The Granno family has been the biggest blessing during my stay in Italy! I didn't have any worries about them and living with them before I left. Of course there are adjustments when living with new people, but I feel like I fit in and really became part of the family. Sergio and Monica have taken me along on many road trips ... Tuscany, Parma, Torino ... I've seen so much thanks to them! The girls and I have grown so close together. Greta and I play many games and we are working on making a doll for her school (It's coming along lol). Nicole and I are able to communicate so well! She learns quickly and has the desire to know more. Haha, and Greta wants to learn more, but they are small things like, "Jodi, you and me upstairs. Come." :o)
Before we took off for Torino, I met up with Francesca and Gioia (pronounced Joya) the Jahovah Witnesses I've been meeting with for the past few weeks. I've grown fond of them and exchanged contact information with Francesca for when I get back in the states. This past meeting was very emotional for me. Our ability to communicate is okay, but there is so much that can't be explained without knowing each other's language fully. They told me that they were proclaiming the name of Christ all over the world as they are taught in Acts ... They asked me why there were no Evangelicals (Baptists) in Italy, specifically San Benedetto. I said, "I'm here. It's why I came." Francesca said, "Yes, but you are the only one." And I was reminded that there are Jehovah Witnesses all around the world. Why are there no Evangelicals in San Benedetto? Why are we not around the world? Because we become selfish; we find ourselves comfortable in our lives and the things we have bring us a security. In Luke 18:22-30, Jesus encounters a rich man who asks what he must do to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells him that he has followed all of the rules and obeyed the laws, but he hasn't given up everything he had to follow the Lord. The rich man walks away sad because he had his wealth and didn't want to give it up. What do we hold on to that we don't want to give up ... Give up and gain Christ. Paul writes in Philippians 3 that everything is garbage compared to knowing Christ. Status, wealth, possessions, friends, knowledge, and everything our Lord may give someone in their life is so unimportant when compared to the one who gave those things for us to have during our vapor of a life. I am not the only one who has been called overseas. The IMB is here in Italy ... Somewhere. Italians, Chinese, Peruvians, Africans, Canadians, and Texans ... all need to hear the Good News. Who's going to tell them? Is it an inconvenience for you to share with them? Why, because you have your own agenda? Who gave you that agenda? God works for the good of those who follow Him. Don't you think He knows you have a doctor's appointment to get to? ... But He will also put someone in your path along the way and ask you to love them as He does. Time flies by (so quickly, as we all learn), but God is above and outside of time. Believe it? Then trust Him to take care of you ... "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:26-27)
This weekend I went with the family to Torino to see Sergio's sister, Vittoriana, and her family ... Husband, Antonio, and two daughters, Giulia and Giorgia. The weather was absolutely beautiful! I saw the Alps :oD I saw where the Shroud of Torino is kept; although, the real thing was not on display because it is only open for public viewing maybe once a year. But it was still really neat! Saturday night we ate pizza in a restaraunt owned by a man from Napoli ... that means the pizza is authentic Napolian pizza, and that means it's really good :o) And it was. So even though I didn't make it down to Napoli (Naples), I had pizza from there and that works for me. Plus, I've been told numerous times that it's best to see Napoli in the summer time, and right now it's not too safe to travel there and there's a lot of trash in the streets for some reason. I really enjoyed the time in Torino.
There are 5 days remaining here in Italy ... I can't believe the time to leave is fast approaching. I'm going to miss everyone so much!
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the states <3
Grace and peace,
Jodi
No comments:
Post a Comment