Che Bella.

I have experienced beauty in many different ways the past few weeks.

In Italy beautiful [or bella] is something you hear a lot. Italians use bella or bello to describe what they did last weekend, what they saw on the street this morning, what they think of your answer to a question, and the list goes on... Everything is beautiful!

That is something that doesn't really translate into American culture. But it has got me started thinking about what things I see in my life that are beautiful. Here are a few:

Florence.

Florence is a beautiful city. I don't think anyone that has been here could deny that. But I've been seeing a different side of this beautiful city the past few days. I have been going out toward the outside of the city on runs lately and experiencing the simple beauty of God's creation. The sunset over the river. The leaves of the trees changing color. People walking their dogs.. Although the city itself and the creation of man are amazing, I am so much more blown away by the beauty of God's creation. How sweet of Him to bring me here and let me experience this beautiful country.

Italians.

Living in Italy, obviously I see a lot of Italians. Certainly there are things about the culture that are frustrating, but there are also so many things to be appreciated about the way they live life. Their passion, their expression, their ability to take life slow and just relax - time is fluid. :)

More specifically, this weekend we went to a concert. The band playing was a group of Christian, college-age guys. The concert was so much fun, but even more than that, it was beautiful. I stood there watching with tears in my eyes as these Italian men sang songs in worship to their Creator and shared the message of the gospel as well as what God had done in their own lives. It was amazing to see. Italians who are passionately in love with Jesus is not something that we regularly see here and it was so refreshing and encouraging to experience it the other night.

Community.

More and more I am learning the beauty of God's design in creating us to live and work together in community as the Body of Christ. It can be so difficult, but also so rewarding. I am looking forward to seeing how God grows us together as a team this year and how He uses those relationships to change me and make me more like Him, as well as uses our community to show His love to Italians.

God is teaching me to see beauty in unexpected places...