Break-ins and Baptisms

Yesterday started off with a break-in at the church, and ended with a baptism.

Alan and I walked into the church building yesterday morning to find furniture moved around, a broken window, and glass on the floor.  Luckily for us, Stephano was already there.  Apparently a man broke into the church by lifting up the blinds, and forcing open one of the doors.  However, a cop was nearby and saw him breaking in, and quickly picked him up and took him to the police station.  Thankfully, nothing was stolen or damaged other than the window.

We had a good lesson with one of our students, a girl from church (Giorgia) brought her friend from school to have an English lesson (this was her first time), and then we got a phone call from a person who wants to start classes this week.  So it was an eventful first half of the day, and we have some new students (yay!).  Alan and I had granita and brioche with Giorgia and her friend Francesca.  Then we hiked it back up Via Etnea to our house.

In the afternoon, the Cammaratas picked me up and drove me around town a little to show me where some of the universities are so that Alan and I can go advertise our classes there.  Then, they took me to a factoria (farm) to buy some fresh eggs.  Last, we stopped at Ikea and I got to purchase some much needed cooking utensils.

We went to the church together for the singing night.  Fabio, one of the teenagers at the church, had decided the night before that he was ready to become a Christian and get baptized. The other Fabio in the church gave a short talk about what led up to all of this recently.  Fabio was one of the boys that went to Florence to help with the work month, and then he was also there for the youth convegno.  He had a chance to speak about God and his relationship with him while he was there. Then, he continued talking about it with "the other" Fabio once they returned to Catania.  So, last night, he was baptized into Christ, and we have a new brother in our Christian family.  We are so excited for him, and I'm sure he'd appreciate prayers as he starts his walk with God.

Yesterday was an awesome day here. We felt like we could see God's glory all day!  Alan and I don't really know what He has planned for us in our lives, but right now we are enjoying getting to live here in Italy and become friends with the people here.  We are so blessed to be a part of this community.  Thank you to everyone who makes this type of work possible! And thank you to God!  We're so excited to see what God has planned for this young man!
Viviane smiled non-stop! She was so excited! 

And out come all the cameras and iPhones

Being Creative. Ps. Alan took all of these...


One of my favorite verses about baptism: Romans 6:3-5

"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  

  4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death,

in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  

 5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,"

Love Fabio's mom's face in this photo (the lady in the front). So precious! 




We have a new brother in Christ! 


Alan has this thing lately where almost always makes a face for photos. I hope he grows out of this phase soon! ;) 

 

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