Ov Ooo

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Day with the Team

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

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

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'!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!