I titled this blog "New Family" because: 1) there have been two weddings this summer and 2) we have a new family member in Christ.
If any of you religiously read my blog, I'm sure you remember that on several occasions I have asked for prayers for one of our students Davide. If you don't read the blog religiously, don't worry, I'll give you a background story.
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| Davide and his family |
Somewhere around January, Alan was at the church one morning when a man walked in and asked him about our English classes sign and also what kind of church a church of Christ was. Turns out this man, Davide, has a job where he uses English every day. He said he would like to come and practice his English with Alan and study the Bible. Lessons started, and it became quickly obvious that this guy was searching for the truth. He was raised Catholic like most other Sicilians, and immediately jumped in and started asking serious questions about the differences between "our" church and the Catholic church. Alan quickly scratched our "normal" study plan of reading through Luke and then Acts, and instead just started having a Bible study with Davide about the topics Davide asked about most frequently.
Side note: we get this question a lot from our students and people who just drop by the church, "What's the difference between this church and the Catholic church?" So, when people ask this question, we focus on those topics that are most prevalent in Catholic church but aren't Biblical truths. We always try to point out that it doesn't matter what "we" believe or what "our" church teaches, but what the Bible says and if the church/people you are worshiping with are following the Bible (since it's our source of truth and instruction from God).
Eventually Alan and Davide were
studying the differences
on Tuesday and
Thursday nights. After two months, Davide starts studying with an elder at our church
on Tuesday nights in Italian. We have an elder, Stephano, here that offers to study with all
of our students in Italian if they are in any way interested in the word
of God because it's easier to study in your own language (we think this
should be included in the model of Avanti Italia). After a month of studying in
English and Italian Davide says to Alan, "I don't want to offend you but I want to
study both nights in Italian and I don't have enough time to study
English anymore." Alan told him that would be fantastic since this is the whole reason we're here! So Davde studied with Stephano for about three months and on 7-30-2014 he was
baptized!
We love seeing them at church now on Sundays as part of the family with their baby girl. It is such an encouragement to see fruit blossom. We were often told in our training before we came here to not be discouraged if there is not visible "fruit" from our work. It's often the case, especially in places like Europe. However, we all have to remember that our job is just to spread the seed, and we may be there for different parts of the maturing process, but really it's God who makes it grow. We feel really blessed that we got to be here for this part of Davide's journey, and we ask that you continue to pray for this new Christian and brother in Christ. Pray that his faith continues to grow, that he stands firm when temptations and troubles come, and that his wife will also come to commit her life to Christ.
In addition to getting a new brother in Christ, two new families were formed this summer. Dario, and Andrea (former Avanti worker) got married at the end of June. Their wedding was gorgeous and perfect! They have since returned to America to start their married life there, but we do miss them here in Italy!
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| This is Sicilian for "Andrea e Dario insieme per tutta la vita" or in English: together for the rest of their lives. |
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| Alan with one of the flower girls. |
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| Part of the dinner |
Then, in July one of the families at church had their third daughter! I won't post names or pictures here online, but she's super tiny and cute! I really enjoyed being pregnant at the same time as Louisa. She was a huge help to me, and it was a neat experience to get to share together.
Also, at the end of July Cristina and Salvo, two young people from church, got married. They also had a beautiful and very fun wedding! Not many people get to say that they got married at an old castle on the coast in Sicily! They've since returned from their honeymoon, and they are both Italian so they aren't moving to America. ;)
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| Cristina and Salvo's Wedding |
This summer has been a busy summer, but it has been a summer of many blessings! Alan and I also got to enjoy a visit from our close friends in America. It was so nice to spend time with them, show them around, and make them try all kinds of foods that we love here.
I can honestly say, I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life as I was at the end of July after VBS, weddings, camp, visitors, and still teaching English classes while being 8 months pregnant. Alan was pretty worn out too. We appreciate everyone's prayers for the work and church here in Italy!
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| Church Family |
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