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. :-)