It feels a lot like September, but we are still in August. I love this weather; it is a nice change from the brutal Italian heat. About a month ago, we were having days that were above 40 degrees (103F). Life is starting to set in as I begin my third month in Italy. I am beginning to notice things like routine and enjoying going to the store for groceries. My apartment is feeling more and more like home. The other day, my neighbors told me that their boy is beginning his English lessons at school. They asked me if I would tutor him as he studies this year. God is giving me opportunities to enter into the lives of my neighbors and share life with them. Language school is going well. The next two weeks will be intense; I will learn several tenses and hopefully gain a greater foundation in this language. I have a lot of fun with my teachers and I am getting to meet a lot of interesting people. This month, I have had the opportunity to see some great concerts that the city has put on for the public. I went to one piano concert of some Bach and Beethoven and the other night, there was an orchestra that played a lot of classical music of Grieg, Mozart, Vivaldi, and Beethoven. Tomorrow night, there is an event involving some of Nietzsche’s work that I am going to which is held in a church of all places. I am soaking up the opportunities to experience Italian culture first hand.

Please be in prayer this week for:

  • Our team’s intimacy with Christ; that our hearts will be made more like His and we would embody a Christ-like witness here in Italy
  • Our team’s language ability; that God would loosen our tongues and give us confidence to speak to Italians (when we know we aren’t grammatically correct!)
  • Our team to be sensitive to the divine appointments that God gives us to share the good news
  • Our team’s protection from the Enemy – Spiritual warfare is a reality. Operation World reports a Church of Satan in Turin (about a 7 hour train ride from Ancona) which prays for the removal of evangelical missionaries from Italy on a daily basis.

I am really encouraged by your prayers and I hope you are doing well. Have a great day!