I am constantly becoming aware of the lack of enthusiasm on the part of most Christians. So today I wanted to share something I read in my quiet time with a thought and a challenge. So, if your not up for that then stop reading.

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this Grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

I know this is a verse that we have all heard a million times, but read it again and think about it.

“Into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

We have all of this in our lives because of God and I’m not sure why we so often do not show it. I speak for myself here, but also know that most of us Christians need to do better at living a life that displays the joy we have in Christ. So, my challenge is that as we go into a new month, that we would try to live more joyfully in the knowledge that we “stand in His grace,” and have the “hope of the glory of God.”

I hope that this is encouraging! It has been to me.

I already thought that life here was totally random, and couldn’t really get much more so…. And then last night happened.

Cortney, Kala and I where invited to come to a discussion last night at the church we are now attending. So we went not really knowing what it was all going to be about. We knew it was either about music or just some Italian learning…. So when we arrive they are running through auditions. And then somehow it was 20 minutes later and we’re singing “Trade my sorrows”. Yep. Us three Americans singing in English with a group of Italians. Gospel.
I was having so much fun, singing this way, praising God and feeling that sense of camaraderie with these people.
We walked away in a bit of a giddy daze, wondering if that really just happened.

So I guess we are now members of a gospel choir in Napoli, singing it out, real loud every Wednesday night. Facebook group to follow shortly.

Having fun today. Went to Sorrento with two of my favorite people in the world, Kala and Cortney. Took some good pictures, made a few new videos and just enjoyed "taking the sun". Yes... living in Italy does have it's perks:)

Last night was the night of the ESL party. Something that I had been looking forward to, and yet, with the prospect of twenty-some rowdy Italian kids was as well a bit daunting.

The party in my opinion, went really well! The kids behaved for the most part, and it was all pretty fun. I loved just being with the kids. They really know us now, and like us, so they are themselves around us and feel comfortable with us. It makes me happy.

The other exciting part of the night was when the story of Joseph was told again to round things off with that. We left the ending free for their discovery in a way, and to our great excitement, the kids and even the mom’s wanted to know where in the Bible the story of Joseph was so they could read through his life story!

I am praying that they will read it and maybe we can have some good talks with them about it.

Last Thursday Kala and I departed Napoli for Rome where we would continue on to Vienna the next morning.

It was crazy! I woke up in Napoli and three hours later I was standing in front of the colousium in Rome.
That was a cool experience that I had wanted to do for a long time. Seeing the Trevi fountain and eating at Hard Rock café where highlights as wellJ Not to mention getting to see Reid, Kyra and Nolyn again.

The next morning we where up early and after almost missing our train….we flew about 1.5 hours and presto! we where in Austria! Talk about culture shock! It is so European there. Clean, the people are considerate and speak English! It is so different from Italy.

We had a great week in Vienna, just enjoying the beautiful city. Highlights where: Schonbrunn palace, the Tiergarten zoo there (the oldest in the world), the Ringstrass district, carriage ride through the city, Starbucks, Sacher Torte and riding the oldest farris wheel in the world! Note that Kala gets a gold star for braving that one! So now I am pretty sure I want to move there. I definatly was not ready to leave, but alas there are things to be done back here in Naples.

We arrived here this morning and I was feeling culture shock (and quite honestly, depression) again as the train rolled into the city. I was looking out the window thinking about how different it is and I was thinking to myself, just what is it that is so different about this place other than just the surface? I started to pray about it and felt again just how dark this place is, how much it needs the hope and the light that we have in Jesus. That is why I am in Naples right now and it is my hope that my time here will help in some small way, to shine that light into the darkness.

Well. It’s now our 10th week here in Napoli. We have officially graduated from the two week course in language school and are able to understand and communicate much more efficiently… but…. The only problem now is that I can no longer speak English!

Kala and I teach ESL to 5th graders three days a week and this last week I am pretty sure that I was not teaching English any longer. Rather I was teaching “Italiash”.
Misspelling the word “cloud” was bad, but the low point was when I was trying to tell the kids how to make the word “chicken” plural. I told them “ yes, you just add ‘s to the end. Chicken’s” Oops! Kala just said um.. No. and I just laughed.
Something happened to my brain over the last few weeks while I was stuffing it full of Italian, hearing Napolitano, teaching English and speaking a combination of all three.
It has been really confusing and fun! It gives me a good insight into what it is like being the foreigner in another country. And let me tell you, it’s not easy! So next time you meet someone who is trying to speak to you in English, but are clearly not a native speaker… be kind to them! Speak slowly, clearly and encourage them! It means a lotJ

P.S. If anyone wants to teach ME English… that would be great.

“Of pasta and the Italian man”


“Ho fame!” Is the one thing that comes to mind after the bell rings at language school. Kala and I proceed to walk up Via Toledo toward the metro when I catch a glimpse of Courtney doing a lean (like the pimp that she is) against a lamp-post. So after figuring out that she was indeed waiting for us, we decided to eat lunch together. I’m thinking “ok, a nice cheep something at a tavolo caldo.” Well we decide to check-out a place across the street. So we stop, read the menu and before we have any chance to discus among ourselves, out pops the little man that most likely owns it. “Prego ragazza!” and some more words to get us in the place. So we’re like, ok, that’s fine we will just eat here. We walk in and he seats us in a very little nook in the front of the very little room that backs up to a very cute little cucina.
We all just looked at each other, unsure of what we had signed on for. I felt like I was in a home, not a restaurant. I could imagine having known the family for my whole life. Grandfather is the host and server. Grandma and the rest, down to grandson are in the kitchen cooking up pasta fagiolo (the special of the day) and any other pasta you want.

We waited a while and then suddenly “grandpa” appeared with the plate of antipasti that we where NOT expecting. It was some lovely bruschetta and fried bread. YumJ
I was now pretty excited about tasting my bowl of pasta fagiolo. It came out nice and hot with some fresh bread. This was the best pasta fagiolo ever! They kept asking us if we wanted carne or frutta or dolce, convinced that we needed more food than just two plates. We finally convinced them that it was plenty for us and eventually where allowed to pay and get on with the rest of our lives.

As we enjoyed our lunch I thought about what a great cultural experience this was. Where else would you be having a great meal, feeling surrounded by “family” and watching the workings of a family owned restaurant other than here in the heart of Italy?

It was a funny, fun experience that I hope I never forget!