One night at the youth
retreat we asked several of them what these retreats mean to them. It was so
encouraging and also a sort of slap in the face. It was encouraging to hear
these kid’s faith and how they really thrive on being able to all be together
talk about their spiritual problems and such at these
retreats. It also made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up with so many
people my own age who believe and that talking about God is a normal part of
conversation.
It is not common here to
talk about spiritual things. I recently got a new student who is a friend of
two of my other students. This girl and her two friends that come to the Bible School have just recently began to discuss God and spiritual things.
Maybe it’s me who didn’t really grow up in the “norm” because it really is a
foreign concept for me to think of people who have known each other almost their
whole lives and are such good friends but yet, they don’t talk or even think about what they believe.
This fall Lindsey, another
teacher here at the Bible school, and I have been teaching a conversation
class. There are about 6 people and it has been some of my favorite classes
since being here in Italy. Most of our classes have been about grace, baptism,
and the Holy Spirit. Questions like; “what is grace and how do you receive it”, “what is the Holy Spirit and
how do you receive it”. So, we went back and forth what we believe what the Catholic Church says, and what the Bible says. Finally, at the end of the lesson one night I asked,
“What do you base your faith on?” No one had a response. No one knew why they
do what they do or even what they believe. Although I may have an answer to
this question, I have to ask another…. “if I suddenly stopped believing in God, would my life look
different?” If not, then what’s the
point?
Even though I believe that
one of Satan’s greatest attacks is getting us comfortable enough in this life
to not really think or talk too much about what else there is, I think God put
something in us to know that there is more out there and a desire to search.
Since being here I am so thankful to God for these students who have the desire to search and ask questions.
I recently had a lesson with a student
recently and after teaching her about being saved through grace and reading 1 Corinthians 13. She then looked at me and said, “I have to tell you, I don’t know if I
believe in God. But I see a happiness in your eyes and peace in everyone here and I want to
believe.” I asked why she didn’t believe. She said it wasn’t because anything
that happened or negative feelings with God and religion but, more because one
day she realized she just “believed” because it was what she was supposed to
do. She didn’t want to be insincere, which I respect her for. I believe God
knows our hearts. She talked about doubts and such, which I told her I believe
God can handle our doubts. We talked about the story of Peter walking on the
water and how when he started to sink Jesus didn’t just let him fall and say,
“well you doubted so too bad.” No. When Peter cried out for Jesus, He grabbed
Peter immediately. He said “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew
13) Even though he asked “why did you doubt,” Jesus still grabbed him. He
showed Peter, He was truly the Son of God. The last time we met I told her how
people in the Bible doubted so she said she wanted to read some verses about
that. As I started looking up all the different verses I didn’t realize there are so many verses that say “don’t doubt.” I was a
little discouraged at first but, then it occurred to me, why would it be written soooo many times,
“don’t doubt,” if God didn’t think we would struggle with it. I plan to show
her in our next few classes, and have shared with several others, verses like
Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your
heart.” I have heard so many times here that people envy the faith we have, not
that my faith is so huge, yet they don’t believe that they themselves can have
faith too. Another one of Satan’s greatest lies.
I truly have been
encouraged this semester with several of my students. From what they ask and tell
me, I can see that they are
thinking about it more and desire to know God. I know that I may not really
ever see a “result” or “fruit” of anything that has happened here, but I feel
blessed and thank God that I have been able to see the beginning of a search
and God opening their eyes and hearts. So, I want to say “Thank You!!” to all of you for giving me the
opportunity to be here, to share my faith, and experience all that God is doing here.
This past week we had a
Thanksgiving party which turned out really well. We had over 80 people here,
most of which were our students. These events are always good for our students
to meet each other and spend time with us outside of our classes. The Italians love coming to
Thanksgiving. They think the food is so interesting. We had one lady ask us if
she could bring 13 people! It was one of my favorite Thanksgivings since I have
been here.
I am closing out classes soon and will be coming home in less than
a month. It’s gone so fast! I want to thank you all again for all your prayers,
support and encouragement. I will have one more update after I am home. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Work Month....
Retreats....
Fall Semester...
