Vicenza holds a special place in our hearts.  This is the city and church we were a part of for a year in 2009.  We spend Wednesday evening with the Ghanian brotheren holding a Bible study for them.  They have such a wonderful love for the Lord.   

I was also able to spend sometime with the youth of the church in Vicenza.  Marco was baptized at camp two years ago.  He has such a calm and searching spirit.  Caterina and Veronica are sisters and are starting to become leaders among the younger children at the church in Vicenza. 

Look for the next post where I will be sharing my thoughts and closing remarks in regards to this year's mission trip to Italy. 

Puglia

After the conference, we were invited to spend a couple of days with Franco Verardi, a preacher who works with 3 churches in the Puglia region of Italy. We were encouraged and blessed by his family's hospitality and devotion to the work for the Lord in Italy.  Franco is truly devoted and in love with Christ and is a blessing to all who meet him.  He is a true example of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

We were also invited to speak to the church in Mesagne, one of the churches Franco works with.  Mesagne was such a loving and accepting church.  There were many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ who truly are seeking the Lord and His will.   

Velletri Conference

What a great conference this year at Velletri!!  We were invited to help with this church of Christ conference in Velletri, near Rome.  The conference was held May 4th to the 6th.  There were several great speakers and we were able to visit and connect with many leaders from churches of Christ from all over Italy.

Titus was also able to have a time with the youth on Saturday afternoon.  We discussed the topic of being a disciple of Christ and what that means.  Eric Smith, an Avanti Italia worker from Taranto, Italy, helped me out with this session.  I shared with them an interesting way to study the Bible.  It's called Discovery Bible Study.  This is what you see them doing in the picture.  It's a way to study the Word to bring about the obedience we desperately need in our lives. 

Rome and Anzio

The Lord watched over me and allowed a great trip into Rome on Wednesday. We were greeted by Vittorio Vitalone, a medical doctor who dedicates part of his time to the work of the churches in Italy. That evening, Phil Jackson and I presented Bible class for the Viale Jonio church in Rome. On Thursday, we were blessed with another great Bible study with the church in Anzio. Anzio is an hour south of Rome. We are encouraged by the warmth and love that these brothers and sisters have shown us during these couple of days. The theme we keep hearing from Italian church leaders and Christians is the need for encouragement and partnership. What an exciting opportunity! Are we going to step up and help our fellow brethren? We all have this within. We were created to love and choose. Let us choose to allow the Spirit of the Lord to work in each of our lives.

Leaving on a jet plane...

It seems like that phrase is so overused, but I wanted to use it one more time. I'm waiting at the airport in Omaha getting ready to leave for the 10 day mission trip to Italy. I keep thinking of all the wonderful friends and churches who are making all this possible and I know the great responsibility I carry. This is our trip and want to make sure you check this blog regularly to see the updates obout the trip. I have already heard from many Italian Christians who are excited about what God is going to do in just 10 days. I ask for your prayers!