...Part 2

Along with starting our classes back, we also have started our ladies’ and men's Monday Bible night study, as well as our Thursday night English conversation classes and Bible Study at the church. On Monday night the ladies are studying Paul's personal letters: 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. And at the church we are studying Romans.

Another new activity for Andrea and me is helping Emily teach English at a preschool here in Scandicci! Last Tuesday was our first time helping and it was so much fun! We are there from 10:30 am until around noon, and the time flies by! First we teach a 3 yr old class and after a 5 yr old class. The three year olds are learning colors and a of couple animals. They are so sweet and so smart! I was very impressed as well with the five year olds. They knew all of the colors, emotions, and animals that we reviewed with them! Emily is great with the kids. She has made up some really cute little songs (accompanied with movements- for example stomp our feet! turn around!) that the kids absolutely love! I can’t wait until the next time we go! This also has given me alot of ideas for our work in Taranto. I have been busy making photocopies, coloring, and lamenating animals, colors, and emotion faces to take to use in the schools down south. 

Their little "smocks" were so cute! I loved this little girl's gesture- Lei e Italiana!  hehe.

Emily starting off the lesson....

Here are the kids getting ready to sing their favorite song, Red Fish!

After our songs, we began their coloring activity.

Emily said that the 3 yr olds know the colors red and yellow the best. So We traced their hands and they colored one red and the other one yellow.

These are all pictures of the 3 yr olds. Once we began the 5 yr olds class, there was no chance to take a picture! ha. They were so excited for us to be there, that at almost every second we were getting a hug or a kiss! They were so sweet! 

Here are the pictures that I have been printing, coloring, and lamenating to take to Taranto soon! 

Also, remember Danielle and Luli who stayed with us over the Christmas holiday while the Woodroofs were gone?? Well they are expecting their first baby (its a boy!) in June! Andrea and I are in charge of planning and organizing her Baby Shower at the Florence church! I didn’t know this, but everything Baby here in Italy is extremely expensive. For example most strollers cost around 400 Euro. This is almost $550 USD. Yesterday Andrea, Danielle, and I went in search of a couple of used baby stores that we had been told about. After a couple of hours we finally found the jackpot. Danielle picked out 5 items- including a very nice stroller that came with a car seat and bassinette for less than half of the normal priced strollers. The man was very helpful and even set up a gift registry for Danielle's friends to come and buy something or even put money towards the stroller ( this is not something they do in Italy). We are so excited! We plan to have the shower in two weeks- so we have a lot to get done before then!

Here is Danielle (on the left) with Ermenita.

In the midst of all of this, Lindsay Walle came for a short visit. Lindsay is another AI worker who is about to complete her 2 years of service in Italy next month! She has been living and working in Vincenza and has done an amazing job. She wanted to come and say goodbye to her students and to us before she departs for the states. I know the church and people in Vicenza will really miss her. She also was so sweet to bring us some things that will help us as we start living in Taranto- pots and pans, Pyrex dishes, etc.  You can check out all of the work she has been doing on her blog at: http://lindsaywalle.blogspot.com/ .


Also, get ready for upcoming events in February! We have decided to commit every Friday night to an activity at the Bible School. Here is the schedule: Movie Night in English, Cooking School, Game Night, and Book Club. Also in February, is the Women's retreat that I mentioned earlier. It is Christian women from all over Italy- just like in the states. We are all very excited!

Please continue to pray for all of us here at the Bible School as we strive to follow His call.
We love and miss you!