Weekend adventures~!

Saturday morning we left for the Metro station and picked up young adults for a fun time climbing around in tree tops at Jungle Raiders- just outside Como!  We did this last year, and it was a lot of fun.  I did not climb , but was the group photographer- Billy did not climb because he is still recovering from a frisbee injury….. don’t laugh!

The instructors at Jungle Raiders were very helpful, but I overheard them say we were all americans (tutti americani!)  I corrected him in italiano- that we were from many countries- England, Africa, France, Italy and the U.S.  They were surprised that I could understand them!  (I was too!)  The course was exhausting and difficult, and they all did really well, and the best part was no one was hurt.  We drove back with all of them and joined a few more at Michael and Amy’s house for a big bbq- grilled tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and peperoni (peppers)  along with grilled pork tenderloin, lamb chops, sausages, chicken and smoked beef brisket with homemade bbq sauce-  Bread too.  It was a lovely evening that ended with worship, some teaching on biblical wisdom in our relationships and hot chocolate.  We went home to sleep, but the majority slept over in the big villa- 

We returned in the morning for breakfast together- oatmeal pancakes, syrup, bacon and coffee- yum- and again, worship and some additional discussion about God’s wisdom from Proverbs.  What a wonderful time- we are so thankful to be able to encourage the hearts and minds of young adults from all over the world.  What a joy it is to serve the Lord- even in Italia!

This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago, but we woke up to a similar sight Sunday morning- it was so beautiful!  Today it was totally foggy in the morning and by 9 am the fall winds had started and it is chilly and windy with bright blue skies and a view of the snow on the mountains!  Winter is coming!

“Wisdom is precious because it keeps us from foolishness.” K. DeYoung

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  Proverbs 2:6

Love from Italia- Jen and Billy

Paree!

Paris was lovely!  We left on Friday morning from Italia and arrived at our hotel around 4:30 pm- The streets of Paris are a little confusing- a lot of diagonal streets, but for the most part, the street names are visible! (this is not the case in Italia!)  Our hotel was OLD and in need of a makeover- the room was clean and the breakfast was good!  The walls/floors/doors/ceilings were so thin, you thought the other guests were in your room- yes- in your room!  Getting sleep was more challenging than we imagined.

We did the tourist thing- and we both decided that we are not really the touristy types.  The Eiffel Tower at night was amazing- the crepes across the street were even better!  The night boat ride on the Seine was fun- especially funny to watch the hoards of tourists trying to snap as many pictures as possible as they jumped up and down out of their seats! I think we enjoy the people watching.  We walked A LOT!  Our legs and feet were tired- maybe are still tired today.  We spent time peeking into several churches and museums- we liked the Louvre, l’Orangerie, Rodin and Napoleon’s Tomb-  saw an interesting street fight- ate some good food- drank a little French wine-were entertained by street performers-walked through gardens and along huge tree lined streets-avoided the dog poop-admired the odd outfits-held hands -laughed at the people looking at maps-took the Metro and RER and helped other people find their way- spoke French with an Italian accent-walked through a museum of modern art and decided that we are not artsy at all….. 

The weather was beautiful.  Cool and sunny until the day we left.  Our favorite place to walk around was L’isle Saint Louis- fun shops, good restaurants and lots of activity.  Rue Cler was close to our hotel and was lovely as well.  We only took one small suitcase, our backpack and just enough clothes to get by- mostly dark clothes- like we wear in Italia!  Everything gets dirty and dusty.

It was nice to get home yesterday!  Now it is back to reality- laundry to do, cleaning, Billy back to work, and a talk to write today!  This week I will drive into M3 for Bible study on Thursday- I am excited to see the ladies !   This weekend we will spend time with the young adults from church- go to a ropes course in Como, dinner back here in Varese and a sleepover (we will go home for that part!).   I think I will be the official photographer for the ropes course- safer that way! 

Love from Italia-  Billy and Jen

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 

 His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

re-adjusting….

It has been almost 3 weeks since I arrived back in Italia.  3 weeks in the states, 3 weeks back, still re-adjusting!  Billy arrive back last weekend after his brief trip to STL- I think he is almost over his jet-lag.  Who knows what time it is in his body- states, italia, states, italia….hopefully after this weekend he will be settled in this time zone!  He never complains.  It is amazing.  I need to work on the not complaining aspect of life!

CBSI is in full swing now.  Very small groups this year, mostly due to ladies having to go back to work and many that moved back to the states or other countries over the summer.  And then there are some that are not sure about coming at all, which is understandable if you have never been to a bible study or your first language is not English.  This fall seems a bit less hectic, with not having to lecture and travel back and forth- or to teach twice a week, or juggle getting to know 2 different groups.  I do miss the Milano 3 ladies- I will have the pleasure of teaching them in a couple of weeks! 

I was thinking about the fact that this was our 2nd summer here, our 2nd fall has begun…..in a few more months we will have been here a year and a half.  Are we different because of our time here?  Yes!  Here are a few things I have noticed about both of us!

We are more patient.

We talk more with our hands now.

We eat seasonal food and don’t miss sugar as much.

We walk more.

We talk about our life more and encourage each other.

We love the people we meet and we care about their lives.

We worship the Lord more openly, passionately and with more joy.

We like to open our mail together. (it only comes once a month!)

We look foward and not back as much.

We take time to pray together.

We don’t give in to the temptation to criticize as much.

We appreciate each other.

We smile at people even when they don’t smile back!

We enjoy the simple pleasure of a glass of wine with our dinner.

We like to travel, but don’t worry about how much sight-seeing we do.

We don’t care when we get lost.  (This is good)

We miss our kids more than we thought we did.

We realize that we are very spoiled in the USA- we have access to everything all the time.

We like taking a real sabbath rest- and we rest!  Then we drive an hour to church!

We like picking up people from the Metro so they can go to church- its a great way to get to know people!

We are more grateful for what we have.

We are more giving in ways we were not before.

We praise God more often!

Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! 

 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! 

Psalm 134:1-2

Billy and Jen( re-adjusting….)