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.

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.

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.

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..

[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

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.

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. :)