Yesterday, many goals were marked in my heart and mind since arriving on the field here in Genova, Italy.
One huge goal met which I have already mentioned is the fact that I can now share my testimony, simple content of the gospel, and talk about daily activities in Italian. Wow...the words are finally starting to flood my mind, even if I do not use all the forms and format feminine and masculine properly, I am starting to communicate. You have NO idea the freedom that comes with this ability!

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Genova. The sun was shining, the sky was bright blue and the sea was crashing in on the rocks below me...so, after language class, I went exploring about a mile from my house and found A BEACH WITH SAND!!! Sounds simple I know but actually it is hard to find here....as all the beaches are not beaches but filled with rocks! As I walked down to the sand and rounded the corner I discovered, old men and women...spouses, sitting there with their shirts off. Women unashamed in their Braziers! And old men...some in their undies! NICE! I studied my italian and kept my eyes straight ahead...loving the sun and the beach!!! Listening to conversations about ME....that I had my shirt on and my jeans on and had not removed my shoes! HA!

But there is something to be admired about being unashamed...unashamed even in old age. This is who I am, this is how I have been created! One thing is for sure italians love themselves.
I read once that Christian girls have the lowest self esteem...more so than the non believer....why is that I ask myself...The Bible clearly states that, with Christ we are more than conquerors....if God is for us who can be against us...you are fearfully and wonderfully made. All promises and many more....these are all I could think of off the top of my head....but still is it possible that the world could be changed for Christ...if we were really unashamed, not just of the gospel... but who we are and how we have been created. Then people would see something different in me, my salt would be marked, not with pride but with contentment.

So, yesterday as i was walking home from sitting by the sea for 2 hours...I said to myself...."I am finally falling in love with Genova!" I am loving the people...admiring them, trying to live life with them, learning from them....hoping, praying that my passion will become their passion....and their passions mine....

Last night my sweet bear, Hudson, Looked in to my eyes and said "mom", (holding my cheeks) "you are my sunshine"....and then proceeded to tell me...."mommy i want MIMI Patty to be my wife." At which I smiled and said..."Mimi Patty is already a wife." His reply was, well very simple..."I don't care, I think that Bapa Ken will share!!!"

I love it!

It sounds crazy and I should have prepared myself for this side of church planting--the side where I am starving to hear God's Word. I long for the days when I could turn on the radio, sit in church under a great expositor of God's word, a womens bible study, a small group discussion....about God's word. And now here I am in a culture where I "the missionary" am starving to be taught biblical truth.
What is even crazier and extremely humbling is that I have an education that I should be able to teach myself all that I would ever need to know.(at least until I wanted to learn the hebrew.) But, there is something about hearing the Word.
When we moved to Genova we stashed what seemed like a bizillion messages from various preachers on our IPOD. Well, now here I am having listened to them all...some of them twice over, and in need of more.
Now, don't get me wrong right now I am trying to memorize John 1. And I read a devotional and scripture everyday....But here i am and it is not enough.


Not to mention...that being away just changes people, it changes conversation. I had a conversation with a friend just the other day that seemed so distant...like I had changed...maybe I have....actually I am sure that I have...living in a foreign country puts everything into perspective...especially the part about of life that has to do with needs and wants!!! Not to mention the faith and trust that I have in the people that support our ministry. The trust that I believe that they will not forget to write a check every month....or that I will live up to the standard--- that this ministry is costing them something, and that I will/want to be a good steward of what has been given to me...
But I know, I know, I know, in my heart that I have not changed for the worse.

The fact is that this life..... is a lonely life. I no longer pick up the phone to have a few good laughs with my best friend whenever I want. I do not have a church with a circle of believers down the street at my disposal. It is hard to forget about birthday's that we are missing, and big events that we cannot attend, family reunions this summer, holidays, most likely things that we will very rarely be around for again....... luxuries.... I used to think that expensive food and a fancy car was a luxury...now just riding in A car, any car is a luxury.

But, I crave God's Word....and I long for this kind of encouragement.....today is a new day..... a new day trying to be a new creation....living abroad...trying to not live life in a puddle of tears....where only God is more than enough......