Go Verona News

This World is Not My Home...and Neither is Pandora!

2010-02-11T01:47:00.001+01:00

I recently saw James Cameron's movie, Avatar, and loved it! One of the things I liked best was how the main character, Jake Sully, became a part of the Na'vi tribe. Even though he was an alien and different, he was accepted.

There were times when I felt that acceptance in China, especially back in 1989 when we first went there, but in our six years there, never a day went by without a reminder that I was a "lao wai" -- an outsider.

Now that we are heading to Italy, I'm hoping that things will be different. But, to be honest, I'm not hopeful. I don't think I'll get stared at quite as much when I walk down the street. I hope I won't get pick-pocketed or robbed by butcher-knife wielding drug addicts simply because I'm a foreigner. But, I anticipate that, even there in Italy, I will always be an "outsider."

Even here in America, I often feel a bit of an outsider. Yes, even in my home country.

And, that's the crux of the matter. It's not my home. Philippians 3:20, 21 says, "...our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who...will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Who needs to be an Avatar, when our transformed bodies will be so much more glorious than even what James Cameron can make!) When I get to Heaven and the New Earth, then -- and only then -- will I be home and no longer an outsider. I will be accepted -- and by the One by whom I really want to be accepted! That's what I'm really hoping for!

Counting the Cost

2010-02-08T14:57:00.003+01:00

I have been on a soup kick... which of course means that I have been on a bread kick. Instead of just making it, the other day I went to a shop down the street. The three small loaves cost me one euro. And they were good. Not the best I've ever had - but definitely not the worst. Ah, but for a euro it was a good buy.

I think about our access to The Bread of Life. How in Him we find truth and purpose, hope and peace. And it really is amazing that it all is free. Or is it? living sacrifice, lay down your life, carry your cross... why do we gloss over the real cost? How dare we cheapen the most precious of gifts by saying it costs nothing. It costs everything. Absolutely everything. But the investment comes back ten fold times ten fold.

Frog

2010-01-26T21:49:00.002+01:00

I came across a card I had sent to John many years ago. It had been reprinted from Faith at Work magazine. It seemed so appropriate then and it does now also. So I am sharing it here.

Ever feel like a frog? frogs feel slow, low, ugly, puffy, drooped, pooped. I know. One told me. The frog feeling comes when you want to be bright but feel dull. You want to share but are selfish. You want to be thankful but feel resentment. You want to be big but are small. You want to care but are indifferent. Yes, at one time or another each of us has found himself on the lily pad floating down the river of life. Frightened and disgusted, but too froggish to budge.

A Fairy Tale- Once upon a time there was a frog. But he wasn't really a frog. He was a prince who looked and felt like a frog. A wicked witch had cast a spell on him. Only the kiss of a beautiful young maiden could save him. But since when do cute chicks kiss frogs? So there he sat- unkissed prince in frog form. But miracles do happen. One day a beautiful maiden grabbed him up and gave him a big smack. Crash-boom-zap! There he was- a handsome prince. And you know the rest. They lived happily ever after.

Observation- So what is the task of the church? To KISS FROGS, of course.
Wes Seelinger

So go find a frog...or two!

Waiting In Hope

2010-01-12T17:09:00.002+01:00

I have a friend from Brazil. Today we were trying to explain the difference between waiting and hoping. Apparently in Portuguese there is no difference.

And why should there be? If I am waiting on the Lord, aren't I hoping in Him? I have been thinking a lot about Romans 15:13 where God is called The God of Hope.

It's so easy to let our waiting be just ambling along without purpose and joy. What if it we thought about it as hoping instead?

Hmmm... what are we waiting for?

To Do What?

2010-01-11T15:48:00.002+01:00

I have a big Write-On/Wipe-Off board in m office with the title "The Big To-Do". It contains a perpetual To-Do list. Each task is under a certain topic: mail, blog, cleaning, budget, etc... Our team has fancy web-based tools to help me be organized, but I really, really love that I get to erase this board. And that the white space keeps getting bigger. Well, until the end of the month. Anyway, on my boar I have some dates listed. In front of them it says: Reminder.
Remind who? Remind them of what? How can I remind them of something I can't remember and don't know why I'm reminding them of it? See how confusing it gets?
What good is this task written on my board if I don't know what it means?
And that's exactly why God gave us Paul. Jesus said "Love." Paul tells us exactly how to do that. Encourage one another and build each other up. Carry each other’s burdens. Honor one another above yourselves. Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Don’t seek your own good, but the good of the other person. Comfort each other. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Maybe we need to sit down and make the to-do list a little more detailed.

The Love Seat

2009-12-28T12:50:00.002+01:00

I'm sitting in the Munich airport, on a very long lay-over. I'm on a couch that's not too shabby. There's one facing me. And in the last several hours it has been both seat and bed to several people. Now there's two teen aged sisters sitting with their blond haired-blue-eyed parents. The mom is curled up with her head on the dad's lap. Her shoes are off. One sister has her head on the other's shoulder. The dad is listening to his ipod but he's fallen asleep too. They all are breathing the deep breaths of just sitting after hours of rushing. I wonder where they came from? Where they're going?
I'm mesmerized by love these days. The pretty shapes of couples giggling in each other's ears. The sweet shapes of an old man shuffling next to his old wife, each barely holding one another up. And here. This family. This tired family full of stories and purpose and joys and aches that I will never know.

Brava!

2009-12-28T12:27:00.004+01:00

My friends from our sister team in central Italy came this weekend. Although I was very intimidated to speak Italian in front of them, the little I did brought great amusement to them. I speak with an "dialect" they tell me - a Northern one! Like a Veronese. Every time I think about it, I'm just tickled. That I belong here. That this is home. That this is my language. I don't even know how to say the word "dialect"... maybe dialecto? Anyway, if I did know how to say it, it would sound like I am from Verona. And that's a really, really good thing.

Winter Solstice

2009-12-21T08:57:00.002+01:00

Seasons. Except for my college years, I have never lived where there were dramatic seasons. And in Verona - there are dramatic seasons. I haven't minded the winter like I thought I would - but I am celebrating today. It's the shortest day of the year. I'm so thankful. Not that I really want a short day today - but I do want, and even need - a longer one tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that.

I googled "Winter Solstice" today so that I could truly understand it to celebrate it in a real way. Umm... I didn't understand a lick of the Wikipedia article. But that won't stop me from celebrating!

And what a good reminder that I don't have to understand everything about the Lord in order for me to really celebrate Him. I don't understand how He can be omniscient or omnipowerful... or even how He could love me when I'm so full of sin. But I don't have to get the details. I just need to trust that tomorrow there will be more light.

Dirty Stables: God's Prefered Choice

2009-12-17T20:31:00.001+01:00

Is your stable clean or dirty?

A friend recently told me how he came across Proverbs 14:4: 'Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."

We would love to have a showroom home. Picture-perfect lives. A "clean stable," if you will. But the only way to have a clean stable is to get rid of the oxen in our lives. That is, our lives would be more managable and attractive, perhaps, if:

I lived and worked in the US, so that we could own a large home, two cars, etc.
Ann worked outside the home
We sent our kids to public school
My office wasn't in the middle of our living room
Ann's workspace didn't double as our dining room table
We weren't always moving
etc.

As attractive as our stable might be, it would still be a stable and its purpose wouldn't be fulfilled.

So, for that reason, we are so glad we have a dirty stable, full of oxen, so that we can reap a large harvest, because...

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." -Jesus

Going through Hell

2009-12-01T20:44:00.000+01:00

Recently, I was looking through our old newsletters from our time of preparation to go to China. I had recorded there an account of a little girl who said, "You know, if you dug through the Earth to get to China, you'd have to go through Hell first." At the time, I really knew what she meant. Sometimes, it felt like we were "going through Hell" to get to China.

As any good Christian geophysicist knows, you don't have to go through Hell to get to Italy, but I think we get close sometimes! But, during this last sprint to arrive in Italy on January 7th, we have certainly felt the presence of the evil one. We know what to do in those situations, though.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." (James 4:7)

Amen!

A Poco A Poco

2009-11-30T13:49:00.003+01:00

Language learning happens little by little... and it seems like forever. Which is exactly how long it will take. I've been speaking English for 31 years (for the first three I refused to speak) and just recently have learned two new English words.
But this isn't about English.
It's about Italian.
Sometimes I feel like I just don't know anything.

A few years ago, a friend gave me one of those Tear Off A Page calendars. Every page had an Italian phrase or idiom on it with a tiny translation in English under it. I remember not knowing anything that whole year.
One came in the mail today. And as I browsed through it, I could translate them all - all by myself! Now I wouldn't have been to say them correctly - but I understood them perfectly. And that's more than I could do even four months ago.
Today I was trying to explain how (as some people believe) that sediment on the ocean floor became a rock formation in central Italy. I could do it. It was simple. It was as if a 2nd grader was saying it - but I could do it.
Little by little. Step by step. A piano a piano. A poco a poco.

Just a song

2009-11-05T18:21:00.004+01:00

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

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

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

2009-10-27T03:18:00.000+01:00

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)

2009-10-07T15:46:00.005+02:00

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

2009-09-26T12:33:00.003+02:00

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

2009-08-16T07:00:00.006+02:00

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

2009-08-14T19:34:00.003+02:00

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

2009-08-11T20:35:00.000+02:00

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

2009-07-24T08:13:00.000+02:00

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?

2009-07-14T12:10:00.002+02:00

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!"

2009-07-10T23:24:00.003+02:00

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

2009-07-06T11:49:00.004+02:00

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

2009-06-19T09:32:00.004+02:00

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

2009-05-23T17:39:00.001+02:00

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??

2009-05-05T06:30:00.003+02:00

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

2009-04-07T04:13:00.004+02:00

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

2009-04-06T21:43:00.004+02:00

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

Borgo Trento - Trento Neighborhood

2009-04-04T11:33:00.003+02:00

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

2009-04-02T00:18:00.001+02:00

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.

2009-04-01T18:28:00.003+02:00

Please pray for the spaghetti growers on the Switzerland-Italy border. They are at risk of losing this year's crop. Conditions are similar to the what they were in 1957. Please watch this short documentary and please remember to pray for these hard workers. Thank you.

Looking Forward...not Behind.

2009-03-13T21:22:00.006+01:00

As has been our habit for nearly two decades, we like to read aloud to our kids. The book I'm currently reading to them is one of my favorites. It's called Dove, which is also the name of the author's boat. It's written by and about Robin Lee Graham who sailed around the world single-handedly as a teen back in the 1960s. In it, he writes about some of the places he and his wife, Patti (whom he met and married during his five-year voyage) revisited:

"Sometimes, we backtracked Dove, but when we paid a return visit to a cove or beach it never looked as lovely the second time around. We'd find a lagoon that was really beautiful and return to it perhaps two days later, but the water was colder, the colors more subdued, the wildlife less interesting. After this had happened several times we learned not to look over our shoulder. It was the next place that mattered, the view around the next headland, the swim in the next lagoon."

We heard just a few days ago that our team leaders have received their needed support and have begun preparations to leave for Verona in early June. Fellow teammate, April, who likewise has her needed support in place, will follow a few weeks later. We are so thrilled and excited for them.

We have enjoyed our time in China and in the States. But, we are looking forward to the next cove, the next headland, the next lagoon. We are looking forward to Verona!

Matt, Angie, and April, we will join you there, soon!

Pre-Departure Stage Transition

2009-03-12T23:57:00.002+01:00

Angie and I have just announced that we are heading back to Italy in June, after receiving some new financial commitments this week. Read more about it at our blog at http://www.thecrossersblog.com.

You'll be seeing more about the process on here and in our updates. Send us your email if you would like to receive our updates!

In Christ,
Matt & Angie

Dry calls....

2009-02-20T20:42:00.005+01:00

When I got back from Colorado I was so pumped and ready to go to Italy right away. I am ready to pack my bags and go start learning Italian. It was such a rejuvenating time.

I got back and was bombarded by support raising. My bubble popped. I thought to myself, "It's going to be so much easier from now on to raise support!" Well, I think it is actually gotten harder, but I am more aware of what I'm doing and also know how to balance my days between language learning, fundraising and prayer and scripture time. (that's a BIG +)

Believe it or not, but there are 300 churches in Wichita, KS alone! Today I called about 10% of them. Yup, 30 churches. It was funny because by the 15th church I called, it started to be kind of fun and I noticed myself being more friendly and cheery about it.

This is what my dialogue was and I stumbled all over it, but I'm learning to communicate my message better...

"Hi! my name is Brandi Davis and I'm a missionary raising financial support. Is there a missions coordinator or pastor that I could talk to at your church?"

The receptionist would answer and say these following choices:

They are lay leaders
Let me find out who that is.. just one second
Our pastor is in charge of the missions
They are out of town, call back on Monday
Here is their email

So I got a lot of church homework cut out for me!

If they did not answer I left a message and said:

"Hi, my name is Brandi Davis and I'm a missionary raising financial support. (pause) I work for Team Expansion, which is a church planting missions organization based in Louisville, KY. I plan to go to Verona, Italy to start a church plant with 7 other team members. I would appreciate your call back. Please call my cell phone at 316-259-6044

Thanks and Have a great day!

I kind of sounded like a salesman despite the few hiccups, sneezes and long pauses because I forgot what to say.

I have learned that the connections that you have are only the beginning. There are millions of connections to many different churches, you just have to find them....

I found a whole lot today.

That was my adventure for today, which produced a headache and fatigue. The great thing about it is that I'm not scared of dry calls anymore! I actually like to do it; as weird as that may sound, it's true.

Just a minute ago a pastor of a church that I contacted called back and sounded interested! See.... connection!

I'm feelin' good:)

Distance from Verona to other Countries

2009-02-11T09:33:00.003+01:00

So, tonight before bed, I was playing around with Google Maps. Great fun, if you have never played with it. Unfortunately, there still are no "street level" photos of Verona, but I did check to see how close Verona is to other countries. By car, Verona is 2 hours and 24 minutes from Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. It is 3 hours and 35 minutes from Germany and Croatia. And it is 4 hours to France.

It is interesting to see how "close" a city in Northern Italy is to so many countries. Also, once the church is firmly established in Verona and multiplying in the surrounding areas think how close those new offshoots would be to neighboring borders! The Verona church could someday be the launching pad for Southern European mission endeavors!!! We must keep praying for the foundation of the church in Verona and for those to come to know Christ in a daily relationship.

Greetings from Colorado...

2009-01-24T22:11:00.007+01:00

Hi! We are currently attending MTI...which stands for Missionary Training International. It is located in Palmer Lake, Colorado. We are getting ready to begin week number 4 out of the 5 weeks we are going to be here. The first 2 weeks were a program called PILAT. It provides you with many techniques and tools to use when you are learning a new language. We found it helpful and will definitely apply it when we start learning Italian! We are now in a program called SPLICE. It's a pre-field training which focuses on strengthening your skills for cross cultural life and ministry. So far, we really like it and feel like it will be beneficial to us when we arrive on the field. We have also been thankful to attend the program with another member of our team, Brandi Davis. It's been so nice to see her everyday and get to know her better! We have also been able to spend some time with the The Blackburn family who live in nearby Colorado Springs.

Here are some pictures from our trip so far...

Mountains surrounding MTI

This is a little town we visited called Manitou Springs. It's located at the base of Pike's Peak.

Manitou Springs is known for their natural mineral springs. Their are about 12 located all through the town. We found this one and Brandi decided to try it out!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Hope everyone is having a great 2009!
-Brandon and Savannah Eaton

An "Easter Egg" in Michelangelo's Last Judgement

2009-01-10T19:40:00.004+01:00

As we are going to Italy and will be using art as a means of reaching out into the community, I have been studying some of the great Italian artists. Far and away, my favorite is Michelangelo. The works I like the best are his sculptures Pieta and David, and the scenes from the book of Genesis frescoed on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Another of his more interesting works of art is the painting, The Last Judgment, which is also in the Sistine Chapel right behind the pulpit, where the Pope stood to give Mass. During the project, the Pope's Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena, opposed the depiction of nude figures in the chapel. In response, Michelangelo worked da Cesena's semblance into the scene as Minos, judge of the underworld. (He's the demonic figure with the ears of a donkey in the lower right hand corner of painting.) Upset at this insult, he complained to the Pope telling him that Michelangelo had placed him in hell. The old Pope, who apparently had a sense of humor, is reported to have said, "That is too bad. If you were in purgatory, I could help you. But my jurisdiction does not extend to hell, so the portrait will have to remain."

While that is a funny story, the painting is not. It is, as its title declares, a depiction of the last judgment whereby Christ will separate those destined for a resurrected eternity with God and those destined for eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire with Satan and his demons. Because Hell is a real and literal place, we want to spread the Good News that there is an alternative to this place of agony -- the way to which God opened when He sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Lord, whether we are in the homeland of Michelangelo, or here in the "New World," help us to "snatch others from the fire and save them." (Jude 1:23)

Quoting a European

2009-01-02T16:57:00.003+01:00

Atheism is the main faith in Europe. If you believe in a religion of any faith you are laughed at.
-D.R.

Ov Ooo

2008-12-24T06:26:00.002+01:00

I spent the evening with my best friends and their two adorable children. The little guy is almost two and is just the cutest thing. Tonight we played the Love You game. He would jump from the ottoman into my arms and then we would say "Love You" to each other. Except his words sounded more like Ov Ooo. It was a delightful game, and even though it lasted a long time, I couldn't grow tired with it.

I loved watching him stand tall and "jump" to me. Well, he didn't really jump. He just leaned forward and I picked him up and lifted him high and swooped him to me.

Sometimes it feels like we're jumping - it's scary and it's hard and it's all we can do not to just give up and stay where we are. Yet, however wide the chasm seems, the Lord's arms are going to be there to swoop us to Him. He's not waiting to catch us when we land. He's carrying us through.

So, as we draw close to Him let's proclaim Ov Ooo and hear His love in return.

An Italian Benefit

2008-12-18T17:24:00.010+01:00

Here are some pictures from my fundraiser! It was a Christmas concert/art auction.

me playing the guitar

"The First Noel"

My table decorations

The Stage

"Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!"

All by candlelight

The Concert Goers

"The Musicians"

Italian Trivia

"Angels we have heard on high"

"Go tell it on the Mountain"

"Away in the Manger"

"Silent Night"

Ben on the violin!

These are just pictures of the concert. I also got it all on video! I'll put pictures of the art and of the wonderful food donated later!

Verona in pictures

2008-12-16T17:22:00.001+01:00

I was hunting up info on the annual nativity display in the arena and came upon this site. I don't have a lot of info on the photographer at the moment, but she has some really good pictures and some interesting info on Verona! So check it out-
http://veronadailyphoto.blogspot.com/ It's not quite a daily photo, but very frequent. Have fun exploring! Maybe we'll meet this lady someday!

Rest

2008-12-05T18:16:00.001+01:00

Last night was "Snuggle Night" at our house. Snuggle night has looked different through the years, but last night it meant that it was Bryan's turn to snuggle with Mama. As a result, I was relegated to his bed. In the past few weeks, I have grown increasingly dissatisfied with our waterbed and haven't rested well. Last night, in contrast, I slept as peacefully as the proverbial log and woke up rested and refreshed.

Sometimes, that's how I feel about our time in America and our upcoming time in Italy. I find myself growing more discontent here in America. I know that God is allowing this and that He is bigger than the oft accused "economy." I know that in His timing we will finally arrive in Italy and this time in America will fade like a dream upon waking. In any case, I know that once we do arrive in Italy, I will breathe a deep and restful sigh of peace.

Mumbled Thoughts

2008-12-04T04:58:00.002+01:00

Tonight I went grocery shopping. I started out tired - really tired. And when I'm tired, my thinking abilities go somewhere between Haiti and Texas. As I'm walking along, I find myself thinking and even speaking in Creole.

This will be the test of Italian... when I go out late at night, am I thinking in Italian?

Team Retreat - Day 01

2008-11-23T23:30:00.001+01:00

So, the National Missionary Convention ended this morning and our Team Retreat started this afternoon. It was a great first day, breaking the ice, doing some Team Building exercises and hearing from John & Judy Webb, Team Care Pastors. We are looking forward to a full day tomorrow and a half day on Tuesday. We'll post more pictures soon.

First Day with the Team - some pictures

2008-11-21T08:14:00.004+01:00

First Day with the Team

2008-11-20T23:56:00.001+01:00

First, Brandon & Savannah arrived last night. Then the rest of the team started arriving in waves today. Brandi arrived around 11:45 AM, April about 1 PM and John, Ann & their kids arrived around 1:30 PM or so. When the last of our team got there, our team was complete. We had a group prayer to start things off right. Then the Blackburns unpacked and it was off to downtown to set-up for the reception at the Doubletree Hotel. It was really cool to see our team working together to set up for the event. It was the first time that our team collaborated together on a project in person.

After setting up, we went to a Team Expansion meeting then dinner at Qdoba's on 15th, four blocks East of Peoria. After dinner we headed back over to the convention center, got our name tags and headed back over to the Doubletree banquet room for some final touches for the reception. People had already started arriving and it was 7:40 PM (it wasn't supposed to start until 8:30 PM). As the night went on, the people streamed in. Not sure what the final count was, but I wrote down the names of everyone I talked to, as well as few that signed the guest list that I didn't talk to and I came up with 85!!! So, assuming there were a few people who I didn't see, didn't remember or didn't sign the list we probably had 90-100 people come to the reception! That totally blew me away, I was hoping for maxing out the room with fifty, but thought maybe thirty or more would show up. It was very encouraging to see the support and interest about what God is doing and wants to do in Verona.

Team Arrivals

2008-11-20T05:03:00.002+01:00

In about ten minutes, the first wave of our team members are arriving in Tulsa for the National Missionary Convention. Brandon & Savannah Eaton are staying at our apartment tonight and with another family the rest of their time in Tulsa. More come tomorrow...we are excited!!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-19T21:23:00.003+01:00

So....how often do you celebrate Thanksgiving. Most Americans would say once a year. When we were in China this was one of our favorite holidays. We would get together with a lot of friends and just spend the day. We would eat and play and share our blessings with each other. We would thank our dear heavenly Father who gave us these gifts. Really, it wasn't much different than here....except it was usually 80+ degrees!

I learned something new the other day though and I realized that I celebrate Thanksgiving waaay more often. Do you know what the word Eucharist comes from? It comes from the Greek Eukaristos which means grateful and is often translated as thanksgiving. Some place way back when, the Lord's supper came to be called the Eucharist. That is the thanksgiving meal!

So every time you gather around the Lord's table for communion it's Thanksgiving time. I know I am certainly grateful for what those emblems represent; my salvation! God's grace, mercy, faithfulness, and goodness are well worth celebrating!

Just a'Swingin'!

2008-11-19T18:13:00.003+01:00

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease, That daring young man on the flying trapeze.

A trapeze artist has to do three things: Let go, wait, and be caught. Sometimes I feel like a trapeze artist. Especially these days.

I have let go of America. I have let go of China.

I am now waiting. Waiting for support to come in. Waiting to get to Italy. On a deeper level, waiting to be with my Lord in Heaven for all eternity.

All that is left is to be caught. Caught by the grip of my God who will carry me on to Italy and -- one day -- to Paradise!

In the meantime, Lord, help me to enjoy the adventure and to rest in the knowledge that you have never, ever failed me.

Surround Sound

2008-11-18T16:27:00.002+01:00

I recently bought a cheap surround sound set of speakers. There are (hold on, let me count) six speakers. I can't believe what a difference it makes. Right now I'm listening to Berliner Messe and I feel as if I'm sitting in the middle of a cathedral with the voices playing on the marble columns. I feel wrapped in sound. That's how I feel when I remember that hundreds of people are standing around us in prayer. Their voices are dancing under and over, twirling to the left and now the right. I feel delightfully secure.

Go Verona reception and prayer event 2008

2008-11-11T05:42:00.003+01:00

If you are going to be in Tulsa for the National Missionary Convention, we want to invite you to a special night with our team and ministry.

Our Verona Team is looking forward to having an informal gathering for all those involved with or interested in our team’s mission in Italy. It will be an opportunity to meet our entire team, pray for the Italian people and see how God has brought together a great support network. If you are a supporter, prayer partner, family member, friend, etc…. we hope to see you at the reception.

Where: At the downtown Tulsa Doubletree Hotel in the Gilcrease room; next door to the convention center.
When: During the National Missionary Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Thursday, November 20th at 8:30 PM immediately following the evening session.
** please email us or post here for details**

Grieving for the lost

2008-11-06T18:14:00.004+01:00

Read these three passages:

Matthew 7:1-3

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "

My job is not to judge, but to be gracious toward others for Christ is to us. Accountability toward other Christians must be done with love and compassion, not harsh judgement.

Galatians 4:19-20

"my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you."

Let us have passionate urgency for the lost in Verona! Let us pray for open hearts and convicted spirits for those who don't know Jesus. Having this mindset helps us steer away from spiritual pride.

Colossians 4:2-6

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ , on account of which I am in prison-that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best us of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

We must pray for wisdom in how we act around non-Christians, every moment with them is precious. Let our message be told with grace for it is a message of ultimate grace. If it is told in judgement, then the message could be interpreted as judgmental. These actions should be done with Christians as well to embrace spiritual integrity.

I love these verses for they convict, comfort and encourage me to be a gracious Christian filled with the message Christ's grace and truth. Prayer and accountability are essential in this area. The gospel message is a message of authenticity and grace that should not be tampered with by the messenger.

For the lost people of Verona, let us grieve with compassion and hope.

This is to my beloved Team!!

For Jesus,

Brandi Shea

National Missionary Convention

2008-10-14T04:14:00.002+02:00

In a little over a month, the National Missionary Convention will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our entire team will be in Tulsa for the convention and will be staying afterwards for a few days so that we can spend some time bonding as a team. This will be the very first time that our entire team will be in the same place at the same time. It will be a great time! During the convention we will be having a reception for all those who are connected with the Verona project. That means all team members, supporting personnel, Team Expansion staff, prayer partners, supporters, family members, etc.... In other words, if you are interested in the Go Verona project...we WANT you there!! We will be having a meet and greet with all team members, as well as a special time of prayer for the team and the mission in Verona. I will be hearing from the organizers for the convention this week, so I will be able to announce when the retreat is going to be and where at. It will be at either the Tulsa Convention Center OR the downtown Doubletree Hotel. We really want to see you there!!!! For more information about the National Missionary Convention check out their website at:
http://www.nmc-windows.org/nmc/tulsa__08

Departure Goal Extension

2008-10-14T04:05:00.004+02:00

On September 24, I wrote about the state of our team's preparedness to go to the field. All of our team members are doing their best, and God is bringing in funds and prayer partners to partner with us in our mission. As of the first of October, we are officially extending our time in the states until the end of March 2009. About a month later, those team members that are ready to depart will join us and we will help them in the transition process. At the end of December we will examine our team's state to determine if we are proceeding with the end of March departure date or if we need to add another extension. We appreciate your prayers as our team raises monthly financial support, special one time financial support and prayer partners. Check out my previous post here:
http://gonorthnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/time-between-times.html

If you would like to learn how to be a prayer partner or financial partner, just follow this link and you can learn how:
http://www.goverona.org/involvement.html

Thanks,
Matt & Angie Crosser

Here in the Midwest

2008-10-13T23:57:00.002+02:00

I've been looking at the pictures of Verona and studying them and I wish I could literally jump into the picture and be transported to Verona; kinda like the Matrix, but not as messy!

Good news from the Midwest, it is starting to feel like fall (my favorite season). Leaves are falling and cinnamon pine cones fragrant every store. In addition, I'm also learning some Italian.

My first phrase:

Io mi chiamo Brandi e vengo dagli stati uniti

(my name is Brandi and I'm from the United States)

My second phrase:

Come stai oggi?

How are you today?

I like Italian... from the two phrases I've learned, which isn't much I have become more eager to learn.

I'm not as talkative as I was the last post, but sometimes things need to be short and sweet. I'm applying that saying to this blog.

Some Interesting Facts about the Italian Language

2008-10-13T23:16:00.003+02:00

Hey, y'all! I have been racking my brain trying to think of what to blog about. Nothing. So, I'm sharing with you what I found on the Internet:

Some interesting facts about the Italian language

About the Italian Language
Standard Italian is spoken by Italy's 59 million residents, and is a minority language in Switzerland and Austria, as well as in Somalia, Libya, and Ethiopia, which were once Italian colonies. However, Italian pronunciation varies greatly from region to region. In Tuscany, for example, people who speak Italian pronounce "c" like an "h". Thus, "Coca-Cola con la cannuccia" (Coke with a straw) sounds more like "Hoha-Hola hon la hannuccia." These regional linguistic traits are easy identifiers of a person's hometown.

The modern language spoken in Italy today developed in the 13th and 14th centuries. It arose out of Latin and the numerous dialects of the region, and was heavily influenced by the works of Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch. Those literary giants wrote mainly in the Florentine dialect, which evolved into the so-called "Standard Italian" that is recognized today as the national language. In fact, Florence is the only Italian city today that does not have a distinct dialect separate from Standard Italian. In all other regions, it is common to hear dialects spoken, particularly among residents who have lived in the same town for generations. These dialects, vaguely similar to Italian but often unintelligible to people not born in the area, are living reminders of Italy's feudal past and the isolation of its various regions prior to unification.

Italian vocabulary has contributed many words to the English language over the years. Some of these include gondola, regatta, fresco, vendetta, broccoli, volcano, basilica, stucco, terracotta, and inferno. In music, one finds numerous Italian words, such as concerto, sonata, tempo, aria, allegro, staccato, andante, and lento.

False Friends!

With some studying and a good sense of humor, English speakers can usually learn Italian with relative ease. One thing to watch out for when you are learning Italian, though, is false cognates. Cognates are words that have approximately the same spelling and meaning in two different languages. There are many true cognate words in English and Italian, but there are also a number of Italian vocabulary words that can fool you by their false resemblance to English.

For example, the Italian word camera is not something you take pictures with; it actually means room. If you use the word morbido to describe something gruesome, you are really saying that it is soft. And if you ask for confetti at a party, you may be surprised when you are given sugar coated almonds. Above all, don't ask for peperoni on your pizza when you speak Italian - unless you want hot peppers!

Formal and Informal Address

When speaking Italian, as well as in writing, there are two forms of address: formal and informal. The formal is used to show respect and should be used when speaking with people outside of your circle of family and friends. For example, when you speak Italian to store clerks, waiters, bank tellers, teachers, and acquaintances you should address them with the formal "lei" form. Friends, family, children, and pets, on the other hand, may be addressed with the "tu" form. It is also customary for students and young people to use the "tu" form when they speak Italian among themselves, even if they are only passing acquaintances.

Italian Grammar and Italian Pronunciation
Italian is pleasing to the ear, even to those who do not understand a word of the language. It has a highly musical quality, which springs from the fact that all words end in a vowel, with the exception of a few articles, prepositions, and foreign words. The Italian language is also completely phonetic, meaning that every letter corresponds to a specific pronounced sound, making it relatively easy to learn Italian pronunciation and spelling.

Other aspects of the Italian language are more challenging for non-native speakers who are learning Italian. For example, the Italian verb conjugation can be complicated, and there are a multitude of irregular Italian verbs and irregular Italian nouns. Additionally, the rules regarding capitalization in Italian differ somewhat from those in English. For example, the days of the week and names of months are never capitalized. Also, when addressing someone formally in writing, personal pronouns and certain direct object pronouns are capitalized when they occur in the middle of a sentence-- conveying respect for the person addressed.

Regular practice is necessary to learn to speak Italian well.

Well, there you have it. I can't wait to begin learning!

Improved Italian, Fed the Hungry

2008-10-13T05:46:00.002+02:00

We found out the other day about a unique website through one of our kids' friends. It is called freerice.com and is run by the UN World Food Program. The game on the site is a series of multiple choice questions on various subjects- your choice. For each right answer the sponsors who donate will send 20 grains of rice to feed a hungry person somewhere. It doesn't take long for the 20 grains to add up (especially when you're on a roll!). The subjects range from English, Chemistry, multiplication, and geography to famous works of art and foreign languages, including Italian. So I can spend 10-15 min. a day working on vocabulary and help some needy folks at the same time! I can even familiarize myself with famous paintings/painters, which might be useful in an art outreach, and have some fun doing it! Hurray!!! (Heads up- Once you reach the highest level you just keep going, unless you make mistakes and then you drop. It doesn't really end, that I've noticed.) Check out the site. The UN isn't my favorite charity, by any means, but what I've read on the site so far looks pretty good. So here's the challenge- improve your mind and help someone out while doing it.

Jonah and His Manah

2008-10-12T22:01:00.002+02:00

Manah is a Hebrew word meaning provide, number, prepare, assign, appoint... it has the idea of weighing or counting out. Five M&Ms for you, seven for him, three for me. Something like that. After Jonah is thrown into the sea, God, with a saving and generous love, manahed a big fish to swallow him. A while later God manahed a plant to grow to give him shade. What grace! What joy! What peace! God is good!

And then God manahed a worm. A worm to eat the plant. And then He manahed "a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, 'Death is better to me than life .'"

What grace! What joo... Huh?

We're so ready to take the things we like, things that make us more comfortable, that build us up. We want the good stuff. But perhaps those things we don't like, the discipline, the worms and all the other things that scorch us and beat down on us - perhaps those are just another form of His grace.

Perhaps He's protecting us. Maybe He's guarding us or preparing us. I know He's teaching us humility. He might be disciplining us in love. I think He wants to remind us that He is God and that He is in control. After all, it is Him that is manahing in the first place.

We all want things in our timing. Our GoVerona team would love to be in Verona by Valentine's Day. That's what our hearts are begging God for... but maybe - just maybe, this waiting is part of God's manahing too.

Wasn't it Jonah who said that God was gracious and compassionate and full of love?

I find it interesting that the food the Israelites ate was called manna, which literally means, "What is it?" So, maybe that's what we need to be asking instead of "Why?"...

Manna? Manah.

What is it? It's God's provision.

Day 6-Verona

2008-10-08T17:53:00.013+02:00

We started out our morning with breakfast at our hotel, then got on a bus and headed into the center of Verona. Here we found Piazza bra and the Arena di Verona.

Piazza Bra

This is the Arena in Verona. It is much like the one in Rome...since it was built by the Romans in 30 AD. It is still used today for concerts and operas.

From the piazza we set out walking in search of the many sites Verona has to offer. We headed down Via Roma and found Castelvecchio. It is a castle by the river that dates back to the 12th century.

Verona is the famous setting for Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. The story is fiction but Verona still payed tribute to Juliet by recreating her balcony.

We did some sightseeing but we also took time to do research for when we live there. We visited a grocery store to see what it's like. It's quite a bit smaller than your average grocery store in America. We did find a bountiful amount of pasta, olive oil and cheese.

We also found the language school we will be attending the first year.

We also walked around an electronics store and a clothing store to see what was available and the prices of different things. We also walked through neighborhoods. Most people live in apartments. Every building we saw was beautiful. Here's one near our hotel:

I feel like this a watered down version of our day...we did so much! It seems we only got a glimpse of Verona. We can't wait to get to know the city and the people of Verona even better once we live there! We had a nice dinner in the evening followed by gelato. We were so tired by about 9 at night, we headed back to the hotel for some rest. I bet we walked 10 miles after the day was over.

Here are a few more pictures from our day in Verona:

Inside the Arena

Porta Borsari...up close

Piazza Del Erbe

Day 5-From Ancona to Verona

2008-10-07T15:47:00.007+02:00

We started out the morning in Ancona. We got up and headed downtown to Cafe Roma to have breakfast and meet Matt and Angie's friend Yuri. His family owns the cafe. Jason introduced us to him and told him all about how we are heading to Verona with Matt and Angie. He spoke English...which we have found to be helpful in making new friends. For breakfast, we had the typical Italian breakfast. This consist of some sort of coffee...espresso, cappuccino or latte and a pastry. Below is a picture of what I had:

The pastry I had was filled with chocolate and was so delicious. I also had a cappuccino that was pretty amazing. Let me tell you, I could really get used to the Italian breakfast!

After breakfast, Jason went to work and we had a few hours before we had to catch our next train. Brandon and I wondered around downtown Ancona. We found a book store, a market with stands selling all sorts of fruit, vegetables, meat, candies, flowers, pastas and other things we weren't quite sure what they were. It was nice to just walk around and watch the Italian people going through the motions of daily life. It was a beautiful day. While sitting on a bench waiting for Jason to meet us, we got to talking about how everywhere we go is so pretty and sometimes it's even prettier when you stop and look up at buildings. We took a picture of what we saw when we looked up from where we were sitting:

Around noon we headed to the train station to catch our train to Verona. Realizing we were going to be on our own in Verona, I wanted to prepare myself...so I did quite a bit of reading...

Our train pulled into the station a little after 5. I got out my Italian phrase cheat sheet to prepare myself for communicating with the Taxi driver. Turns out, he knew some English, and it was real easy getting to the hotel. We are staying at Hotel Maxim. We really like it. It's location is not quite in the center of Verona, so we get to experience real neighborhoods and real people as we walk through town. Here's a view from the window of our room:

After we freshened up a bit, we headed out on our first adventure. We had a little map given to us at the hotel and that was it. We just started walking towards the center of Verona with no idea what we were going to do. We just knew food was a necessity. After probably an hour of walking, we were pretty sure we had no clue where we were. Now, this normally wouldn't be so stressful but it was nighttime and we were hungry. It took us a good twenty minutes to get our bearings. When we did though, we emerged to see the most beautiful city we've ever laid eyes on. Since the moment we entered the center of the city my camera shutter has been buzzing non-stop. We crossed the Adige river over the Ponte Pietra. It is a foot bridge that was built by the Romans...like the real Romans, from Rome, like in Roman times. From there, we headed into Piazza del Erbe and found a nice ristorante to eat dinner at. We ate a place called Mezzaparte and had a candle lit dinner on the sidewalk. It was pretty amazing.

Italy Day 4

2008-10-05T21:39:00.005+02:00

This was our first full day in Ancona. We woke up here and we will sleep here. No traveling. The morning started with the sound of children playing. We woke up and got to hang out with the Caseys and their children, who are wonderful, and a whole lot of fun. After the morning, we got to see some sites in Ancona.

We saw a beautiful view of the city, and went down to a monument that was not only in the center of town but also right beside the sea. Harrison (The Casey's youngest) and I went on a lizard hunt...not a whole lot of success on that front, but he did find a rock that he liked good enough to keep.

After our little tour, we went back to the Caseys where Heather made a great lunch for us and the whole Ancona team. We got to just sit and fellowship and learn from the experience of some really neat people.

In the evening we went to the Ancona team's church service. It was awesome to see the body worshiping together abnd bulding each other up in the heart of the city. The potluck dinner at the end of the service wasn't too shabby either. We wouldn't mind having to do that every week. We continue to be treated like family whervever we go from Americans, Italians, Strangers, Friends, Christian brothers and sisters.

Day 3-Saturday

2008-10-05T09:48:00.005+02:00

Yesterday we spent part of the day in Latiano and Francavilla with the Bruno's then we headed back to Ancona in the afternoon.

In Latiano we started out the day with Gianni and Anyssa at the Open Market in Francavilla. I would compare this to a Flea Market back in the states...except less trashy with alot cooler stuff. It's outside every Saturday morning til noon. Their are vendors everywhere selling knock off designer clothing, purses, underwear, Italian shoes and even some replica soccer jerseys. We walked around and looked at everything. It was really cool. Below is a picture of the market.

After the market, we headed back to Latiano for lunch. We stopped by the neighborhood butcher shop. In Italy, most people buy their meats and cheeses at a butcher shop. Their were so many different cheeses...but the best one of all was the fresh mozzerella. When I say fresh, I mean FRESH! The butcher was an old soccer buddy of Gianni's so he was glad to let the "American friends" try to tasty Italian cheeses. He gave us each what looked like a knot of mozzerella cheese. It was very different from the kind you buy at Wal-Mart. I asked Brandon to help me describe it to you and all he said was "awesome." I think he probably ate 20 of the little knots. It was very creamy and soft. Gianni said most Italians don't prepare it any special way, they just eat it fresh like it comes.
The butcher shop also prepares dishes for people to take home and eat. Gianni got a couple different things. He got a dish with a few different kinds of meat, mushrooms and olives. He also got an eggplant dish. It was eggplant filled with ground beef, ham, egg and cheese. I know what you're thinking, "There is no way Savannah would eat that." Well, all of you should be very proud because I tried it. I have to be honest, I was not a huge fan. It was just a very different flavor and texture. I couldn't quite get used to it. I did try it though and that is what counts.
Here is a picture from the butcher shop of the fresh mozzerella:

After lunch, we said goodbye to the Bruno's. We had such a wonderful time with them and hope to visit them again when we live in Italy for good.

We hopped on a train back to Ancona. I have to mention that this train ride was much more pleasant than our first. I think the air condition was broken on our first ride and we were roasting for 6 hours. Our ride back to Ancona was relaxing though. The train wasn't crowded and it was comfortably cool.

We got into Ancona a little after 7:00. Jason picked us up and we headed downtown to meet Josh Furnal. He's another member of the Ancona team. We were pretty hungry by then, so Josh took us to a little "trattoria" by his house. There are different classifications of restaurants in Italy. A ristorante is ussually a nice sit down atmosphere and can be quite pricey. Trattoria's are Italian restaurants that area little cheaper than the ristorante. I would compare it to a diner or nice cafe in America. The one we went to is near Josh's house and he dines there frequently. We sampled a few different things. We had some pasta with a meat sauce which was very good. Josh also ordered what looked like a hanging shish-kabob with a few different kind of meat on it. After that, we sampled a few deserts. I can't remember what they were called but one was a creamy white pudding with mixed berry sauce on it and the other was also a creamy filling with carmalized sugar on top. Both were very tasty.

After dinner, we set out on a walk through downtown Ancona. We walked through a few piazzas and saw lots of rowdy teenagers who were up to no good. I think that is a universal occurence on Saturday night. We saw people walking dogs...which we are always glad to see. We met one of the students in the Ancona team's English outreach program. It was really nice to go on a walk after sitting on a train for so long all day. It was great to talk to Josh about life in Italy and the Ancona team's work here. We walked all the way to the Adriatic sea at the end of town. On the way back, we stopped at a Gelataria for some gelato. Gelato is like ice cream only a million times better. Brandon ate coffee flavored and I got chocolate chip. It was excellent. We also got a little taste of Italian tv. It was a little crazy. The show that was on was some sort of variety show with singing, jokes, skits and dancing on roller skates. It was a fun night and we are excited to spend the day in Ancona tommorow.

Brandon and Josh enjoying gelato!

Friday in Southern Italy (Day 2)

2008-10-04T23:28:00.002+02:00

Yesterday we spent the whole day in Southern Italy with our friends from Johnson, Gianni and Stephany Bruno. If Italy is a boot, we were in the heel. We rode the train into the town of Brindisi. We stayed in the nearby town of Oria with Stephany's parents at their Mission's center. Gianni and Stephany live in Latiano, which is where Gianni grew up. They minister not from there in a church in Francavilla. Had that not told us where we were, I would have never known we ever in a different town. They are all very close to each other. Like I said, Gianni grew up in Latiano and Stephany also grew up in Italy. Her parents have been missionaries in the area since she was 10 months old. Gianni is the minister of a church where they are now training Italian leaders. Jim and Caranita Wolseffier (Stepany's parents) run a counseling ministry to provide hope, healing and the light of Jesus to the Italians. We got to see their beautiful facility and hear all the wonderful things God has done in the lives and ministry over their years.

Our day with the Bruno's was delightful. We started the morning with a breakfast of Italian and American coffee along with an anbundance of pastries from a local coffee shops. In Italy coffee shops are called "Bars"...which can be confusing. Especcially when you hear a 5 year old say "dad, when are we going to the bar?" You have to take a second and remember what they were talking about!! After breakfast, we took a tour of their facility and got to hear about everything they do and all the things they have planned. They offer a free sports ministry during the year to kids in the community. They also offer Christian counseling to Italians. Gianni and Jim work in the church in Francavilla and are establishing leaders there. They hope to someday plant more churches in Southern Italy.

At lunch we had Tortolini, some sort of olive bread and a little bit of ice cream. After lunch we started to feel the effects of jet lag and took a little nap. We were glad to relax after all our traveling.

In the evening we headed to Gianni and Stephany's in Latiano. We really enjoyed spending time with them and their children, Anyssa and Raphiele. They are adorable! After the kids headed to bed, we ordered pizza's for dinner. Sergio and Julia came over to join. They attend the church in Francavilla and Sergio is the worship leader there in his spare time. Sergio and Julia do not speak English. It was very interesting to socialize with people who don't speak the same language as us. We have never done that before. We had no idea what it was going to be like but we really enjoyed it! Luckily, we have Stephany and Gianni there to translate. Brandon was so excited to talk Soccer with Italians! I believe Gianni and Sergio were pretty impressed with Brandon's knowledge of the game, teams and players. Hopefully someday we can all go to an Italian game together!

Overall, we were encouraged to be with the Bruno's and the Wolseffiers. Their love and passion for the Italian people is inspiring. We can definetly see God blessing their ministry and are excited to see How he continues to work in the lives of the people of Southern Italy.

-Savannah

Italiapalooza Day 1!

2008-10-02T11:50:00.002+02:00

So we've been in Italy less than an hour. Jason Caasey taught us how to buy train tickets and look out for pick pockets and Harrison (Jason's son) showed us his really cool hamsters.

It is Thursday about noon here and we started this journey at 1:00AM Tuesday morning. So we are on day three of no sleep. We feel...weird...and excited...and slow on the draw. We practiced some Italian phrases on the way but we were so exausted that by the time we had an Italian flight attendant that said bonjourno, we spaced out and just waved.

We haven't done much or seen much since we've been here (like I said, less than an hour) but we are so keyed up we can't wait. We head out on a train this afternoon for more adventures and hopefully a night of sleep.

Laters,

Brandon and Savannah

A Dear Jon Letter

2008-09-30T00:29:00.002+02:00

Jon...
I'm still listening to your sermons' podcasts. In listening to the One Month To Live series, I've really been convicted. My "bucket list" was easy: evangelize in Verona, Italy. It made me self-righteously sad. If this is my only dying wish (well, if I were dying), then why isn't God just having people pour in money for me to go soon?
And I started thinking about it... I'm planning on 10 to 15 years there. Not just one month. What do I spend my time thinking about, praying about, reading about? The culture, the language, the money needed, the housing... nothing bad in itself - just not Jesus Himself. So, I want to guard myself and remember that the point of going to Italy is not Italy - but Jesus! And even if I'm there for a decade or two, I need to be evangelizing like I'm only there for a few days.
Thanks for the reminder.
Blessings...
april

Time Between the Times

2008-09-24T22:06:00.005+02:00

In Celtic history there is a concept known as the "Time Between the Times". When the sun is coming up, is it day or night? It's neither, it's dawn. The same is true for when the sun is setting. When you are standing on the shore, with the ocean tide coming back and forth over your feet, are you in the ocean or on the beach? While our team is in the states are we here or there? Neither. We are here waiting for there, which is markedly different than just being here, and definitely different than being just there. We are in the time between the times.

As Christians we experience this as well. We are citizens of heaven, but are stuck here on earth. Stuck with a glorious task of taking the message to those who have no hope. We live here while waiting for there.

So how do we proceed in our time in this transition. Much of it is spent raising awareness and seeking support, that is support in the form of prayer partners, one time financial gift givers and individuals and churches who commit a self determined amount of money to be given monthly to the work. Also, during this time in the states we continue following God in our daily lives. Looking for needs and opportunity around us. In about a week, we will determine if an extension is necessary. Currently, Angie and I are set to return to Italy by the end of the year and the team follows starting the following month. If an extension is necessary, our new return goal would be at the end of March 2009 and the team would begin to follow us in April.

What is the purpose of extension? Our team is working hard to raise awareness and support, sometimes that comes quickly, sometimes it seems slow, but when you are following God it always comes in His timing. Pray for the conviction of individuals/churches to partner with our team in finances and prayer. Pray that this would come quickly, if it is God's will.

If you are interested in getting involved in our team's ministry, follow this link:

http://www.goverona.org/involvement.html

A Song

2008-09-23T16:07:00.004+02:00

With a background in opera and classical singing, many churches have asked me to sing while I visit. Usually I decline since I'm a little out of practice. However, I think I'm going to change my tune. I've composed a little number to sing at the end of my presentation. It's almost as good as Puccini and Verdi. Perhaps it will one day be performed in in Verona's ancient arena.

It goes something like this.

Hhh--umm

(to the tune of "Here We Go Around the Mulberry Bush")

This is the way to Italy, pray-pray-pray, give-give-give, this is the way to Italy, let's see wha-ut God can do!

Brandon and Savannah:World Travelers?

2008-09-22T01:06:00.002+02:00

Sometimes I think about what we're about to do and I realize it is only because of God's providence and his specific call on our lives. Savannah and I aren't really in the same mold that a lot of missionaries tend to come from. Well, at least the people in college that were on the missions program. We aren't the most well-traveled people in the world you see.

Savannah was born and lived in the same small town in North Carolina her whole life. She had the same classmates in school from kindergarten to her senior year in High School. College was her first real adventure you could say. I moved quite a bit when I was younger, and had my fair share of first days at a new school. But for the most part I was from Florida, I liked Florida and I planned on living in Florida for the rest of my life.

I had a job that required quite a bit of traveling at one time in our marriage. One time I had to spend a week in Philadelphia for a conference and Savannah went with me. We didn't have a lot of Big City experience. I've been to a few, and so had Savannah, but it was still quite an experience. Everyone was in a hurry and if you were at a fast food place and didn't know what you wanted right away, the cashier and the person behind you would yell at you at the same time. If you walked over the vents in the street, you would get a gust of warm air that smelled like cheeseburgers but not in a good way.

One day out of that week I skipped an afternoon session of the conference to do some sight seeing. We underestimated the size of Philadelphia, and by the time we saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and all that, we had walked about 4 miles and we then realized we had to walk four more miles back. It was July and we were really hot and tired by the time we got back. I was pretty much crawling into the hotel, which might speak to my current physical fitness level.

One night while we were there we were watching the news and someone was reporting about a murder that happened that day and the place where it happened was somewhere we walked right by earlier that day. It freaked us out a little bit, and we decided wherever we were planning on going that night suddenly didn't sound as fun as going to the hotel pool.

I guess the point of all this rambling is that we are both silly and ridiculous. We are ill-formed tools to perform the work that God has called us to. We are so thankful that that doesn't matter. We know that He will shape us and help us grow and that all the work that's coming is His work, not our work. All we have to do is let Him do it. We leave for our first trip to Verona in about 9 days. We will be silly and ridiculous there too, and we could not be more excited about it. God has put a fire in our hearts for a place we haven't been to yet. He's put a yearning in our spirits for a people we haven't' met and we wouldn't even be able to talk to yet. He provides the will to do it, the desire to want it, and the strength to accomplish it. The best part is He likes doing all of these things with ridiculous people.

-Brandon and Savannah

Verona Highlight: Castelvecchio

2008-09-11T06:54:00.010+02:00

Castelvecchio literally means the old castle. On the westside of downtown Verona, along the Adige river, lies Castelvecchio. On one of our first visits to Verona, Angie and I got to explore the outdoor building, as well as the ancient pedestrian bridge that stretches across the Adige River. There is also a musuem that is housed within its centuries old walls. We'll explore that when we move there. The building is a great example of the Gothic architecture of the age. The castle was once surrounded by water from the Adige, but now is surrounded only by an empty ditch. It is built out of red brick and is composed of seven towers, a highly elevated keep that has four buildings within it. The construction was carried out by one of the Scalgieri family who led Verona for several centuries. The family member who oversaw this period was called Cangrande II. Cangrande literally means "Big Dog". The leaders of that time period took the names of dogs in the Verona area. Not sure why, but there are a couple of theories that I will share with you in a future Verona Highlight.

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia about Castelvecchio:

The castle stands on the probable location of a Roman fortress outside the Roman
city. Lord Cangrande II della Scala had it built along with its bridge across the Adige
River as a deterrent to his powerful neighbors such as Venice, the Gonzaga and the Sforza families. Construction was carried out between 1354 and 1376 (Cangrande died in 1359). The fortified bridge was intended to allow the seigniors to escape safely northwards to the Tyrol in the event of a rebellion or a coup d'état (the Scaligeri were allies of the Holy Roman Empire) and when they eventually lost their hold on Verona, its surviving members left Italy to found a German branch of the family.
Later, during the Venetian domination, slits were added to defend it with cannons. The castle was damaged by French troops during the Napoleonic Wars (1796-7), in retaliation to the Pasque Veronesi, when the local population staged a violent anti-French revolt. Napoleon had chosen to stay in Castelvecchio on his trips to Verona, but his widespread and arbitrary requisitions of citizens' and churches' property,
the massive draft of male workers into the French army prompted the resistance
that eventually drove out the invaders.
Under the Austrians, Castelvecchio was turned into barracks. In 1923 the castle was restored, as well as in 1963-1965. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelvecchio_(Verona)

Here is a link to the English version webpage from the city of Verona about Castelvecchio:

http://www.comune.verona.it/turismo/Passeggiando/inglese/itineraryA/castelvecchio.htm

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To read about previous highlights, you can just follow this link: http://gonorthnews.blogspot.com/search/label/highlights

God's Omnipresence

2008-09-10T21:08:00.003+02:00

A couple of weeks ago I had a great reminder of how thankful I am that our God is not only omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful), but omnipresent (everywhere at once!).

John and the kids were going to scale the heights of Pikes Peak. Because this would be the kids' first attempt at a fourteener (a mountain over 14,000 ft high), John chose to hike the back side of the mountain, which he had heard was shorter and easier. He also decided that I should drive up and pick them up, rather than making them all hike back down as well.

Our car is currently an old 15 passenger van. I hate driving this massive thing and parking it is especially trying for me. (But it has encouraged my prayer life!) If you've ever driven the Pikes Peak highway you'll remember a lovely drive with breathtaking views. You'll probably also remember the tight switchbacks past timberline, oh, and the lack of guardrails. (T-shirts sold at the top proclaim that real men/women don't need guardrails!)

I left my family and said several prayers on their behalf as God and I had a lovely morning together. Then I began my drive up. As I hit that area around timberline and crawled along at 5 mph or so, letting cars pass me every so often, I began to have moments of near terror. Now this was my second drive up, but somehow I had forgotten what this road was like. I would travel up the "hill" to the next curve where, from my vantage point high in my driver's seat, I could see.......sky, not much else. Then the curve and I could breathe only to reach the next one.

I was asking for peace and the Lord's presence. I was asking him to have complete control of the wheel and the van. Extra gravity please, right under me to keep my wheels firmly on the road! (Not that he didn't have control all along.) I was also still asking him to be with my family on the other side of the mountain. NO accidents or injuries, please.

Then it hit me- again. What if God were, well, more like the gods of some folks? What if he could only be with me OR my family? Wow...again! He's not like that though, is he? He could be with us all that whole day. He could be with the rest of my team, my dad who is recovering from surgery, my friends in China, and all the folks we've yet to meet in Verona. At the same time! Isn't that wonderful! And amazing!

I've loved Psalm 139 for a long time. It is one of the things I have tried to help my kids memorize. For those of us who have lived far from our family, friends, and familiar things it is comforting. "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely, the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." (vs.7-12)

We were all fine that day. God kept me on the road (extra gravity?!)and I reached the top. I had to wait a long time for my hikers. They had a harder trail than they had anticipated. But we all made it. God, our great and mighty God, was with us all.

The Truth Hurts or It Makes You Better

2008-09-10T20:03:00.005+02:00

My two friends and I were browsing through cards at a drug store late one night. One showed another one a card and they both started laughing hysterical and saying my name again and again.

Now, three things you need to know about these girls:
1. I love them both very much and they love me.
2. They both are super healthy eaters/exercisers and as thin as my wrist.
3. They had only met each other that night.

This is what the card says:
"We're such good friends that if I suggested a long walk, you'd know I meant sitting with coffee."
...
"Possibly muffins."

Yes, that's me, alright. Perfectly me. I HATE sweating. I hate the outdoors. I hate being in the sun. I hate exercising. I love coffee and muffins.

Ready for the spiritual turn-around...

Scripture says that the gospel is a good fragrance or a bad fragrance, depending on your frame of reference. If you're heading for the light - then great - it's going to uplift and encourage you. If you're heading for death... well, that's what it's going to smell like.

So... you either reject the truth and get offended by it, or accept it, listen to it, and laugh a little.

As for me... I did get a Wii and am walking every morning and am eating lots of veggies... but I'm still up for that coffee and muffins if you're offering them. And everytime I look at that card it makes me think of my two dear friends.

The Great Commandments and the Great Commission

2008-09-09T21:21:00.011+02:00

Of late, I have been thinking often of the Great Commandments and the Great Commission. I'm sure you all remember them.

Matthew records Jesus' answer to a question in this way:
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Later in that same Gospel, Jesus gives his followers this commission:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I am really good at the Great Commission. I have been in China for six years doing just that. But, the Great Commandments, that's another story, unfortunately. I mean, I do love the Lord, but do I love him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind? Let's just say that there is definitely room for improvement. But where I really fail is in the second commandment. "Love your neighbor."

When I was a teenager, I often dreamed about living alone on a deserted island. My opinion was that the Earth was a pretty good place...except for the people. I know myself better now, and I realize that I would be miserable without those extended family members called the human race. I have learned to take them...in small doses. I can even take large doses for a limited period of time.

But, loving them? I want to, Lord. I know I will love them in Paradise! But, what about now? Neither you nor they need me to love them then, Lord. You need me to love them now! That's how they'll know we are Christians -- by our love!

It's an easy trap to fall into. We'll get you all fixed up, then we'll associate with you and even -- perhaps -- love you. That's not what our neighbors (whom we impersonally call "the world") need. Our neighbors need God's love. They need our love.

Lord Jesus, help me to love my neighbors as you do. Help me to show that unconditional love to them. Help me to love them all, from the ones next door, to the ones at the four corners of the Earth. Conform me into your likeness. Amen.

The Cross

2008-09-05T16:58:00.006+02:00

Beloved:

For the past couple months and I have been studying the life of Jesus through reading the gospels, reading a biography of Jesus' life by Charles Swindol, and doing a Beth Moore 90 day study about Jesus. I have also started reading a book call "The Cross" by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The first thing I liked about Martyn is that he is British. So when I read this book, I act like he is reading it in a British accent (I know a little weird, but just go with it). Unfortunately, he past away in 1981 but he sure left a legacy of literature that evangelicals and use all over the world. Another thing I like about this book is that His only reference is scripture, nothing else. He encourages the absolute truth of the scriptures.

From what I have read, which is only to page 68, I already have a better understanding of the purpose and ultimate foundation of the cross. The symbol of Jesus' sacrifice through the cross should be the solid foundation of a Christian's life. Think about it, the only way that we are saved and have the opportunity to spend an eternal life with Jesus is believing that Jesus took our place in dying for our sins. Through this sacrificial act, he established the forgiveness of sins and made a bridge between the gap of man and God that had been separated since the fall of man. Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection established order and presented a way of life that none of us could ever imagine. A life beyond these earthly walls.

Martyn goes on to accentuate the fact that we should glory in the cross. Glory means to give high renown or honor, respect resulting in praise, worship and thanksgiving being offered to God. His theme verse for the book is Galatians 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." This verse, by reading it, is hard to understand, but I'm not finished with the book yet! So far it has challenged and encouraged my view of the cross. I am reminded of the intensity and foundational relevance the cross should have in my life.

I will leave you with a poem by C. Wesley called.....

"The Wondrous Cross"

Give me the faith which can remove

And sink the mountain to a plain;

Give me the childlike, praying love

Which longs to build Thy house again;

Thy love, let it my heart o'er power,

Let it my ransomed soul devour

I would the precious time redeem

And longer live for this alone--

To spend and to be spent for them

Who have not yet my Savior known;

Fully on these my mission prove,

And only breathe, to breathe Thy love.

My talents, gifts and graces, Lord,

Into Thy blessed hands receive;

And let me live to preach Thy word,

And let me to Thy glory live;

My every sacred moment spend

In publishing the sinners' Friend

Enlarge, inflame and fill my heart

With boundless charity divine;

So shall I all my strength exert,

And love them with a zeal like Thine;

And lead them to Thine open side,

The sheep for whom their shepherd died.

Faith Raising

2008-08-19T20:38:00.002+02:00

Brandon and I have been at this Support Raising thing for about 4 months now. I can't believe it has been that long. When I look back to April when we started I would have thought by August we would have alot more money coming in and be a whole lot closer to our goal. I could easily get discouraged and think that God's not going to hear our prayers and provide for our need but I know we're going to get there. It seems everytime I get stressed or worried about it I am reminded of what powerful and loving God we serve.

We were driving home from Indianapolis the other night and as we drove by a church the message on their sign stood out to me. It said "Where God guides, He provides." That little statement really rang true for me. I think back to last summer when Brandon and I were searching for where God wanted us to go and what capacity He wanted us to serve. As we stayed on that path constantly seeking God's direction and guidance we found the opportunity on the Verona team and before we knew it, God had put us where we belong. I know every appointment with a church missions board, every connection we establish, every email we send, and every dollar that comes in is a step towards our goal. All of these things are blessings and gifts from God. I try to not take any of them for granted but it's so easy to forget that we're not the ones controling who gives us money and who meets with us...it's our mighty God.

I just pray that as each person on our team strives to get to Verona that we all remember throughout every step that even though there is alot to accomplish, God will meet us half way. He'll be there to guide us and He will be there to give us all we need to complete the work He has called us to do.

Morning Devotions

2008-08-19T15:53:00.000+02:00

This morning I was reading an exerpt from Blaise Pascal. He was talking about the amazing contradictions that we are as humans. There isn't another creature on the planet with the same kind of duality that we have. On the one hand we, who were created in God's image longing for a restored relationship with Him (even when we don't know that we long for it). We are capable of great love, service, and devotions through God. Yet on the other hand we have our fallen nature. We do the wrong thing more than we do what we know to be right. We seek out all sorts of carnal desires and pleasures and we lie, steal, and hate without thinking twice. No other species in the world could produce an Adolf Hitler and a Mother Theresa in the same gene pool.

Pascal went on to say that for him, no other religion gives a satisfactory explanation for this dual nature that we all have inside us besides the Gospel of Jesus. Even the shadow side of our hearts scream out and testify to the name of Jesus Christ!

I was thinking about this in my own life. I know that I have a long way to go before that final nail gets driven into my flesh and he stays down for the count. I daily have to pin him to the ground and tune out his protests. But he does not control me anymore. What a blessing to have the strength of Christ in my arms as I wrestle to the ground the old me and remind him that Someone Else is in charge now. What peace and what joy to finally have clarity of thought and a clear vision without all the duality that plagues us all. I am so thankful that I'm on the road to be a singular person, a person that imitates Jesus Christ. When I look back just a couple of years and see the things I've done or the way I've treated some people, I am humbled. I know that I will probably have that same experience a couple years from now when I'm farther on this daily journey with my Lord and Savior. Above all, I'm thankful that if we just open oursleves up (with all our filth and duality) God's Spirit will enter in, and that before long when people look at us they'll see Him instead. That's the ultimate goal.

Thoughts from Above

2008-08-05T18:46:00.004+02:00

I will start this blog with some lyrics from a talented group called BarlowGirl:

I waited for You, today

but You didn't show, no

I needed You, today; so where did You go?

You told me call, said you'd be there

and though I haven't seen You

are You still there?

I cried out with no reply and

I can't feel You by my side so

I'll hold tight to what I know

You're here, and I'm never alone

And though I can't not see You

And I can't explain why

Such a deep deep reassurance

You placed in my life

We cannot separate cause You're part of me

and though your invisible I'll trust the unseen

I cried out with no reply and

I can't feel You by my side so

I'll hold tight to what I know

You're here, and I'm never alone

We cannot separate, You're part of me

Though You're invisible, I'll trust the unseen

I cried out with no reply and

I can't feel You by my side so

I'll hold tight to what I know

You're here, and I'm never alone

This song speaks the truth in how some of us feel about the presence of God. God is not limited to time or space, but we are. Therefore, we find comfort in physical touch and what we can see to classify certain reality. Although these things are important, I think that our relationship with God is a challenge against time, space and certain humanly comforts that we have. We cannot see God, but know He's there. Though he is physically invisible, He is visible as we apply His teachings to our daily life. Ultimately, we are never alone. That is more comforting than any physical touch or gift of sight in this world.

Signing off,

Brandi Shea Davis

Free Hugs!

2008-08-05T18:28:00.007+02:00

The other day I was surfing the web and I came across information about something called the Free Hugs Campaign. It was started by this guy who goes by the name of Juan Mann. How did it all get started? Read what Juan Mann had to say:

"I'd been living in London when my world turned upside down and I'd had to come home. By the time my plane landed back in Sydney, all I had left was a carry on bag full of clothes and a world of troubles. No one to welcome me back, no place to call home. I was a tourist in my hometown.

"Standing there in the arrivals terminal, watching other passengers meeting their waiting friends and family, with open arms and smiling faces, hugging and laughing together, I wanted someone out there to be waiting for me. To be happy to see me. To smile at me. To hug me.

"So I got some cardboard and a marker and made a sign. I found the busiest pedestrian intersection in the city and held that sign aloft, with the words "Free Hugs" on both sides.

"And for 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.

"Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven't compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time."

Soon, Juan Mann started doing this every week. Not long afterward, someone videotaped what was happening and posted it on YouTube. (Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4). After that, people with Free Hugs signs started cropping up all over the world. While you are on YouTube, check out the other related links, too.

People are so hungry for love. We have love. God's perfect love. What a perfect arrangement! Let's share it!

Nothing Lasts Forever

2008-07-21T23:48:00.002+02:00

The recurring theme in my life lately seems to be a reminder that nothing lasts forever. This is a good thing sometimes and sometimes it feels very sad. But either way it is something to help as we go along.

I remember when my kids were all little and John's mom lived with us. We had several years when we wondered if we were ever going to be able to sleep through the whole night again. Teething, chicken pox, kids with colds, endless laundry (ok, so that hasn't slowed down all that much...we just don't do diapers any more!) But here we are- John's mom is in heaven and our babies have grown. In fact, now I'm wishing we had more time. Jess and Luke are just a couple of years out from heading off to college. The trips they've taken lately have meant a much different atmosphere around our house. We miss them. I think of all the things I had intended to teach them. Time seems really short.

So when I think of having our departure delayed yet again, I remind myself that this transition won't last forever. We'll be in Verona soon. I can be patient with this for a while longer. When I think of the kids heading out, I hope this reminder will motivate me to prioritize well and teach them what I can while I can. I hope it reminds me that the people around me won't always be able to make a choice for salvation.

Oh, and the statement isn't exactlytrue. One of these days Jesus is coming back and we're heading home, where we get to be with him FOREVER. I'm glad that's what will last.

Church Camp!!

2008-07-09T21:21:00.005+02:00

A couple of weeks Brandon and I worked at a week of 5th and 6th grade church camp. We were the "camp missionaries" for the week. We got to share with the kids about Italy and what we'll be doing in Verona. We also got a chance to make some good connections and gained a few prayer partners in the process.

We had lots of fun with our presentations. We tried to make it as interesting and fun as possible. Our favorite thing we did was game we like to call "Spaghetti Face". We dyed spaghetti about 5 different colors and let the kids through it at two of the counselors faces. They loved it! It made a giant mess though and the kids kept stealing it off the stage to keep it. One of the children's ministers there said that on Sunday after camp a mother of one of the campers came up to her and told her he son came home with a really stinky suitcase. When she started going through it she find a giant wad of colored spaghetti! Our game was a hit, so much so the kids wanted souvenirs!

The best thing about the week to me is getting to know the kids and just be around them. I love it...which is good since I am filling the role of children's minister on the Verona team. I can't wait to get to know the children of Verona and see how God uses me to reach them. I'm sure it will be frustrating at times and wonderful at other times but one things for sure, with kids it is always going to be interesting!

-Savannah

Hocus Pocus

2008-07-08T21:47:00.002+02:00

When Ann and I were in Louisville for Launch not too long ago, we had the pleasure of attending Shivcly CC. The gentleman who was doing the communion meditation shared with us the origins of the phrase hocus pocus. Now, any true Harry Potter fan (and you know who you are) surely knows the current meaning of hocus pocus. It is, today, simply a meaningless phrase used by a magician to confuse or distract his audience so that they do not see what is really happening. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, Dorothy ... (That was for you, Brandi!)

But the probable origin of this phrase is what is most interesting. Most likely it comes from Roman Catholic masses during the time of communion when the priest would quote in Latin the words of Christ, "This is (my) body...," "hoc est (enim) corpus (meum)." Of course, most of us are familiar with the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation, whereby the wafer of bread, upon the utterance of these words, is believed to become the actually body of Jesus. It is likewise taught in Catholicism that the wine becomes the actual blood of Jesus. To the layperson of years gone by, it may have seemed that the words spoken by the priest were magic and in themselves had the power to conjure up God himself! Of course, perhaps it was quite the opposite. Perhaps, seeing no real change to the wafer and wine, they felt the priest's usage of "hoc est corpus" was merely to confuse or distract them so that they wouldn't realize that no change actually took place. This phrase was later corrupted into "hocus pocus."

As you may have noticed, I really get into word origins. Did you know that "hokey pokey," "hanky panky," and "hoax," all are of the same derivation? I think that's cool.

But, what's the point? (Ok, I'm pulling a Brandon...what is the point? Oh, here, I've got one!) There is no magic in communion. No magic in the crucifixion. Or is there? How about the magic of unconditional love. The magic of grace. The magic of God dying for me? Ok, maybe magic isn't the right word, but it is definitely supernatural. It's definitely a miracle beyond comprehension, explanation, and understanding.

That's what we have to share with the people of Italy, from whence came this hocus pocus. We have the truth. The reality. We have the genuine Christ, and him crucified, to share with the Italian people. I can't wait to get there to fulfill the calling God has for me.

Cars...

2008-07-07T23:33:00.002+02:00

I am currently having car trouble. I have been having car trouble since August of last year. It is the same problem, and I have taken it in to get fixed five times now. Everytime I take it in I am so excited to get it back and not have to worry about it anymore, and then alas the problem comes back. What is this probem you may ask? Well, once the care goes over 60 mph (which means this probloem happens exclusively on busy interstates) something happens that makes the car completely stall out once it goes back down below 20 mph. This means that everytime we get off of an exit, I have to pop the car into neutral and coast it onto the shoulder where we sit for 5-10 minutes.

After that the car starts like it has no problem and then we repeat the same thing. It gets really interesting if we are on a toll road or if we get into stop and go traffic on the highway. When we go on road trips I am a nervous mess the whole time (like the 22 hour roundtrip we just took to go to a week of church camp). So after hudreds of dollars this problem is still going on. I just got it "fixed" the most recent before we left for our most recent adventure, and yet somehow I was still coasting off exits with a car that was turned off.

Partially, I just wanted to rant about how annoying this is and send it out into cyberspace for some mental catharsis. In fact, when I started typing this, my only plan was to vent and I had no real plans to connect this story as an illustration for the Christian life. However, as i was e-complaining I was thinking about this, and my car kind of reminds me of the lost, the people that we will try to reach in Italy. When you don't have God you know something is wrong with you, you know something is missing. You can try to diagnose this problem a million different ways. Maybe you would feel better if you finally found that special someone, or if you had a better job, if you settled down and had some kids. Some people try to solve their problem with dangerous things like illicit drug use, casual sex, unhealthy addictions of all shapes and sizes. All of these things will always have the same result. You will think you are fixed, and that everything is finally going to go well, but it won't, and you will be coasting onto the shoulder of the next exit. God is the only fix. He is the only one who can restore our fallen lives and our broken bodies. I'm beginning to think he is the only hope for my car as well.

-Brandon

Reply from Dorthy!

2008-07-06T02:23:00.002+02:00

When I went to California for an internship I was teased at least once a week by one of the kids in the youth group about Dorthy, the Wizard of Oz or some comment of how boring Kansas is. So, I felt it appropriate to title my blog post "Reply from Dorthy!" to let everyone who reads this post know that I am from the middle of the United States, Kansas. I love it and it's home.

You know at the beginning of the movie when Dorthy's house gets picked up into a tornado, which eventually led her to the land of Oz? Well, right now, my life is a whirling tornado. Even though I feel this certain way; it will lead me to the Land of Oz eventually. Life is not easy, it can feel like a tornado or it might be as joyful as the sounds of singing munchkins from munchkin land. All in all, the Lord is the same and never changes! That's encouraging to me.

For now, I will leave you with a scripture that pops into my mind when I don't have control and feel like a tornado is making my life one big pile of debris.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Have a great week!

Brandi Shea Davis

Cravings... Holy and Otherwise

2008-06-28T17:43:00.002+02:00

I am craving rain. While half of the country is literally overflowing with it, south Texas hasn't had a drop. And I am desperate for it.

I love water. I love to drink, shower, bathe, swim, dip my toes, run my hands in it. And I love to watch it rain. In the rain I am renewed.

My parents have been gone for a few days. I'm being lazy. I'm waking up later and spending time in front of the T.V. I'm reading an autobiography and taking long baths. But, something has been strange about all of this... feeling little nervous butterflies in my stomach. And I couldn't put my finger on it. Until this morning. Ahh... My quiet time with the Lord has been postponed with all my leisurely activities. I've been doing it late (yesterday not until 2). It's not a sin issue. It's a "what's best"/"First Love" issue. Those butterflies are a craving for the Word. For Prayer.

Hmmmm...

So, please excuse me. I'm going to be alone now... well, almost.

Welcome Brandi Davis

2008-06-15T00:21:00.003+02:00

In April of this year we welcomed another team member, Brandi Davis. She is a graduate of Manhatten Christian College and is from Wichita, Kansas. Along with all of our team members, once she gets to the field, she will be spending the first year learning the language and studying culture. After that, she will be leading in the areas of Music Outreach and Worship Development. She is a great addition to a wonderfully God-formed team and comes highly recommended. Yesterday, Angie and I got to see Brandi and meet her family. We were leaving a camp in Horton, Kansas so we drove through Wichita on the way home. Soon, you will be reading her thoughts alongside the rest of our team here, as she navigates this life of being a missionary.

bon apetite

2008-06-06T19:55:00.005+02:00

For those of you who don't know yet, I am the pickiest eater in the entire world. When I say picky, I mean it. I like everything plain and I have alot of trouble trying new food or anything that looks different than what I am used too. I've been like this since I was little. At the age of 10, my mom had to pay me 5 bucks to try a cheeseburger. I didn't even try scrambled eggs until I was 20. For Brandon's birthday a couple years ago, I tried chinese food. Don't even get me started on the Ethiopian Restaurant we went to at Launch. That was a hard one for me.

I am making a serious effort get better about trying things. Since we moved to Indiana, I have tried about 4 new things. This is due mostly to my understanding and patient husband and his mother who is the best cook in the world. They never force me or really make me try anything. They just tell me what's in it and let me make up my mind. This approach tends to work the best. Anyways, This is a really big deal for me. Ussually, I will only try about one new thing every two years.

Why the sudden burst of adventurous eating?

If you would have asked me to consider being a missionary 5 years ago, I would have probably said no and my main reason behind that would have been that I am a picky eater. I couldn't handle the thought of new cuisine and new ingredients. One would think this would be a huge concern for me now as we plan and prepare for Italy. It's not though. Knowing this would be a hard thing for me, I began praying about it as soon as I knew we might go to Italy. I can already see God working in this area of my life. The four new foods I have tried should attest to that. I just know I can't let the fact that it's hard for me to try new food to jeopardize the call God's put on my life.

It may not be eating new food, but we all have something to overcome in order to accomplish the tasks God has set out for us. For missionaries it might be learning the language, adjusting to being away from home or differences in culture. It could also be getting over our pride and asking for God to help us no matter how trivial our issues might seem. Whatever it is we have to overcome, God can help us if we just ask him.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

2008-06-06T19:03:00.002+02:00

The summer theme for the youth group at the church we are attending right now is "Old School". The Youth Minister is taking Bible stories that a lot of the kids have heard when they were younger in sunday school, and using them in a new way to speak to where the kids are now in this current stage of life. It' a really fun concept, and the gigantic flanal boards that are used to recreate the story as it is being told is awesome!! Because this is a throw back to younger years, another thing we do is have the actual text of the Bible in each sotry read by Mr. Rogers, who makes his signautre singing entrance each evening that we have youth group. Guess who got drafted to be Mr. Rogers? That's right, me. It's pretty funny I think. I messed up the song the second time because the zipper of my cardigan got caught on my tie as I was singing and changing into my "leisure wear". So I get flustered with my zipper and start singing again a line to late, and I'm a stanza behind for the rest of the song until the music abruptly shuts off while iI'm still asking the audience if they would be my neighbor.

Well, I was talking to someone about Mr. Rogers and he was a really amazing guy. He used the medium of television to reach millions of children, and he did this because he knew that for some kids he would be the only one in their life that could treat them lovingly and be a positive influence. Fred Rogers was a shining light for a lot of lonely kids. If that's not missions I don't know what is. Did you know that the whole time Fred Rogers was getting his TV show off the ground he was enrolled in seminary and studying to be a minister as well? I thought that this was just something goofy to get a laugh out of the kids, but once I learned a little more about Mr. Rogers, I realized what an awesome impact he made in this world. I hope that I can be a shining light to the children and youth in Verona and treat them with the love, care , and respect that Fred Rogers did every weekday afternoon on PBS.

Alright I have to go. It's time to feed the fish...

Brandon

Amen!

2008-06-05T03:18:00.004+02:00

[Below is a poem I really like by Adrian Plass. Brandi has already heard me read it when Ann and I gave our "trial" presentation at LAUNCH. It kind of reflects what it feels to me to be a missionary at times. Enjoy. -John]

"When I Became a Christian," by Adrian Plass

When I became a Christian I said, "Lord, now fill me in,
Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of shame and sin."
He said, "Your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink,
Do you still want to follow me?" I said, "Amen! – I think.
I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen,
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say my body may be killed and left to rot and stink,
Well, yes, that sounds teriffic, Lord, I say Amen – I think.

"But, Lord, there must be other ways to follow you," I said,
"I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed."
"Well, yes," he said, "you could put up with sneers and scorn and spit,
Do you still want to follow me?" I said, "Amen! – a bit.
A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say I could put up with sneers and also scorn and spit,
Well, yes, I’ve made my mind up, and I say Amen! – a bit."

Well, I sat back and thought a while, then tried a different ploy.
"Now, Lord," I said, "the Good Book says that Christians live in joy."
"That’s true," he said, "you need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,
So do you still want to follow me?" I said, "Amen! – tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Lord, I’ll say it then, that’s when I’ll say Amen,
I need to get it clear, can I just run through that again?
You said I will need the joy, to bear the pain and sorrow,
Well, yes, I think I’ve got it straight, I’ll say, Amen – tomorrow."

He said, "Look, I’m not asking you to spend an hour with me,
A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,
The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit.
Now tell me, will you follow me?" I said, "Amen! – No! I quit.
I’m very sorry, Lord," I said, "I’d like to follow you,
But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to do."
He said, "Forget religion then, and think about my Son,
And tell me if you’re man enough to do what he has done.

"Are you man enough to see the need, and man enough to go,
Man enough to care for those whom no one wants to know,
Man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,
To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.
And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,
The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a friend,
Are you man enough to hold your tongue, and man enough to cry,
When the nails break your body – are you man enough to die?
Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,
Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,
Are you man enough to follow me?, I ask you once again."
I said, "Oh Lord, I’m frightened," but I also said, "Amen."
"Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen,"
I said, "Oh Lord, I’m so frightened," but I also said, "Amen."

First Transition of Many

2008-05-28T17:59:00.003+02:00

We just recently left our prior employment to start raising funds and preparing for Italy full-time. It's been kind of a weird feeling so far. We are living in Wabash, IN with my parents to lower living expenses as we raise funds. They have been wonderful and it's so nice to have that support as we enter in to this new season of our lives. I thought it would be odd to live with my family again and bring a wife along with me to boot. It actually has been pretty smooth and feels fairly organic and normal, which might make me odd rather than the situation. We were able to get a part-time position at the church we are attending while we are here. We get to clean the church during the week. The hours are really flexible and it is a gift from God to have a way to still have some money for bills coming in as we're doing this.

I think the hardest thing to get used to now is how slow things can move sometimes. When you are working a full-time job and trying to get things accomplished for your preparations and fundraising in your spare-time, you stay super-busy and things feel like a whirlwind. When you have a lot of your time to completely devote to this stage, things seem to move slower. At first that seemed a little backwards to me. However, I guess just because I have a lot more time to devote to this, doesn't mean all the churches and people we're talking to do. They are just as busy as ever with all the other things they have going on. Before, if someone wouldn't call me back for a week I hardly noticed, because my week was busy with other things too. Now, it feels a little different. You just can't really make a person fit into your to-do lists. That's OK though. I think we've struggled a little bit at first trying to figure out a schedule, how to best use our time, and just getting use to this new arrangement. Things are starting to move though and we are so happy that God has given us the resources and opportunities to focus on this mission He's given to the Verona team.

-Brandon

Lord, Make Me Beautiful, A Missionary's Prayer

2008-05-21T12:25:00.004+02:00

Lord, give me blisters on my feet from walking with people.
Give me calluses on my fingers because I've cared.
Make my voice horse from singing Your Name.
Let my wallet be empty because I've shared.
Give me wrinkles on my face from all the laughter.
And puffy eyes from the tears I've shed.
May my back hurt because I was unselfish.
May my knees be sore from my prayers.
Break my heart when Yours is sad.
And when I stop to rest, Lord, let me be aware
Of only what YOU are doing.

Italy in Everything

2008-05-19T17:11:00.002+02:00

I don't know when it happened. It might have been the first time we found out about the opportunity to go to Italy. It might have been after we talked to Team Expansion or Matt and realized that going to Verona was a real possibility for us. I can't put my finger on it but at some point I began to see Italy in everything around me.

At first it started as shows on the travel channel about Venice, Milan, Florence and even Verona itself. Italian cooking shows on the food network, any news that had anything to do with the country and people who've visited there telling me all about their trips. I notice when things are made in Italy in stores or when people have Italian names. The other night I saw Matthew Fox from Lost on a talk show and found out his wife is Italian. How interesting. Then, there's the soccer...don't even get me started on the soccer. We love Soccer and can't wait to live in a country where it's so popular. Everywhere I look, everywhere I go...I notice anything that has to do with Italy.

I've been thinking today how important it is for me to be like that in my walk with God...to see Him in everything around me. Things happen in life that we don't always understand. We hurt, we get angry, we lose, we get dissapointed and end up confused. Yet, if we keep our eyes open and our heads up we can see God in all those situations. We can see how He worked in and through us to strengthen our faith. I also think about the times of love, rejoicing, happiness and peace. I see God working in little areas of my life to bring me laughter when I need it, joy when I choose it instead of a bad attitude and peace even when I don't understand it. I am thankful to have a God that works even in the smallest ways to show He's there and He loves us, that He can take any situation and work it out to make us better. I can't help but to think how in Italy we are all going to have good days and bad days...but in all those days, God will be working to make us stronger and equip us to do the task He's given us.

-Savannah Eaton

Pierre

2008-05-02T21:36:00.004+02:00

I just got through reading a wonderful little book by Maurice Sendak entitled, Pierre, a Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue. In it, our title character would say nothing but, "I don't care!" No matter what his mother or father did or said, he would still reply with, "I don't care!"

One night, a hungry and extremely polite lion came to Pierre's home and expressed his desire to eat him. The apathetic boy replied as usual. Several times the lion strove to make sure that Pierre really meant it when he said, "I don't care!" After repeating himself no less than seven times, Pierre was eaten by the lion.

There's more to the story, but you'll have to read it on your own to find out what happens. However, I can tell you the moral of the story: CARE!

Sometimes, in various stages of our lives, we see the apathy in the attitudes of the people around us. Sometimes, we see it in ourselves. Resist! Don't give in! In this world, the lost need us to care. They need us to go. They need us to do whatever we need to do in order to share with them the good news of Jesus! Continue to fight the good fight. Care.

The One Who Provides

2008-04-26T18:30:00.003+02:00

I attended a women's retreat last weekend. The speaker shared with us many of the Hebrew names of God and their meanings. Most I had heard before, but hadn't thought of lately. She shared how Hagar had given God a name- El Roi, "the God who sees". Many of the ladies shared some very creative names for who God has been at various times in their lives; "my Demerol" (he takes the edge off!), "my pumice stone" (he wants to work off the calluses of my heart), "my super glue" (he holds me together), and "my lead dog" (from a woman who spent time in Alaska and gave us an appreciation for all that the lead dog of a dog team does) are all examples. The leaders wanted us to take the time to figure out who God was for us at this point in our lives.

I realized that now, as in the vast majority of my life, God is to me El Shaddai, "the one who provides". He has provided everything for me since I was conceived- a Christian family, dear friends (in every place I've been), food, shelter, and many things that I've wanted, but not needed. Most of all, he provided his son to be the sacrifice for my sins and offered me forgiveness and eternal life with him! He gives me many chances to keep trying and to share him with my world. I'm not even beginning to really express how he provides the tiny and the huge things in my life.

So, now, as we are in this time of raising funds so that we can go to Verona and as we are living in the USA where prices far exceed those we knew in China I know things will be just fine. El Shaddai will see that we have what we need. He will provide the right partners at the right time. He will work all this out according to his timing and his plan. He will provide the people we need to share him with and to them he will provide us to share. He will work out every detail. He is El Shaddai, "my provider".

Home Assignment Travels - April '08

2008-04-25T02:38:00.002+02:00

Angie and I have been travelling for almost three weeks now. We have about a week and a half left. So far we have spent time in North Carolina with team members, Brandon and Savannah Eaton. Then we made our way north through Virginia and West Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky. In Louisville, we have been spending time with Shively Christian Church, the PACE church for the Italy project. We also our visiting the home office of our organization, Team Expansion. We are also communicating with another area church in the hope that they may become a major partner with Shively Christian Church and the Italy work.

Masks

2008-04-24T18:25:00.001+02:00

My kids have prom this Saturday night. I think they will have a fun time. Their prom is going to be masquerade style. They will wear the fancy dresses and tuxes, but they will also wear masks. So, Jessica, Luke, and I have been working on making masks for them. They’re turning out pretty good.

Prom. I remember my prom. I wish I didn’t. I cringe when I think about it. Being a somewhat typical teen at the time, I had my share of acne. Not wanting to go to prom like that, I took matters into my own hands…literally. By the time I was done, my blackheads were gone, but my face was all red, swollen, and blotchy. How I wish I had a mask then!

Life is like that sometimes. We are embarrassed or ashamed and we put on a mask. Do people notice? It’s hard to tell, because they wear masks, too. As Christians, we know that we’ve been set free from our shame and from things that we’ve done which would cause us to be embarrassed. So, why do we wear masks? Why do we feel compelled to hide behind this persona of perfection? And why are Christians seemingly the main segment of the population wearing masks?

Yet, in this world where people are crying out to be real and to know others who are real, we aren’t. Do we want to share with people the glorious hope that we have in Christ? We have to take off our masks. Are we ready for that? Are others ready for that? Does it matter?

I’m afraid.

Transition Lists

2008-04-15T19:46:00.002+02:00

I love lists. I love introverted self-analysing. Perhaps I even love these things too much. I do think, though, it is important when you are making a transition to do some self evaluating. Here is a list of lists from Gail Blanke that has to do with unfinished business... perfect for when you are finishing a season.

1. Things I want to start but haven't started.
2. Things I want to change but haven't changed.
3. Things I want to stop but haven't stopped.
4. Things I started but haven't finished.
5. Things I want to do but haven't done.
6. Things I want to say but haven't said.
7. Things I want to learn but haven't learned.
8 Feelings I have but haven't expressed.

After you make your lists, evaluate them by asking yourself...
Is it too late to do it now?
How can I implement this in my new season?
Is the Lord holding me back from doing this or am I ignoring the Spirit's prompting?
Is this thing in line with the Lord's will; what is He saying about it?

This might give you a little perspective is where you are... and might help you understand from where the next season is starting. And it might just open some dreams (and even to-do lists) for the next chapter.

Blog By Brandon

2008-04-04T14:20:00.002+02:00

Hello!

This is Brandon Eaton. My wife and I are the newbies on Team Verona. I saw Savannah's awesome blog on here and thought I'd better get a move on. I thought first I'd tell you a little bit about my self. I was born on ... OK maybe not that much. I'm a Johnson Bible College Graduate and due to my four years there I not only got a great education but I got a beautiful wife out of the deal. I think that makes the student loans worth it. When Savannah and I left Johnson and plunged into life we weren't exactly sure where we fit or what God had planned for us. We've continuously prayed and sought out His direction. I won't tell you on blog number one every step He took us on to get to where we are now, but lets just say that looking back at our path, He had us walking towards this all along.

I will be working in the area of youth and college age in Verona. I have a passion to work with those age groups specifically and have been in some form or fashion since I left school. Savannah will be working in children's ministry. I know we will work in each other's ministries as well , and I'm pretty sure that's how the whole team is going to function.

We are currently in preparation mode, and have been working towards this goal of getting to Verona. At the end of this month, we will transition out of our current employment and start preparing and fund-raising full-time. We can't wait. My thoughts are consumed with Verona, the Italian people, and everything that God is going to do in this beautiful city. Granted I haven't seen it with my own eyes yet, but I watched a pretty good show about Verona on the Travel Channel! We get to visit next month though, so in blogs to come expect me to be a smidgen more informed.

We are so excited to be a part of the Go Verona family. That family and support just keeps getting bigger when you think about Taking Christ to Italy, Team Expansion, and the hundreds of people that will be supporting us throughout this country. What a privilege to be a part of this.

Savannah Eaton...Reporting For Duty.

2008-04-03T20:00:00.004+02:00

Savannah Eaton

For those of you who don't know, I am Savannah Eaton. My husband and I just joined the team recently. We are really excited about it. I'm here to write my first blog. Blog is such a 21st century word. I kept plenty of diaries as a teenager so I should be pretty good at it.

So, this week I've started the initial stages of support raising. I've went through a range of feelings and emotions about the whole thing. What I have felt the most is doubt. I have found myself doubting myself, God's people and even the Almighty himself. During my quiet time, I've been praying and praying for my faith to strengthened and for my doubts to be relinquished.

God provides peace and comfort in the most unexpected ways.

Oddly enough, I've got some amazing encouragement from the book "People Raising" by William P. Dillon. I picked it up thinking it might give me some tips as I am calling people and setting up appointments to meet with missions boards. It gave me alot more than that.

One of the first reasons it gives for why support raising is important is that it stretches your faith. It goes on to give many more reason but this resonated loudly with me. Here I am, already experiencing this...the more I thought about it, I just realized that where my doubts are is the same place where my faith will grow and expand. This process is going to be a challenge, but through it, the doubts I have will turn into a stronger and steadier belief that God will meet my every need.

Through reading the book, I also came to understand that my own negative attitude could be my downfall. I can't look at support raising as this daunting task. I know that I have an amazing opportunity to share with others in the body of Christ this work God has put on our hearts and let them be a part of it. What we're doing is actually pretty exciting.

I can't say I'm feeling absolutley amazing about support raising but I can say I am not dreading it anymore. I'm looking forward to sharing Verona, Italy with everyone and giving others a chance to be a part of it.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"- Matthew 6:33

As the Wheel Turns

2008-03-27T22:33:00.002+01:00

So, as we are in the states, one of the objectives was to recruit the team, which really means trusting in God to form the team and listening to the Spirit as we follow Him. We hope to have recruitment finished within the next month. Then we can shift as a team towards "long-distance-bonding". So far, Angie and I are the only ones who have met or spent time with each of our team members in person! I know it has got to be strange for our team, who is just getting to know who they are going to be ministering with!

Our time for being in the states has been extended from the end of June to the end of September. Having that extra time is important for our team to get more of a base in their financial support, as well as giving us a chance to do more VBS programs and camps.

Everything we do in the states impacts our future work in Verona. It is the foundation for what we will build on as a team once we arrive in Verona. May God's will be ours.

Such Amazing Love

2008-03-20T14:32:00.002+01:00

I have long been fascinated at the ways that God has placed himself and his message of redemption and reconciliation in the cultures of the world. In China we were often fascinated to learn of stories or traditions that gave an opening for us to share. Even within the Jewish culture, where they had so much from him, he left them messages. Things that say, "Look! Jesus is the Messiah! It could only be him!"

For several years now we as a family have been learning about some of the Jewish holidays. We are slow and bumbling as we celebrate these things, but they have such wonderful pictures and lessons in them. We have been celebrating Passover. Though officially Passover isn't for a bit yet this year, we try to celebrate it in connection with Easter- since that is the way it was for Jesus. This year we "cheated" and participated in a seder presented by Jews for Jesus.

There are so many wonderful, beautiful parts. Bryan loves the search for the affikomen. This is a broken piece of matzah that was taken from the middle of three sections of a special cloth. It is wrapped in linen and hidden away for a time during the meal. Then the children seek it out and are paid a ransom for it. Many Jews aren't even sure why the cloth has three sections....can you see the picture there?

This is the piece of matzah- an unleavened bread made so that it is pierced, has stripes and bruises, and is broken- that Jesus took and gave to his disciples when he set up the Lord's supper.

Out of the four cups of wine that are taken during the meal, it is the cup of redemption that Jesus used for the time we remember as the Lord's supper. The cup of redemption- no coincidence there!

How perfectly wonderful that in a feast celebrated for more than a thousand years before Jesus came there are these messages. I have only shared a couple with you. There are more! What love to take the time to carefully place these clues and reminders everywhere! How carefully planned! How much love and care is that! To set these things up when he set the world in motion!

What has he placed in Italy? What things in their culture will we find that are shouting about him to the dear people he loves there? I can't wait to find out!

The Spirit and the Mind

2008-03-02T12:13:00.002+01:00

In Creole, the language spoken in Haiti, your intelligence and and "spirit" are all rolled into one concept. They are the same thing. As a child is gaining a conscience of where things go, how to put things together, the routine of things... as Americans we say, "Oh! She's getting so smart!" Haitians however say, "Oh! She begins to have a spirit!"

Maybe we as Americans need to start thinking more with our spirit and the Spirit within us along with our smarts.

Welcome Brandon and Savannah

2008-02-25T08:30:00.003+01:00

As you know we have been recruiting for the Verona team while we are in the states. In fact, it is us along with many of you praying that God forms the team He wants in Verona. About a week ago, we welcomed aboard the latest team members, Brandon and Savannah Eaton. Brandon and Savannah will be leading in the areas of youth and children, which includes outreach, disicipleship ministry, etc... I look forward to sharing more about them as we go along. Praise God for bringing this team together.