Well, that's definitely it for summer folks. Our classes have officially started back up, along with all of our other regular school year activities. We are all fully loaded with individual classes on Monday - Wednesday, plus this year we have added a beginners' grammar class which is offered every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night at 9:00pm. Last night, the teachers (Ryan, Angela, & Andrea) had about 15 students, which is pretty incredible. I was a little sad at first about not having all my old students, but I decided it would be better for them if they had a variety of teachers rather than listening to same old me all the time. :)
We've also started back up again with the English Conversation class that we teach at the Florence church building. It's every Thursday night starting at 6:30pm. We have an hour lesson with grammar and conversation, and then we offer our students a simple meal that we cook there at the church. We then invite them to stay for our Bible study - in Italian - which starts at 8:00pm. We've had good response to this class, and several of our students from this class have visited the church. One of our members is a regular student of ours - Sveta, a lady from Russia, who married an Italian (who is originally from Naples). They have an adorable 4 yr old daughter named Lisa. :) The new workers have been great in helping out with this too!
Other than our English/Bible studies at the School and the Church, we have many other activities that we are involved in. I go once a week to a nearby daycare (same one as last year) and teach English to the 3-yr-olds and the 4-yr-olds. This is a little bit of a change from last year, when it was Jillian and I both teaching only the 5-yr-old class. They are so small, and the 3-yr-olds are only just beginning to learn their colors in Italian! So we are moving slower, but this week was the first week and they did a great job paying attention and repeating what I said. Some of them were so into the coloring sheets that they colored holes right through their red apples. :) So that is my schedule for every Tuesday morning from 10 - 11:30.
Also, we are partnering with the Harding Students once a semester to have a Storytime hour at the local Scandicci library. For four consecutive weeks each semester, we teach vocabulary, read a short book, and then have an activity planned to go along with the story. It's a lot of fun, and we've had great turn-outs. This week we have 40 kids aged 5-12 registered, and we are planning on doing the stories of "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood". Harding is responsible for two of the weeks, and we are responsible for the other two weeks. And again I would like to thank those of you who have sent children's English books to donate to the library - I asked the librarian about them last week, and she said she can barely keep them on the shelves! They are so grateful for the books - they only had a few before this summer, and now they can actually have a section of them at various reading levels. Thank you!
On Monday nights, we are back to our Bible studies at the Bible School. We had our women's Bible study every Monday last year, and this year the guys have started a men's Bible study. We have several English students that are coming to the Bible studies, adn they are really a blessing to our work here. We generally meet together at 6:30pm for a simple meal and then begin our study at 8:00pm. Right now we have about 12 women and 12 men that are coming.
We have a few new additions at the Bible school. Peter arrived Tuesday, and started language school yesterday! He barely had time to breathe before he was right there in the thick of things. Also, we have a new puppy! Her name is Zoey, and she adds a lot of life and joy to the Bible School.
There is always a lot going on around here, and God is blessing our work! We have some wonderful students who are genuinely interested in studying the Bible and who have such kind, giving spirits. Thank you all for your love and support - we have such generous, wonderful people who help to make all this happen. God bless you!
07 October 2010
22 September 2010
The Newbies
Our numbers have gone from 4 to 10, and soon to be 11!! Yes, that's right. The new workers are finally here! Angela was the first to arrive, shortly followed by Andrea, then Jessica & Eric, and the day after Laura & Ryan. So in a very short time, our daily habits and goings-on here at the Bible School have changed pretty dramatically.
Now, naturally I had some misgivings as to whether this would be a mostly positive change to our routine. It's much more difficult to manage and work with 10 people as opposed to 4, and anytime time you throw strangers into the same house to live, work, eat and breathe together there's bound to be some tension and uncomfortable situations. I was very excited for the new workers to get here, but at the same time I was a little uneasy about how it would go down.
Absolutely no reason to worry! There has been minimal if ANY conflict since they arrived! They are all wonderful, helpful, and friendly people, and I can tell already that I'm going to love working with them.
After the two girls had been here for about a week or so, and the couples 2 days and 1 day respectively, we hosted a youth retreat. I was feeling bad for the two couples - coming off an international flight, with jet-lag, and being put in a situation where you don't know anyone and don't speak the language.....you can see how it could have been stressful. But they jumped head first! They were so wonderful with the Italian kids, and fortunately many of the Italians spoke English pretty well and were glad of a chance to practice. It seems like everyone went away having had a wonderful time.
Yay for new workers! :)
Now, naturally I had some misgivings as to whether this would be a mostly positive change to our routine. It's much more difficult to manage and work with 10 people as opposed to 4, and anytime time you throw strangers into the same house to live, work, eat and breathe together there's bound to be some tension and uncomfortable situations. I was very excited for the new workers to get here, but at the same time I was a little uneasy about how it would go down.
Absolutely no reason to worry! There has been minimal if ANY conflict since they arrived! They are all wonderful, helpful, and friendly people, and I can tell already that I'm going to love working with them.
After the two girls had been here for about a week or so, and the couples 2 days and 1 day respectively, we hosted a youth retreat. I was feeling bad for the two couples - coming off an international flight, with jet-lag, and being put in a situation where you don't know anyone and don't speak the language.....you can see how it could have been stressful. But they jumped head first! They were so wonderful with the Italian kids, and fortunately many of the Italians spoke English pretty well and were glad of a chance to practice. It seems like everyone went away having had a wonderful time.
Yay for new workers! :)
25 August 2010
Precious puppies…and their problem
Oh my word. Whoever knew such a cute ball of fluff could be concealing an attitude the size the Alps and a curiousity that WILL NOT be satisfied? I’m talking puppy here, people.
Now, I’m no stranger to the puppy scene. We’ve had dogs all my life, and while I will admit that my parents and Erica were mostly responsible for the most recent ones, I also worked for a veterinarian for close to 3 years. You see a lot of puppy traffic in a vet clinic, and a lot of the clean-up and emergency trips to the vet that go hand in hand with owning an adolescent canine.
BUT. It is a WHOLE different matter actually LIVING with the puppy. Like I mentioned, I am house-sitting for a woman who is on vacation in America for about a month. Two weeks before she left, she became the owner of not just her current 4 yr old Labrador, but also of a then 3 month old Labrador puppy. And let the games begin.
She called me two days before I’m supposed to house-sit to let me know that Izzy (that’s the puppy) has eaten mouse poison, and had to go see the vet. They were pretty sure she would be okay, but I would have to take her for a check-up the following Monday. No problem, I can handle a vet’s office – albeit that an Italian vet’s office isn’t exactly like an American one, and that I don’t necessarily have all the vocabulary in that particular area. But no worries! Another learning experience.
So the owner leaves, and I begin my 4 week residence as plant-waterer and dog-feeder/trainer – because naturally she is not house-trained, being a 3 month old puppy new to the house. House-training in of itself isn’t going so badly – she is getting better and better, and it is only when she goes to the bathroom in the house while looking me in the eyes after just coming back from a 30 minute walk that I get very frustrated with that aspect.
About the 4th day on my own, I climbed the stairs to find thin glass shards throughout the hallway. Wonderful. I continue on the bedroom to discover a broken lamp complete with busted light bulb on the floor. Signing, I went back to the hallway to clean up the glass, and there was the puppy, looking at me. So I gave her a disappointed face and finger shake and scolded her, and proceeded to pick up the pieces. I guess she wanted to help me, because she snatched up a piece and swallowed it down so fast I couldn’t even react quickly enough.
Back to the vet’s office. This was on the Wednesday after the Monday when she had her check-up for the mouse poison incident. I was at the vet’s office every day that week and had to feed her a special diet of soft bread, mashed potatoes, paraffin drops, and a little bit of meat (prescribed by the veterinarian for flavor). But the danger passed thankfully, and she was her old mischievous self as soon as we got home.
She has taken on as a new personal mission the destruction of the household plants, so that’s been fun. I keep finding leaves, potting soil and stems strewn across the carpet and in unlikely places (the bed). She tried to start chewing my shoes, but after she chewed a section of my jelly shoes – BIGTIME NO!!! – and was strictly reprimanded, she hasn’t done that again. Poor jelly shoe. It will never be the same.
Even with all the chaos and confusion and cleanup, I love having them around. They are so fun, and sometimes there is nothing like having a dog for company. And so I will plod on in this discipline, mess to mess, plant to dying plant, until I overcome or am overcome!
Now, I’m no stranger to the puppy scene. We’ve had dogs all my life, and while I will admit that my parents and Erica were mostly responsible for the most recent ones, I also worked for a veterinarian for close to 3 years. You see a lot of puppy traffic in a vet clinic, and a lot of the clean-up and emergency trips to the vet that go hand in hand with owning an adolescent canine.
BUT. It is a WHOLE different matter actually LIVING with the puppy. Like I mentioned, I am house-sitting for a woman who is on vacation in America for about a month. Two weeks before she left, she became the owner of not just her current 4 yr old Labrador, but also of a then 3 month old Labrador puppy. And let the games begin.
She called me two days before I’m supposed to house-sit to let me know that Izzy (that’s the puppy) has eaten mouse poison, and had to go see the vet. They were pretty sure she would be okay, but I would have to take her for a check-up the following Monday. No problem, I can handle a vet’s office – albeit that an Italian vet’s office isn’t exactly like an American one, and that I don’t necessarily have all the vocabulary in that particular area. But no worries! Another learning experience.
So the owner leaves, and I begin my 4 week residence as plant-waterer and dog-feeder/trainer – because naturally she is not house-trained, being a 3 month old puppy new to the house. House-training in of itself isn’t going so badly – she is getting better and better, and it is only when she goes to the bathroom in the house while looking me in the eyes after just coming back from a 30 minute walk that I get very frustrated with that aspect.
About the 4th day on my own, I climbed the stairs to find thin glass shards throughout the hallway. Wonderful. I continue on the bedroom to discover a broken lamp complete with busted light bulb on the floor. Signing, I went back to the hallway to clean up the glass, and there was the puppy, looking at me. So I gave her a disappointed face and finger shake and scolded her, and proceeded to pick up the pieces. I guess she wanted to help me, because she snatched up a piece and swallowed it down so fast I couldn’t even react quickly enough.
Back to the vet’s office. This was on the Wednesday after the Monday when she had her check-up for the mouse poison incident. I was at the vet’s office every day that week and had to feed her a special diet of soft bread, mashed potatoes, paraffin drops, and a little bit of meat (prescribed by the veterinarian for flavor). But the danger passed thankfully, and she was her old mischievous self as soon as we got home.
She has taken on as a new personal mission the destruction of the household plants, so that’s been fun. I keep finding leaves, potting soil and stems strewn across the carpet and in unlikely places (the bed). She tried to start chewing my shoes, but after she chewed a section of my jelly shoes – BIGTIME NO!!! – and was strictly reprimanded, she hasn’t done that again. Poor jelly shoe. It will never be the same.
Even with all the chaos and confusion and cleanup, I love having them around. They are so fun, and sometimes there is nothing like having a dog for company. And so I will plod on in this discipline, mess to mess, plant to dying plant, until I overcome or am overcome!
16 August 2010
Gone country…Italian style.
Well, I’ve done it. I’ve had a major breakthrough, and I’ve done it! I can now pick, handle, wash, cut, slice, dice, purée, and stew tomatoes - without feeling nauseous!
This may not seem like a big thing to most people, but I’ve had a lifelong hate-hate relationship with those red-skinned squishy things. Not really that big of a deal in America (free country), but in Italy – land of the tomato lovers – it’s a big deal. I’d say a good 90% of their meals contain tomatoes in some form or fashion – my own personal culinary nightmare.
I don’t want you to think that I’m so immature that I just REFUSE to this poor vegetable. I honestly try to taste them once every few months or so, just in case my taste buds have changed without my knowing it. I also think that I have a slight allergy, not just an aversion, towards them. But for Italy’s sake I try.
I owe my breakthrough to my current past time of house/garden/dog-sitting for Elizabeth Whatley, the director of Pepperdine’s study abroad program in Florence. She is gone for about a month to America, and I am here to keep an eye on things while she’s gone.
She has a beautiful old, restored villa in the Tuscan hills right outside of Florence, complete with garden, flowerbeds, a small stream running through the backyard and two chocolate Labrador Retrievers. I am responsible for watering and gathering the produce from her garden, as well as taking care of the two dogs – one four years old, and one FOUR MONTHS OLD. More to come about that at a later time.
And so, I have picked cucumbers (with glee), eggplant (ignorantly – who grows eggplant in America? I think I ate it twice before I came to Italy), and the dreaded tomatoes. So there I was, with about 40 fresh, ripe tomatoes on my hands, and absolutely no idea what to do with them. Normal people would slice them up with olive oil or mozzarella cheese for a light salad, put them over lettuce, eat them sprinkled with salt. No, no, and NO! I can only eat a tomato that has been good and cooked. So I cut those babies up, blended them together, and stewed them together for 3 or 4 hours, and I made homemade pasta sauce with things right outside my back door! It was the most delicious sauce I’ve had in my entire life. ☺
This may not seem like a big thing to most people, but I’ve had a lifelong hate-hate relationship with those red-skinned squishy things. Not really that big of a deal in America (free country), but in Italy – land of the tomato lovers – it’s a big deal. I’d say a good 90% of their meals contain tomatoes in some form or fashion – my own personal culinary nightmare.
I don’t want you to think that I’m so immature that I just REFUSE to this poor vegetable. I honestly try to taste them once every few months or so, just in case my taste buds have changed without my knowing it. I also think that I have a slight allergy, not just an aversion, towards them. But for Italy’s sake I try.
I owe my breakthrough to my current past time of house/garden/dog-sitting for Elizabeth Whatley, the director of Pepperdine’s study abroad program in Florence. She is gone for about a month to America, and I am here to keep an eye on things while she’s gone.
She has a beautiful old, restored villa in the Tuscan hills right outside of Florence, complete with garden, flowerbeds, a small stream running through the backyard and two chocolate Labrador Retrievers. I am responsible for watering and gathering the produce from her garden, as well as taking care of the two dogs – one four years old, and one FOUR MONTHS OLD. More to come about that at a later time.
And so, I have picked cucumbers (with glee), eggplant (ignorantly – who grows eggplant in America? I think I ate it twice before I came to Italy), and the dreaded tomatoes. So there I was, with about 40 fresh, ripe tomatoes on my hands, and absolutely no idea what to do with them. Normal people would slice them up with olive oil or mozzarella cheese for a light salad, put them over lettuce, eat them sprinkled with salt. No, no, and NO! I can only eat a tomato that has been good and cooked. So I cut those babies up, blended them together, and stewed them together for 3 or 4 hours, and I made homemade pasta sauce with things right outside my back door! It was the most delicious sauce I’ve had in my entire life. ☺
05 August 2010
Welcome to Italy
So we have adopted a phrase that has helped us a lot during our transition period into the Italian lifestyle and culture....one that covers situations of many kinds, even if they are seemingly absurd and unbelievable in our American eyes. For example.
Back last July (you know, before I was even IN Italy...), I applied for my VISA to be able to come, just all part of the Avanti process, and I was told that it would take just a few weeks for them to ship my VISA (and my passport) back to me. Well, many sleepless nights and unanswered phone calls, faxes, and emails later, we arrive at the day before my departure is scheduled. Can't get a hold of anyone at the Consulate - I even try calling the Italian consulates in different states, important states, like Washington D.C. and New York. You would think powerful sounding political states like that could make things happen. Nope. Neither could my congressman. Going to sleep that night, I had pretty much lost all hope for making it out of the country the next year, let alone the next day. One thing happens to change this. My dad makes one phone call FROM Italy, gets through, and gets my VISA shipped to my aunt's house where I'm staying which arrives at 7:30am, just one small hour before I'm supposed to be at the airport.
Apparently, you're supposed to leave a self-addressed envelope when you go to fill out the application. Apparently I forgot to give one (and apparently they forgot to ask). Apparently my VISA had been ready and waiting since two days after I applied for it. Apparently they just let it sit there with my passport for company, waiting for.........? Me to call? Me to fax? Me to email? Yeah. And that was my first introduction to the phrase that says it all....
Welcome to Italy.
And there are so many things, some small, some big. You must apply for a permit of stay, waiting nine hours in a freezing waiting room to go up to the window (tricked into thinking that this is really the window you want, not just a window that gives you a number to a different wait, different window) just hand them some papers, be given another appointment time, wait 6 more hours on a different day - but oh wait the electricity is out that day so you go back another day.
Welcome to Italy.
Mom wants to paint her kitchen red, so she goes to the paint store. No, no, no, kitchens aren't supposed to be red, red is not a good color. She can have cream, white, or light gray.
Welcome to Italy.
Florence 20 years ago: Tram.
Florence 15 years ago: Tram system removed.
Florence 10 years ago: Maybe the tram wasn't such a bad thing, begin rebuilding of tram system.
Florence as of last December: Construction finalized on tram.
Welcome to Italy.
Mom had several 60 year old women offer to blowdry her hair, because they were afraid she would get sick going to sleep with her hair wet.
Welcome to Italy.
And other crazy, crazy things. But on the other hand....
Poppies in the springtime and fall...
Italian cuisine....
Tuscany.....
Downtown Florence.....
Warm, friendly people....
Welcome to Italy. :) It's worth it!
**This post is part of an effort attempting to placate a certain friend who says my blog is static (CLIFF). Follow-up critique anticipated. :)
Back last July (you know, before I was even IN Italy...), I applied for my VISA to be able to come, just all part of the Avanti process, and I was told that it would take just a few weeks for them to ship my VISA (and my passport) back to me. Well, many sleepless nights and unanswered phone calls, faxes, and emails later, we arrive at the day before my departure is scheduled. Can't get a hold of anyone at the Consulate - I even try calling the Italian consulates in different states, important states, like Washington D.C. and New York. You would think powerful sounding political states like that could make things happen. Nope. Neither could my congressman. Going to sleep that night, I had pretty much lost all hope for making it out of the country the next year, let alone the next day. One thing happens to change this. My dad makes one phone call FROM Italy, gets through, and gets my VISA shipped to my aunt's house where I'm staying which arrives at 7:30am, just one small hour before I'm supposed to be at the airport.
Apparently, you're supposed to leave a self-addressed envelope when you go to fill out the application. Apparently I forgot to give one (and apparently they forgot to ask). Apparently my VISA had been ready and waiting since two days after I applied for it. Apparently they just let it sit there with my passport for company, waiting for.........? Me to call? Me to fax? Me to email? Yeah. And that was my first introduction to the phrase that says it all....
Welcome to Italy.
And there are so many things, some small, some big. You must apply for a permit of stay, waiting nine hours in a freezing waiting room to go up to the window (tricked into thinking that this is really the window you want, not just a window that gives you a number to a different wait, different window) just hand them some papers, be given another appointment time, wait 6 more hours on a different day - but oh wait the electricity is out that day so you go back another day.
Welcome to Italy.
Mom wants to paint her kitchen red, so she goes to the paint store. No, no, no, kitchens aren't supposed to be red, red is not a good color. She can have cream, white, or light gray.
Welcome to Italy.
Florence 20 years ago: Tram.
Florence 15 years ago: Tram system removed.
Florence 10 years ago: Maybe the tram wasn't such a bad thing, begin rebuilding of tram system.
Florence as of last December: Construction finalized on tram.
Welcome to Italy.
Mom had several 60 year old women offer to blowdry her hair, because they were afraid she would get sick going to sleep with her hair wet.
Welcome to Italy.
And other crazy, crazy things. But on the other hand....
Poppies in the springtime and fall...
Italian cuisine....
Tuscany.....
Downtown Florence.....
Warm, friendly people....
Welcome to Italy. :) It's worth it!
**This post is part of an effort attempting to placate a certain friend who says my blog is static (CLIFF). Follow-up critique anticipated. :)
11 July 2010
Momenti sul Monte 2010: The Camp Longing Returns
As many of you know, summer camp has been a part of my life for many years.....it all started at Camp Wyldewood when I was about 11 or 12. I was driving to the Retreat Center on my way to community basketball practice, saw that field of horses, and the rest is history. I began volunteering (really just being pesky and trying not to be in the way TOO much - this stage lasted until I was about, oh, 16) every summer at the Wyldewood stables, arriving at 7:30am and working all day doing stable-y things and also maintenance work (clearing pastures, repairing fence line) until it was time to go at about 5:30pm. And I loved it! I did this faithfully for 7 straight years, finally making it onto the glorious summer camp payroll for my last two years there, since they couldn't legally pay me until then. But I loved it and learned a lot about horses and just plain hard work.
Then I missed a few years when I went to college, spending the summers of 2004 and 2006 in a little foreign land called Italy.
I had thought my summer camp career was over - after all, as far as duration goes, I was well into retirement. I had other things going on in my life (making money for college unfortunately had to be towards the top of the list), and I wasn't even considering working at camp anymore. However, I was called out of my retirement by one Ross Cochran and the wonderful camp he directed called Camp Tahkodah to fill the position as Head Wrangler for the entire summer. Now, as much as it is denied, there exists a competitive banter between these two camps, and I accepted the job with some mixed traitorous emotions. But man, what a blessing that camp has been to me. I have met and worked with some of the most amazing people in those cabins and have made many close friendships that I know I will have for many years to come. I learned a lot about working with people and children of all ages and backgrounds, God, faith, teaching, and so many other things. Not to mention that I got to be around horses ALL day, one of my favorite pasttimes. I was very lucky.
And so, after working at Tahkodah for three consecutive summers, I had graduated college and was already looking forward toand getting ready to start my work in Italy, done with college, done with camp, and ready to start new things. I've already written about most of the things I've done since I've been here, which for the most part are things I had been expecting to do. Camp was not something I was expecting to participate in again....at least not in a counselor position. But it seems that maybe camp just has to be a part of my life!
Lindsay Walle and I were invited to be part of the staff at the Italian Church of Christ summer camp, which is not usually a service opportunity for most Avanti workers as it requires a certain level of language skill and not many workers study Italian before starting Avanti. And once again, I was so blessed by camp. The camp is held at a facility (no log cabins for italians!!) that is in the Marche mountains, on the east coast of Italy - so beautiful, and wonderful weather! I'll give you an overall setup to give you an idea of what it was like. It was divided into two, one-week sessions.
The first was for kids ages 6-13 and we had 71 participants, which means we were packed full. We were also a little understaffed - I think we had less than 20 staff members - which means a week-long marathon! This was our daily schedule:
8:00 Wake up call
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Room Cleaning
9:30 Morning Devotional
10:00 Bible Class
11:15 Activity Period
12:45 Lunch
2:30 Rest time
3:30 Sports period #1
5:00 Snack
5:30 Sports period #2
6:45 Showers
7:45 Dinner
9:00 Evening Devotional
9:30 Evening Activity
11:00 Lights Out
11:30 Everyone Asleep
This was the schedule for both weeks, except the older kids got a little later bedtime. Our theme for the first week was "The Fruit of the Spirit". Each day we concentrated on one of the "fruits" and had a biblical story that coordinated. My responsibilities the first week were co-teaching a class (in ITALIAN, mind you!!) of 23 10-yr-olds (18 of which were energetic little males), arts & crafts (a new experience, which including planning the activities the day before), and then I was also in charge of taking the kids that didn't want to play sports on hikes during both activity periods in the afternoon. The first week was....a little more stressful than the second week, for a few reasons.
1. There were 71 kids.
2. I had to teach and communicate pretty much 24/7 in a foreign language.
3. We had no counselor orientation, so I was unaware of the fact that most of the water faucets in the building do not provide drinkable water. Oops. So some children (whom I provided with the water) and myself drank who knows what substances until I was informed of my error....on Thursday.
4. Something else that I wasn't told is that the camp is located in the middle of a National Park, and so all the bouquets of flowers we were picking for the cooks were illegal. Caught this mistake a little sooner. On Wednesday.
5. We were understaffed.
But it was so much fun, and I had some people from my church that I got a ride there with - Julie Giordano and her two girls Michelah and Deborah. The last night we had a "banquet" which consisted of grilled meats and watermelon outside, and then a end of the week show, displaying all of our many talents and projects that we had worked on during the week.
During the second week, we had 23 kids ages 13-18 and our theme was "Facing Your Giants". And let me say that I had so much fun with them, too. It is a different dynamic of fun - more like hanging out with friends most of the time. We had some excellent classes - I did not teach, but I participated as an "assistant" in the oldest class. My parents were also at the second session - Mom worked in the kitchen and Dad was a counselor like me. Dad, Roberto, and I all helped out with the Chorus/Theater group during the activity period, which was really neat. The kids recited some Psalms, and then for Chorus Dad had translated the songs "The Joy of the Lord" and the newer "Our God is and Awesome God" into Italian and we taught those to them, which they really liked. The last day two of the older boys ended up being baptized, which was wonderful. We didn't have a pool or river or any large body of water, so the men brought out an old freezer and filled it with water and that's where they were baptized. :) To make it even more special, one of the boys had almost not been allowed to come to camp on account of some past behavioral problems. He even admitted that this year he had planned on causing chaos at camp...and then to have him decide to be baptized! It was wonderful - I don't think there was a dry eye in the whole place. Then we went on to have a huge water/mud fight which was delightful. We cleaned up from that and had our cookout and talent show.
It passed so quickly, and I can't even begin to tell you every wonderful thing that happened there, but hopefully this gives you an idea of the great things that happened and how special a time it was for us all.
10 June 2010
Tempo estivo...
Well, well, well, hard to believe! Another month gone by and me not writing anything! Let's see if I can fill in some of the gap...
The new Harding group arrived about May 17th, so it's been fun getting to know them. We've already had them over for a BBQ and pictionary night - great times!
On May 24-26th, I went on a mission trip to Bondeno (close to Ferrara) and Milan with five other church members, some from the Rome area, some from Puglia down south. We met with the young people, cleaned the kids' class in Milan, and Vittorio and Franco gave a few seminars. In Milan we worked some with the three Harding girls doing the "Let's Start Talking" program, which was fun. It was a great trip - I loved getting to know my fellow travelers better, and I got to meet and help a lot of new people...not to mention practicing my Italian.
Also, we have been hosting an art group from ACU since May 31st, and they are fantastic. I've never met a sweeter, more thoughtful group of people. They insist on helping to clean up after dinner, are always very gracious and thankful, and to top it all off, a ton of fun! They spent 3 weeks in England before coming here, and they will stay in Italy based out off Florence until July 2nd, or sometime around then.
A sad thing that happened is that Jillian left to go home on June 2nd, and we really miss having her around. But we are happy for her and Travis and their new engagement, and we wish them all the best!
I'm getting ready to participate in the kids' summer camp starting June 27th for two weeks. For the first week, the younger session, I'll co-teach a Bible class and do arts and crafts with Lindsay. The second week I will be a co-teacher also teach English to the older kids. I've missed camp life, and I'm excited about experiencing it here in Italy. I know it will most likely be different from Camp Tahkodah and Camp Wyldewood or any other American camp, but it's going to be great, too!
And then one of the highlights of this past month was that Meredith came to visit me!!!! She stayed for one short, wonderful week, and I had so much fun with her. It felt so normal having her here, and I was very sad when she had to leave. Stinky David and D.C.!! Just kidding....but seriously.... ;)
And the summer's only just begun!
The new Harding group arrived about May 17th, so it's been fun getting to know them. We've already had them over for a BBQ and pictionary night - great times!
On May 24-26th, I went on a mission trip to Bondeno (close to Ferrara) and Milan with five other church members, some from the Rome area, some from Puglia down south. We met with the young people, cleaned the kids' class in Milan, and Vittorio and Franco gave a few seminars. In Milan we worked some with the three Harding girls doing the "Let's Start Talking" program, which was fun. It was a great trip - I loved getting to know my fellow travelers better, and I got to meet and help a lot of new people...not to mention practicing my Italian.
Also, we have been hosting an art group from ACU since May 31st, and they are fantastic. I've never met a sweeter, more thoughtful group of people. They insist on helping to clean up after dinner, are always very gracious and thankful, and to top it all off, a ton of fun! They spent 3 weeks in England before coming here, and they will stay in Italy based out off Florence until July 2nd, or sometime around then.
A sad thing that happened is that Jillian left to go home on June 2nd, and we really miss having her around. But we are happy for her and Travis and their new engagement, and we wish them all the best!
I'm getting ready to participate in the kids' summer camp starting June 27th for two weeks. For the first week, the younger session, I'll co-teach a Bible class and do arts and crafts with Lindsay. The second week I will be a co-teacher also teach English to the older kids. I've missed camp life, and I'm excited about experiencing it here in Italy. I know it will most likely be different from Camp Tahkodah and Camp Wyldewood or any other American camp, but it's going to be great, too!
And then one of the highlights of this past month was that Meredith came to visit me!!!! She stayed for one short, wonderful week, and I had so much fun with her. It felt so normal having her here, and I was very sad when she had to leave. Stinky David and D.C.!! Just kidding....but seriously.... ;)
And the summer's only just begun!
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