For the last two weeks we have been serving and ministering in Italy with Steve and Patti Gray. They have a church in Padova, Italy (about 20 mins, by train, from Venice). It has been really cool to hear theirs stories from their 10 plus years of experience with international churches in Italy. They have been apart of an international church movement in Europe that has helped pioneer three churches in Italy.
We arrived on a late Monday afternoon after traveling for the last few days by plane from Israel to Germany (slept in the airport) to Milan and a two hour train ride from Milan to Padova. We were greeted with open arms. We were picked up from the train station and then given a tour of the city that night by the Steve and Patti. You could tell from the begining that loved Italy and their city. The picture below is us enjoy a little Italian gelito:
Me, Jess, Steve, Patti, and Lyddia (intern)
Steve and Patti have a real gift for hospitality and loving people. I have enjoyed learning and serving this ministry. Steve has so much wisdom and I love his humor. Patti is strong and fun women to be with.
Our normal day here in Italy looks kind of like this:
- Wake up eat Breakfast and help clean up around the house
- Bike (Padova is a big biking community- Bikes everywhere) or walk to Church
- In the mornings we have been helping Pastor Steve organize his office
- Early afternoon Pastor Steve takes us out for a Cappuccino at his favorite spot near the church
- Then at about 2:30-3 we start getting ready for the afterschool program- teaching English to Nigerian/Italian kids (ages 5-12) ITS WILD!
- Most evenings are filled with either small groups or prayer meetings
- Dinner is usually around 9pm when we get home
This last Sunday Pastor Steve and Patti were out of town for a conference so I had the opportunity to preach at their church! It was Fun. I spoke about the heart God has for Muslims. In order for us to reach the Islamic world God must first soften our hearts to them. I also share a message about prayer -Prayer sets things in motion was the title.
Here is some pictures from the afterschool program
WE ARE LOVING ITALY!
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