Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our sincere apologies for such a long gap in getting out an update.   After returning to the states in February for 2 family funerals, things have just snowballed with life and activities.  First, we wanted to graciously thank those of you who sent cards, emails, flowers, words of comfort, and prayed for our families during such a sorrowful time.  The Lord was faithful as always.  A special thank you also to those of you who gave financially, allowing us to travel and go through the process with our families.

Team Work:

After returning in March we hosted a few smaller outreach teams on into June.  Thank you Kardos’s from Spokane who joined up with the White’s and Mike from CC Boise to form a team of hard working laborers.  From a new front wall project (amazing job artist Shelley), to a ceiling for the bathroom, a storage loft, installing a kitchen, lots of re-wiring, installing an air conditioners, building a stage and so on, we tackled a long list of projects.  It’s always a blessing to have servant-minded people just role up their sleeves and get to work.  Thanks for being an encouragement.  Thank you CC Ontario for contributing towards the cost of the kitchen.  We wanted to get to a public park make-over project but just didn’t have enough time or money.  That is still something we are praying to accomplish in the future.  If you’d like to donate let us know.

Preaching the Word:

Immediately following, I had the privilege of traveling to Serbia and speaking at a three-day conference at the Calvary Chapel in Subotica with two other pastors.  God really seemed to be working, blessing and stirring as we taught through the book of Nehemiah.  We pray for lasting fruit in Serbia.

Church Retreat:

One day after returning to Rome, Pastor Bob and Cathy came in from Boise for our annual Calvary Chapel Retreat jointly attended by 5 Italian Calvary’s.  It was an amazing time of teaching, fellowship, and family fun on the Tuscan seaside.  Outside of the general sessions, we separated into men and women’s groups a few times.  With these sessions the Lord was really doing a deep work with family, marriage, and building healthy churches.  Thank you Pastor Bob and Cathy for coming and sharing, pastor Craig for organizing, all those who attended.  Build them walls!!!

The Body:

God has really been doing some neat things, even in the midst of many struggles and trials. .  Recently, we have seen several people come to faith in Jesus in both churches.   Both churches are growing little by little, but God is doing a deepening work, which is very encouraging in these foundational stages.  At the end of June we will be water baptizing at least 4 or 5 folks.  Some are needing work, some are dealing with challenging or ungodly relationships, some need revival, some are growing and need to get plugged in to serving.  Pray for our Sunday school as we seek to fine-tune it a bit.  Chantal is in the hospital with some undiagnosed platelet malfunction which the doctors don’t quite understand.  Pray for God’s miraculous, healing touch.  Continued...

Outreach:

We just finished several months of doing guitar and English lessons at the church to draw people in and build relationships.  This was very fruitful and we’ll look forward to picking it up again in the fall.  We met Natale in the market while handing out tracts.  He gave us a good twenty minutes of his time and just wasn’t convinced that on this side of heaven, one could be sure about God’s forgiveness and one’s eternal security.  Almost a week later, as I exited the gate to take the kids to school, I bumped into Natale who was heading to a work site.  Pray for his salvation and more run-ins.  At my morning pit-stop for Itlay’s best (caffe) I have entered into quite a neighborhood sub-culture of locals getting their morning fixes and discussing the issues of life before facing the day.  It is quite the mission field.  Please pray for these relationships that are being built.  This is key for winning Italians to Jesus.  As another form of outreach to the neighborhood, we plan to do an outdoor acoustic concert/BBQ on the terrace of our church the last Saturday of every month this summer.  We would appreciate your prayers.  Pray for the resources to get some tables and chairs, gazebos and flowers to make a nice welcoming and comfortable space to reach folks.

Family:

Hope and I are doing well; very concerned with various issues and needs within our families.  We are looking to God to do mighty things.  The kids are finishing school so we will now go into full-blown summer mode.  Isabella just turned 8, is finishing 2nd grade, and Olivia turns 6 next month and just graduated kindergarten.  We’ll be looking to get Braydy-boy out of diapers and prepare him for pre-school in September just after he turns 3.  Due to a lack of resources, at this point, it doesn’t look like the Lord will be taking us stateside this summer.  Either way, we look forward to a fruitful season of growing as a family (and as a church family) and just taking some time to play at the beach.  Lord willing, we may be stateside for Christmas.

Thank you sincerely for your love towards us, and the investment made towards the mission here.  It doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.  Nothing fruit bearing would be possible here if it weren’t for your prayers, your generosity, and you concern for the Italians.  May God bless, fill and reward you in His own way as you continue to labor together with us.

Prayer:

o Miraculous healing for Chantal

o Open doors with our food pantry, and benevolence side of our association, more contact with the poor and needy

o Provision for park re-construction, hearts touched in community to help and give

o Work for Alessandro and Negist

o Sanctification and Preservation for singles in the fellowship

o Strengthened and united marriages, families

o Fruit from evangelistic efforts

o Salvation for Natale, Glauco and Carmine, Daniele, Claudio and Malfisia, Roberto and Stefano (coffee bar friends)

o Provision for T.V. screen or video projector for church, park reconstruction project  

o Provision for courtyard development – chairs, tables, gazebo or umbrella’s, flowers, flower pots

o Upcoming outreach events – market evangelism, acoustic summer concerts/bbq’s – divine appointments, relationships built, salvation for souls

o Sunday school tune up – organization, rotating servants, developed curriculum in Italian, salvation and spiritual growth for children

o Family issues – reconciliation in relationships, protection on marriages, salvation for non-believers, repentance and renewal for backslidden, empowering of Holy Spirit for those walking in own strength

o Anointed succinct, prophetic, and timely teaching

o Blessings on those baptized later this month