buon natale.

merry christmas from alabama!

after a day or two of crazy snow and cancelled flights, i finally made it back home for christmas! it's so great to be back with family during this special time of year. there's just something about the expectancy that comes with christmas that i love. waiting for presents, waiting for the arrival of loved ones, and best of all: waiting for a savior.

our italian pastor said it best: we are not awaiting a small helpless baby, we await the arrival of our Almighty God- in human form. we await the moment when He took on flesh so that we might have a relationship with Him. oh how powerful. how wonderful the depth of His love.

remember this christmas to take time and reflect on the sheer power and beauty that is our God- here on earth.

merry christmas!

tag team. back again.

it's been 3.5 weeks since i arrived back in florence, italy. and i am so happy to be back.

it was hard to leave oklahoma. to leave my stateside teams, both in edmond and in stillwater. to leave my family. and to leave a slew of friends that i had so enjoyed being around.

but oh how sweet it has been to return. to a country that needs a Savior. to italian friends that have such a zest for life. to people who walked alongside me during one of the hardest years of my life. to a new beginning.

i have loved every bit of this beginning. i am so thankful for all the newness it holds. my new team. new apartment. new roommates. new perspective.

so here's to another year of living and serving in florence. i am full of hope.

soularium.

a dialogue in pictures. that's what soularium is all about.

on thursday, a teammate of mine and i asked several college students to describe their life and their spiritual journey... all through pictures.

the above images are all part of a tool used to create an easy conversation between two [or more] people. students are asked to select a photo that describes things such as 'where i wish i was spiritually' and then articulate why they made a certain image choice. i think it's a beautiful way to create conversations about the Gospel and to hear where students REALLY are.

when asked to pick a photo that describes God, one girl chose the mountains scape, one a dark tunnel with a shining light, and one a hand holding a bird. what a privilege it was to hear why. it's a joy to share truth as well.

the fall retreat.

it's almost that time- this weekend, over 200 college students will be traveling from all across the state to Cave Springs for a weekend of fellowship, fun, learning, and a little relaxation.

i am so excited to be a part of this great weekend. we are hoping to see students challenged in their walks with the Lord, pushed toward becoming leaders, and coming away with a heart for reaching their campus... together! how wonderful to see students unify over such a powerful message. they have a responsibility to take the Gospel to their campus- pray that they will realize this over the next several days!

it was at fall retreat 4 years ago that i first heard about a summer project opportunity to thailand. spending that summer in ministry absolutely changed my life. pray that God will change lives- i know He can!

here's a photo from back then- right before the barn dance. it's such a joy that some of these ladies are still in my life today.

a new role.

here i am. still in the good ole united states of america.

but ministry has not stopped! over the last few days, i have spent time with the local Campus Crusade for Christ team here in okc/edmond. it's been great to be around them, to hear what's going on at universities here in oklahoma.

my new position is still being set up, but the bottom line is: i won't be leaving for italy until november, but i will continue working for campus crusade here in america! i love this.

i'm excited about the opportunity to be around amazing people, new college students, and be exposed to staff life here at home. i can't wait to see what the Lord is going to teach me during this time.

please keep praying. for this little leg o' mine, and for the newness of ministry upon me. it's going to be a great few months!

a time to rest.

well, i broke my ankle. actually, i broke my fibula [which i hear is a leg bone] but very near to my ankle.

i was at our annual STINT briefing last week, along with 250 others like me who are going to the world. it was such a joy to be around friends and to see their excitement as they head to places like mexico, france, north africa, japan, bosnia, and so so so many more.

it was on my way down from copper mountain [after ski lifting and having lunch at the top] that i slipped and fell. it seemed like such a minor fall- there was no dramatic tumbling, no paraphenalia flying, and no jean tearing. but there was a broken fibula. yikes.

i'm currently spending my days in a splint, waiting for the swelling to go down so that i can find my way into a hard cast. pray that nothing shifts- i sure don't want to have surgery on the september agenda.

and speaking of agendas, it looks as if the Lord has a little bit up His sleeve. i still plan to be italy bound as soon as possible. it just looks like it won't be happening alongside my teammates. but the Lord is good. He is in control. i don't know why, or what He has in store for these upcoming weeks, but i know it will be good. and it will be best.

please pray for a speedy recovery, for complete restoration, and for sweet times with Jesus.

enough.

this is a must listen.

giving up.

the following song by ingrid michaelson has been sinking in these last few days. i would say that i have let the 'what ifs' of life freak me out over these last two weeks. i'm giving up. i'm giving up on not trusting the Lord. i'm giving up on trying to figure all this out on my own... and seeing a bunch of half-empty glasses. He is in control. i need to stop fretting over my own contingency plans. give this song a listen- her voice is magnificent:

What if we stop having a ball?
What if the paint chips from the wall?
What if there's always cups in the sink?
What if I'm not what you think I am?

What if I fall further than you?
What if you dream of somebody new?
What if I never let you win, chase you with a rolling pin?
Well what if I do?

I am giving up on making passes and
I am giving up on half empty glasses and
I am giving up on greener grasses
I am giving up

What if our baby comes home after nine?
What it your eyes close before mine?
What if you lose yourself sometimes? Then I'll be the one to find you
Safe in my heart

I am giving up on making passes and
I am giving up on half empty glasses and
I am giving up on greener grasses
I am giving up

I am giving up
I am giving up
I am giving up on greener grasses

I am giving up for you
I am giving up for you
I am giving up

-ingrid michaelson.

expecting big things.

my support deadline is coming up in a matter of days.

right now, i am at 85% of my goal and believing the Lord for more people who want to help change italy. pray with me for 14 families who want to be a part of bringing the Gospel to florence.

i know that the Lord is in control. i know that He will raise my support.

i can't wait to see how He does it.

music to my soul.

so i don't usually listen to christian music. at least in america anyway. music is one of my favorite pieces of life. i love so many different kinds, but i rarely find my radio tuned to the local christian station. until today that is.

driving in the car, i was absolutely blessed by the Lord. there are three songs that i believe He has used to call me back to italy. no lie, i heard all three back to back to back. absolutely fantastic.

walk by faith.
god of this city.
mighty to save.

thank you Father. i needed that.

it's not easy.

what a whirlwind it's been. i've been back in america for just under a month and in that time i have managed to spend two weeks in dallas, a weekend in branson, made two trips to stillwater, and just recently married off my best friend. not only has it been crazy, it has been emotional.

in all the insanity and busyiness it is easy to lose sight of why i am back. it's been easy to hide from support raising and from the thought of returning to italy in general.

as i rode away from the wedding with my teammate sarah, i knew that the hiding was over. it was time to get serious... about italy, my distrust of the Lord in sending me back, and of course raising support. the tears were hard to stop. in two short months, i was scheduled to get back on a european bound plane and i wasn't sure i wanted to be on it.

i spent the morning at panera today- spending time in the word, and making a list of all the reasons i'm excited about returning to italy. it boils down to this... i'm scared. i fear going back. i fear another all too challenging year. i fear losing relationships back in the states. i fear missed time and opportunities with the team that is currently serving at oklahoma state university. but He is bigger than all these.

the truth is, there is much to anticipate in returning to florence. there is much to look forward to. and although for me, it is the harder choice, i know that it is the right one. it is His best. and there is no other place i'd rather be.

"bless our God, o peoples,
and sound His praise abroad,
who keeps us in life,
and does not allow our feet to slip.
for Thou hast tried us o God;
Thou hast refined us as silver is refined.
Thou didst bring us into the net;
Thou didst lay an oppressive burden upon our loins.
Thou didst make men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet Thou didst bring us out into a place of abundance."
psalm 66:8-12.

hello, again.

hi dear friends.

i know that it has been far too long since i have updated this blog, and for that i am sorry.

the craziness of packing up my italian life got the best of me, and there were moments i wasn't sure i was going to be making it onto the plane. but all is well. students were farewelled, boxes were packed, final gift purchases were made, and an apartment was officially cleaned.

i'm back in america! oh it feels so good to be back. i love that as i sit here in a certain coffee shop, there is a young man across the way reading his bible and taking notes. i love that two tables down there are two men talking about john piper and how his teachings have affected their walks with Christ.

this is my vision for italy. how wonderful to think that one day, these same things could be seen at novoli [the business/polysci campus] or at martelli's bookstore. please hope and pray with me.

this summer, i'll be raising support and reconnecting with those who have supported me over this last year. i am so thankful and i look foward to sharing all that has happened over the year.

for those who have so sweetly asked about sarah, she is still at home. please continue to bring her health situation before the Lord. she has just begun a new medication that we are hoping will increase her ability to eat and digest. i know that she too appreciates your prayers and feels them.

i'm looking foward to connecting with you this summer- what a joy!

prayer for sarah.

today was a sad day.

my teammate sarah has been sick for months now. she has tried many avenues of healthcare here in italy and cannot find any answers.

today, we put her on a plane, and tomorrow she will be back in america.

please pray for her. that the doctors would be blessed with wisdom. that answers would be found. that her body will heal. that her hope and confidence will be solely in the Lord. that she will not be discouraged. that through it all, the Lord would be glorified.

and pray for us too. it is hard to see her go... to keep going without our oh so valued teammate. pray for encouragement and continued stamina.

pray that tomorrow will be better.

earthquake.

as i'm sure you have heard, yesterday there was an earthquake in central italy. the region of abruzzo, and specifically the town of l'acquila was hit by a 6.3 earthquake.

honestly, i would not have known about this instance except for all the calls and messages i received from family and friends. we are slowly starting to receive information, and the devastation sounds absolutely terrible. please be praying for these people. pray for comfort. for healing. for peace. and ultimately, that it would be found only in Christ.

we have looked into going down and helping out with cleanup. as for now, the city has requested only volunteers that are trained and certified in rescue work. that may change later, but for now we are sending financial help and our prayers. these are two very vital things [as they are the two reasons i am able to be here... financial support and prayer!].

all this to say, thank you for your concern and care for me. we are safe.

please please continue you to pray for those in and around abruzzo.

just a few updates.

i feel like there is so much i want to update you on, and so much to tell you that is upcoming.

but i'd like to pause for a moment and ask for your prayers. pray for spiritual strength for those who are working in italy. pray against the enemy as he fights against all we [and other ministries in italy] are trying to do. we expect and believe that the Lord is about to do something amazing here. pray that Satan would have no foothold.

we are seeing great suffering and attack amongst the believers in italy. it's coming in various forms: sickness, disease, discouragement, and actual physical attack. i humbly ask for your prayers.

wednesday afternoon we are having an informational meeting about this summer's project in malawi. our hope is that students, believers and non-believers, will join us for 2-4 weeks as we continue work in malawi. italian students of all types are drawn to humanitarian aid and so this provides a wonderful opportunity for us to build into their lives. [as an aside, i will not be going to malawi this summer but 3 of my teammates will].

my family was here this last week. it was wonderful to have them in florence- i wish they could have been here longer- but we did a little traveling and of course, it was great to see them after being apart for 6 months.

la bibbia.

my team has spent the last two wednesdays partnered with the gideons. we have passed out hundreds of new testaments [with psalms as well].

i want to write more about the entire experience later, but in the meantime, i want to ask for your prayers.

we know that God's Word does not return void. pray that students would open and read. that hearts and minds would open. that lives would be transformed.

thank you.

adventures on the bus.

i admit it. i am a bus sleeper.

when left alone on a public bus, it's basically inevitable that i will doze off. usually, i am accompanied by roommates, but there is the rare occasion that i find myself alone on a bus.

today was such a day.

i don't know what it is- perhaps a combo of many things. the soothing melodies coming from my ipod, the awkwardness of not knowing what to do with my eyes, the slight nausea that comes from a reckless bus driver, and perhaps a little bit of boredom/exhaustion... all these things [and quite possibly more] lead me to one end. sleep.

i never have a problem with waking up. sometimes i wake up at the end of the line [which luckily has always been where i needed to go] or somewhere in between my initial mount and place of arrival.

not so today my friends.

let's just say, from here on out i will be propping my eyelids open with toothpicks when going solo. the long walks back home just aren't worth it.

new beginnings.

a new semester is upon us. it's funny, sometimes i think about all the people that don't view life in "semesters", but instead by season or year. i'd like to be one of those people someday. but not today.

today i am grateful for a new semester.

-for italian students returning to classes and campus.
-for the new bedtime i am establishing for myself.
-for schedules that are filled out ahead of time.
-for daily prayer calendars.
-for established relationships.
-for relationships yet to come.

for the bend i see in the road and the blank pages in my journal.

here's to you new semester.

greater things are yet to come.

our team officially kicked off the semester yesterday. italian students are slowly returning to florence, and we're trying to connect with them as they do. i must admit that i was not looking forward to returning to a normal schedule. the idea of getting back to campus, throwing myself back into italian language learning, and being intentional with students was far from the top of my list... and this was yesterday. it's weird to come off of a break just as weary as you began it.

but as i sit in my room this morning- spending time with Jesus and thinking through what is before me, i can't help but be excited. i purchased a new cd from itunes this morning- one that's a little old, but new to me- Passion: God of this City. i love how refreshing music can be- in all its varieties.

as for today, the Lord couldn't have been more clear:

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You Are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here.

i can't wait.

Buon Anno Nuovo.

Happy 2009! Praying that it's a blessed one for you.
Melody.