new home.

i've moved!

come and visit me at www.melodyfarahani.com for all kinds of italy updates and happenings.

i promise to be more faithful in this new endeavor! :)

nuova generazione.

our team recently put together this video as we look back on our first year of italian interns... and begin accepting applications for year two! exciting things continue to happen here in florence and all across italy. watch this video and keep praying!

spring in the air.

i have to tell you. i love the spring.

i always thought i was such a fall girl... and believe me, i still am. i love the scarves, the falling leaves, and the mugs of chai that come with fall.

but i love the spring too. i mean, there are lightweight scarves [which if you're in italy, you MUST wear until may, no matter the climate]. the leaves are coming back and the flowers are in bloom. and while chai may no longer be the drink of choice, there is a seriously delicious batch of granita awaiting.

the spring reminds me so much of rebirth. with easter upcoming, it is nearly impossible to think about anything other than the resurrection. at least i think so. it's everywhere. i am constantly reminded of how Christ died on the cross and literally paid the penalty for every single last one of my sins. every. last. one.

so hello spring. thank you for the daily visual reminder of my Savior. for His love. for His grace. His sacrifice. and His triumph over death.

all your cares.

this commentary by Matthew Henry gets me every time. i am always so challenged by the words. listen to his take on 1 Peter 5:

"Cast 'all your cares', personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God. The remedy is, to cast our care upon God and leave every event to His wise and gracious disposal."

what are you caring for that has become burdensome and hindered your delight in the service of God?

homework... really?

this week, Agape Italia is holding it's first [in many many years] Institute of Biblical Studies course week! More than 1/3 of the Staff from around the country have come to Florence to take one of two offered courses. Some are taking Biblical Interpretations and others, like myself, are enrolled in Romans.

i have to say, i love school. i love learning. i love going deeper in the Word- into historical context and meaning. also, i really love school supplies. i've already purchased a new notebook for this journey back to school, and have been scouring every cartoleria for the perfect pen. it's out there- i just know it.

so pray for those gathered in Florence. pray that we would be alert, attentive, and fully engaged. Already, I am discovering things in Romans that I've never known before... seeing themes that I have never paid attention to. All of this, we want to transfer to our ministry here in Italy. All of it is training for the mission field. I am so grateful.

What an opportunity.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2.

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.