Final Thoughts

Thank You

We are so grateful and appreciative of your sacrificial and generous giving towards our family and this mission effort.  We are blessed to have partners like you who make this trip possible every year. 

Once again, GRAZIE (thank you)!
 

Prayer Request

· That he 7 new souls baptized at camp will continue to grow in their faith and knowledge of God.

· That God will give wisdom and strength to the Christian young adults in Italy as they see their role and leadership within the churches.

· Prayer of thanksgiving for safe travels and a blessed time in Italy.

· For our family, as we see and discern how God wants to use us in His work in Italy. 

 

Future

Titus has been asked to return to Italy during the first 7 days of October to help hold a seminar that will focus on families and issues within families. This family retreat is being hosted by the Viale Jonio chiesa di Cristo in Rome.  Families from all over Italy will be attending this important event. 

He will also have the opportunity to visit several congregations again and spend time with the young Christians of Italy. 

We continue to see our main focus to be the churches, youth, and families.  We are excited to continue to join God’s work in Italy and around the world!

 

"Momenti Sul Monte" Bible Camp

Always a highlight of our trip is getting to be a part of Bible camp.  The camp celebrated it’s 20th anniversary and it was special to be there since Titus was one of the first campers to this camp.  The camp has grown from 8 children to usually about 100 who participate in this camp, with 50% of the children attending every year coming for the first time to any kind of Bible or Christians based event.  This year’s theme was “Messages to God.  The who, what, when, where, and why of prayer”.  I was blessed to teach the 15-17 year old class (pictured below) and have Davide, our midwife’s son, in my class.  He said: “Titus, you invited our family to come to camp several times, and we never did.  Now, I wish I would have come sooner, because this is such a great experience.  Thank you for making me a part of this wonderful group of people”.  What a great testimony and class; teenagers eager to hear the Word of God!  Again, for over a year, the staff and churches around Italy, and the world, have planned and prayed for the campers who would attend this camp; that their hearts and souls would open to accept Jesus as their Savior and wash away their sins through baptism.  This year, 6 young brothers and 1 young sister made that decision!  Praise God!  It was a privilege for Titus to get to baptized Giacomo Tassi (pictured on the left), a servant-leaders among his peers.  Since there is no source of water at our camp, we have to fill up a deep freeze!  It is a such a joyous occasion when we have fill-up our “baptistery”!  Glory to God!

 

Discipleship Weekend

After a year of planning with Franco Verardi, an Italian vocational minister, the first ever Discipleship Weekend was held for 20 Christian- young adults.  We wanted this weekend to be a time of intense Bible study and discovery.  We wanted the Word to speak to them in regards to what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.  It  was also an opportunity for the group to spend one afternoon in Ascoli Piceno, a city where the Gospel has never been preached, and let them talk with people about the saving message of Christ trough song, skits, flyer distributions, and in-person conversations.  Hundreds of people where able to witness Jesus thought the boldness of these Italian Christians!

 

Catania

We enjoyed a wonderful evening of fellowship and Bible study with the chiesa di Cristo in Catania.  Stefano and Rina Spina work with the church there on a full-time basis and are dear friends of our.   They do such a good with the church there.  Catania is very blessed to over 100 members, young families with children, and faithful elders.  We enjoyed visiting with so many of our old friends and encouraging them to pray and persevere for the sake of the Gospel.  Our prayer is for the continued growth of the churches in Sicily and Italy. 

Paterno'

From Rome, we flew to Sicily to visit two churches that are about 20 minutes from each other.  The chiesa di Cristo in Paterno’ has a church that is comprised of many children and young people.  We enjoyed spending the day in the city, visiting mainly Salvo and Daniela.  They are doing such a great job being patient and working with the church to keep it united.  In the evening, we came together as church and shared the Word of God together. 

 

Church Equipping Labs in Rome

To help the churches in Italy in creating a vision for their future, the Viale Jonio chiesa di Cristo invited us to hold a weekend for their congregation that we called Church Equipping Labs.  These three days were filled with intense discovery Bible study and reflection on who God is, who Jesus is, who we are, and what are our roles in the kingdom of God should be.  With an average of 15 in attendance each Friday and Saturday evening, we were encouraged to see the study and determination of these faithful Christians.  One lady, Isabella, attended these labs and was recently baptized on Sunday, July 14th!  Praise God!

 

Rome/Anzio

We left Bondeno, Wednesday, June 19th heading 4 hours south to Rome.  We would spend the next four days working with the Viale Jonio chiesa di Cristo in Rome.  This is one of only three churches in Italy with elders.  We stayed with Vittorio and Tonia, one of the elders for the church.  Wednesday evening, Titus and Phil Jackson (Director of Europe for Mission Resource Network) taught Bible class for the adults. On Thursday, we traveled 45 minutes south of Rome, to spend time with the church family in Anzio and have a Bible study.  The church in Anzio is always so welcoming and inviting.  Their smiles encourage our hearts.

Bondeno

From Vicenza, traveling an hour and a half, we arrived in Bondeno.  The chiesa di Cristo in Bondeno was gracious enough to move their mid-week Bible class time to Tuesday evening, so we could be with them.  Titus taught the adult class.  It was wonderful to spend time with Mina and Umberto, pillars of the church there, and also with Luca Manfroi, a young leader and good friend.

 

Vicenza

We began our journey in Vicenza, a city that continues to be near and dear to our hearts.  On Saturday, we spent the day in Venice with the Hughes family, a military family whom we met in 2009 when our journeys coincided in Vicenza. They were a great support and encouragement to us during then and now. We also were able to see Jeremy and Rebecca Korodaj, a missionary couple in Padova.  They are in year 5 of a 10+ year commitment to the work in Italy. It was good to meet over a meal and get an update and offer encouragement.  We spent Sunday worshipping with the chiesa di Cristo (church of Christ) in Vicenza.  Titus preached; and after services, we had a grand fellowship meal together that lasted all day!    On Monday, we saw the Nichele family at the Artemaglia factory where Titus worked part-time in 2009.  We were also able to visit several contacts we had made during our year in Vicenza.  We had lunch with Kaewyn’s midwife’s family.  Kaewyn was so excited to get to see her again!  She likes being the one that was born in Italy!  Laura and her family were a delight and we enjoyed our time together.  We invited her son, Davide, to Bible Camp and he accepted the invitation! For dinner, we enjoyed our time with a young couple, Giovanni and Giovanna and their two little girls, Laura and Miriam.

 

2 Weeks and Counting...

I feel terrible that I have not updated you over the last two months on our progress.  No excuses.  We are getting excited.  Plans are being made.  Visits are being set up.  Times of encouragement and fellowship will come to be.  All of this because of God's providence and your passion to see the world through God's eyes.  This past Sunday, I was invited to speak for a wondeful community of believers and we talked about the last words that Jesus said here on this earth with his disciples.  We call this "the Great Commission".  You probably know it by heart or have heard it many times, but have you recently dwelt in those words.  There is one words that comes to mind that for me sums up these verses: ALL.  He wants us to do it all; not just say it or like parts of it, but to accept it ALL.  This means going into ALL nations, ALL of us.  There is a promise with Jesus's words.  We know them, but do we actually believe them.  Jesus says "I will be with you always".  Such power and comfort in those words!  What if we did ALL?  Not just parts or what we want, but ALL.  Let's imagine and then do for kingdom of God!

Almost there...

This has been such an exciting journey and we are daily praying for God's supportive hand. I have to brag (in a a good way!). We have some of the best friends, supporters, and churches one could wish to work with!! It's amazing for me to see how God continually works through His people to bring about His will and purpose. 
Here is a quick update on where we are at so far.  Plane tickets have been reserved, traveling plans within Italy are being worked on and fleshed out; but most of all, people in Italy are waiting for us.  Our prayer right now is that we will be used by God during this time in Italy.  That the Holy Spirit will work and encourage. 
Throught the generosity of many of you, we are down to raising our last 11%.  That's right!  We are only $1,150 away from our goal of $10,500!  Thank you and grazie.  We are almost there...

Robison Family Italy Mission 2013

Dear Faithful Friends, Here in Texas we are already being blessed with a taste of spring. The new life always turns our minds to a wonderful Creator and His good plans and love for us all. As we commit to God’s call to again venture overseas to Italy this summer, we pray that He will work mightily to make Himself known among the nations. With a full agenda and willing hearts, we humbly ask for your partnership to make this trip not only possible, but a success. Our hearts remain grateful for your past prayers and generosity and we continually realize that we are only a small part of the body that makes it possible for the Good News to be preached in all the world. We have the privilege of serving in Italy for three weeks this summer as a family from June 14 to July 5. This is the first time since moving back that we have all had the opportunity to return. As Titus wrapped up his time in Italy last May, he knew there was a need for a future vision and purpose in Italy. He highlighted the needs that are windows of opportunity in Italy currently. We are convicted that : 1) The youth of Italy (ranging from young teens to young adults in their 30’s) are desperately needing nurturing and encouragement. There is an age gap in the churches right now and the young people are open and searching, yet having difficulty finding their place in the church and in understanding how to have a life-changing relationship with God. Titus has been invited to teach at the Bible camp “Momenti sul Monte”. 2) Discipleship. We are working with Italian evangelist Franco Verardi to provide a three-day young adult retreat with the theme of “What it means to be a follower of Christ”. 3) The current church leaders need a sense of mission, direction, and training. This summer we are partnering with Mission Resource Network’s director of European Missions, Phil Jackson, to bring the leaders and the church in Rome together to provide a four-day church equipping training. This is the first time this has ever been done with a church in Italy. Some other highlights of the trip are being able to reconnect and encourage church members and contacts in Vicenza, we’ve been invited to meet with the church in Pistoia—Massimo Resta, an Italian evangelist recently relocating to help the church there, Anzio would like us to present a Bible study for the group there, in Sicily the churches in Paterno’ and Catania are looking forward to some uplifting lessons and fellowship. We are less than 25% or $2,500 away from our goal of $10,500! Because of a generous friend and our personal financial commitment, God is blessing this effort! As you prayerfully consider your involvement, we hope you see what a blessing your gift could be for the churches in Italy! You might want to endorse a specific need. Here are a couple of ideas: $1,387.53 for a round trip plane ticket. $900.00 for travel (fuel, train, flights, tolls, etc.) within Italy. $585.00 for our family to attend and teach at the Bible Camp. $328.63 for 5 people to be a part of the young adult retreat. It’s your choice. Won’t you please join us? I leave you with this heart-felt thought: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,…” (Philippians 1:3-5).