Learning, Freezing, and Eating...at the Fattoria.

I've been in Italy for just over a week now...but it definitely feels like a lot longer!

We sort of hit the ground running...moving in, spending time with our team, and then spending the past four days at the fattoria (a farm) in the country side hearing from our national leadership about God's vision for Italy and the vision/goals of Agape Italia.

I am SOOO excited about this year!! I'll write a little more later about some of the vision behind the ministry...I got so pumped just listening to it..I can't wait to see how God moves this year!

The Fattoria was a lot of fun. It was sort of an introduction for all of us who are new staff in Italy. It was great to hang out with the teams from Rome and Salerno and other places. Also, we managed to get in a little horse-back riding one afternoon. Our Italian instructor - Stefano - was so great...such a great picture of the passion of the Italian people. As he was instructing me and the three girls I was riding with, he told us "lead first with the heart, then with the eyes, then the feet...lead last with the reigns. First always, with the heart". He also shared with us his love for horses and how often he rides and how much he enjoys it. He was so open and expressive about his love...he even said his job was "not a job, it is more of a passion."

Such a great picture of the Italian people and the passion they have that could be used so powerfully if turned toward Christ.

One of my other favorite things about the past few days were the stars. They were amazing. We were in the hills of Tuscany, sort of in the middle of no where out on this old farm and you could just see stars for forever...I could not get tired of watching them. God's creation is so much more captivating and awe inspiring than that of man... Looking at the stars was great...but SOOO COLD! It was pretty cold the whole time we were there...and in Italy the heat doesn't come on until sometime in November. AND we had no hot water for a while. I slept in almost all of my sweatshirts every night. :)

Last note about the Fattoria - we ATE SO MUCH FOOD. Real, Italian style meals. I mean, in Italy we basically eat real Italian food all the time...but at the fattoria we did it the Italian way with all of the courses of this fresh made amazing food that was cooked by one lady in a tiny kitchen in this little place. We had wild boar and beef and pastas and vegetables and all kinds of amazing things...but sooo much food. The meals literally lasted for hours.

Ok, It is almost 2:00 am here and I have to go to sleep...we have a day with the Lord tomorrow and then we start language on Friday. Then next week we jump into langauge and planning with the team for the next few months and overall year of ministry. Soon we will be on campus meeting with students and sharing Jesus with them!

[Melody admiring the view - with the farmhouse in the background]

[View of the countryside from the pool]

I Live In Italy. :)

Hello Friends and Family!!!

My teammates and I made it safely to Florence yesterday!!

We had really great flights and all of our baggage made it safely! Praise the Lord!

AND I successfully carried my guitar onto every plane with only minor kinks. It really was a great trip and even the plane food wasn't bad.

The rest of our team met us at the airport and gave us an amazing welcome and have been taking such great care of us ever since.

Our apartment is so cute and our internet is already up and running (thanks to Henry) and we got set up on cell phones today.

Things are coming together and I really do live in Italy. Wow.

God has done such a miracle to even get me here. I am so thankful to be here and it is just so exciting to be walking the familar streets again. :)

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers as we traveled here. The Lord definitely took care of us!

I'll post some pictures as soon as we get things settled in! - Right now all of our stuff is still in suitcases and we have minimal necessities for our house. :)

The rest of this week we will be spending time with the team, getting settled in, and getting acclimated to the city.

Then Sunday we head out for a four day conference for new comers to Italy to get vision for Italy and the year to come!

Our language school and ministry on campus will start in just a few weeks.

Please keep praying for us..we have lots of business to do..and I am still praying for the final bit of my support to come in!

Feel free to email me any time...love you guys!

CRAAAAZZZZYYYY UPDATE!!!!!!!!!

Wow!!

What a crazy 48 hours it has been!!

I have seen God work in AMAZING ways and don't think I fully comprehend it yet!

Friday evening I was informed that I had to have 100% of my financial support by 5:00 today (Sunday) in order to go to Italy. Wow. So after much prayer I really felt like I was supposed to go forward with it and do as much as I could in that 48 hours and trust the Lord to work.

At 5:00 this evening I was at 93%!!!

Not 100% just yet, but I had a 25% jump in less than TWO DAYS! YAY GOD!!!

That being said, I AM GOING TO ITALY!!

We are believing for the Lord to bring in the remaining money that I need..I KNOW He will do it.

Look at what He has done!

So, pray with me and trust God for that final percent to come in!

He is so good and I can't wait to be in Italy sharing Him with Italians!!

Thanks so much to all of you who have been faithfully praying and also giving financially. I have the best prayer and support team in the world and am so thankful that God has placed you in my life!

Also, if you feel led to give you can email me at ajbrown49@gmail.com or click on the link to your right to give now!