Just a song

quoting a song by Jon Foreman:

Heavenly Father you always amaze me

Let your Kingdom come in my world and in my life

Give me the food I need to live through the day

and forgive as I forgive the people that wronged me

Lead me far from temptation deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window

the birds are composed

not a note is out of tune or out of place

I walk to the meadow and stare at the flowers

that would dress any girl on her wedding day

Why should I worry? why do I freak out?

God knows what I need, You know what I need

Your love is your love is your love s is strong

your love is your love is your loves is strong

your love is your love is your loves is strong

The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing

invade my heart invade this broken town

the kingdom of the heavens is burried treasure

would you sell yourself to buy the one your found

two things you told me that your are strong and you love me

yes you love me

Your love is your love is your loves is strong

your love is your love is your loves is strong

your love is your love is your loves is strong

Our God in heaven hallowed be thy name is above all names

your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

give us today our daily bread forgive us weary sinners

keep us far from our vices and deliver us from this prison

Stuff

As we just moved from a home into a small apartment less than a month ago, we had to downsize our belongings quite a bit.  When we move to Italy on January 6, 2010, we'll have to downsize even more.  At times like these we realize how much "stuff" we've got.  I recently heard a poem about stuff that I'd like to share with you.

Stuff, by Don McCaleb

I got stuff.

Good stuff.  Happy stuff.

Successful, sensational, recreational, relaxational stuff.

Mac stuff, PC stuff, I-stuff.

Fun fashion, cool cash and fast action.

Rocket ships and chocolate chips.

Stuff with crosses, Christian fishes.

Stuff beyond my wildest wishes.

And you can't take my stuff.

My stuff is the needle that drops to the vinyl

to start the party and spin the spiral.

My stuff immediately, impressively, incessantly

illuminates my import,

and by stuff is loud.

It commands respect and you can't neglect

when my stuff says, "I have arrived, And this is what I'm all about!"

My stuff identifies me.

And I

identify

with my

stuff.

My stuff is so high you can't get over it,

so wide you can't get round it.

You can't handle my stuff!

My stuff is the needle that tattoos my skin,

signifying the significance of who I am.

I got stuff.

Stuff from my past...

that follows me around

like some run-down evangelist-carnival caravan

that keeps coming to town.

In the amusement-park dark

swaggering saints from the shadows shout my shattered story,

selling sacred success-souvenirs and seductive soul-sideshows.

Their slanted slogans solicit me, slander me, compel me.  Tell me

fortunes I regret that I can't forget.

And seeking grace I surrender to the stuff-spell,

but it conjures no confession, no communion;

just a constant carousel of clamor

that casts out the quiet and the questions,

So I don't have to hear my heart...beat.

My stuff is a Ferris wheel that takes me up to the top

and drops me right back down again.

But after a while I twist and I spin,

and I want off,

but the ride never stops.

I got stuff.

Right now

my stuff is an elevator straight to the penthouse floor!

But sometimes,

no matter what number I push,

I can't seem to open the door.

You can't handle my stuff.

My stuff is the needle that injects my vein,

and it's warm like a fever and it spreads like a stain

and it itches, and I scratch, and I dig

til it burns like a blaze.

But all I have in my hands is gasoline,

and I can't stop the flame.

I got stuff.

You can't handle my stuff.

You can't take my stuff.

Can You?  Take my stuff?

Dimmi Tutti (dee-mee too-tee)

My favorite phrase is one that I hear at least ten times a day. And I love it. It means, "tell me everything!" ...when I am stumbling through a tough question and can't find the words to ask for a word I need in class, Enrico says, "Dimmi tutti." When I walk into a shop and don't know exactly what I'm looking for, the sweet old man says, "Di mi tutti." When I sit down with a new friend she says, "Di mi tutti."
There's something about it that says I'm Ready To Listen To You.

Tocati

Every September, Verona hosts a street game festival. It's like something I've never seen before. Think of the best fair you've ever been to: games, food, stands where you buy things you don't need. Then turn it up about two notches and add 30 or so more games. Now sprinkle it all over the city. And make it free.
Every year they choose a country's heritage to celebrate. This year, it's Greece. So, there are Greek games and Italian games. Some very traditional with traditional garb and some modern games. Some are for children and some are for adults. This picture is of some sort of wresting game. There were instruments that looked like wooden flutes that sounded like bagpipes playing.
The streets are full of people wondering from game to game. So fun! My favorite one to watch was some number game. The men sat around a table and would yell out numbers while doing some sort of hand gestures. They obviously knew when they lost and the next person would play. It was in fast forward. Anyone could play. Maybe I'll sit in next year.

The Simple Life

Friday afternoon my beautiful new cabinets were installed in my kitchen. I am so thankful for all the people in Italy who made that happen as well as my supporters in America. I really am pleased with them.
But... somehow I'm already missing the old kitchen. The one with the ironing bored set up as the counter. The one with the little outdoor plastic table that wobbled when you looked at it and was too low to sit at as a "table". The one where Giacamo knocked over a bottle and spent forever mopping the floor. The one where Yuko quickly and diligently rolled her sushi. The one where I demonstrated the art of making an Italian cappuccino via Skype to San Antonio. The one where I sat on the floor on a rainy day picking out furniture.
It's like when my parents reminisce about being so poor that they could only afford beans when they first got married. And how their early apartments were so very tiny...
Because those memories are so very sweet. They are the first ones - the ones that make you realize that it will be OK... the ones where you are so in love nothing matters except being together... the ones that make you realize that you don't need a utensil drawer to have a great evening.
You just need great people... and a little bit of slowing down to enjoy what is around you... and a heart that's ready to dive into every experience that comes your way.
And the truth is that those things still can happen with a kitchen full of beautiful cabinets.

Augustus' Holidays

Tomorrow is a holiday in Italy. It's a big one. In fact, it is often coupled with the fact that it is the end of summer and people take lots of vacation in August. August 15th is called "Ferragosto". It is also known as "festa dell'assunta", or Feast of the Assumption (of Mary). The catholic church believes that Mary, the mother of Jesus, did not die, but instead was "taken up", from the Latin word: assumptio).

Before the catholic church however, the Roman Empire used this day to honor the gods and the cycle of fertility and ripening. The name, Ferragosto, comes from its original Latin name, Feriae Augusti (Festivals of the Emperor Augustus).

I walked through town today and noted all the shops that were closed and/or closing for Ferragosto. Most stores that were closed, did so for more than just Saturday. Several took the week off and many took two. I saw two places that closed for one whole month. In Ancona, one of our favorite restaurants closed for two months!!!

Tonight, Angie went into the 'centro' (main center of town) and strolled. There were people everywhere which was not terribly uncommon on any given night of the week. We did catch a Rockabilly/Blues concert in one area that was part of a two day holiday celebration. After walking around some more, we stopped and had a crepe. So delicious. A crepe is like a very thin pancake and they put all sorts of wonderful toppings on it. We tried a new place. Angie had a crepe with a chocolate nut spread and bananas. I had one with berry jam, bananas and cream. Good stuff. Happy Ferragosto everybody!

For more on...
The Assumption of Mary

On the Street Where I Live

I love the street we live on. It is a pretty tree lined street. The trees reach up from both sides and cast a cool shadow over us on hot summer days. You don’t even need to wear your sunglasses as you walk! The trees have a mix of yellow and green leaves and most days yellow leaves are on the ground. It has a feeling of fall with leaves falling and it is a constant reminder that cooler days of my favorite season are just around the corner. We try to take our dog, Brinkley, for a walk each day and lots of days we walk up and down this street. We are almost always stopped by someone who wants to pet him or play for a minute. Sometimes we run into a neighbor and we stop for a chat.

There are a few little coffee shops and as you walk by you get a whiff of rich Italian coffee. The tables outside are almost always full of people sitting and chatting. It is a neighborhood street and so everyone is out either running errands or just out for a nice walk. You see moms with their kids and strollers, other dog walkers and others carrying home their groceries. I always feel revived after our little walks. I always come home feeling part of a community. God knew what He was doing when He chose this apartment and this street for us to live on!

Daily Life

A note I received:
OK, no hurry to answer me back...but have my top 10 questions for you: 1) Do they have WalMart in Italy? If not, how do you buy groceries? for example different vendors per item or what? 2) Do they sell dogfood? 3) How is the cost of living compared to the US? 4) Electricity go out often? 5) Do they have heat? A/C? 6) Broadband internet or dial-up? 7) Easy street signs (if you can read them, that is), or confusing chopped up streets? 8) Laundrymats? 9) How do you buy shoes there? OK, I know you go in and give money...but vendor, big store, what? 10) Toiletries the same? shampoo, conditioner, soap, tootpaste, etc. They are kind of funny questions, but ones I'm wondering about over and over in my head...lol. Some of them might be a cute story when you find out the answers :) Bonus question: What, so far, has been your biggest (happiest) surprise as far a living necessities??

My answers:
1. There aren’t Wal-Mart stores here, but there are big “box” stores on the outskirts of the city. However, they aren’t exactly convenient. There’s an Ikea an hour away, and I’m contemplating taking the train there, but physically carrying everything home is a whole other story! So, I make little trips to neighborhood stores on foot or on my bike. Electronics, appliances, hardware, clothing and groceries are really close. These are tiny! The grocery store is about the size of a Dollar General . There’s a bigger one close to Matt and Angie’s and a super big grocery store is only a quick bike ride away. If I’m walking, I take a cart like thing; basically a bag on wheels. I’m trying to practice sticking close to my house and buying things only as I need them. At the end of my road there is a fruit and veggie market. I go there almost every day. They call me “Dear”. The gentleman at the small electronic/appliance store (where I got my phone, alarm clock, mixer, etc…) calls me “Sweetie”. Anyway, back to the veggies – I try to buy something fresh for dinner every day.
2. Yes, they sell dog food. And cat food. There are even pet stores. Dogs are allowed in restaurants here.
3. It’s so expensive. I can’t explain it. I’ve heard about it – but it actually living it is something so different. Plus, you have to deal with charges from the bank. With those and the exchange rate when you spend 1 Euro, you’re really spending $1.50. At least. Things like plastic shoe boxes (which I’m itching for) are about $5 each. Crazy. Even q-tips are expensive. In Haiti we lived in “bulk” and I always had a closet filled with the year’s supply of toilet paper, shampoo, etc. So, it’s a whole new world for me to shop for things I need at the moment.
4. Perfect Electricity! Although you can only use one major appliance at a time. I don’t mind it at all.
5. My condo (it’s really called that) has radiators. I’m really hoping they work well! I don’t have air-conditioning but some people have it for their bedrooms. I did invest in strong fans and am thankful for them. My house has 4 French doors and the room without them has a huge window. So, things stay relatively nice.
6. I have a little USB thing that let me get the internet. This is great for being around town. There aren’t many places with free wifi. And it helped while I waited for the internet in my house, which came yesterday. As for what kind of internet, that is beyond my understanding. A cord goes from the wall to a box that looks like an insect and then I can have internet all over my apartment, unless I’m in the far corner of my dining room. Then, I have to go back to the USB cord because the wireless is too slow.
7. Street signs? When it comes to riding my bike, I’m just guessing at what I’m supposed to do. If I see someone riding the wrong way on a one-way street, I do it too. I don’t know if I’m supposed to obey all the traffic rules or not. I do have a little cheat sheet I found in a tourist book which I probably should sit down with and poor over.
8. There’s a Laundromat right down the block. However, I have a washer. I love it! I can do laundry any time I want to! It’s the first time in my life. I know this is a silly thing, but I take great joy in it. I need to confess something here: I had a housekeeper in Haiti and I so very much appreciate all that she did. Wow! And my sister really took care of my laundry when I was in the States. So, this infatuation with the washer might be short lived, but for now, love it. I have a dryer which is kind of a rare thing here. Most people hang their clothes out to dry. I chose to spend the money for it because I knew that keeping a house for the first time would be an overwhelming task and that this was one way I could make my life easier. Plus, when language school starts on top of all my normal things… I’m so thankful for it. It does work differently than those in the States. It doesn’t have a vent to the outside. Instead it somehow sends the water from the clothes to a tank at the bottom which you have to empty after every load.
PS. I got a dishwasher, too! Spoil me rotten!
9. I haven’t tried to buy shoes, yet. But there are normal shoe stores. There’s even Footlocker. I don’t know how the sizing differs. I haven’t even bought clothes, yet. I’m going to have to this fall, though.
10. You can get great toiletries here. You can find things like Dove and more expensive brands. They do have lots of stores with really, really expensive things. But, at the grocery store you can find the kind for $1.50.
Bonus:
My biggest surprise has been glass jars. I am loving being a homemaker! I love cleaning and organizing and taking care of my pitiful plants on the balcony. And I’ve loved being in the kitchen. Instead of using Tupperware, I’ve been using glass jars which aren’t too expensive. AND, I’ve started canning! Yesterday I canned salsa and chicken tortilla soup. Fun, fun! But, I use the jars for flower vases and for pencil holders… everything!
Which reminds me, about my flowers. Which, I feel like are a household living necessity. And the one thing that is relatively cheap. The flower market comes to my block every Friday morning. This week I have lilies and hydrangeas. The hydrangeas are on my dining table. The lilies are in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

You Just Never Know, Do You?

A few months ago my mom mentioned to a family friend that I was planning on getting a bicycle when I arrived in Italy. "Well, is she practicing now?" Ummm... no. I mean, how hard can it be if the idiom "it's like riding a bike" means that something is really easy to pick up? A few more people suggested that I go ahead and start riding in America and another family friend loaned me a bike.
So, whoever coined the idiom mentioned above, was not watching me and was definitely taking their life in my hands by walking in front of my oncoming bike.
Dave, my personal expert bike-riding trainer, started me off well. Smooth pavement. Nice park with shading trees. And then up a nice little hill (which I couldn't peddle up) and a little bend to the right and we were in the wilderness. Gravel terrain with big ole loose rocks. Didn't I see little stick cross memorials from where all the bikers had died? The trees reached out to poke my face and my arms and grab a hold of my hair. But, I survived and only a little blood was spilled.
Wait? Wasn't my plan just to ride in Italy to the little market down the street? To language school a mile away? Shouldn't I be practicing on sweet little closed courses where all I had to pay attention to were the birds singing in the trees?
Another time we went to a park that was being developed. This time, Dave researched it. He even watched a youtube video describing it as a perfect place for beginners. That would be me. Well, the real meaning of "a park that is being developed" is that it's undeveloped. There was a little trail that ran through the undevelopedness. Little. Sometimes dirt. Sometimes gravel. Sometimes loose rock.
At one point the trail turned sharply and we found ourselves on a little embankment. It felt like a dam but there was no water anywhere in sight. The trail was about 2 inches wide. OK, I may be exaggerating a little bit. It was about 6 inches wide. If Dave argued that it was a foot wide, I'd fight him on it. Anyway, the point is, that there was a little trail on top of this little dam like thing and I was still a horrible bike rider. I was just about to say, "I can't do this" as I tried to grab hold of a branch to stop the bike. Why wouldn't I just grab onto the breaks? Who knows. The branch did not do it's job and somehow I ended up flipping over to the left. Flipping. Yes. Really. I promise. So I was flipping and laughing.
This was one time I'd like to have a video camera following me. It was one of the most death-defying acts I'd ever performed and no one was there to see it! Dave was in front of me at the time, so by the time he was able to stop his bike and chase down the hill after me, I was already at my twisted resting place. He untangled the bike and my limbs and any of the branches that had hitchhiked for the adventure. He had pure terror on his face. And I could only laugh. What a good story this would make.
I think I'm going to have life-long scars on my right ankle. And I think I really traumatized Dave. From then on, it was only cement trails. But, it all made me a stronger rider. More agile. More in control. More comfortable.
Today I rode my new Italian bike into the center of town. To get there, I had to ride on a busy street that is in major construction. Speedy little Italians rushed by in their speedy little cars, which don't seem so little when you feel like one swirv (yours or theirs) and you'd be a goner. Finally I arrived in the center of town. I do live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's old Italian as old Italian should be. Cobble stone streets (super bumpy). Marble streets (super slick!). Large blocks of stone streets (jarring!). Tiny, tiny little streets. With all those crazy Italian drivers.
So, I did need all my off-roading, crazy trail training after all. Who knew? I'll give you one guess.

"No, wait!"

Earlier this week I heard a message on the radio by Dr. Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries. In his message he was talking about waiting on God. This was exactly what I needed to hear. At the time I was feeling rather frustrated and discouraged. I'm thrilled that Matt and Angie and April are there in Italy already. So very thrilled! But, another part of me, I found, was feeling a bit disgruntled and unhappy. *I* want to be in Italy! But, then I heard Dr. Stanley's message and it spoke directly to me. He said, "Sometimes when God says, "Wait," we hear, "No." I will be honest with you, this period in my life -- this past year and eleven months -- has been one of the longest "waiting" periods in my life and sometimes Ann and I have both wondered if God was really saying "no" rather than "wait." But, we have not heard Him say "no," nor are we expecting it. We have been called to cross-cultural evangelism. We know Italy is the place God has for us at this time. We are pushing ahead and working to get to Verona, even while we "wait" on Him and His perfect timing. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)

Getting To Know Verona

April arrived a little over a week ago and we have gotten her moved into her new apartment. We are finally starting to get things set-up and stabilized here in our own apartment. As we have been getting settled you can imagine the numerous trips around town we have had to make. What that has done has shown us parts of the city that we may not have seen otherwise. It finally feels like we are getting to know the side streets. The streets that locals use, as opposed to the numerous tourists that are here in the summer, but predominately during the summer. Angie and April went out for coffee and while they did that I walked all over the downtown center. In Italy, the 'centro' or center of the city is really just that. It is the heart of the city. Most Italians that live in Verona will go often to the centro, because that is where life starts in Verona. Shakespeare describes the reverse this way...

There is no world without Verona walls, But purgatory, torture, hell itself.
Hence-banished is banish'd from the world, And world's exile is death.
—William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene iii

Whew, that's a little rough. In softer words, nothing is out there that is not better found here. God provided a great location for us to live in Verona. It is within a 30 second walk to a major Verona bus stop which sits in front of the main hospital. There are eleven buses that arrive and leave from this stop. That makes it very convenient to go to certain places in Verona. And we are very thankful for that.

This weekend I had a car accident. I looked down for just a moment, looked up and saw the cars in front had slammed on their brakes because of a crossing ambulance. I never heard the siren nor saw the ambulance. I slammed into the back of the car in front of me, which in turn hit the car in front of it. My car had the most damage. The front bumper, hood, headlights and at least the radiator internally are busted up. It happened on July Fourth, Independence Day! It also happened on a street named after the Italian who discovered America, Cristiforo Colombo Way. We prayed yesterday that this week we would find someone honest and trustworthy to do the repairs. We also prayed that it would be inexpensive. And we prayed that looking for a mechanic might give us a chance to better know our neighbors. This morning as we were heading out, our next door neighbors were leaving also. I asked Giovanni if he knew of any good mechanics. He replied that he did and since I didn't know where I was going, he would go with me! That is a great opportunity to spend time with one of our neighbors, and very generous on his part.

One thing we have found is that the people of Verona are incredibly helpful, even going out of their way to be so. Ask a cafe owner where a store is and she might pull out the phone book herself, look for the number, go outside and point you the way. Or ask a self proclaimed wind-surfing employee at a hardware store where are the best spots are on Lake Garda, and he might just draw you a map, pointing out the sights along the way and remember your name next time you go in! The people of Verona are very kind, helpful and courteous. We pray that those who don't know about having a relationship with Christ, will seek Him and come to have an abundant life with Him.

Here's to exploring the city some more......

Finally

So, after two years and almost six months of planning, recruiting, praying, preparing, raising awareness and training we are finally in Verona. We have been here a week today. I've been sick (read more about that here) for the entire week, so we haven't been able to do everything that we thought we would do, but we have done many things. We have got to meet a few area merchants or pizzeria owners. We have been exploring the streets around our apartment building by visiting stores, looking in windows and walking through neighboring streets. We have been getting our apartment set up, very slowly due to me being sick. Our rental agency has been great, going way above and beyond what we ever expected. They are making sure all problems are taken care of. So this week we have met Marco, and air conditioner repairman, a plumber (whose name we don't know yet) and at some point we are supposed to be meeting an electrician. In two months, all of this will be a faint memory.

Weather Wonderings

I have this little widget on my computer that tells me the current weather and forecast for a couple of locations. The first is here in Tulsa. I check it each morning to decide what to wear. Long sleeves or short sleeves, jeans or capri’s. Here in Oklahoma the weather is back and forth.

The other location is Verona, Italy. I have been watching the temperatures stay a lot more steady than they do in Oklahoma. This morning I got up to see that the temperature in Verona is 90 degrees. When I clicked on the widget to open it up and see the next few days it shows we can expect the temperature to climb as high as 97 degrees! It’s only May!

I think I understand why our new apartment in Verona has two air conditioners. Mamma Mia, che caldo!!!

Fast Food Mexican Food??

Okay, okay, I know what you are thinking.....Mexican food in a country that is known for it's pasta and pizza dishes??? Well, I do love Italian food, however, anything done in overabundance can get monotonous and overdone. So, we definitely like to look for alternatives. Since, Mexican food is one of our favorites, it seemed natural to do a search for "cibo messicano" (Mexican food). One of the first things I saw was a Italian franchised fast food restaurant called "Avogados - Mexican food takeaway". Now, we have learned to not go into new restaurants with false hope, so we are holding out final judgment until next month, when we can go check it out for ourselves.....but the website looks amazing. You can check it out here, but it is in Italian so you may not understand much of it. The pictures look great though. Here's to Italian tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas!

Sounds of the Bridges of Verona

Here is another video that has 'sounds' from the various bridges in Verona. It helps you imagine the people crossing them, as well as the life that is passing by. Take a moment and pray for the souls that are behind the sounds you hear.

* Drivers of cars
* Children
*Adults
*Bicycles
* etc.....

Verona Video

If you want to see some good video of Verona, check out this video from YouTube.....

Borgo Trento - Trento Neighborhood

Borgo literally means "Burg" or rather neighborhood in Italian. Trento is a city in Italy, but is also the name of a neighborhood in Verona. As we have been looking at different areas of the city in which to live, we had determined that we did not want to live in the historic center of the city. The buildings are amazing and beautiful there. There is also lots of options of things to do. The problem is that because there are so many tourists in Italy, the shopkeepers in the historic area assume that if you are a foreigner that you are a tourist. Who wants to invest time in friendships that you assume are with people that are leaving because they are tourists? So, we wanted to go to a calmer, less touristy part of town. Also, we wanted somewhere that was true Verona. In looking for an apartment, there is a neighborhood, that somehow had not stuck out very much before. It is Borgo Trento. With the potential of our ministry launching near where we live, we continued to consider the spiritual characteristics of the city. There are no evangelical works in Borgo Trento of which we are aware. And of course, as we have written about before, only six percent of Italians consider themselves practicing, and eighty-five percent does not attend mass nor confession not even once throughout the year. Not sure, if this is the neighborhood where we will live or not. But as the prospect grows, our excitement quickens. Soon, we should have a better idea of where we will live, if not the actual address of our new apartment!

Beryl Sloneker, 1917-2009

Then another man stood before you, he said "Remember the time,
A missionary came to your church, His pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money but you gave it anyway.
Jesus took that gift you gave
And that's why I'm in Heaven today

Last week I went to the hospital to see Mrs. Sloneker, a 91 year-old prayer warrior. She was curled up weary from heart failure and years of waiting to go Home. As soon as she heard my name she asked, “When are you going to Italy?” Her daughter was shocked at her mental clarity. She knew. She had been praying and she knew exactly what God was doing. She died that night. Today I went to her memorial service. The last song sung was, “Thank You” by Ray Boltz. As we watched a slide show we saw pictures of people around the world. They were miscellaneous people until one of them was me. I was surrounded by some of my Haitian children. Later, I found out that those pictures were of people the Sloneker family loved and prayed for.
A year ago today many of you began your commitment to pray for the work God is going to do through me in Verona, Italy. It’s coming. I am preparing my application for a Religious Worker Visa. I’m buying a one-way ticket. The real estate agent is looking for the right apartment. If God is not in these things, they are in vain. Thank you for praying. I need you. The people in Verona need you.