My Life: In paragraph format.

It's a New Day.

2010-06-09T03:45:00.000-07:00

I can't stop listening to David Crowder's The Glory of It All.
This song sums up what I have been experiencing from and learning about God over the past several weeks. He is so good and so faithful...and he promises to never leave us.

Check out the lyrics...I've highlighted some of my favorites:

At the start
He was there
He was there
In the end
He’ll be there
He’ll be there
And after all
Our hands have wrought
He forgives

Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

All is lost
Find Him there
Find Him there
After night
Dawn is there
Dawn is there
And after all
Falls apart
He repairs
He repairs

Oh, He is here
With redemption from the fall
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here
Dawn is here
It’s a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same

Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be same

2010-05-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month here in Flo-town. We've been doing a lot of different things here...here are a few:
iPod o Capra
This semester we have been trying some new ways to promote our name as an organization as well as meet new students. A few weeks ago we decided to do a free drawing where students could win either an ipod for themselves or choose to use the money that would buy the ipod to give 3 goats to 3 families in need in Afghanistan. I spent a LONG time making 3 ipod costumes and 3 goat masks and the next week we went out on campus with our guys wearing the costumes, playing loud, fun music, and getting students to sign up for the drawing.We got a really good response and signed up several hundred students for the drawing. We had a lot of fun being a little bit crazy but also doing something with a great humanitarian purpose. We got to involve several of our Italian friends in the
process and also met new people. And the winners both chose the goats!

[getting stuck in the ipod during construction]

Texas Party
At the end of the ipod/goat week we had our annual Texas party - basically just a bbq with lots of country music. :) It rained so attendance was a little low...but it was a really fun night. We ate some good American food, learned to two-step and line dance, and just had a good time of fellowship together deepening relationships.

[Sarah & Matteo getting creative before the party]

[me & antonio. my head is a little big for the hat...:)]

[Cowboy Davide in the cutout I made]

[Sarah teaching Cristiano to two-step]

[some of the Italian guys hanging out]

2010-04-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday was our friend Sabrina's 21st birthday. We had a garden party for her at my teammate Marti's apartment. It was a fun evening of fellowship and also a great opportunity to meet students. One of the coolest things about the evening was watching our believing Italian friends [mostly from our church] meeting and getting to know Sabrina's friends who are not believers.
Here are some pictures from the party!

[sabrina with her cake]

[getting a pair of shoes she had admired in a store window]

[marti & sarah bringing out the cake]

[sabrina & some of the friends at the party]

[first group picture of the evening]

[second group picture. in true italian fashion people were coming & going for about 3 hours]

Creating Space.

2010-04-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

For the past several weeks our team has been meeting with a group of our national leaders who have helped us revisit some of the foundational things about ministry and why we are in Italy. Together we have studied scripture, talked through our national vision, and discussed what it looks like to do ministry effectively in this country.
One of the things our leaders talked with us about was 'creating space for ministry.' This is an idea that has been before us over the past two years, but it was great to be reminded of it.
I am really looking forward to the next couple of months. Our team has reevaluated and restructured some things and I can't wait to see what happens with the new spaces we have created for ministry to happen. This basically means we have moved our schedule around and have added a few things so that there are regularly occurring consistent blocks of time where we will be doing life with students outside of the university campus.
Pray with us that God would use these times to help Italians see Him. Pray that the image of Christ would be seen through myself and my teammates. Pray that we would have wisdom and boldness with the Gospel.

Pancakes & Sun.

2010-04-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a beautiful day in Florence.
Probably the nicest one we have had so far this Spring. We were so thankful for the warm temperatures and sunny skies - especially since we had planned a pancake extravaganza for that day. :)
We invited a bunch of our Italian friends over to my teammates Ross & Lindsay's apartment and made about 12 batches of pancakes. We spent the afternoon eating delicious pancakes, talking, and playing games out in the backyard.
It was really great to get to spend time together and deepen friendships. It was also fun to get to share an American breakfast tradition with the Italians. Many of them had never had pancakes before and most of the students wanted a copy of the recipe to take home with them. :)
Please continue to pray for more opportunities to deepen our current relationships as well as begin new ones. Pray that Christ would be put on display and that we would be bold with the gospel. Pray that Italian students would come to faith this Spring.

2010-04-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

^{i've been pouring over this chapter from Isaiah today.
it really puts the crucifixion back into perspective for me.
it was ME. me that despised and rejected him. me that turned my back on him.
me that he was pierced, beaten, and whipped for.
and me that has been given new life and restored to right-standing with the Father.
there is definitely reason to celebrate!

1} Who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
² My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
³ He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

⁴ Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows^a]">[a] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
⁶ All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
⁸ Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.^b]">[b]
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.^c]">[c]
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
⁹ He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.

¹⁰ But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
¹¹ When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
¹² I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Isaiah 53 [New Living Translation]

Praise the One, Risen Son of God.

2010-03-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Today is Palm Sunday.
I think of the original followers of Jesus who, having no idea their King was about to be crucified, worshiped Him as he entered Jerusalem shouting:
"Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the king of Israel!"
But Jesus knew. He knew what was before him. As he rode through the streets watching the people waving palm branches and worshiping him [and probably others laughing at him or even cursing him] He knew. He knew that in just a short amount of time he would endure terrible mocking, criticism, and beating and then die a very brutal death for all of them - those who believed and followed him, and those by whom he was scorned. As they beat him up to the point of death, somehow he still loved them. He still loved me. He still loved you. And he chose to die - so that we may have life with him eternally.
Join me as I spend time this week reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Let's allow Him to remind us of the price He paid for us, the beauty of salvation, and the power demonstrated when He defeated death.
And as we do this let's pray for Italians. Pray that this Easter wouldn't pass by as just another holiday in a nation that is culturally religious. Pray that their hearts would be softened and that they would hear the story of Jesus' death and resurrection as if for the first time. Pray that the power that raised Jesus for the dead would pierce the hearts of the people in this nation and cause them to turn to Him.

Check Out:
Colossians 2:13-15
John 12:23-33
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
Romans 5:8-11
Acts 2:24
John 3:16

Before the Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

An Excerpt From My Journal.

2010-03-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2010

I've listened to this sermon called The One Who Answers Our Cry about four times in the past 2 weeks. The text for the sermon is 2 Samuel 22 - if I hadn't listened to the sermon, this scripture would have had an entirely different meaning for me...it might even be a bit discouraging. But listening to the message - one at the end of a series on Samuel and David - the speaker gives context. This Psalm of David is written after Psalm 51 - the Psalm written after David takes Bathsheba and commits adultery with her, gets her pregnant, schemes to try to cover it up, and when that plan doesn't work, has her husband killed on the battlefield. This very same man writes about the Lord being his rock, refuge, and shield. He tells of how he cried out to God and He rescued him from the grips of death. And my favorite part - "He rescued me because He delights in me" David - adulterer, murder, liar - someone just like me - proclaims not just that God loves Him, but also that the God of Heaven and earth delights in him! Wow!
And it gets even better...in the very next verses David says "The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence."
My initial reaction is to think David was either crazy or a liar We know he sinned. The Bible states it very clearly. But David had it right. He actually believed God when he said that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness [1 John 1:9]. Psalm 51 is a Psalm of confession - and a cry to the Lord to show him mercy and restore him to right-standing. Psalm 51 is moving - I read it and relate to it often...but 2 Samuel 22 is even more powerful to me. In Psalm 51 David is doing what I do all the time - confessing sin, crying out to God to rescue him...but in 2 Samuel he is boldly embracing the loving promises of God. He is proclaiming his right-standing with the Father - despite what he has done. He mourned over and confessed his sins...but then he embraced God's abundant grace. He really believed it.
Oh, that I would be able to truly see the love of my Father who's grace and love are so abundant and unending that when I confess my sins to him, he really does create in me a clean heart and I am again blameless - washed whiter than snow.

Yes, I do exist.

2010-03-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

So, clearly I haven't posted since October.
I have, however, still been in Italy this whole time.
I got busy and didn't post for a while, and then started feeling guilty for not posting, so continued to not post because I just thought I couldn't catch up. And I can't. But right now I am deciding to post anyway. Writing is something I enjoy. Sharing my life in Italy and the things that God is doing or teaching me, or trying to teach me is also something I enjoy...So I'm trying to make a comeback. :)
Forgive my absence. And forgive me if I drop off again. But for now I am making a move back toward a functioning blog. Enjoy!

A Great Beginning.

2009-10-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm in Italy!!!
I arrived in Florence yesterday [Monday] afternoon around 1 pm - after a rather eventful trip including missing the last leg of my flight. My sweet team met me at the airport - welcome sign included! :) It's already been a whirlwind and I've barely been here a day.
It feels SO good to be back. It feels like home - at least for now. I am very very excited for the upcoming year. I really think God is going to be doing some awesome things and I'm looking forward to being a part of it.

Today was my first whole day back in Florence and I spent it with my teammates picking grapes. Yeah, I know - stereotypical Italy, right? I had never done it before and it was really really fun but also HARD work. We were at the home of a wonderful Florence family helping finish out the last of their grape harvest. In exchange for our help we got a delicious Tuscan lunch and lots of good time with each other and of course, a chance to harvest grapes in Italy. While we were picking, Giovanni, the dad, shared some great Biblical truths using the grapes as an illustration. It was really great experience. We were covered in sweat, dirt, spiders & other bugs, and of course grape juice, but it was well worth it and very fulfilling to do hard work and see the results right in front of us. And of course, the day was pretty much one big grape fight. I can honestly say I've never been hit in the face with so many grapes as I was today. :)

Being out in the beautiful countryside, working hard alongside my teammates, and learning more about God's goodness was the perfect way to start off the STINT year. Now tomorrow comes the unpacking and attempt at settling in before diving into ministry.

two days.

2009-10-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

until I'm headed back across the ocean.
sunday is the day.

after that hopefully i will have more to update about than what part of the world i am in. :)

so please pray with and for me for safe traveling and no delays, etc. this is actually my first time to ever fly alone, so you can pray for that to - that i'll be able to find my terminal and gate and all of that ;)

also, i'm still praying/waiting/believing for the final few percent of finances to come in. please pray that God would provide it fully and quickly. just under $2000 in one-time support, or a few more people giving on a monthly basis will finish me off.

thanks for praying and reading. more to come soon on what God is up to in italy!

Still Here.

2009-09-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

It's true.
I am still in America.

My leave date was pushed back from the original September 14th to October 4th.
I am thankful for a little bit more time in America to be able to prepare well for my next year in Italy. However, I am certainly eager to get back to Italy and dive into ministry.

Part of the reason that my departure was delayed is that I am STILL not done raising my financial support. Would you please pray with me for the final amount to come in quickly [this week!]? I am needing monthly support or the equivalent in one-time support.

I know that God is able and faithful and I am trusting Him to provide all that I need so that I can be back in Italy soon. Trust with me.

The Countdown.

2009-09-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

I have a plane ticket back to Florence for next Monday - September 14th.
The summer in America has gone by so quickly. But I'm ready to get back to life and ministry in Italy. I can't wait to see what God has in store for this next year.

Please pray as I prepare to travel.
Also, I still need about 15% of my financial support before I leave. Pray with me for a miracle in the next few days so that I may be able to go back and continue to take the gospel to Italians.

2009-07-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

These two songs have really resonated with my heart - particularly this summer while I have been home working toward getting back to Italy.

Here Us From Heaven
Lord, hear our cry
Come heal our land
Breathe life into these dry and thirsty souls
Lord, hear our prayer
Forgive our sin
As we call on Your name
Would You make this a place For Your glory to dwell

Open the blind eyes
Unlock the deaf ears
Come to Your people
As we draw near
Hear us from heaven
Touch our generation
We are Your people Crying out in desperation

God of This City
You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are
You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Details.

2009-07-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

Why am I going back to Italy...Again?
- God has burdened my heart for Italy and opened my eyes to clearly see the need for him in that nation. I must do something with the knowledge he has given me.
- God made it very clear to me that He was asking me to go to Italy - and that is still where He wants me.
- My investment in learning the language and culture has just begun - I have so much more to learn, but have also gained a lot of ground last year that will be helpful in the coming year.
- Relationships. God has given me many close friendships with Italians. I want to see these friends know and walk with Christ. My part in that is not done yet.

Details on How You Can be a Part.
As I am raising support this summer I am looking for individuals, families, & businesses that will give on a monthly or one-time basis or both. I am over half way to my goal, but still need people to join my team both monthly and one-time. If the Lord is leading you to partner with me in taking the gospel to Italians you can do so through the following ways:
- Going online to https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0609389?pp=Search+Results and clicking the "Give A Gift" button.
- Checks made payable to Campus Crusade for Christ. Email me for the address: abigail.brown@uscm.org
All gifts are tax-deductable.

Please continue to pray with me that the Lord will provide in His perfect timing.

It's About That Time.

2009-07-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

I've been back in America for a little over a month now. I'm enjoying time with family and friends...but I am also excited to go back to Florence and see what God is going to do over the next year.
Greater things are yet to come
Greater things are still to be done in that city.

I've been working on raising financial support for the next year while I have been home. My 100% deadline is coming up on Saturday [August 1st]. Would you pray with me that the money would come in quickly?
God has been so faithful to me and is continually showing me His grace and goodness..pray with me as I continue to trust Him for all that I need. I can't wait to share with you how He provides.

[if you are interested in joining my support team you can go to give.ccci.org and search Abigail Brown]

Update: Long Overdue.

2009-06-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...it's been almost three months since I have updated this blog. :(
I'm sorry.

My intention was to keep updating regularly throughout my entire time in Italy...however, a crazy life and crazy schedule got the better of me and I got out of the habit of blogging. But here is my attempt to catch you up on my life and continue to do so from now on. :)

Well, the first big news I guess is that I am home. In America.
My roommates and I flew home just over a week ago and I have pretty much been in my bed trying to get over jet lag since. :) But the fog is clearing and I am starting to get back on my feet. Hence the blog entry at midnight. :) I am happy to be back home and back in America for a while and am enjoying luxuries like clothes from the dryer, ice, air conditioning, and large glasses of free water.

After a lot of thought and prayer, I have decided to go back to Italy for another year starting in September. God made it very clear to me that He was calling me to Italy over a year and a half ago and I believe that is still where He wants me to be. There is still so much work to be done and I have just begun to invest in the language, culture, and friendships. I am excited to be going back in a few short months!

Italy is beautiful...but that is not why I keep going back. My eyes have been opened. I have seen the need. The need for the gospel, the need for God's love in action - helping, serving, giving, and just loving Italians. I can't not go. God has put a passion in my heart for this country and for these people and a call on my life to be used by Him there. So I will be faithful to do what He has asked me to do. I will go back. As many times as He asks me to.

This summer while I am home I will be raising financial support again. God has been so faithful to provide for me over the past year [see previous entries] and I know that He will continue to give me everything I need.

Thank you for your friendship, prayers, and giving. I need you. I am so thankful for the support system of friends and family that God has given me.

Please continue to pray for me this summer as I am raising support. Pray that all of the money would come in quickly, but also pray that God will be glorified in the process and that His name will be lifted high.

[with teammates and italian friends one of my last nights in italy]

What we've been doing..

2009-04-04T04:07:00.001-07:00

[At the beginning of March we partnered with two other ministries to do a Bible distribution on the campuses of the University of Florence. We passed out hundreds of Bibles to students - many of whom have never read the Bible for themselves.]

[On March 8 we celebrated Festa della Donna - a day set aside across Europe to honor women. In Italy this holiday has turned into a night of partying at clubs with male strippers. We had about 25 girls come into our home where we made a nice dinner served on real dishes, showed a video we had made of Italian men answering questions about the value of women, and had small group discussions about who we are as women.]

[At the end of March we had the first of what will be a monthly event called Kaleo. We (Agape) are partnering with our church, another church, and another Christian ministry in Florence to create an evening once a month for all of the believers in Florence to gather as well as bring non-christian friends.]

Those are just a few updates on what has been going on in Florence. Easter is just a week away and most students will be going home for the holiday. On Tuesday evening we will be showing the Jesus film at one of the campuses. Please pray for this event. Easter is one of the few times out of the year that students are more likely to be thinking about spiritual things. Pray that God would use this film to speak to their hearts and show them the truth of who He is.

living life

2009-04-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

somewhere in my head i have always thought that as i got older, i would get better.
better in the sense that i would have things more together - be more organized, not procrastinate as much, use my time better, get more sleep, excersize more, sin less...
i am realizing that this is not true.
the more time that passes, the more i see what a mess i am.
i do not have it all together. not even close.
being in italy this year has put me in place where the band-aid that i have covered myself with so well for so long has finally been ripped off and my complete brokenness exposed.
it has been hard. it is hard. but at the same time it is so beautiful.
seeing what is probably just a glimps of how broken and messed up and not at all perfect i am has allowed me to really see and experience the beauty of Christ in my life. the message of his death on the cross for my salvation is so much more affecting when i see how desperately in need of his grace i am.
i am not perfect. and i don't have to be.
i am in need of God's grace every day.
as i realize that more, i love Him more.
as i love him more, i want to know him more.
as i know him more, he changes my heart and makes me more like him.
he is working on this mess that i am, and one day [in eternity] i will be made perfect as he is perfect.
but for now i will rejoice as my father is glorified through my brokenness.
his grace, mercy, and love showing through my cracks far outshines any tarnished image of perfection i could display.

I'm alive.

2009-03-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

My posts have been few and far between...but the long awaited moment has arrived and internet has been restored at my apartment! [Two-months after it stopped working - thanks to Italian efficiency. :)]

Anyway, life in Florenence has entered the busy season of Spring. The sun is starting to shine, the days are getting longer, and our calendar is filling up quickly.

This week we will have a group of students from the states in to see what ministry is like in Italy and spend time on campus with us. Please pray for this time, for these American students, and for the Italians they will meet. Pray for our team as we are in a busy but exciting season.

More updates coming soon. :)

I love Love.

2009-02-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite days of the year.

I love all of the pink and red and hearts and construction paper valentines and chalk heart candies and on and on... I just LOVE Valentine's Day. :)

We had a great V-day here in Florence. My teammate Marti hosted a little party at her house for our team as well as several of our Italian friends. We had LOTS of heart shaped cookies and cupcakes and tons of other food.

It was really fun to share the time with our Italian friends. The longer that I am here, the more encouraged I am by the real friendships that are developing between myself and Italians. It is so exciting to share life with them - inviting them to things we do and being invited to things that they do...Just exciting to really have friends here. :) That's why we are here...to build relationships with Italians and share Jesus within those relationships. Be praying for the relationships that I have as well as the initiation of new ones. Pray that the lives of these Italians would be changed by the power of the gospel.

Images.

2009-02-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a little over a week since our team got back from our mid-year conference in Nerja, Spain. The conference was for Agape staff in Europe, Russia and the Middle East. It was a great time of being refreshed as well as challenged for minstry this next semester.

One of my favorite things in life is to sit outside in the sun and look at nature. I'm a bit of an introvert and a major internal processor so there is something so calming and refreshing about just sitting by myself and allowing my mind to stop spinning and just take in the beauty of Creation.

This conference definitely provided that for me. I spent a lot of time out on the sand and rocks sitting right by the sea soaking up the sun just enjoying being alive and getting to be at such an overwhelmingly beautiful place. I loved Spain! Part of its appeal may have been that I was coming from dark, cold, rainy, noisy Florence...but Spain was so serence and warm and just exactly what I needed.

Other than the beautiful scenery and time to relax, another favorite thing about the conference was the teaching. One of our national leaders here in Italy - Gary Runn - led us in a time of studying the Bible each day. His teaching is always great, but one thing he talked about that really stuck with me was the concept of being an image bearer.

God created us each in his image with the purpose of bearing his image. But so often we are so consumed with building our own image that we do not bear the image of God.

This really wasn't the main point to Gary's talk, but I haven't stopped thinking about it.

How much time and energy do I spend trying to build my own image? Worrying about others perceptions and opinions of me....Am I more concerned that when people see me they see a put-together polished image I have created of myself, or that they see an image of Christ?

This concept is related to what the Lord has been teaching me all year about my brokenness and the beauty of being a jar of clay. When I allow His grace and perfection to shine through my weakness and sin, rather than trying to cover those things up and display a perfect image of myself, He is glorified. He uses my weakness to show His strength. My flaws to show His perfection. And as I allow those cracks to show and He shines through them, the image people see when they see me is not an image of myself, but rather an image of Christ.

Reflections.

2009-01-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

A new year has begun, and thus we begin a new semester of ministry in Florence.
A year ago, the Lord was working in my heart, chipping away at the walls I had put up...slowly preparing me for the time that He would ask me to come to Italy. This time last year I had no idea that a year later I would be sitting in my living room in Florence, Italy spending a day preparing my heart and mind to dive into ministry for another semester.

After I spent the summer of 2007 in Florence with Campus Crusade I knew I wanted to come back and do ministry here for a longer period of time - but I wouldn't let myself consider it as a real option. Raising financial support to come for the summer had been very difficult and had resulted in a lot of hurt between myself and God. Coming back to Italy for a year was simply too big and I couldn't do it. But while I was fighting to keep the desire to go back to Italy hidden away deep inside of me, God had a different plan. He was working on me - even when I had no idea.
I researched many different mission organizations, looking for options to serve the Lord that didn't require raising money. But nothing seemed right...I felt no real leading from the Lord in any direction. At the start of 2008 I started getting anxious about what I was "going to do with my life." I was graduating in a few months and needed to have some sort of a plan. I knew God wanted to me in ministry...but I just didn't know how or where (well, I did...but I wasn't allowing myself to think about that option so I needed a new plan...).
The Crusade staff team from my university encouraged me to intern with them for a year. It would be a great option of something to do while I was trying to figure out what was next as well as a great environment for growth and training in ministry. I decided to at least apply, in case I decided it was what I wanted to do.
By April, I still hadn't made a solid decision and the training weekend for all new interns with Crusade was just weeks away. I had to figure out what I was supposed to do. So I started praying - really praying and seeking the Lord about this decision.
Over the next few weeks God met me where I was - in the midst of all of my fear and brokenness and hurt. When raising support for my summer missions trip had not turned out the way I thought it would it had broken my trust with God, and I had held onto that hurt and carried it for months, not allowing myself to really trust the Lord for anything. But, as I said, He had been working in my heart when I wasn't even aware of it...and now He started to bring everything out.
In one weekend I realized the lies I had been believing - that God had let me down and that I couldn't trust Him - and I saw the truth of his sovereignty and power. He healed that place in my heart and connected it back to Him. Then He brought up the thing I had been trying to hide for so long: My desire to go back to Italy. I knew it was what I wanted, and I started to think about it again. But what I really needed to know is if it was what God wanted. The confirmation I received over the next few weeks was unbelievable. God was asking me to go to Italy - and even more importantly, asking me to trust Him enough to take a big step of faith and believe that He would raise all of the money I needed to get me there...in 3 months.
It was a wild summer - a lot of which I wrote about on this blog. A lot of the time it didn't look like I was going to make it - I never met any of the financial deadlines that I was supposed to even though I was working hard at raising support. But every time that I wanted to give up, God was there asking me to trust Him. Asking me how far I was willing to trust Him. And so I kept choosing faith. It wasn't easy, and it definitely wasn't in my own strength…But I knew I was supposed to be in Italy so I kept trying.
A week before our departure date I still did not have all of the money I needed in order to go. I got a call telling me that due to an urgent situation with the housing and the fact that I was still 25% away from my financial goal, I would not be able to go to Italy. I was heartbroken. I had poured everything into this for the last several months…I had trusted the Lord to make it happen…I couldn’t understand why God had brought me this far only to not let me go.
It was a Friday evening, and so I asked if there was any way I could have until the end of the weekend to keep trying. I was told that if I could be at 100% by 5:00 on Sunday I could still go – but otherwise Italy was out.
After a lot of crying and praying and a pretty sleepless night I knew that the Lord was asking me the same thing He had been asking me all summer “How far will you trust me?” I needed to trust Him until the end.
Even though it seemed absolutely impossible for that much money to come in in less than 2 days, I had to keep trying. So with a lot of help and support from my family we started making calls. We called all of our friends who we knew would pray with us and ask God for this miracle. Then we started calling people who had been interested in supporting me but had never made decisions.
After a few hours thousands of dollars had come in and it kept coming…all day, into the night, and through the next day. I was completely astounded and amazed. God was doing a miracle in my life, right in front of me! People who I had never met and never asked were giving money. People who had already given were giving more. I was getting e-mails, text messages, and phone calls from friends telling me they were praying, telling their friends, and even pledging to support me.
At 5:00 on Sunday I was not at 100%, but I was amazingly close. My STINT coordinator called to see what had happened over the weekend. She couldn’t believe what the Lord had done. I stood on my front porch jumping up and down with tears streaming down my face as she told me I was going to Italy!! I was so excited! But even more, I was unbelievably amazed at the faithfulness of the Lord. He had asked me to trust Him…and He had showed himself faithful all the way to the end.
It was a hectic week preparing to leave the country for a year, but as I stepped onto the plane I knew I was exactly where the Lord wanted me and I knew if He was big enough to get me on that plane, He was big enough to change the hearts of Italians with the gospel.

So here I am in Italy just a few months later, and even though my time here has not always been easy, it has been so sweet to know 100% that I am where the Lord wants me and that even if it doesn’t always seem obvious to me He has a plan for me this year. He is faithful; He is able.

A Season of Thankfulness,,,

2008-12-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have posted an update on life here in Florence.

We have been so busy with the end of the semester!

Although it has been busy and a bit exhausting, things here have been very exciting!

We celebrated Thanksgiving for an entire week in Florence this year. Our team Thanksgiving dinner was put off until December 4 (or November 34 as we like to call it...), and so we just had a simple laid back pasta dinner on November 27 (Thanksgiving Day to all of you). Then, Saturday November 29, we had a HUGE Thanksgiving for all of our Italian friends.

It was such a great time! We had around 100 people crammed into Drew's apartment. Two massive turkeys, 10 pies, and all of the other Thanksgiving food your heart could desire!

We shared the story of Thanksgiving with the group as well as did quite a bit of explaining about what exactly they were about to eat - They liked the mac & cheese - it was the only pasta option available. :)

Although it was a long day, with a lot of preparation preceeding it, it was so worth it! One of the best things was seeing all of our different friend groups coming together at this one event. We had some of our teachers from our language school, friends from a local coffee bar, students we met on campus, students who come to our English club, friends from our church, and on and on...friends from many different places! By the end of the day some of our friends had even exchanged numbers and e-mails with each other.

Drew - our team leader, and host of the event - has a big orange door in his living room. This door was turned into a place for everyone to write what they were thankful for. Some people wrote lighter things - such as "ABBIGALE'S MASHED POTATOES" :)...but there were also many other more serious entries on the orange door. Several Italians wrote (or told us later because they were too shy to write on the door...) that they were thankful for their American friends (us). I don't say this to pump us up in any way, but rather to highlight what God is doing in the hearts of Italians. For some strange reason, all of these Italians are drawn to us "weird Americans". They want to be friends with us. They want to talk to us about the deeper issues of life. God is grabbing ahold of hearts in this city and in this nation. Although it may seem like a small ripple right now...I believe there will be waves. The wheels are turning in their heads...and more importantly - their hearts. There are several students who are asking big questions right now and who are really searching for answers. In this holiday season I find myself so thankful for what the Lord is doing here and thankful that He has brought me here to be a part of it...but also, desperately wanting to see more.

Pray with us for these students who are searching.

Pray for the ones who are searching but just don't know it yet.

Pray for us as we engage with them regularly.

Pray for us as a team - we are the light of Christ to them. We are the Body that they see.

But also, Thank God for what He is doing! He has a heart for Italy and He wants to see these people turn to Him.

Hopeless.

2008-11-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

There is a lot going on in Florence right now.
One of the major things happening in Italy is the manifesto.
A law was passed…is being passed…? [I’m not quite clear on the details…I hear a different story from every student it seems] Anyway, this law is for the privatization of all schools in Italy. This deeply affects the students – for many reasons. Students will now have to pay substantially more to attend university than they are currently paying, making it impossible for many students to finish and/or begin university at all. Also, according to many of the students, the public education they are currently getting is far better than a private education [in Italy] would be.
This is a very basic explanation of the law - the consequences are vast and international students of all ages, as well as Italian elementary, junior high, and high school students are affected by this law.
Because of the law the students are protesting, occupying, and striking. All over the city (and country…) school buildings have been occupied by students and banners have been hung in protest. The anarchy flag is flying at many locations and students walk around with megaphones crying out against their government.
I am both intrigued and saddened by what is happening in this city.
Intrigued yet again by the passion of the Italian people to protest so firmly for such a duration of time.
Saddened by what this means for the students.
Saddened, because it seems that this is yet another thing that has left them feeling completely hopeless.
My prayer is that in the midst of this crisis, in the midst of a corrupt government, that Italians would find hope. That God would use this thing that seems so bad as a means to point students toward Him.
I am heartbroken for these people when I think about how little hope they have in their world.
There is no American Dream.
Here, the government is corrupt and unable to be depended on for security.
The economy is unstable and finding a good job [even after 5-10 years of university] is highly unlikely – and highly political.
Relationships are unsteady – infidelity is rampant.
There is very little to hope here. Very little to depend on.
I am praying that these circumstances would not continue to harden their hearts, but rather that they would turn them toward a Beautiful Savior who offers an unconditional, everlasting hope.

Photo Credit: Henry Dawson

Break My Heart For What Breaks Yours.

2008-11-02T11:10:00.001-08:00

I live in a country/city where very few people know the Lord.

Almost daily I have conversations with students who don't seem to want to know Jesus or anything about Him.

I find myself constantly fighting apathy..Fighting callusedness.

My initial response is to say "These people's hearts are hard. They don't want to know. They'll never know. What's the use?"

But is that what God says about them?

I don't think so.

I think that God's heart breaks for every Italian that is lost and hopeless...and searching - even if they don't realize it.

His heart breaks for every student that is so swept up in their studies, their relationships, the corruption of their government, the instability of their economy, that they don't even think about Him - or about their need for Him.

God LOVES them.

He wants their hearts.

He wants their lives.

He wants them to know His overwhelming love and peace.

God, break my heart for what breaks Yours!

Please pray for me (and my teammates) as we bring the gospel to Italians. Pray that our hearts would not become hard but rather that they would daily be broken. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be going before us as we go on campus and as we have students in our homes. Only God can lift the veil that seems to cover their hearts so heavily.

He is definitely working here, but sometimes it's hard to see that. Believe with us that Italians would cross over from death to life this year.

Che Bella.

2008-10-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

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...

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

2008-09-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

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. :)

2008-09-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

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!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-07T16:34:00.001-07:00

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!

"So...WHY are you going to Italy??"

2008-08-29T12:38:00.001-07:00

Many people who hear I am moving to Italy for a year want to know WHY.

Great question! :)

Other than for the reasons I have listed in previous blogs explaining the deep spiritual need in Italy, here is why I am going and what I will be doing when I am there:

Over the course of the past year God has called me to go on STINT with Campus Crusade in Florence, Italy. I am so excited that He has called me to go back and be a part of what He is doing!

Win, Build, Send

The mission of Campus Crusade is to "build spiritual movements everywhere so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Christ". A big goal - But God is doing big things and we are seeing cities around the world come closer and closer to fulfilling this mission.

How?

This is accomplished through winning students for Christ - introducing them to the gospel through personal conversations, testimonies, outreaches, media, etc.

Once a student becomes a believer we work to build them up in their faith through mentoring relationships, small group Bible studies, conferences, etc.

Ultimately it is our desire to see Italian students being sent to their own nation and the world. Then, they in turn can be a part of winning, building, and sending students from around the world.

Basically, I will be going on campus at the University of Florence every day meetings students, building relationships with them, sharing Jesus with them, and pouring into their lives. Our team hosts a regular Bible study where students can come and experience Christian community as well as go deeper in the Word and grow in their faith. We also do large-scale outreaches such as Bible distributions and themed parties for holidays and other events.

...

2008-08-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

::A few words about Italy::

The Church has lost millions
of adherents to New Age thinking
and materialistic secularism, so
much so that the Pope has called
Italy a mission field.

The Occult is widespread,

and there are estimated to be 100,000

full-time consulting magicians in Italy —
nearly three times the number
of Catholic priests.

A new poll reveals that
a divorce happens
every four minutes
in a country once regarded
as a bastion of marriage.

“It’s a country that has lost a little of its

will for the future. There is more fear than hope.”
~Walter Veltroni, Rome’s mayor

70% of Italians from the ages of 20 to 30

still live at home, condemning the young to

an underproductive and prolonged adolescence.

Italians need the hope, love, and grace that Jesus Christ gives.

God is raising up laborers to go and share this love with the people in Italy.

Pray for more laborers.

Pray for those who are already there.

Pray for those who are going.

Pray for those who are sending the laborers through prayer and finances.

Pray that God would do miracles and take this country back for Him and His glory!

Ahhh!!!! It's August 15!!!!

2008-08-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Today is August 15.

One month from today I will be boarding a plane and flying to Italy for the next year of my life.

Crazy...

And so AWESOME!!

Right now I am in Colorado at STInt Briefing with all of the people from the US who are doing what I am doing and giving the next year to serve somewhere over seas with Campus Crusade. There are about 25 countries represented here. It is such a humbling thing to stand in the rooms with these 300+ people and know that out of His abounding grace God has chosen me to go and be a part of what He is doing around the world.

There are people here going to Mexico, Russia, Greece, North Africa, East Asia, Venezuala, Bosnia, Brazil, France..and on and on. It is so amazing to look around and know that each of these people represent a different story of God's grace and provision. Each of these people have a unique way that God called them and brought them to this point. And yet all of us are the same.

We are all broken. We are all here only for God's glory. And we are all here with the desire to see God move in the country we are going to. We are all committed to doing whatever we can to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I am so thankful...and in such awe...that God has brought me here.

The mountains are such a great place to have this briefing conference. I am absolutely in love with the beauty of God's creation and I feel so close to Him just walking around or sitting by a stream looking at the skies and the mountains and the trees and the rocks and the clouds...etc... It's so great.

AND it even snowed today!!! YES, In August!!! It was crazy...but really great too.

It's great to be here right now instead of Oklahoma where I'm sure its in the 90's if not higher...sorry guys! :)

Anyway, I'm here and I'm training...but I still have some more support to raise. Please continue to pray with me as I believe God to bring the remainder of my support in. He has worked in some pretty amazing ways so far and I believe He will finish out my support before September 15!!

Trusting.

2008-07-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

Two weeks from today (August 11)I need to be at 85% with my financial support.

God has been very faithful and has been bringing in new partners everyday and I believe He will continue to move and finish out all of my support.

Please join me in believing God to work and bring in above and beyond 85% in the next two weeks

As my departure date gets closer I am getting more and more excited to be in Italy and be a part of ministry there! I feel like my heart is already in Florence! I can't wait to see how God provides!

:Why Italy?:

Italy, along with much of Western Europe, is rapidly moving away from all connections with God and really anything spiritual.

Only about 50% of Italians have any meaningful link with the church, and of those, less than 1% are evangelical believers.

Many of the university students quickly admit to not even thinking about spiritual things such as eternity, sin, salvation, etc.

Italy is a strategic spiritual battle ground that Christianity can not bear to lose. An overwhelming number of decisions steering the course of the world are made in Western Europe. The ministry in Italy hopes to one day be a training ground for European missionaries who, in turn, will reach their continent for Christ.

WE MADE IT!!

2008-07-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Melody and I successfully and safely made it to Florida and back this week!

We are now licesnced drivers of the state of Florida...Don't ask! :)

God definitely provided for us on the trip and we were able to stay with and ride with Crusade people throughout our time in FL. We road tripped to Miami to apply for our visas with the Salerno stint team - which was really cool because we will only be a train ride away from them once we get to Italy. :)

It was a crazy whirlwind of a trip but we got everything done that we needed to and even managed to cram in a quick visit to Majic Kingdom!! :)

Thanks for you prayers!

Our support deadline is next week so please be praying and believing with us for God to bring in the money so that we can go tell Italians about JESUS!!

I was soooooooooo excited about Disney!!!

Mel & I with our Florida licenses....We actually were pretty sad to give up the OK ones.

At the Consulate after giving Fabio our visa application - very Euro.

Don't Stop Believin'....

2008-07-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

We got our plane tickets for Italy yesterday.

We are taking a trip to Florida this upcoming week to apply for our visas.

It's actually happening...everything is coming together.

It is so exciting to see the way that God is moving in every area of the preparation for our time in Italy.

Our support deadline is coming up in just a few weeks. We (my teammate Melody and I) are believing God to work in a BIG way and bring in the rest of the money that we need to be able to leave. It has already been so amazing to see the way that He has been providing for us. He works in ways that I would have never even thought of. I'm so glad He is in charge and not me! :)

Pray for Melody and me during our time in Florida (20-22) as we go to the Italian consulate and do a few other things in preparation to leave. Also, please continue to pray for us over the next few weeks and join us in believing God to do miraculous things to send us to Italy so that me might be able to share the love of Christ with the people there!! I know that this is what God has called me to do and I am so excited to see how He makes it happen.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support...I could not be doing this without you all!

Learning.

2008-06-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

I think I am learning a lot right now about what it means to trust God. Like really trust Him.
I was thinking yesterday about Peter and the time he walked on water. He was totally fine when he was focusing on Jesus - he was actually walking on water!! But when he lost sight of Christ and started focusing on the problem he started to sink.
I think that is what happens to me so many times. I'm going along just fine trusting God to do something in my life....but then something happens to take my focus off of Him and place it on the current storm in my life - and then all of a sudden (at least in my mind) the problem is bigger than God and I am sinking...forgetting to trust Him to carry me and just staring at this "huge" thing before me.
Um....hello?!?! He's God. The creator of the universe.
There is nothing He can't do! But from my human perspective I forget that all of the time and put limits on Him.

Anyway, that is just a little lesson I am learning while I am raising support and preparing to go to Italy. God is bigger than any amount of money, or any obstacle I might have to face before I go - and while I am there. He really can handle it. But I have to trust Him - with all of my heart (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Just a little update of what is going on with me. But it doesn't just apply to me in my current situation..I think it applies to all of us, everyday. Trusting God is more than saying the words "I trust you." It is a choice, a deliberate action, a step of faith.

What's Going On With Me....

2008-06-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

So....

Over a period of time and through much prayer and thought, I have decided to spend the next year (or more) of my life in Florence, Italy as a missionary. God has placed a passion in my heart for missions and specifically for the Italian people. Many of you know I spent last summer there and God just totally broke my heart for the people and their desperate need for the gospel...but what I didn't know was that He was going to call me to go back - long term (well, longer than 6 weeks...). So anyway, I am excited to follow His call and trust Him to make it happen and work through me while I am there.

This blog is an informal way for me to keep everyone updated on the process of preparing to go (mainly raising the financial support I need to get there) as well as keeping you updated on what God is doing and just what I am doing while I am over there. It is also a great way for me to relay as well as RECEIVE prayer requests. So visit often and feel free to comment! I'm excited to share this journey with you.
Much love. :)