Dear Saints,

Here we are, back in Roma, after quite the tour.  Where to begin?  Let us back up to the end of May when we signed the contract on our new building.  After a long 9 months of meeting in our home, seeking out locations, and praying tons, God finally opened up doors for us to get our own building in the end of May.  It is right in the middle of our zone on one of the main roads leading in and out of the neighborhood.  You can check out pictures on google earth by using the address Via Assoro 2/4.  We then spent about three weeks patching holes, sanding, rewiring, putting in the electrical box, outlets and light sockets, and painting every square inch including the ceiling, just in time to meet in it for our first Sunday service on June 21st before departing to the states for two months.  Vincenzo and Robert took care of things in the fellowship while we visited family and churches through July and the first part of August. 

We had a wonderful time with family in the Midwest, swimming lots to stay cool, seeing pretty much everybody in both of our families, including newly born baby Cade, Brent and Hope’s nephew.  Our family was very gracious and hospitable letting us crash their houses, swim in their pools, and treating us to way too much good food.  We had the opportunity to share in several churches in the area and were very blessed by the body as always.  Thanks to Pastors Tom, David and Scott for letting us share about Italy.  From there we headed to the Boise to be with more family, our church family, visit the dentist, catch up with old friends, and visit a few of our supporting churches as well.  God spoiled us with a house of our own (thanks Reid family) and a couple of cars for getting around.  We especially want to thank Pastors Bob, Paul, Ken, Mike, Terry, and Jon for letting us share about the work in Rome and be a part of your church families for a day.   In Salt Lake Brent had the honor of bringing an evangelistic message at a Phil Keaggy concert.  That was one of those special blessings that we had no clue about and the Lord just threw in because he is so good.  In Boise we held an appreciation desert serving Italian Tiramisu (meaning “pick me up”) with plenty of chocolate, sugar, cream and coffee.  Seeing so many show up to hear about the work in Rome was very encouraging and we had a great time together.  Thanks to all who participated and especially those who helped prepare things.  We could never thank everybody enough for making our journey possible, let alone, so wonderful.  We love and miss you all. 

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Our trip home to Rome was fairly smooth, Praise God!!  After arriving on Wednesday, our first Sunday service back came quickly, then the next morning, having the blessing of receiving provision to go up to Austria for our annual missions conference for a week, we packed up the car and headed out.  Thank you CCOB!  There, we rested, enjoyed great teaching and sweet fellowship with other precious missionaries from all over Europe.   The kids also had a blast running wild and free at the “CASTLE”, enjoying great lessons in class provided by a team from CC Costa Mesa that was a super blessing.  We got back late Saturday and were so blessed to be back with the saints of CC Roma on Sunday morning.  Now we are preparing for school and normal life that will kick up with the arrival of September.  There is great anticipation and excitement for what we feel the Lord might do this year with the fellowship and the new building.  Please keep things in prayer as we move forward.  With the economic challenges stateside, it has been, and perhaps will still be a very challenging time for us financially.  Thank you so much for your love, care, prayer and support.  We pray for:

• God’s provision for us personally to continue living in Rome

• Provision for monthly rent for the new building, final remodel costs for children ministry walls, air conditioner, small kitchen, misc

• Hope to be able to get her Italian driver’s license, provision

• Grace and favor, guidance as we take steps to apply for Italian citizenship

• Favor, blessing, and divine appointments for the fall as we open the church to the community for the first time.  Anointing on flyer invites and teaching of God’s Word

• Blessings on Robert and church in Frascati, provision, protection