A Great Beginning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]