Turning the Pages. . .

Things have continued to go well this past week. I spent the majority of my mornings at the Caldbeck house helping with homeschooling while Tom was away. Things are starting to fall back into a little bit of a schedule, although I highly doubt that will last for very long. We're looking at having a much needed team meeting this week. With all the hustling of trying to get the kids into a school routine, as well as people traveling we have not been able to get together since the arrival of the McEwens. It will be the first team meeting with the whole team being together.

It looks like tomorrow I will start piano lessons with a few of the girls on the team. I am hoping that not only it will be a time of learning, but that in the time spent together the girls may find a bond, or be able to strengthen their friendship. I know that a few of the parents have expressed a desire to have some of the other children learn as well. With only one full-sized keyboard available I am limited on time and availability. However, it is not an opportunity that I have closed the door on either. For now I am going to see how the initial lessons go, and hopefully may be able to open the opportunity up to the other kids later on.
Mindi has some incredible ideas, and it has been such a blessing to be able to brainstorm and work alongside her. Originally we had a few different ideas such as a girl's day (movie, hair, nails, etc. including mini-devotions or object lessons on being a godly woman and the importance of inner beauty), a baking day, and a craft day. However, considering that there is only a month left in my time here, we are running incredibly short on time. It was eventually concluded that we would have a "Fall Day" filled with cookie decorating, games, yummy food, crafts, etc. We are praying that God would show us the best way to draw His message into the day in a non-offensive or pushy way. Please be praying that the plans for this day continue to come together as we attempt to reach out to both our contacts and team. It has the potential to be such a great opportunity!

A Vapor in The Wind. . .

This week has definitely been one of reflection. It has been a slower week with the kids back at school, but has provided great opportunity to be still, and see God's hands at work. It truly is incredible that He can be doing so much, and in such indiscreet ways that we cannot see it until looking back. In the past few months I have come to see His love in such a different way!
Mindi and I have been bouncing different ideas off of each other and have come up with some that I am greatly looking forward to organizing. I am hoping to be able to start piano lessons with a few of the older girls who have been interested. Although it is a great opportunity for them to learn (which they have expressed a desire to do), but the underlying purpose is that it will bring them together, as they do not always get to see each other. I am hoping that having these lessons together will allow a friendship to form and get them involved using the talents that God has given them both!
Another idea was that of an Arts and Crafts time. It is the hope that something like this would be able to continue twice a month or so over a long period of time. However, I'm now working with a month! Hopefully we can get at least one day of Arts and Crafts together. This can also serve as an outreach to some of the Italian children, as most of it can be done through demonstration, rather than verbally.

All in all, it has been a slow week, but looking at all that I hope to be able to start up, October is going to be a very busy month. The time slips away so incredibly fast,..."like a vapor in the wind".

Just Smile. . . .

I cannot believe that I have been here for over a month now. Time continues to fly entirely too quickly. The last family (The McEwen's) of the team has arrived safely and settled in. However Laura, and the Calbeck family are out on vacation, so I am still yet to experience the full team together. Italian school starts on Monday, and some of our kids will be attending. That will yet again switch up schedules, but after this week some sense of routine should be established. I look forward to getting the kids feedback on their first week of school.
Mindi had the opportunity to invite some of the contacts from the park over to bake one day. What an awesome opportunity to begin to build a trusting relationship with them! I absolutely cannot wait! In coming out here, I expected to have incredible moments of ministry involving the missionary kids. Never did I have true expectations of being able to reach out to the Italian kids as well! What a blessing and encouragement to see God working.
Also while I was at the Heizer's House watching the kids,.....I some how traded our girls for Valeria's (Their neighbor)! Needless to say, I learned more Italian than I have the whole time I have been here. Personally, it was a very neat experience to see that her girls have accepted me enough to A) listen to my terrible Italian, and do their best to understand it. B) That they trust me enough to come over, even though all my kids were at their house.

I am taking care of Lili, the dog this week while Laura is away. She stresses me out beyond belief, but she has her positive moments as well! Overall she is a great dog. While walking her I managed to be stopped by two separate people who tried to linger and converse. It broke my heart that I could not communicate with them, but was encouraged at their efforts in trying, even after they realized I was a foreigner.

Overall, things continue to go incredibly well. God's hand is working in the everyday lives of the team. Who knows what tomorrow or the next day may bring!!