An Update...

Hello,

Carli and I are doing great. We just finished up an important week and are looking forward to the great things that the Lord has for us this next Holy week. I am currently waiting for an appointment with the federal immigration office which is set for April 8th. Once I make this appointment, I should receive my residential permit within a few weeks. Once I receive the permit, I must request that Carli be added on as my wife. Please pray for this aspect of the bureaucratic nonsense that we must get through.

Carli is still looking for another babysitter position with a family here. She will start part-time with a family on Wednesday. I am also currently looking for private students looking to learn English while I wait to change my contract to full-time. Please be in pray for this city and for the Christians who live here. Our prayer is that the Christ followers that are here, would be able to have the courage to start some discipleship groups and have the courage to live the Gospel boldly.

One of our friends, Mario, who works for the government, has been speaking to me about his world view and beliefs with the Christian faith. He is very open to finding truth and we are praying that he and his wife will at some point join us at one of the church services. He is a really intelligent person but has not been able to find the truth of the Gospel because of the barriers of catholic tradition and secular spirituality.

We are confident that the timing of our move here and the work that our Lord has already shown us is a testimony to the grace and the glory that Jesus receives when we his children are obedient to His will. We are thankful that all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.

We love you all very much!

Carli and Justin

Never Thirst Again

This week we attended an English Bible Study called Firenze Journey. It is led by our friends Cody and Dannielle. The purpose of Firenze Journey is to reach out to English speakers living in Florence and to share the truth  found in the Bible.  This week we studied John 4:4-45. This passage is packed full lessons to take away.  I encourage you to read the passage. I want to share a few things that stuck out to me.  From the context of the story we know the woman at the well was considered an outcast in her society.  She was the lowest of lows.  This fact did not deter Jesus from reaching out to her.  Jesus embraced what society overlooked and discarded.  Through this passage I am challenged about the importance of  looking past race, culture, and backgrounds.  I challenge you to do the same. The next thing that I took away from this passage takes place after their conversation. At the well Jesus explains that through the gift of God, she can have living water.  At first the women is confused but then she realizes that he is the promised Messiah, and the gift of living water is eternal life.  She immediately left the well and went into the city to tell others to come and see this man.  It was through this woman that many people came to meet Christ. Could you imagine?  It was because of this woman's testimony that many believed.  So no matter your personal background, God can use you.  She had no training or degrees, and he used her to usher people to Him and share the Gift of living water.  I am so thankful that he uses ordinary people who love and trust in Him.  As believers, we have the greatest gift to offer to the world.  Be willing and ready to share it with everyone!

We have a few specific ways you can pray for us.
1. Pray for the continual paperwork process to stay here in Italy. We are trying to get our documents together for me to be added to Justin's visa.
2. Pray for potential language exchange partners. (language exchange partners=two people come together and teach each other a language for free)
3. Pray for the people of Italy.  There are so many cultures here and it is a great opportunity to reach many cultures in one place. (Italians, English, Romanians, Chinese, African, Spanish)

Thank you for reading!
Love,
Carli & Justin

Our Passion

Hello All,
This post will be short because I really want you to take some time today or tomorrow to listen to this sermon on Frontier Missions.  I listened to it today, and I could not be more encouraged. Our passion is for God's name to be known here in Italy. We want the people around us to truly taste and see that the Lord is good. In the coming weeks and months pray about your part in missions.

Click here for the Sermon:

We Love You All!!
Carli & Justin

Only One Life To Live....

Hello Everyone,

We are grateful to God that we are back in Italy and beginning to get settled in. Justin had his first day of training today at the English school where he will be working.  The day went well for him so he will begin teaching on Saturday. We took some time yesterday to explore our zone of the city. The zone is called San Frediano. We went to a couple of stores to buy some groceries and supplies for the apartment. While we were out, we made a few contacts and we hope to continue to meet our new neighbors every day.  Justin and I both hope to always intentionally see these simple tasks as ministry opportunities. Over the past weeks and months we have had several people ask us "Why Italy?" which is a very good question.  The answer to that question is becoming clearer as the days here pass.  As we look around and realize so many people are missing out on the grace and overwhelming love that is found in the Gospel of Christ simply because there is no one here to share with them the good news, Through this glimpse of every day life, we see our purpose. We know that God desires His praise among all nations and God has burdened our hearts to seek out the lost and show them the Gospel. So we have a peace about serving in Italy because we see such a great need for the Good News of God's redeeming grace. Our hope and prayer through our time here is that we would glorify God and intentionally live for Him. 

We cannot express how grateful we are to have the support of our family and friends. We are so humbled at the opportunity to be here in Italy. Thank you for praying for us. Please continue to pray for us a we learn the Italian culture and language. Please consider visiting us soon. 

I will leave you with this quote that now hangs above our doorway. "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." 

WE love you!!!

Carli & Justin