Exactly 2 weeks from today I will be headed to Salerno, Italy! I can not tell you how excited I am! The Lord is doing amazing things over there and we can not wait to see what He is going to do this next year! As we get ready to leave, would you continue to please pray for myself and the other members of our team as we prepare to serve the Lord in Italy?
(Me and my my friend Emily last summer on Campus in Salerno)
We just got back from our training in Chicago! At this conference there were about 400 STINTERS from all over America going to 35 different countries and into 67 different cities! We had the best time being together as a team, getting to know people that were going to be in Western Europe, and growing in the Lord together. We had lots of seminars on how to love your team more effectively, cultural differences that we will face, how to work through team conflict, how to be a good steward our money effectively and with wisdom, essential truths for new believers, effective ministry in guilt/fear/shame-based cultures, and so much more! The last night was my favorite thing we did. Each region (Western Europe, East Asia, Oceania, Eastern Europe and so on) went to the front of the ballroom and our regional director prayed for us. Then, whoever wanted to pray or lay hands came up to the front and prayed for the teams. Lastly, someone closed out in prayer for the region in the native tongue of that area. It was so neat to hear all the different languages being spoken and praying to our Lord! Here are some pictures from our week in Chicago!
(us and the STINT team from Roma)
(Me, Elizabeth, Missy, Valerye, and Christina)
(The team minus a few that were not able to make it)
Also, please continue to pray for Jim and Kevin (our team leaders) and their families. Their flight on the 28th (today) was pushed back as far as Tuesday, August 31st. Please pray that they will still be able to get over safely in spite of Hurricane Irene. This will put them back a couple of days on being able to get settled in and also on finding the rest of us apartments.
These next couple of weeks are going to be filled with
family and friends
Cole's 1st birthday
and of course
packing!
"Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" Psalm 96:1-3
