Ciao miei amici
Questa settimana passata era molto buona.

Working on my Italian, "This past week was very good." And I practice because it turns out that I'm not that good at it :-). I only say this because this morning when I went to pray in front of the congregation in Florence a line in Italian came out, which they were happy about, (I think), maybe even a little impressed, (now I'm just flattering myself) and then. . . English, line after line. All from the heart, but an English speaking heart. An English speaking heart that knows a little Italian, wants to know more, but man, oh man the "non-Italian" flows; ma sto imparando, ("but I'm learning."
This past week, from Tuesday through Sunday, there has been Church of Christ convention, in which many of the missionaries from around Italy came down, (or up to, really whatever direction, they came), to Firenze/Florence for. It was awesome; although I was surrounded by Italian, a language a still don't quite have an ear for, I would say that I was surrounded by even more love. It was a beautiful thing, and gave everybody on my little teamie squad here in Prato some of the encouragement that we need from time to time. So much fun. We just did lots of singing (for the most part in Italian), and had some classes, which side note: It was so, soooo awesome because this lady Toina, (I think that's how her name is spelt), took detailed notes as the teacher would talk and pass them to me along the way to keep me updated (not the word I'm looking for but eh) on what was being said and so I wasn't bored out of my mind; so considerate. And I also know that I wanted to be in the class because, although I definitely don't comprehend all that is said, I do know that a persons presence can mean a lot and go a long way. It's the small things in life that make a difference I suppose. . . . Well, that and the big ones. Whatever. :-) Lifes good. Oh, right , so singing, classes, um?, food. Food. Food. Yum. Before going to the convention I was told that the food was the best part, not because of the awesomeness of the grub but the chilling with people, the fellowship, I dug it. During this week, which was compared to camp. . . . multiple times. . . . by other people. . . . like people that aren't me.. . . . . .so other not me people, said those things. . . . . . things of it being like camp. . . that's all. Weird. Strano. It really doesn't matter that other people said it. Eh, moving on, we made some awesome connections and already having some traveling ahead of us being planned so that we may have an excuse to come together and love on GOD and each other agian together. There is going to be an mens convention in October, another thing that I don't remember (must not be important, right?? haha, funny ha. . .) and this thing called C.I.E. (pronounced chia)which means something. Vague and to the point that's me. Well feel like I'm talking too much, so I'm going to end here, but know good things are in the works, good things that are in groove with His purpose. Continue to pray always, and thank you for everything.

Ciao mi amici,
Io sono dispiace che non ho scritto miei blog su volta.
"I'm sorry that I haven't written my blogs on time."

Hello, the few, the proud, my followers, :-) At least I would like to think you proud, if not the work being done, or worked at, that fact that I have successfully managed to manage a blog about four times a month. I'm kind of impressed with that; next step: writting post cards to my ever so awesome and very, very much loved, (not too mention thank you very, very, super much for everything,) supporters. That is my next mountain to triumph over, for you see it is a struggle of mine. Oh, and I say few, well because their is just eight of you followers I can tell. I dig it. Thank you for reading this little blog of mine.
Moving on, Tuesday we went out with out friends again, (a regular occurance, I'd say), just to hang out but also to see Paride and Giocomo before their trip to the states. They left Friday morning and will be back September 10?? I think?? They really wanted to see us before they left for the States and had mentioned how they have lots of plans for things for us all to do together once they get back, once we all have time again. :-) It makes me happy. I look forward to it all. Beautiful (don't know if that actually fits there, but there it is. . . ). Wednesday we went swimming with some a Aventi Italia people, and met this kid Ben (who is not part of the Aventi Italia program, just someone they wanted us to meet because he lives near us), and who trully isn't a kid, and well he is one of the most "jacked", or muscular men I've seen in my life. He is studing to be a bodyguard, and if you looked for him in a crowd just look for the guy who looks like he is flexing, while just standing there. . . huge; nice guy. But he is one of our new found friends here, look forward to chilling with him. All of that is so you have a clue about who we are chilling with and so you know we are out there, working at, slowing filling our time.
After swimming, we went back to the Harding HUF villa and they cooked us some steaks, let me say pretty much wonderful in all ways, and we enjoyed each others company together. It was good.
Thursday, Anna Callen and I walked from Ventimiglia, Italy to Nice, France, and I did not get back till yesterday evening, It was great, very, very beautiful, one of the more beautiful places I've seen in my life, but way too expensive. It was a good thing we had packed all the food really needed for the trip. Beautiful. Beautiful and full of boats, I think I salvated.
This coming week is a convention of many of the Church of Christs in the area and we are going to be helping in any way possible with it. So back to work, I'm loving it. And as always, continue your prayers please. Because I love those a lot too! :-)

Ciao,
Sorry I didn't write this past week; my sister Anna, along with here friend Anna came to visit me and see a little of Italy. So needless to say I was doing a little traveling with them over this past week. Which for me is ideal timing because the month of August is national (for Italy anyways), vacation month; everybody leaves town to go camping, and travel around mostly Europe, but really anywhere around the world. A couple of our friends out here are going to the States in about a couple weeks, or maybe it's just a week; either way, August is a time when everyone in Italy travels and towns like Prato become ghost towns. So with that said, now, during the month of august is the best opportunity for me to see Italy and travel with my sister, whom it was very nice to see.
On the 4th Tracie and I went up to Milan to meet both Anna and Anna; staying the night up there till the 5th. Then after meeting up with the both Anna's we went down to Rome. Now I can't say I fell in love with Milan, it had this huge cathedral, which was totally awesome, and a cool train station, but overall not for me, didn't suck me in. Rome on the other hand was soooo awesome, I would recommend it to pretty much anyone, beautiful city, lots of history (that I don't know, need to work on that), but it was not a city that lets you down on your expectations. You'll have to ask my sister for pictures being she was the photographer. After a night in Rome we went further south to Pompeii, which I also thought was remarkable, if you are into history at all, Pompeii is a must, and even if you are not a huge history buff, (which most of us weren't); you will find yourself oddly captivated by the city and a bullet point overview.
After visiting those cities we brought them to our house in Prato to introduce them to our friends, and to see the city where we dwell (what an awesome word).
On a seperate but related note: Anna (not my sister), decided, after being invited by us, team Italy, to stay an extra month to see how she likes the ministry out here and to consider the possiblity of being a missionary out here too in the near future; which is totally awesome because, since Kristen has left, Tracie has totally been in need of a girl, which Evan and I totally are not. . . . at all. It is definitely one of those things where, when you look at the whole picture you can see GOD's hand constantly with you moving and getting things where He wants them. Total blessing.
Recently too, we have been hanging out with out now, less new friends, going out with them and trying to let them know who and what we are about over time. It is a process, and a learing one at that, I've got a lot of learing to do.
We have also been hanging out with a family from Pistioa a little more often, Carmello and Dina; the other night we went to their house for their youngest daughters birthday, Alex, she just turned 8. which was a lot of fun. It was a good night.
Thank you guys for continueing to support our mission of bringing the gospel to those with out it.
Pray for me always. :-)

Ciao,
Sorry for both writing this blog at a little a later of a date than intended, namely Friday, and also for my less than happy,(at least not happy for me), story last week. But, I have a good reason for it all, well not for the story last week, that was more just to keep you up to date in my life, help you feel what I am feeling, feel as if you are here with me, which is what I'm trying to accomplish with having this blog, so yeah. But what I was trying to say was the reason I have not blogged on my "always blog Friday" ritual was that, get ready exciting news; WE MADE MORE FRIENDS!!!!!! Now isn't that happy. You have to be smiling right now, Brandon has friends, it only took moving from America to Italy to do it; nothing big . :-) It has been great, absolutely great!!!!! (I'm kind of exclamation mark happy!!!!) Basically, because life is awesome, GANZO!!!! (More exclamation marks, hope you like them too.) Sabato I era ad una festa di compleanno con i miei nuovi amici. Translation, (with the help of babelfish.com, I would hate for you to think me smarter than I am,) "Friday I was at a birthday party with my new friends." But I want to say that we have hung out the past three nights straight. It has been absolutely wonderful and not to mention needed. We came here to meet people to share GOD with people and when the amount of people you know isn't that many, well, you can't share GOD with too many. I got my hair cut today by my teamie Tracie, just thought you should know that, that's all on that. We hung out with them. . .. .Wait, I should probally drop some names help you out there, that might help. . . maybe. Our friends names are: Patrizio, Paride, Giacomo, Sandy (She's actually Australian, but still our friend so I thought I would mention her too), Daniele, Roberto, Sabrina, Monica, and one other girl who's name I can't remember worth the life of me. And I don't really know what good you reading all of their names does but if you want to you can read my new friends names over and over and memorize them and then I can throw a pop quiz later and you can pass the quiz and feel really, super, duper smart, and maybe I can then give you a gold star or a scratch and sniff. It'll be great. Okay, either way, like I was saying before I got distracted, we went to some park hang out place with them Friday night; and Saturday night was the birthday party we got invited to. And may I just say how awesome it was to get invited to a birthday party after knowing these people for just one day. Man, I know I came here to share GOD and His awesomeness with them, but I feel like even though they may not know GOD as intemently as I, they soar where I and honesly many other Americans drag their feet and eat dirt. And that is not a dis against America or Americans nearly as much as to just open our eyes and to realize that one mans strength is another mans weakness, and the same when you talk of differing nations, where America succeeds, Italy, along with others may fail, but when it comes to the inviting-ness of the Italians and their open giving (on more than one occasion an Italian has bought gelato, or espresso, ect. for the entire party or group they are with. Very giving.) That is not to say that I do not find or know people in America who do these things, because I definintely do, but it is something that I am finding to be much more ingrained into this culture. I hope that came across clearly, if not let me know, because it is not meant to be an insult as much as an encouragment to continue to grow in all ways, and to trully share all we have. That is all. Oh, once again, off topic. . . . suprise :-) Last night, Sunday, they took us to two seperate hills, for lack of a better word, with insanely gorgeous views, breath taking really. One was more of a touristy type place near downtown Florence, with a good view of downtown, of the duomo and all. The other place, a little more low key, had a view of all of Florence, and we went to both at night, so it is dark outside, you can see all the city lights of Florence span out across the land, thick in the center and thinning the farther out you looked, it was beautiful, I tell ya, I felt like I was going to get proposed to, which let me tell you: 1) did not happen, 2) couldn't of happen, and 3) I don't know but I felt like there was going to be a third reason. Regardless, while we still have been going to Pistioa every Tuesday to help around the Church, it is wonderful, and healthy for us to now have some more "contacts", aka, friends of our own. And I know that at least some of them are curious about religion, and learning, so it's looking good!!!! Oh, and we went to the pool Friday with a couple families from Pistoia, which was a lot of fun, but as always, lets just say I am a little more tan, and a lot more red lol. Life is good, hope it is for you too. Pray continuely.