Amanda In Italy - The Blog

twelveStone November 2010

aiitheblog — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:06:07 +0000

This year I have been more involved with the youth at the Civita church. Something that I have started to implement in this group is something called LTG (Life Transformation Group). The purpose of such a group is to challenge the individuals involved to study God’s word and to live their life in a way that brings glory to the Lord. About a month and a half ago I started to implement this with the older of the girls in the youth group, Giulia. We meet weekly and go through a list of accountability questions and then discuss the bible reading we chose for that week. I have been so excited to see how well this has gone with Giulia, especially in the bible reading. We have read through I think 7 books of the bible so far, maybe 8! In the next few weeks Giulia and I will continue to meet and then start to meet with another girl each. So there will be 3 of these groups going. Then Giulia and I will also help to teach 2 of the older guys how to do this and they will start together then once they feel comfortable they will split and start groups with the other guys. I am really excited about this. It is a great way for these kids to become more unified and become more serious about their faith.

Tony, the elder at the Civita church, had also asked me to teach the kids more about various evangelism methods. I started that about a week ago. We talked about how we can better share about Jesus in daily conversations with friends, co-workers, classmates, or even strangers. Basically we talked about sharing our testimonies. One of the older youth mentioned that he was really taking away, from everything I shared that night, how important it is to listen to the other person and their story so you can share the Gospel in a way so they will understand it, and see their need for it. I also stressed to them the need for each of them to take time on a regular basis to go through their life and remember all that God has done for them, and to regularly write down how God is daily working in their lives. Sometimes when we think of sharing our testimonies we think that it has to be a story about how we were saved. The youth understood by the end that sharing our testimonies can be anything that God is doing in our lives, or has done, that we use to testify about Him to others. We can share testimonies with other believers, something they are very familiar with in their church, for the sake of encouraging one another and praising the Lord. We can also share testimony with unbelievers, but the purpose here should always be to share the gospel with them. When we do this it can happen through normal daily conversations, especially when we take time to listen to others around us. The next time we meet for evangelism “training” we will be putting this into practice!

Praises:
* The many blessings the Lord is pouring out in my life
* The amazing time Giulia and I have together through the LTG. It has been such a blessing to both of us.
* positive things going on with the youth and that those would continue.

Prayers:
* unity with the youth through LTG groups
* the start of 2 new LTG’s with the girls and for the start up of them among the guys.
* The youth to come up with creative ways to do evangelism
* The youth to develop a heart for the lost and a desire to share the Gospel message with them
* Wisdom and grace as I work with the youth and as I make personal decisions.

twelveStone September 2010

aiitheblog — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 08:35:11 +0000

August was busy to say the least! And part of it was vacation! My parents arrived around August 15th. Part of their decision to come visit me this summer was because my father had a conference to attend in Spain. We decided to make the attendance to the conference a family affair. I even attended part of it. One of the things at this conference that was of real interest to me was the seminar on group story telling and the many ways story telling can be used, even for bible study. It was very exciting. After Spain we returned to Italy and had some time together as a family here in Southern Italy. It was a really great time as a family, the only people missing were my sister and her family. All the same it was a good time together. When we returned back to my house my parents were around for another week while things were getting started up again here. We had some time to spend with a few of the believers from Civita and Monterosi. Having mom and dad here was also really good for my connection with others in the community. It is a really odd thing in Italy to be a single and not have family nearby. So it is a really great thing when they get to put me together with my family, see where I come from, see we have good relationships with each other. It was surprising to me that even the lady at the pizzeria remembered them visiting almost 2 years ago! My neighbors made more of an effort this time to interact with them as well! All very exciting.

After mom and dad left things have started steadily falling into full swing. Last weekend we had a youth evangelism. The kids from the Civita church worked hard on this evangelism. The first night they performed music and and a skit in the town many of them live in, Corchiano, and the following night in Civita Castellana. The first night there weren’t many people present, but 3 were very curious and engaged us in conversation. The second night there were tons of teens all over the piazza the event was held in. Many bent a listening ear, even though they tried to look like they weren’t. As I looked around it was interesting to see that a group of late 20′s early 30′s seemed to all be listening pretty intently.

Just to highlight a prayer below. It is time for me to renew my visa again. Please be praying for this process. Pray that the authorities would be favorable towards me. Pray for a smooth, unhindered process. Please also pray they will renew the visa for 2 years or longer and that I will receive it quickly (Feb. or March).

August was a really good month and I am looking forward to the rest of September. Here are some praises and prayers for you to bring before the Lord.

Praises:
- The opportunity to do evangelism in Corchiano and Civita with overall smooth running.
- everyone back from vacation safe and refreshed.
- good time with parents and safe travel

Prayer:
- smooth adjustment to new ministry roles and getting back in the swing of things after the summer
- Application for my visa renewal
- youth in Monterosi and Civita to grow in the Lord this year.
- wisdom and discernment for me in all areas of my life and ministry.

Thanks so much for all your love and prayers. This ministry can’t happen with out you. I am so grateful that the Lord has brought you in to be a part of it.
Amanda

twelveStone August 2010

aiitheblog — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:48:11 +0000

This past month has really been such a blessing. From digging deeper into some friendships to GEM annual conference (AC) and meeting up with some of my youth at a camp they attended in Assisi; there seemed to be some common threads that ran through it all. The Lord is at work! Not only in people I am working with but in me as well.

This past week was a pretty intense schedule with travel to Poland for AC and then to Assisi the day after arriving back in Italy. My time at AC was a real blessing as I had plenty of opportunity to meditate and reflect on ministry. It was good to be challenged, and have time to reflect, with some good questions. Questions like: If someone were to come and hang out with me for a month, what would they really learn? Am I living as a sent one?Do I see myself as living out a calling or filling a role? Have I formed an alliance with fear? Do I confuse disillusionment with failure? The Lord is first in my life but is He my center? These were just a few of the questions that were asked during my time at AC. After returning and at the camp in Assisi I faced other, similar, questions (of course this time they were in Italian). The theme of the camp was SVEGLIA or WAKE UP! The passage they focused on was Romans 13:11-14:

“… The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently as in the daytime… clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (NIV)

Everyone at the camp was challenged to examine their lives and choose whether or not we would live our life with Christ in mediocrity or in complete surrender to Him no matter how far outside our comfort zone that might take us. It was good to have these 2 events back to back. I was reminded that I probably don’t ask myself these types of questions often enough. It was encouraging to examine my life before the Lord over the past week. It was also a great reminder of the things I need to stay focused on. Something that stood out to me in both these events was a sense of urgency. An urgency to respond to the Lord’s call and direction when He asks me to. Not to hesitate, but to take more risk.

One of the parables that was shared at AC was constantly on my mind and heart while listening to the message at the camp. Matthew 25:14-30 the Parable of the Talents. This parable speaks of 3 servants, each given responsibility over an amount of money according to their ability to be fruitful with it. 2 of the servants invest the money and are able to return not only the money the master entrusted to them but an increase as well. One servant, that entrusted with the lest amount of money, didn’t take any risks and though he returned the money the master entrusted him with his master was very disappointed with this servant because he didn’t even put the money in a bank to gain interest!

This parable struck me in a new way at AC but it was really during the camp that I was hit hard by it. While at the camp one of the girls was telling a story about going to visit some nuns in a convent where they had taken a vow of seclusion from the world around them. They had limited visitors, if any at all. One of those nuns had been there for about 80 years. She used this as an example to explain to the young ladies in her group that although the Lord calls us to be separate/holy from the world around us we are entrusted with being obedient to the part of God’s Word that is very clear that we are to share the Good News we have received with the world around us. I immediately thought of this parable that was just mentioned at AC and thought about how very sad it would be to stand before the Lord and give an account like the last servant who did NOTHING with what he was entrusted with. I can honestly say I am not the last servant in the parable but I would like to stand before my Lord one day being able to thank Him that He entrusted with more because of my faithfulness.

So this month, since the Lord has been impressing on me the importance of remembering to evaluate my life before Him, asking some questions that aren’t always comfortable but are very important to be asking, I would like to challenge each of you to do the same. Before the hustle and bustle of the fall roles in. Before all the kids go back to school and busy schedules surface as summer fades away, would you take some time to evaluate your life be for the Lord? We are all in this walk together. We all want to see each other run the good race that Paul speaks of. Please let me know if I can be praying for you in any way! May the Lord bless you all in the coming month.

Praise:
- some good time of reflection and evaluation before the Lord
- mom and dad able to come to visit in a few days (leave US Aug. 10 get back to US Sept. 9)

Prayer:
- preparation and planning for youth group and restart of all ministries in the fall/September
- safe travel for and with my parents as well as good family time.

twelveStone July 2010

aiitheblog — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:23:15 +0000

Things have been so crazy busy! Which is a good thing but bad because it has been difficult to keep up with correspondence. For that I apologize and thank you for your understanding. I actually wrote a couple updates that I never had the chance to send!
Since there has been so much happening, and since a newsletter was just mailed, I will just update on a couple things and share a few prayer requests.
With the arrival of summer in Italy comes lots of ministry opportunity. One of the highlights this summer was a camp that my GEM colleagues and I have planned for the past year. It was a music camp. As a GEM team we had a number of different hopes resting on this camp. One of mine was that it would help to encourage and give a vision for musical worship to our youth within the churches we are connected with. Each day for the camp I took two of our kids from Monterosi. One of them is the son of one of my Italian brothers (from my adopted family here). This kid is so special to me and it was SO exciting to see him grow and open up during this camp. He has been asking for guitar lessons for at least a year and a half, but his family can’t give them to him. In addition his two uncles who play the guitar haven’t been able to help him learn. This camp allowed him to start learning how to play the guitar. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to see him shed some of his shyness, he even performed for us one night what he had learned! It has been such an encouragement to the church in Monterosi too. They were excited to see the fruit that came from the camp and are looking forward to the possibility of a camp being held again next year!
Over the past few months I have been praying about the possibility of taking on the youth at the youngest daughter church of Monterosi. You may recall me referring to this daughter church as the Civita church. God has defiantly lead in this and with the elders of Monterosi and Civita we have decided that I will take on this group of teens. I am very excited and have high hopes for this group. My greatest desire is to see them grow in unity and maturity so they can be the leaders and role models the Lord wants them to be. I will still be involved with Monterosi and the youth here as well. Please keep me and these kids in your prayers. For me to have a lot of wisdom and discernment. For their growth and unity.
Thanks so much for your love and prayers! It is a really exciting time right now with ministry here. I look forward to sharing more with you all soon!
Praises:
- Successful music camp
- exciting developments in ministry
- good start to healing process from some back issues.
Prayers:
- unity with the youth at the Civita and Monterosi churches
- strength and growth in my own walk with the Lord
- continued healing from some back problems
- preparations for applying to renew my visa: I will be getting documents together and then need to send in the visa application in Sept/Oct. Please pray that the Lord would go before me and that this would be a smooth process this time with no issues. Please also pray that my visa will be renewed for another 2-3 years.
-my parents will be coming in Aug. to visit me. Please pray for safe travels and good time together as a family.

twelveStone February 2010

aiitheblog — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:22:24 +0000

This month has FLOWN by! Actually I can’t believe it is practically March! Needless to say it hasn’t taken long to get back into the swing of things here in Italy. It has taken even less time to fill up my schedule to the point of exhaustion (especially the past 2 weeks).

Thanks for all your prayers over our team retreat for planning and strategizing for this coming year. Many of us walked away feeling that we made a lot of progress this year. I think probably all of us felt like obstacles are starting to be removed also. Please pray for us as we put together the final report for this coming year over the next few weeks. Please also pray for us as we work on our individual strategies which we form to agree with the overall field strategy.

Since I have been really busy with some additional language school and my normal ministry responsibilities things have been crazy busy! Please pray for wisdom when to take time to rest before I get to the point of exhaustion and make myself sick. Please also continue to pray for language learning. I am doing really well, but some of the grammar has proven to be a struggle. Pray I can grasp it fully and improve significantly in my written language abilities.

In Monterosi a lot of exciting things are happening! I shared with many of you that one of the ministries the Lord had put on my heart to develop in Monterosi is something among my peer group. The Lord is opening some opportunities! And as usual not in the way I thought. A door has opened for me to do some discipleship with a girl about my age here. It is also appearing that this may be the critical relationship I needed to meet many others in my town! She is anxious to invite me to go out with her and introduce me to others in the community! This is very exciting to me. Although I know others in the community outside the church those contacts are very few and many of them work in Rome so their social lives expand outside Monterosi. This is truly an answer to prayer. Please pray the Lord would bless and grow my friendship with this new friend quickly. Pray for me and her as we explore God’s word together. Pray the Lord would give her a hunger, passion, and quick understanding of His word.

The other exciting news in Monterosi is how fast we are growing. Every work we do within the Monterosi church, and those planted through it, is to always be looking outward at where the next city will be to plant a church. Over the years a town called Bracciano was placed on my colleagues (the Carlsons) hearts to pray over. Nothing ever developed though. In the past year though there has been a growth of people coming to Monterosi from Bracciano. Most recently a couple, he’s Italian & she’s American, who just moved to Italy from the states who are open to helping grow the body of Christ in Bracciano. Monterosi has recently accepted a proposal to start ministry in Bracciano and pray about starting a church there. Please pray for all the leaders at Monterosi who will be involved in this movement, and those of us who are praying about what our role may or may not be in regard to this. Pray that the Lord would continue to move in Bracciano and bring us into contact with those who are hungry for Jesus. Please also give thanks for the change we are seeing in the believers at Monterosi who are not only excited about this opportunity but anxious to get started and ready to make sacrifices and take on new roles to see it through. Pray for that as well

Recap: Prayer & Praise Highlights
Praise:

Language learning continues to go well
Lord’s answer to prayer for contacts with my peer group in Monterosi
Opportunity to disciple someone in Monterosi
Movement in Bracciano
Unity of believers in Monterosi
Progress during team planning & beginning of obstacles being removed

Prayer:

Quick grasp of areas struggling in with Italian grammar and quick improvements with written language
Favor and quick growth for new friendships being formed in Monterosi
Movement in Bracciano
Unity of believers
My preparation time for discipleship of my new friend & her to have a hunger and passion for God’s word and quick understanding
Final plans for ministry for next year with GEM Italy field members. Also for us as we prepare our individual plans.

twelveStone January 2010

aiitheblog — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:28:43 +0000

Wow! I can’t believe it is already 2010! I trust all of you had a nice close to 2009 with a wonderful Christmas, and a great beginning to this new year.

Over the past 2 months a lot has developed. After making lots of contacts and recently receiving some significant contributions along with increases from current donors I am happy to announce that I am headed back to Italy TOMORROW (Tues. January 19)!

I am so excited to get back! I think I am even more excited about this knowing that those I minister to and with are excited that I will be back with them.

Here are a few prayer requests for the next few days and weeks:

1) flights on Jan. 19.
- I will be flying stand-by which means I am not guaranteed a seat on my two flights. Please pray I will have no problem getting on either of my flights.
-motion sickness- pray my meds to prevent this work and do so with no side affects
-calm and safe travel

2) adjustment to being back
-quick recall in the next few days of the my Italian.
-jetlag to pass quickly
-connecting again with ministry quickly and smoothly
-time reconnecting with friends and “family” there to be a blessing for all of us.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and financial support! I am so blessed by your support in both these ways.

twelveStone Nov. 2009

aiitheblog — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:36:57 +0000

September and October were crazy busy! After weeks of bouncing between meetings and cities I was pretty tired. Some of you have heard rumors that I was unable to return to Italy on October 27th as scheduled. That is true. I have been detained in the States until my monthly support level reaches a higher level. My trip to the US from late August to late September has been fruitful. I found several new supporters and found several prayer warriors along the way too. It has been good to meet with some of you and share about what God is doing in Italy and to meet others who weren’t aware of the great need Italians have to hear the Gospel message.

At the moment I am not sure how long I will be in the US. I hope to return to Italy sometime in January. A friend was kind enough to bless me with a buddy pass so I wouldn’t have to purchase a ticket with a set date, and so I could save a lot of money as well. The 27th was hard when I looked up at the clock on the microwave over my sisters stove, as I finished preparing lasagna for her birthday celebration, and realized I should be waiting in the terminal at Dulles International to go back to Italy. But I had to remind myself that for whatever reason that wasn’t where the Lord wanted me to be right then. And for what ever reason I need to be in the US a little longer. I am at peace about all that is going on. God is in total control. I am not at all worried or concerned. But At times my heart hurts because I miss my friends and church family in Italy.

Prayer Requests:

Praises:
- new monthly supporters!
- many special gifts!
- more prayer covering!
- a greater awareness about the spiritual situation in Europe and Italy!

Prayers:
- more monthly supporters
- faithfulness of supporters who have made commitments (continued faithfulness of those who regularly give, faithfulness for those whose giving has become somewhat sporadic)
- my time with the Lord
- my time in the US to be fruitful in relationships and support raising.

twelveStone September 2009

aiitheblog — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:09:16 +0000

August was a busy month to say the least! Every moment was filled with packing, goodbyes, hellos, flights, car rides… and the list goes on. God is good through it all and answered countless prayers for safe and healthy travel. Thanks so much for your prayers especially concerning motion sickness. The medication worked well and the side effects didn’t affect me this time! The long travel from Europe actually felt like it passed by very quickly which was a huge blessing.

It has been so good to see family, friends, and supporters my first few weeks State side. I have been blessed catching up with everyone and even meeting a few new friends. My work schedule to raise lacking funds is well under way and will kick into high gear this next week. Here are some ways you can be in prayer:

1. 7-14 individuals to make commitments to support regularly (to equal about $50-$100 monthly per individual)
2. A greater learning of resting in the Lord in all areas of life
3. Grace in communicating God’s ministry through me to the Italians and how others can partner with me
4. God to work in the hearts of all who would hear about the ministry God has me in to partner with me in prayer and finances
5. Time/energy to really reflect and examine some things before the Lord to seek His wisdom and direction

There were a number of people who were unable to hear the ministry update I gave a week ago. If you are interested in hearing an update there will be several occasions to do so at my sending church, Messiah Lutheran in Charlotte, NC. These are as follows: 20 Sept. during the Sunday School hour at 9:45 am; 27 Sept. at either worship service (8:15 am or 11:00 am). If these times aren’t convenient for you or you would like to speak with me one-on-one please let me know. Also know that I will be making trips to the D.C. area as well as to GA in Oct. If you are in these locations and would like to set a meeting with me please contact me.

Many blessings!

Amanda

Video Update July 27, 2009

aiitheblog — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:17:45 +0000

I decided to try a video update. Please give me your feedback and let me know if you would like to receive video updates in addition to written ones.

Here’s a recap on the prayer requests mentioned in the video:

Preparation for leaving Italy and arrival in USA- please pray that the Lord would expand my time that is left here to get everything done. Also please pray that the Lord would prepare the hearts of people in the U.S. to respond to partnering in ministry with me as well as to requests for networking help.

Annual Conference (Aug. 5-10)- this is a time with all GEM missionaries in Europe. We will have the opportunity to learn more through seminars and encourage each other through fellowship. Pray for my co-workers and myself that this would be a time a refreshing and a great resource for this coming year

Car- God’s provision for a vehicle while I am State side. (If you know of anyone who may be able to help in this area please contact me)

Flights- I will be flying a lot in the next few months and I don’t do flying well. I get really sick on planes. Over the past few years I have used a medication that helps significantly but has uncomfortable side effects. Please pray for good flights with no sickness and minimal to no side effects from the meds.

twelveStone July 2009

aiitheblog — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:17:20 +0000

It has been quite a month! There really is no other way to describe it.

But before getting into it let me start by announcing that I will be making a short trip to the States this August through October! That’s right, I am coming home for a short visit and to raise more funds for this ministry! I am so looking forward to connecting with friends and supporters and meeting people who can participate in this ministry with me! (I will send out an e-mail in a few days with more specifics.)

Here’s the breakdown of what happened in June:

- Evangelism:

All year we, Monterosi and Civita churches, have prepared to use our voices as a choir to share the Gospel in our communities. These events are held in the main piazza (town square) of each town. We saw some great results! In Monterosi some important people in the community came to both events, and in both Civita and Monterosi there seemed to be more people listening as well as present! Praise God for this! I had the privilege to share my testimony in Monterosi, in Italian. When I was asked I was a little hesitant as I was concerned about the language, but God totally blessed me, the believers present, as well as members of the community who came to see the program. The Gospel message was shared very clearly through each testimony and speaker! It was awesome.
Children’s outreach. In Monterosi, for two days, we held puppet shows in the park for the kids. We played games, sang songs, and shared the Gospel with the kids through a series of stories. I was one of the three clowns, which was fun. We had face painting and balloon art… the response from the kids and the parents was wonderful. We saw willingness from the families to take literature which hasn’t happened as often in the past. The Lord is really moving in our town!
GBU (Intervarsity College Ministry in Italy)- through English conversation with several students at one of the Rome Universities I was able to share some of the Gospel message with two of them.

-Relationships:

God is really working in relationships! In Monterosi the Lord is really opening our eyes to some opportunities and we are praying and seeking the Lord on in regard to this.
The wedding in Palermo was beautiful and in some ways an experience I didn’t expect. The Lord brought me closer to friends I already had and brought into my life a number of new friends (from Monterosi and Rome). From this there were some really awesome opportunities to share the Gospel with one family in particular. Federico and Roberta enjoyed their wedding and had a good experience on their honeymoon in the US (thanks for praying for that).
I meet regularly with another girl, who is a believer, for accountability. It has been really wonderful for both of us as well as a learning experience for us both. We will be asking 2 other girls we know well to join us; which we are both very excited about!

Before a recap on prayer, something that has really been pressing on me is the need to praise God for what He has done and is doing before bringing other requests to Him. Jesus teaches us to do this through the Lord’s Prayer and it is stated many times in Scripture that we should praise the Lord for who He is as well as His works. Please join me this month in praising the Lord for the POWERFUL things He is doing through our ministry in Italy. He is indeed at work and it is incredible to see.

How to Pray:

GBU:

on July 15th we will hold a day of evangelism on one of the bigger university campuses in Rome.
I need others willing to help with English conversation starting in Sept. Please pray for 3-5 volunteers. Also that the Lord would prepare the hearts of the students to receive His word, and opportunities to share the Gospel during conversation.

Monterosi & Civita:

Pray for clear direction as we pray and ask God for fresh, new, and improvement ideas for evangelism this coming year.
Pray for the launch of The Case For Christ in the town of Monterosi. The idea was presented to the library and the community is willing to promote it! Pray for Eugenio (elder) and myself as we plan to talk to the priest about possibly supporting this too. (This would start in Sept.).

Relationships:

Prayer for direction in ministry in this area for myself and other believers in Monterosi
Prayer for continued opportunities with the family I’ve had the opportunity to share the Gospel with and that the Lord would move in their hearts to accept His word
Prayer for the Lord to work in the hearts and bring opportunities to share the Gospel with new friends
pray the Lord would continue to bless and grow our accountability group in a healthy way so we can multiply and start new ones over the next year. And that we would be able to do this with new believers.

Coming Home:

Prayer the Lord would give me a good time with my family, friends, and supporters as well as a time of rest
Prayer the Lord would go before me and prepare the hearts of those He wants to partner with me financially (individuals and churches). Prayer that He would supply all that I need in this area in the time that I am in the States.
Prayer that I would be able to complete all preparations for this trip quickly, fully, and with NO OPPOSITION from the enemy. My time is very short with ministry and other obligations, thus this is VERY important to be prayed over.

I cannot say enough how grateful I am for your prayers. They are SO IMPORTANT! Thanks!