2 weeks until Taranto.....

As I mentioned before, at the Bible School we have what is called "Physical Friday." Two Fridays ago, our "physical Friday" was to trim the three enormous palm trees planted directly behind the Florence church. I’m not sure about you, but until now, I've never even considered such a task. The request was made because the palms were falling out of the trees, and were becoming a hazard at the church. So, the 9 of us AI workers and David headed over to help trim these trees. 

I wish I had brought my camera. None of us realized just how massive, and dangerous this task would be. When Palm leaves die, they become as hard as wood and their leaves, literally become needles. After putting up the scaffolding, David climbed up to the top and began tearing the branches down-, which fell like large bricks down below. The rest of us would obviously gather and bundle them and take them away. During the process, we all were poked and scratched from the needles. The worst part was when one of the needles fell from the tree and actually flew vertically down into Ermenita's leg! It was so large (length and thickness) that she ended up having to go to the ER to have it removed!  All this to say- think twice before you plant a palm tree. Ha.

In between classes and church, one Wednesday morning, Eric and I decided to go and visit our favorite church in Florence- San Miniato. What a beautiful sight. Alot of times, its so easy to get caught up in our work (which we love ) but we actually can forget what a beautiful city we live in! 

Eric and Me.

Standing in front of San Miniato! 

For those of you who know about our puppies at home- this is the church we named little Minnie after =)

A view of the Duomo.

Besides my four individual students, this semester I also have taken on the kid’s class at the Bible School. Last semester was the first try for this. Normally our students are strictly adults. However, a need arose for such a class as this, and we were happy to give it a try. I am loving it. Currently I have 7 students- ranging from 9-11 yrs old. Last semester with Emily and Laura they learned fruits, vegetables, and animals. This semester, I am using a great children's Bible that my mom sent (thanks mom!). The stories start from Genesis and go all the way through the Bible. It’s perfect because the vocabulary is limited and the stories are short. All of the kids know a small bit of English because it is in the school system, but not much. We've been learning new vocab from the Bible Stories and practicing what we learn with games. Their favorite one so far is basically like the board game Taboo. They have to understand the vocab word and explain it to the other classmates only in English- and the classmates have to understand the English explanation, as well as remember the English word in order to guess it. I think it is going great. They also seem to really enjoy the Bible Stories- and for most of them- they haven’t heard them before, so they are even more interested. I will take pictures soon =)

Last week, Andrea and I went to visit my student Renata's English class. This is my second visit and it was good to see all of the kids again. Andrea talked to them about the differences between schools in America and in Italia (mainly things such as sports and extra curricular activities). After discussing, we had them write a paragraph about a picture that we put on the board. They were so creative and I think had a good time. 

Renata's Class.

By the way, the preschool with Emily this past week again was so fun!!! The kids are great! It’s amazing to me how immediately they latch on to us! Last week I had to tell them to let go because about 10 were hooked onto my legs while I was trying to come down the stairs! Ha. We taught the 3 yr olds a new song that Andrea made up. It was cute watching them trying to understand it- I’m excited to practice it with them again next week. Funny quote from one of the boys in the three yr old class. He had a very bad runny nose and so I was trying to clean it off for him when he says to me in Italian " No No! Mi piace! Mi piace mangiare!" Translated: "No No! I like them! I like to eat them!" ha!

You remember my student and friend Clizia? I’m not sure if I mentioned this, but her father is an artist in Scandicci where we live. He also works as an art teacher at one of the high schools in Florence. Last weekend, his school was going to see the Ballet and they invited me, Andrea, and Laura to tag along! It was absolutely beautiful! We also ran into the HUF girls- just so happened they wanted to see the Ballet too! Small world.

The Teatro Communale in Firenze.

Me and Clizia!

Also last weekend, Sunday after services, some of the AI workers went to visit the church in Pistoia. They were hosting a singing service during the afternoon and other congregations were invited to come and participate. Eric and a few of the others went and had a great time meeting new people and worshiping together. 

Later that same evening Eric and I, along with Peter, Angela, Andrea, Ryan, and David went to Marian's Birthday dinner at a restaurant downtown FLorence- just behind the Duomo. Marian is a member of the FLorence church and we wanted to celebrate with him on his special day!

Me, Danielle, and Marian.

An interesting fact- the diner where we ate for Marian's Birthday used to be the home and workshop of Ghiberti. Ghiberti was a sucessful artist during the Renaissance. He is most famous for his bronze doors on the Baptistery in front of the Duomo in centro Firenze: the Gates of Paradise.

Happy Birthday Marian!

Remember our Thursday night English conversation class at the church? Well, the boys got together and designed a curriculum to make the classes a little more cohesive. Last week was the first night with the new lesson plan and it was Eric's turn to teach. All last week he worked putting together the first lesson and worksheet. They decided for now (to finish out the semester), each of them (Eric, Ryan, and Peter) will create 5 lessons using the same outline/design.  After they have created all of these they will laminate them and make a binder to have for other lessons in the future. Next semster they will begin working on lessons for the Old Testament. Way to go guys! =)

Yesterday, Emily, Andrea, Angela, and I all traveled to meet some ladies in Prato to help make our decorations for the Women's Retreat on the 18th.  We arrived sometime after 11 am and worked all day, drawing, coloring, cutting, pasting, and creating! It was really great to already meet some of the ladies. We also met two of the AIM workers as well. AIM is a program similar to Avanti. However it is designed for younger people and they have the option of being sent anywhere after their 7 month training in the states. I believe there are around 7 of them currently working in Prato.

Making keys for Decoration.... more to come about this after the Retreat!

The focus for the Retreat is the Beattitdes, so we wrote those on the different colored keys we made.

Besides all of this, I am still in the process of planning and organizing Danielle's baby shower. I've never planned a Baby Shower before and I couldn’t help but remember how well the ladies were at this sort of thing at our church in Cabot. =) I miss all of you! I was trying to remember the details of the things you did and your wonderful planning skills. I definitely am learning alot about all of this and about babies! My mom had the cutest idea- instead of getting a card with the gift, to buy a small baby book instead. On the inside of the book, inscribe to the baby and who it is from. So when Danielle finishes opening her gifts- she has a great collection started of baby books! Isn’t that a great idea?? It has been fun finding new games and talking to the ladies at the Florence church about the details. In fact, I forgot to tell you, I was talking about the shower to one of the ladies at church and she said to me-Did she already have they baby?? I thought maybe I missed it! A couple of sentences later, I understood that in Italy they have the shower after the baby is born- oops! Danielle is American and so am I - our mistake. They were all ok with it though- and seem excited for the shower as well. 

UNtil next time, we love all of you very much and as always are happy to be of His service here in Italia.

...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!

20 days later....Part 1

CIAO!

Since we've last met, everyone has returned to the Bible School!

It’s hard to believe that we have already finished one semester and have started a new one! It was wonderful to get to see our students after the Christmas break. My students had so much news to tell. One traveled to NY over the holidays and shortly after got to meet her new nephew, two of my other students went to Berlin with their family, and another has the opportunity to travel soon to London! It was great to catch up and to see their smiling faces again =) 

Last semester, Eric and I finished "The Andy Miller Bible Study." While we were in training in Arkansas before we left for Italy, a man named Andy Miller and his wife came to speak to us about the Bible study they had organized. Andy was previously an atheist and after he came to be a Christian, he was motivated to share the good news with others. The study is a great one because it is broken down into 1 hr lessons (perfect for us here at the Bible School). The first lesson is about Jesus and His complete authority. The second is about Sin, the third is about What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus, and the fourth lesson is a two-part lesson about Gods grace and Baptism. We have really enjoyed this study and have found it to be very helpful in teaching the Bible. Each lesson is broken down into the categories, and the lesson is comprised solely of Bible verses that further explain the main topic of that week's lesson. The reason it is such an effective study is that it allows the people studying to read and understand for themselves what the Bible is saying. It points directly to the Bible and the person studying is forced to connect the dots of the scriptures. Anyways we found it extremely useful and would be more than happy to send anyone the files over email. If you are interested, please let me know!

This semester we are starting new lessons. Eric is studying a few different topics with his students: Fruits of the Spirit, Books/Characters of the Bible, and Don England’s book  Faith and Evidences. After last semester, we also found that although we taught alot about different main points of Christianity, a couple of my students were left wanting to know more about Jesus, specifically his life. So I researched online for an organized study and came across a 13 week approach that studies the Life of Chirst. We are now into our 4th week of the semester and I’m finding this study a great one as well. Like the Andy Miller study, it is exclusively stories of the Bible that are categorized into the different weekly studies that make up the life of Jesus as written in the New Testament. This study fills in the details of the Bible stories that are sometimes over looked because we are directly reading the text-not summarizing.

Besides starting our classes, we were busy cleaning and preparing the Bible School for the arrival of 20 new HUF students to stay with us this semester! Due to the repairs of the HUF villa, (Last semester was a hard one for the previous students. I’m not sure if I mentioned it or not, but they endured a couple of hardships. The first was the fire that engulfed the upstairs right side (the girls wing) of the Vila. Thankfully, no one was hurt because everyone was out that evening. ) half of the students will be staying at the Bible school for the semester.

What does this mean for the Bible school? There are more boys than girls, so they would not all fit in the front dorm room that reserved for guests. They also needed the space of mine and Eric's room, as well as Laura and Ryan's room (the other married couple). The solution? Ryan and Laura have decided to stay and work in Florence with the church here. They have an apartment ready that they will be moving into by the end of this week. So for the past couple of weeks they have been staying with Kyle  (Kyle is Robbie's (the director of the HUF program) assistant and he lives in his own apt. inside the Bible School.). As for Eric and me? Because we are not leaving for Taranto until after the weekend of Feb 18th (the Women’s Retreat), they decided to move us into an apt around the corner from the Bible School. There is a woman who owns the apartment and who is a friend of Kyle. She only comes a few times a year, but in the mean time it is often sub rented out to others. I'm not sure about all of the details, but it has been a blessing for us!

I guess you would call this the kitchen/living room area. Its funny, when we first moved in and even now still, the apartment seems so huge to us. I guess we got used to living in our one room, so to have two rooms and a bathroom just feels like so much space! Again, a wonderful blessing. The window opens to the main street that goes straight through Scandicci. I enjoy the light it lets in=)

This is the same room, but from the opposite side. Like I mentioned above, there also is a bedroom and a bathroom. 

By the way, this is a view off the side of the main street in Scandicci. Eric and I have taken up running in the mornings. Along this river is one of our favorite places to go! 

We're all excited to get to know the new group of HUF students better. We have already had a get together at the Vila as well as our first Sunday night devo. They seem like a great bunch of kids. My student Clizia and I spent Sunday together practicing yoga and making earrings, and ended the night with the devo at the villa. She really enjoyed meeting all the HUF kids and seeing a little more into the Harding program as well.

Here are some of the earrings Clizia and I made, just in case you were wondering =)

Ciao Dicembre e Boun Anno Tutti!

2011??  Its hard to believe that December is gone and already we have started a new year.
Christmas time around Firenze is beautiful! The streets are strung with lights and there are Christmas trees everywhere =)

Downtown Firenze.

Sant Croce Christmas Market!

Really cool wreaths!

Fur anyone?

Love these hats!

Downtown Christmas Tree!

Lights!

Me and Eric at the top of Giotto's Bell Tower!

This is Simona and her husband. Simone was one of our teacher's at Lorenzo Di Medici. One Friday night she had us all over for dinner and Italian Pictionary!  =)

The month of December here at the Bible School was different in many ways from the first three. We graduated from Lorenzo Di Medici and finished our three month course of Italiano. It was a feeling of accomplishment but also a realization that we are now on own! ha! However, now that school is finished,  it is nice to have some extra time to reflect and to get focused for the upcoming year and the upcoming changes.

One such change, Eric and I have made the final decision to move and work down south in Taranto! The church there is very happy to have us come and work with them- and we can't wait to begin! The main out reach is still teaching English using the Bible. However, they specifically asked us to focus on the youth. They even mentioned the goal of some how getting our program integrated into the school system there. We are very excited about all of this. I feel like living in the Bible School has been good practice and prepartion for this work. The only thing we're not excited about- is leaving our students =(. When we first signed up for Avanti, our plan has always been to leave Firenze in order to aid another city. What we didnt consider, was the relationships we would build while in Firenze with our students. Before we left the States, so many people told us what wonderful friendships we would soon be making- ones that would change us and ones we would never forget- and they were right.

The thing that I am learning is this: we are all people an each of us in search of something greater. The people here speak a different language, but their concerns, for the most part, are the same. God is moving steadily in our life here together, and being in the presence of God is always moving. It is so neat to watch God work in the lives of our students. They really want to know and understand what the Word says and this is so encouraging to me. God is everywhere. Anyways, please always keep our students in your prayers!

So our plan is to head south in February. The sooner the better because the longer we can commit to a place, the more help we can give them. Also, another blessing, the church has found us a nice furnished apt that is within walking distance to the church! Please keep our move in your prayers. Taranto is very different from Firenze, so we have alot to learn!

What else?

After the first couple of weeks in December, we finished classes with our students for the semester and began a two week vaction period. All of us were coming and going at different times. Angela and Andrea went back to the states for Christmas and stayed about a month. Also, David, Debbie, Emily, and Erminita went back to the states for Christmas and stayed 3-4 weeks. While they were gone Danielle and Luli came to house sit and watch Zoe in David and Debbie's apt. It was so wonderful to have them here with us! They are so great! Danielle is a past Avanti worker, who now lives in Italy with her husband Luli. They attend and help with the work at the church in Florence. David returned from his travels just last week, and the others will be back by the end of this week. As for the rest of us. Eric and I, as well as the other married couple, traveled around (separately) for the last two weeks of December. Peter stayed in Florence and for New Years, visited the church in Milan.

While Peter was in Milan, Rosa invited the rest of us over to her house for New Year's lunch! Obviously everything she made was perfect. We stayed all afternoon and visited with her and her husband Felice (which by the way in Italian means "happy" ).

Rosa's Apetizers. YUM.

Rosa's husband and their pet bird!

....yes this was funny. ha!

Me, Rosa, and Eric.

This coming week, everyone will be coming home and things will start to go back to "normal".  Eric and I are starting our classes early (this week!)  due to our upcoming departure to Taranto, and we cant wait to see our students! Hope all is well with you! We miss all of you and are so grateful for all of your love and support! I promise not to wait too long before the next post=)

Giorno di Tacchino in Italia

Saturday morning we arose around 9 something and began preparations for our holiday feast around 10 am. Laura and Angela, along with the boys began work outside. A few weeks ago we purchased some plants to refresh the outside of the Bible school. However, because of all of the rain we havent been able to plant them! Saturday turned out to be a perfect sunny day, so we took advantage of it. While the girls were busy planting, the boys took on cleaning out one of the garages- an all day event. ha. In the mean time, Debbie and Emily worked in the kitchen, finishing up all of the wonderful food we would soon enjoy. Our guest list was over 60 people and so, Erminita and David left early in search of more necessary plates and silverware. This left Andrea and me. About a week ago, I began designing a pamphlet for our guests to keep. Inside it included our menu and a short summary of the Thanksgiving story. Friday night, Erme and I dropped the file off at the local printing place here in Scandicci and so on Saturday our first task was to pick them up, cut them to size and to fold all of them! After this, Andrea and I began the decorations and cleaning around the house. We had a limited supply of decorations so we were creative and I think it turned out great! Along with leaves from outside, I found a print off online and and printed SEVERAL onto fall colored paper. We cut them out and placed the on all of the tables, along with center pieces Debbie borrowed from the Villa. We also made a huge Happy Thanksgiving sign and it also amazed me how much simple table cloths can do for a room. Anyways after it was all finished, we only had a couple hrs to get ready for our guests to arrive!

                                     

The outside of the pamphlet.

                              

The Inside.

Doesnt it look nice??

Angela and Laura.

The boys.

The dining area.

Does it feel like fall??

Ok so I had to draw a turkey somewhere.......=)

The place setting.

In the midst of it all, Zoe felt like a nap! Ha!

Close to 8 pm our guests began arriving. I wish you could have been here. It was so fun, and at the same time, hilarious. People were filing in one after another, and if you have ever been to the Bible school, the entry way is not a large one! Coats were flying, hot Wassil was being served, and Italiano was running rapidly through the air! I cant remember the exact count, but I do know that the classroom space was set for 68 people and we found ourselves lacking space for about 10 or more people! Eric and David took the table out of the kitchen and set in the living room and a few others sat on the sofa. It was so encouraging to have such a wonderful turnout! Almost all of everyone's students came and some brought their family as well. We had such a great time! They all loved the turkey (they really enjoyed watching david carve it as well! Im not sure that they have ever seen one as big as the ones we had on Saturday.) and mashed potatoes (which, if you didnt know is very much foreign to them)- but most were a little apprehensive about the gravy. However, after the tried it, they loved it! Another confusing one for them was the cranberry sauce- the man at my table said he thought of it more as "dolce" (desert). Honesly, all of the food was a hit- some of our guests even went for 3rds!! I am so thankful for Debbie- she is so good about organizing these things and obviously- a wonderful cook! It could not have been the same without her expertise. Thanks Deb! If you are in Arkansas, she will be there for the holidays and is hosting/teaching and italian cooking school, proceeds to help the Bible School. If youre interested-please let me know and I will get you the details.

One of our two Turkeys! YUM.

Andrea, Erme, Peter, and Robbie.

Here is Andrea reading the Thanksgiving story before we began our feast.....

....all of our guests listening.

Let the feast begin!

We were all so happy that Rosa and her husband came!

I cant remember the man on the left's name but he is a friend of Roberta (the woman in the middle). Roberta is Debbie's student. She is such a blessing to everyone here. She also comes to our Monday night ladies Bible study. On the left is my student and friend Valentina and on the right, another student and friend Renata.

Valanetina and I. We are reading Don England's book as part of our study together. She is in Pharmacy school and really enjoys the science vs religion discussion. She is so sweet and very intelligent (her english is also very good). Im so happy we are friends! Bella Bella!

Clizia and I breaking the wish bone......she won!

Olga and Clizia and their father Valentino. The girls used some of the leaves as feathers- here they are pretending to be indians! =)

Me with Clizia, Monica, and Olga.

Renata and me. Renata is so good with her English that she teaches English to kids here in Italy. Next week, she invited Eric and I to come and speak to her class!