Roger & Elaine's visit

Roger and Elaine Hillegas were with us a couple of weeks ago, ministering at some of our regular services and also held a special seminar on "The Wisdom of Proverbs." Danielle and I took care of the children during the seminar on Saturday, as well as when members of ICF went out to lunch after church on Sunday to celebrate ICF's 13th anniversary.

All our kiddos we were taking care of

Roger & Elaine have been to minister in Italy and other European countries numerous times before. When they visit Padova, Steve and Patti usually take them somewhere special. This particular time they decided to go to Trieste, Italy for a couple of days and were kind enough to ask Danielle and I if we would like to ride along. Here are a few glimpses of Trieste, which is right on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Unfortunately, it was a bit foggy so that made it difficult to see some things. That fresh sea air was so refreshing!

The rocky coast

Crystal clear water

A fun red bench

Miramare Castle

This plaque outside the castle made me feel a bit more at home

The gardens

We took a day trip from Trieste to Bled, Slovenia 

Foggy in Slovenia too!

A quaint restaurant where we enjoyed lunch

Roger and Elaine Hillegas

This was lunch for Elaine and I! Risotto with chicken and vegetables...delicious!

A castle up on the hill...church across the water

A piece of "original Bled cream cake" (see below)

I've got my tea and cream cake...I am set!

The cream cakes are made in this hotel...there is a sign outside that says more than 10 million cream cakes have been prepared in the pastry kitchen of the Park Hotel.

Trieste at night

The harbor...with lighthouse in the distance

All in all, a fun outing with Steve, Patti, the Hillegas' and Danielle. It was a good time of connection for us all. In the midst of so much going on here, it was nice to have a little break and provided us with some relaxation as well.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Faith-building Fridays!

As I mentioned in my last post, ICF has a service every Friday night called Breaking the Barriers. A different person in the church cooks dinner each Friday, then there is a time of worship and prayer. These past few weeks I've really enjoyed helping with worship. Danielle and I have also started a new program with the kids who are here on Fridays. We've been using some of the "true missions stories" from A/G's Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge website. The kids have absolutely loved it! Each week we have them board an "airplane" and we fly them to a different country. The first week we went to Benin, Africa and took them on a safari, then Danielle told them the true story of missionary Charles Petroskey miraculously surviving an encounter with a green mamba. The kids have asked in amazement, "this really happened?!" To which we get to explain just exactly how it did indeed happen and tell them about the miracles God has done in the lives of these missionaries. Such a great way to build their faith, and ours! :)

The BGMC website even has coloring pages to go along with the story. Danielle and I have also come up with an activity/craft that pertains to our region and story. They made safari hats in Africa.

This past Friday I took the kids to Iceland, where we enjoyed some 'ice skating'...lots of spins and twirls on the church's marble floor. Then they heard about the Hall's, who prayed desperately to survive on their flight back to America from Iceland. They had run into major storms and weren't able to stop anywhere to refuel like they needed to. Strong head winds were pushing against the plane and burning fuel rapidly. The pilot had an idea to fly down close to the water, so close the missionaries could see the reflection of the airplane in the ocean. Suddenly they felt a 50 mile an hour tailwind pushing the plane past the strong head winds. God had provided this wind which pushed them all the way to the airport, helping to not burn nearly as much fuel, so they didn't crash into the ocean. They landed safely with only a tiny bit of fuel left.

Here we are on our "airplane!"

Coloring the green mamba!

Sad that we had to go home...

After the Iceland story, we made paper airplanes!

 

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God..."
2 Timothy 1:8

Hello February

I can hardly believe it's already February 1st.
As I've already mentioned on this blog, it's hard for me to stay fully updated! A lot has happened here in Padova, even just in the last couple of weeks. I'm back in full swing here at the church. I've been doing my usual routine...cleaning the church, organizing, helping Steve with various secretarial tasks, and preparing for the after-school program, which starts back up this week. I taught Sunday school this past Sunday...it was great to get back to the kids here!
I've also welcomed a new roommate! Danielle arrived last week. She had been previously serving in Serbia...we're grateful to have her here in Italy! Maira, it's just like you said--you passed the baton to me! :) Amazing that I'm showing her around the city now, considering how lost I felt when I arrived.
This past Saturday we spent a good part of our day at the church helping Global University students write papers. English isn't their first language, so writing a term paper in English is a bit difficult for them.
As usual, there is a lot coming up here. This Sunday we have a big ministry team meeting after church and the next weekend ICF Padova is celebrating their 13th anniversary. Guest speakers from America will be here to hold special services and a special dinner will be on Sunday afternoon, during which Danielle and I will be babysitting the children and feeding them lunch.
We're still having our Breaking the Barriers service every Friday evening, during which Danielle and I will be taking care of any children that may be there.
We have our weekly discipleship program, which is kind of like an intense Sunday school class before church each week and another Encounter Retreat the first week of March.
Missions teams from America will be coming in March and April, and Danielle and I will soon start working on scheduling and curriculum for the big summer school in June.
I'm sure there are many more things that I don't even know about yet! Never a dull moment around here.

I've been studying the book of John this past week...and praying that He would continue to increase and I would decrease.
I've been thinking about abiding in Him and His love.
"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
John 15:10-11
I want to bear good fruit and have full joy!
Jesus, help me to love like You love.
Without Him I can do nothing.

Blessings to all of you! I so appreciate your prayers and support! 

Quite an Update...

Sorry I haven't been blogging for awhile! I've been busy, busy! As most of you know, I was abundantly blessed by being able to go home for Christmas. It was quite the adventure getting home, as airports all over Europe were shut down because of winter weather here. Praise the Lord, I made it back to Kansas and to my grandparents' house right as they were getting in place for our annual family picture on Christmas Eve.
 It was great!

The blessings continued, as Ben got to fly back to Europe with me for a visit. We flew into Switzerland and had the privilege of staying with the Sinclair family. Mr. Sinclair was Ben's brother's boss when he worked in Spain. He and his wife were so very kind and provided us with amazing hospitality. It was quite an adventure seeing several parts of Switzerland, Austria, and then back to Italy. We enjoyed dinner with Steve & Patti the night we returned, and then headed to Rome the next day. A/G missionaries Terry & Marsha Peretti were so kind to let us stay at their house...spending time with them was one of our very favorite parts of our visit. I left Rome with an even greater appreciation that I serve and belong to Jesus Christ...that God put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. (Eph. 1:22)

After Rome, we returned to Padova. Steve and Patti graciously allowed Ben to stay at their house. He said his favorite part of his entire trip was meeting everyone. He so enjoyed having an opportunity to meet the amazing people I have been working with and getting to know during these past few months. He was able to go to an ICF Friday night service and a Sunday service. He saw some of the children I'm working with and met lots of the families here. After spending a few days here in Padova, he was wishing he could spend a few more...to have more quality time with the people here. He left saying how wonderful and helpful it was to see where I'm at, who I'm around, and what I'm doing here. All in all, a fantastic visit! Of course I was sad to see him go, but very grateful he got to come.

Geneva, Switzerland

Reformation monument

Not surprisingly, there are clocks everywhere in Switzerland! Very handy!

Ben making his way out to the fountain...he went as close as he could to it

...and was a bit cold when he returned!

Famous clock in Bern, Switzerland

It was special to be in Bern, as some of my family on my Grandma Marilyn's side came from there

A few more Switzerland shots

Salzburg

Rome

Our first sight as we got off the metro our first morning in Rome...the Colosseum

The Roman Forum

Paul's prison cell...or Peter's prison cell as it's called in Rome

The Pantheon

We enjoyed hearing a choir sing while we were there

Spanish steps

In front of Trevi fountain

St. Peter's Basilica

Since Venice is so close, we took the train from Padova and spent a few hours there.

Enjoying some time with Vana & Gezim

Didn't get a picture with them, but Kurtis & Amy invited us over also, where we enjoyed 2 delicious meals and fun fellowship!

Praising the Lord for all of His many blessings!

"...Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, fovever and ever!"

Rev. 5:13