At the end of November Josh's parents came to visit, stayed for 13 days, took care of our kids while we left for a vacation. When we came back we celebrated together an early Christmas. In fact in the pictures below you can see our half decorated tree :)
The kids had lots of fun with grandma and grandpa, they played at the playground, baked cookies, went shopping, took walks, watched movies...ate cookies with cool-whip...:)
grandma and grandpa with Hannah and Benedetta
After Josh's parents left, we had only few days to pack again and go to Naples where we had an appointment at the American Consulate concerning my Visa. We stayed at my uncle's house, had two very long days but at least two positive good things that came out of it were lunch at Ikea and that we finally got a permanent resident visa for me. So now I won't have anymore problems with going back and forth to the States.
Coming back we were approaching the Christmas season and in Italy in the schools it's time for school plays...
Hannah had hers first and she was one of the servants of king Herod. I was impressed with the costumes for the play...Hannah was just a servant so I had an easy time just borrowing a dress (an angel costume from a friend!!) It was a nice play, one of the best I have seen in the last few years.
At the end of the play the mom in charge of presents for the kids asked Josh to dress up as Santa Clause and he accepted. It was a fun time also because the outfit wasn't made to fit Josh!!! That same day we were able to give our own present to the teachers: a calendar with a daily verse and message and some cookies that we had been backing.
This is a picture of Hannah with the main teacher (on the left) and the religion teacher(on the right).When we started the school year last year we had opted for not taking religion class. But then Hannah had to sit in class for two hours and draw pictures quietly. We felt so bad for her. She didn't want to leave the class because she had just found a group she enjoyed being with after the move and didn't want to try to get out and be with another group of kids that she didn't know. She also felt like her friends didn't think she loved Jesus( maybe they had told her something about it) so she felt the need to bring to school her kids Bible to demonstrate that she knew Jesus and loved Him!!! We ended up talking to the teacher, explaining our faith and putting her in the class, she was soooo happy and we have been blessed by the decision and it has been a good time to respond and reflect on diversity of faith and what the Bible says with our own daughter.
Hannah in her play singing and dancing
The servant near the king Herod
The day after Hannah's play we had a big outreach in church: a Christmas dinner. We had lots of people there, the believers helped with the food and decorations. The evening started with the white elephant game and then we moved on the dinner.
This is the youngest baby in our church: Andrea. His dad got saved last year and now he and his wife come to church regularly. She is not saved yet but we can see progress in her life.
Jaqueline and Orlando
This is a couple from Brazil, they were already believers. Orlando plays soccer on the cites professional team and we are blessed by having him attending our church. Pray for their growth.
More faces from the dinner. The guy with the tie is Johnny, one of our coworkers. Here he is at a table with some of the people attending church as members and some that come just here and there to discover the truth.
Francesco e Sara
Francesco got saved last here and Sara comes to church every now and then.
Pam (on the far right) and her unbelieving family
This was our table at the dinner. We had invited some parents of Hannah's classmates. We have been trying to reach in these families with the Gospel in the last few months.
At the dinner Josh and I sang a song: While you were sleeping of the Casting Crowns translated by some friends of ours near Perugia.
Marco, our coworker, shared the Gospel using a kids' story
Benedetta had her play also. It was something a little more simple than what Hannah did, but she enjoyed it and we loved to see her on stage.
reciting a poem on the microphone
Benedetta and her friend Giulia
This is the nativity scene that the city hall put together in the main square of town. My family was here for Christmas so one night Josh, myself my dad and Benedetta went down town to look at not only the nativity but also at the Christmas bon fire...it was very windy that night so they started the fire but put it out right away.
A photo shoot of us and my family on Sunday morning. My dad came to church and this is a blessing! We had a good time and ate a lot and made many things from my hometown that I cannot find here in Sicily.
Wishing you all a happy New Year
Carmela for the fam
