This year was for us a very interesting year...It started with a very important change in our life, after 7 years serving in the Northern Italy God moved us to the other end of the boot...Sicily. Many times I had to remember the example of Abraham when God called him to sacrifice his son. For sure it was not easy for him to give up the son so long waited and in whom he probably poured out his father's love. But he obeyed, he stepped up, took his son and left. Once on the mountain he was still ready to obey, he trusted God and feared Him. For us leaving a place well known and that we loved wasn't easy. But I had to remind myself to be obedient even if the command at time can feel strange.
We did experience the goodness of God in these months, many difficulties entered into our lives, but He helped us make it through. We had two surgeries in the family before our move.
Josh had to be in the States for almost three months while we were here in Italy, our car was hit and unuseble for several months...but in September we finally made it here to Sicily and God did show us grace in letting us be all together,and giving us a new nice house, our car back and new friends. The most beautiful gift was just to be reunited as a family, to be with my mate, my other half.
This month we had another outreach, we had a Christmas party. We made lots of food and invited believers and friends to spend time with us. There was a game at the beginning and then before the dessert Johnny preached a gospel message. We had a good numbers of non believers and we are glad that they were able to hear the Word of God.
(Josh with some of our English students that came to the Christmas party)
(Carmela and Teti in the middle with on the far right Nanni and Sara on the left)
This month was a blessing for us in fact besides the visit of my family early in December we had the opportunity to spend Christmas time with Josh's dad. The girls were super excited to play with grandpa and show him their new room and house.
(At our home with our Christmas tree...not a real one)
(Hannah giving grandpa her christmas present)
(The kids with Josh's dad in one of the main square here in Acireale)
Then for New Year's Eve Josh's mom came. We celebrated the new year at the Academy with people from the church, with games, food and fireworks. After that mostly we spent time with family and preparation for Hannah's birthday on the 5th of January. It was a blessing to have mom and dad here to help. Hannah wanted to have a tea party and so we did, and it was special. Josh was the waiter and some of the kids really had a lot of fun in making him work hard!
Among all other blessings we were able to go on base here on Sigonella and do things that we weren't able to do in a while. We watched two movies at the theatre, ate some burgers and American pizza. The kids played in the big playground on base, made snickerdoodle cookies with grandma and ate most of the dough!
Some things to pray for are:
- finishing up the work on the church building so that we can have an extra room for a 6-8 year old sunday school class. We take turns teaching the younger kids but Hannah has not a class yet and she can't wait for her class to start.
- team, that we can work well together even being four different families
- health
- ministry, as we get ready for a new season of outreaches
- for our family that we can grow more all together in the Lord, as a couple and that as parents we can be good steward of God's treasures towards our kids.
