Life

Two weeks in and I am finally getting accustomed to life in northern Italy. The days are sort of falling into a routine, and there is plenty to do as far as the work is concerned. Still, it is less of a break-neck pace than college was this past year, and as such, I am enjoying the break.

Work consists of helping out in the bookstore and the publishing house where needed. Right now, as they are trying to get their entire inventory online, every morning is spent scanning in book covers on the computer. The scanning takes some time, and so I have been able to spend a lot of this time in prayer, an activity that I am daily seeing more and more of its necessity. Everything we do needs to be covered in prayer; thinking of some of those who I have met in the last week, those who I have had spiritual conversations with, and others reminds me that I need to be in constant prayer for their souls, that God would continue to show them the bankruptcy of life without Christ and that they would find the meaning of life in Christ alone. The job that I have this summer allows me to put in the time praying for these people, and I am really thankful for that.

As a single guy living alone in a foreign country, there is always the temptation to waste time in the evenings. For the first week or so, I really had no idea what to do with myself, and this allowed for a great deal of boredom. Now, more of my time is spent with friends or groups from the church; the free time that remains, however, is being put to better use as I am seeing the opportunity to study the word and Christian books. Right now I am reading A.W. Tozer and Rick Joyner (an interesting mix) and the books are teaching me a lot. Interestingly, each day I have opportunities to share what I learn through those books and my time in the word. I can see God using this time to develop the necessary discipline in me to really delve into teaching and scripture, and that I need to learn to study both more and more. It is really a good place to be, and I am thankful for it.

As I look at it, life is kind of quiet right now; there are not so many things to do, but I need to be faithful in the tasks that are before me. It's a good change from college life, and I really enjoy it. As quiet as it is, God is really moving: the young guys in the church are growing and I have plenty of opportunities to fellowship with the older members of the church. There is such a heritage of faithfulness in this church, and it's cool to be a part of. Seeing God continuing to draw people to himself is awesome as well, and being a part of it is both humbling and encouraging.

Also encouraging is the vision God is giving me for prayer on campus next year. I will be living in a special room on campus next year, where 6 guys share two bedrooms and a communal room the size of most lounges. As such, it is unique from most upperclassmen dorms at Grove City. Since I've got to Italy, God has been impressing on me to be a man of prayer, and I am seeing that the natural community that will be there next year needs to be channeled into the things of Christ. A daily devotional time led by each of the guys who would attend sounds like the best vehicle for this next year, and I am really getting excited about it. Pray that God begins to give a similar vision to the guys in Alumni dormitory next year and that we would follow through as the school year begins in August. God is good, and it is great to accept the victory he calls us to.

b

Arthur

This second weekend in Italy was busy and good. I've been able to make more contacts with the youth in the church and had plenty of opportunities to cultivate relationships with these guys over the last few days. Much to my suprise, these guys are asking the really deep questions about who God is, how they respond to him, how they can grow deeper into him, and how to take Christ to the world. It is a group of guys between 19 and 32 that are really growing, something that is really awesome to see and to be a part of.

The thing that sticks out to me most from the weekend, however, is the growing friendship God is giving me with a man who has been a missionary here in Italy for over 60 years. I met him for the first time last Sunday, and I had heard people mention his name during much of the week before that. When I met Art Wiens last Sunday, we quickly hit it off, and between other conversations we were both having we got to talk. At 90, this man exudes the presence of the Lord, and from when I first met him I sensed the peace of God in his presence. I am reading his biography right now, which describes missions in Northern Italy since World War II and the fundamental part he and his family played in that.

It is clear to me that God has brought me to this church for many reasons, and one of those is to learn from this man of God however I can. Pray that we would be an encouragement to each other and that in this time I would be in a position to recieve all that God has to give. I am learning a ton here, I just don't want to waste any of it. Life is abundant in the arms of Christ.

b

Fellowship.

Today has been pretty much non-stop fellowship, and it is exactly what I need to be doing.

I was invited by Michael to his home for lunch today (I apologize i didn't take any pictures: he's got three boys all under the age of 11 and they're awesome.) Michael is a German-born, Italian-raised manager of the publishing house where I work and is married to an Italian-born, German-raised woman (great family). I had lunch today with him, his wife, his three boys, and a German missionary who is staying with them for a few weeks. It was great to go back and forth between German and Italian and to see his family interact together. Michael is a guy truly seeking to honor Christ in all he does, including raising his family. The three boys remind me of my own family as they showed me their talents on various musical instruments and their favorite game on the computer (and like my family, they argued over whose turn it was--some things never change). To see Michael and his wife raising up a family to love and honor the Lord is encouraging in an area that seems to closed to submitting to the Lord; I left feeling refreshed and excited for the invitation to come back and play basketball with the boys (even though I am terrible at basketball--that should change).

I just finished up a conversation with Joseph, a guy from Ghana, in the bookstore. He's been living in Europe for the past 7 years, and he told me his story of how he has gotten to where he is now. Like almost every person I meet from Africa, he has been through extreme suffering (another place I wished I had a picture; he lossed all but two of his total of 10 toes to frostbite when his ship crossing the straits between Africa and Italy capsized. He was on the high seas for two weeks and then spent 7 months in a hospital to recover from exposure and to learn to walk again. As I listened, we talked about Christ, the Cross, overcoming and living for Him in a dark world in and in spite of suffering, and family structure. In contrast to Michael's family, Joseph grew up in Africa in a system where fathers see themselves as foreigners in the home, and "the home" is usually two to four homes, where the father makes this many families at a time. As such, Joseph told me that he recognized the importance of a man of God in the home, that it is essential to have a foundation of Christ there as much as anywhere else. His testimony humbled me and encouraged me at the same time. God is doing a mighty work in Joseph, and even as he struggles to serve Christ, God is blessing him. Pray for strength for him.

Tomorrow is a holiday in Italy, and I have no idea what I'm doing tomorrow. Pray that I use the day well and that they guys I work with get some much needed rest. Both Les and Michael have been working long hours and serving people until 12:30 or 1 every night, still getting up at 7am every morning. The holiday is much needed for these guys, so pray for their spiritual and physical encouragement.

All for now. We're going to go look at my bike and see if we can get the tire to stop wobbling. God is good all the time, there's so much to be thankful for.

b

I had an accident.

God is so good, and it is great to be working for the Lord here in Italy! Yesterday morning, I was riding my bicycle to work when a car pulled out and side-ended me. It smashed the front of my bike and I went over the handle bars, but I was totally ok. The bike's front, however, was busted pretty bad. Through the whole situation, though--from when the woman got out of the car to when I arrived at the bookstore to tell them what happened--God totally gave me peace. I was even joyful as the whole situation happened.

Earlier that morning, I was reading in Psalm 39, where David prays:

LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is
fleeing away.
My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire
lifetime is just a moment to you: human existence is but
A breath. selah

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends
in nothing.
We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.

This is a passage with profound meaning, and I think it is appropriate given the circumstances of the day. So often we walk through life assuming that our days will go as planned, that we will accomplish everything we set out to do, etc. I think many days, if not almost all days, all of us see the day as our own and in our own hands. I assume that my life will continue on and that I won't have to worry about it ending for about 60 years. Yesterday really convicted me of the fact that I must live each day in light of the fact that this world is only a breath, that my life is not my own, that I must live for Christ every day, prepared to see my Lord's face.

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.

God, let that be always the case, that I trust in you at all times and put no confidence in any other name.

b

Spreadsheets and Proscutto Pizza

It's great to get to work! Today was my first day that I really got into what I'll be doing this summer. I'm working on a database which will allow the bookstore and publishing house here to function more efficiently. The two guys I am working with have such a heart for the people in a way that I have never really seen before. It is truly an honest genuine heart and it's super encouraging. This project has a ton of potential: the database, which will compile a list of the purchasers of the calendars, will begin a list of churches, individuals, and business contacts; this list has huge potential in uniting the churches in Italy, a church that is divided along many lines. Please pray that this database will be effective and open to many. I dont have much time, as I am leaving. Thanks for your prayers, and God bless!

Brian

Update in 5 minutes or less...

Ciao!

It has been a busy two days, but God is good. Time is limited, so I'd like to share one thing:

I've been hit constantly over the last few hours with God's grace and the fact that this grace and mercy is not based upon my own righteousness. I think of the passage but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit>. This grace is imparted to us, not because of our good works or our own deserving of it, but because of Christ's grace and mercy. What an awesome testament it is to the greatness of God, that he works in spite of our weaknesses and imperfections and chooses to still include us in his plans.

Please pray for me today as I meet with the youth (20-35 year olds) today for the first time. Pray that I will walk in confidence and selflessness and humility as I meet people who may need a lot of encouragement. Pray also that I will make friends even today. God's mercy is abundant, and his grace is enough.

b

I am here

After 23 hours of flying time, I have made it safetly to Italy, and by God's grace. Yesterday was a day to see God's provision, as each of my flights arrived late and each following flight departed late. I am amazed at how gracious God is.

I am renting a room from an Italian woman who does not know Jesus Christ. Last night, we were looking at her artwork (She is a modern artist) and I saw a lot of hurt and hopelessness. Each piece has the same representation of man (if you can visualize it, its like a steel bar cut on a diagonal, looking king of like a T and a face) and while each man is an individual, each one is lost as well. Even last night, we had some great talks, and I am thankful for the chance to be staying at her house and representing Christ.

Being back in Italy, I am reminded of the pervasive feeling of lostness and hopelessness inherent in Europe. Particularly in Italy, there is the sense of mistrust among many people I meet, that nothing is ever sound outside of the normal, that nothing is safe beyond familiar. I see this countered by the missionaries on this team. In their interactions with people, they carry a light that I have not seen among many missionaries in Italy. They bring a message of hope, whether it is at the cafè or the loading dock, and they shine the light of Christ wherever they go. I have so much to learn here, and I am excited to get going. Today has already started, and we've been moving boxes full of evangelical calendars around. It's a good day, and I'm thankful. Keep praying for hope and victory, that I would rest in Christ and that we would be a light to the people around us. Also, I am the youngest one on the team, but I am told there is a (youth) group, individuals between 20 and 35. Pray that I will make strong contacts there and that I will step out of my comfort zone and be a light. In Christ, we are more than conquerors; I'm holding to that.

b