Last Post from Italia

Ciao Italia! I cannot believe my trip is already over. Well, almost over... Three days in London and then I'll be on my way back to America. Oh yeah... Mom, I'm going to London :) I just thought I'd let you know.

I'll post my final thoughts later when I'm in London. It's 11:17 and I have to leave in a few hours for the airport. I'd like to sleep :)

I hate goodbyes

What do you mean I have to leave? I just got here!

Although some days seemed like they'd never end, the past few months have gone too fast. I'm leaving behind some friends that I may never see again in this life or the next. I hate goodbyes, but not saying them would be even worse.

I went over to Anna Maria and Alfredo's house and said goodbye. Then I met Vicky before class and we hung out a bit. Then I said goodbye to my teacher, Roberta. Then I had to tell Vicky goodbye. I'm not even gone yet, and I have to tell all these people goodbye. Lord willing, I'll come back in the future to visit.

It's been a bittersweet journey. I have so many reasons to stay and so many reasons to leave. *sigh*

Mi dispiace.

Nothing Compares

Florence is pretty and all, but nothing compares to being able to talk to an unbeliever about Christ. Saturday and today were so much better than Monday. Before I left class tonight I gave my teacher a novella about the difference between Catholic churches and Baptist churches. She was thanking me and saying how it was nice. I pray she'll read it and have questions, but I pray even more that I'll be able to answer those questions! As usual, Vinny and I walked to my bus stop. I asked him if he read the "thing" (like he'd understand the word tract...) I gave him. He said a little bit and was about to explain when I said "eh piano, piano." Then he asked me "how do you get to heaven." Praise God! I explained to him slowly and with simple words. He is hung up on the fact that we are all sinners. Hinduism teaches that the sinners compose 70% of the population. The other 30% don't sin (according to Hinduism). He couldn't grasp the thought that one who believes in God is still a sinner. I am so happy, glad, thankful, ecstatic... that I got to talk to him about Christ again. Words can't explain this feeling. If that wasn't enough to make my day, Vinny asked me if he could email me religious questions after I go back to America. Mi piace! I am hoping to be able to meet with Vinny one more time before language class on Thursday. I'd love to be able to share the Gospel with him one more time before I go.

Ultima Dominica

I couldn't help but feel somewhat saddened this morning knowing this way my last Sunday in Terni. I sat in the service torn between listening and praying for the unsaved people listening. I was given a handout like usual and knew the topic was salvation, so for most of the time I was just praying. To my right I could see Lorella listening, and my heart ached for her. To my left I could see Giovanna was bored as usual, and my heart ached even more. I've been here three months; I can't imagine how the Bloyds must feel.

Forget me not

I will never forget today. My day started out going to Spoleto where I met the only Christian in that town. The Bloyds and I walked around the town, and then we ate in the restaurant of the Christian lady. After eating an amazing lunch, we went back to Terni. I was dropped off downtown. From there I walked to meet Vinny. We headed for the bus stop to go to the Waterfall. At first he wanted to go to a church. I asked why. He said to pray. I told him I wasn't Catholic (again), and he was like oh you just want to go to the waterfall? I said yes. So we went and hung out. He didn't eat lunch cuz he thought we'd eat together. He wouldn't eat by himself, so I ate a piece of pizza with him even though I was definitely not hungry. We started talking about God on the bus to the waterfall, and I tried to keep the conversation going through out the day. I was able to tell him the whole plan of salvation. I had him read a few verses, and I gave him a tract. He promised he'd read it. I pray he does. It's hard when Vinny doesn't speak fluent English or Italian and I don't speak Italian fluently... Vinny understands English when he reads it (for the most part).

I want to bring Vinny back to America with me to teach the guys how to act. I asked Vinny to do something with me, but he still bought me pizza, water, coffee, a bus ticket, and a necklace. He walked on the outside of the street, and he let me go first. Can we say chivalrous?

I would have loved to hang out with Vinny longer, but I had to go to dinner at the Bloyds' friends' house where I once again ate a ton. I've eaten so much today! I should fast for the next week, not just because I ate too much but for Vinny. He promised to email me, and I promised to email him. Praise God for open windows! I'll take what I can get.

I gotta "date"

Well, Vinny emailed me, but he never asked his question. He did however say that he'd talk to me at school about lunch. (I invited him to church and to a fellowship after church. I taught him the word "fellowship" too!) Well, I was walking downtown towards my school, and I saw him talking with some friends, so I went over and said hi. Then we both started walking to school, and we started talking about Sunday. He works nights, so he doesn't want to do anything Sunday, but he does want to do something Saturday when he's not working. I pray everything works out.

Nothing much as really happened lately. I've taken two midterms, and I got A's on both of them. I have another midterm for History tomorrow. Oh yeah, I went to Rome on Monday, and I had a blast. I went inside St. Peter's, checked out the Coliseum at dusk (I wanted to go at night but the train left before it got totally dark. Blasted daylight savings lol), and I went shopping :) I didn't buy anything until 5 minutes before I headed back to the Train Terminal. Those street peddlers really know how to sell their stuff. I did talk him down however. It reminded me of China :'( I miss China, especially the Sweet'n'sour chicken.

St. Peter's was incredibly depressing, so many people praying to the dead...

Ho Capito Adesso!

Now I understand! Tonight I got to talk to Vinny. I found out in India "Vicky" is a nickname for "Vinod." Hence why Vinny told me his name was Vicky. I told him in America Vicky is a girl's name, which is why I call him Vinny. Anyways, Vinny gave me a gift! How sweet is he? I had an tract in English to give to him, but my purse is a bottomless pit. He asked what I was looking for so I told him. I started to tell him more, but he asked me if I crossed myself when I pray like the Catholics do. I said no. He also asked me to sing him another song, but I told him I sang in church on Sunday, so he forgot about me singing. He said he had another question for me, but he didn't know how to say it. Then the blasted bus came. Before I got on I told him to email me the question. I pray he does, and I pray it's a good question! One that leads into conversations about God and salvation. I'm so glad Vinny asked for my email; now if he'd only write me.

God knows that if the only reason I was in Italy this semester was so an Indian man could hear about the Gospel... it was worth it all. The "suffering" isn't even worthy of being called "suffering."

Dominica

We had six visitors in church today, and of course it would be the Sunday I sing. Hey, if that's what it takes I'm all for it. Only Lorella came just because I was singing. The other visitors were Brazilians. The missionary lady, her husband, and their two kids brought a friend. Praise God for answers to prayer! On Monday night of last week Delta Force prayed for the ministry here. Thanks for all your prayers!

I can't believe I only have 13 more days :/ So much to do in so little time. I was going to go to Florence tomorrow, but I'm going to wait till next Monday because today was really busy. We had a soccer game. Americans vs. Italians. The Americans won :) and we were down a man too!

Grosseto

Whenever I get back from traveling, I'm always asked "So what was your favorite thing about it?" I was wondering what I was going to say. On Monday I took the train to Grosseto and spent Monday evening and all day Tuesday with missionaries Frank and Jenny Maietta and their three kids Frankie, Nonna (it's a nickname), and KT. I had a blast. They took me to the beach and to a nearby castle on Monday.

Before I continue writing about what we did I must write about the Maietta family some more to help clarify some things. Frank is Italian; his parents immigrated and then hooked up with each other in America. When Frank was 11 they moved back to Italy. Frank went back to America for high school, and then he joined the Marines. After that he went to Ambassador and met Jenny. They've been in Italy for one year and four months. Frank's mom lives in Grosseto, and rents one of the apartments above her house to Frank and Jenny. Frank's mom, Rita, has been an amazing witness. Most of the people that go to their church go because of Rita's witnessing.

On Tuesday Jenny and I rode bikes to centro. She took me around the town and bought me coffee, but this was not just ordinary coffee. It was called "Rosa." First they put chocolate syrup in the glass like Arby's puts the syrup for their Orange shakes. Then they filled the glass with pink whipped cream. Then they poured the coffee in the glass and sprinkled cocoa on top. It was SO good! After that we went back to the Maietta's house. Rita fixed lunch, and boy was it good! We had calamari, which I liked a lot. From 3-6pm I went with Jenny to her language class. Her class is definitely better than mine! Hers is more organized.

I was helping Jenny get supper ready, and Frank started joking around about leaving me with the kids while they went on a date. I told them to go; I didn't mind babysitting. Instead Frank said Jenny and I should go out for pizza, so after dinner was all ready for them we went for pizza. I got a Calzione, which was amazingly good. Jenny and I got to talk a bunch. It was SO nice being able to talk to someone near my age.

I love their family. I hated leaving. They offered to let me stay for the rest of my time in Italy. I was tempted, but I'm pretty sure the Bloyds would have been offended.

Jenny asked me if there was only one place I could take my parents where would it be. I have to change my answer to be Grosseto. She also asked who the one person I'd want to introduce to my parents would be. I'd have to change me answer to be Rita. I would love to tell Rita's story, but it's not mine to tell.

Anyways, Grosseto and the Maiettas were an incredible blessing. I'm so thankful God allowed me to go.

The rest of this week has been interesting. I've been trying to get caught up with homework. I did get to study Roman history in Rome, which was really cool. I saw a picture of the Coliseum, and I could say "hey, that's right down the road." I got to talk to Vinny after language class last night. He asked where I was, so I told him I was visiting missionary friends. He said he kept looking at the door whenever someone came in hoping it was me. Then he added "don't think bad. think positive." lol He's so funny. Pray I can get a chance to talk to him before I leave! I only have 4 more classes before I leave.