Distance from Verona to other Countries

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...

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

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

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

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