were from and he said Nigeria. His wife, Tessy, has been here for 10 years, and he, Chris is his name, has been here for about a year and a half. I noticed that Tessy was quite pregnant. I asked if they knew what they were having and if they had any names picked out. Chris said it’s a boy due in February and they had a few names they liked. The first name was Lloyd. The second name … brace yourself for this one … was Tristan. I said, “What?!” Haha! I told them that is my fiancé’s name! I said, that’s the name you have to go with =) I’m pretty partial to it. I asked if they were believers and they said yes. They gave me the name of their church in a town outside of San Benedetto that is a Pentecostal church and the services are in English because in Nigeria English is their second language (the first is a dialect). Chris and Tessy invited me to their apartment where we had lunch … Nigerian food =D A few different rice dishes and meat pie. I have their contact information and hope to meet Tessy during the week for a walk. I had lunch with Nigerians in Italy! How cool!
The rest of the week was slow. I had my annual sinus infection and didn’t feel like going out, so I spent a lot of time listening to sermons and reading. On Tuesday, I made myself lunch … didn’t feel like much but Tristan had been sick and talked about making soup. That sounded good to me! I found a recipe online for curry carrot soup and off I went. Monica has this great kitchen gadget called a Bimby. It’s amazing!! It does everything!! I didn’t use it exactly like I should, but it pureed my carrots for me =) … A few days later, Monica showed me more of the settings.
Wednesday I went to Rosita’s for a lesson with the boys. I so enjoy the time with their family. Leonardo and Francesco are absolutely crazy, but we have a lot of fun together. I had made a game on PowerPoint for them. They’re learning =) Sometimes it takes pointing to every single body part before they find “chin” or “shoulders,” but they’ll have it down soon enough!
Greta and I are having so much fun together! She always says, “Jodi, come.” Of course I follow her =) She’s got me wrapped around her little finger at the words, “Pretty please!” But I’m being stricter with her now … She’s got to use complete sentences for me before I do what she asks. For example, “Jodi, come upstairs with me.” I’m sure going to miss that little girl! She gave me a hug goodnight the other evening and it about melted my heart. In the mornings we leave each other notes. She uses her chalkboard to write, “Gudnaith Jodi” with hearts around it. Monica had asked her one day if she loved Jodi and she said yes <3 On Monday when I didn’t come back to the house for lunch, Monica made hamburgers (the exact same kind I had made a few weeks ago for the girls when Monica was away for lunch), but Greta would not eat them … Monica said, “But you ate the exact same thing with Jodi.” Greta replied, “Did Jodi make these?” Haha! Oh, that girl is something else!
This week Sergio came home on Thursday and he is staying through Monday. It’s really good for the family to be all together like this =) I like having everyone here.
Trying new foods, soaking up every experience, excited about being back in less than a month, but truly loving this rich experience. I couldn’t imagine life without knowing the people I have met here. They will always be remembered by me. I was standing in the movie theater last night, looked around at the building and the people I saw, and just thought, “The people here will still be here when I leave. Life will still go on for them. How I would love to have the opportunity to see everyone again!” Sergio, Monica, Nicole, Greta, Paula, Massimo, Elaria, Alessandro, Angelica, Paola, Marco, Lorella, Tatina, Vittoria, Francesco, Giuseppe, Fabio, Giovanna, Matteo, Chiara, Georgia, Joya, Danilo, Rosita, Leonardo, Francesco … These people and so many more have found a special place in my heart and although we aren’t able to communicate fully with words, I am blessed by simply having them in my life! I’m watching. I’m learning.
Pray for Italy. God loves these people so much!
Grace and peace,
Jodi
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