Italy 2013 ~ Radiate ~ Part 1

    Wow. Italy. There is so much I could say about Italy. I have so many stories for y'all! I don't even know where to begin...Oh my! I think I'll just give you guys a short overview and then fill you in on the stories bit by bit :) Which means more blogging!!! :) Yay!

     First off, it was an amazing trip! My first time flying, and after 6 fights I'm feeling pretty good about it. I actually think I like flying! :)

   It was love at first sight for me. I loved everything about Napoli (Naples). I still do, and I would love to go back! You have no idea how much I miss it. I dream about it every night. I actually woke up Sunday morning from an Italy dream struggling not to cry. I was fighting back tears all of Sunday! That's probably been the hardest part of coming home. Maybe one day, God will take me back! :)

We spent our mornings visiting shops and cafes, building relationships with the people in them. That was always fun! I loved going into the shops and seeing them recognize us :) Some of them we would have awesome conversations with, by the end of the week they knew exactly what we wanted when we walked in :)

 After morning ministry we would get rest time. You know how much you grow to miss naps when you are a grown up? Well, they are as great if not better than when I was little!  :)

 After rest time, around 4 or 4:30 we would head over to the park or Piazza :) There we would either play soccer, hangout at the basketball courts, or play with the little kids. I usually played soccer with the little boys. They were so precious!!! I have so many stories from the Piazza, but I'll save them for one of my next posts :)

 After the Piazza we headed back to our hostel. Supper was always magnificent! And then we spent time with our church groups and talked about our day. I loved that bonding time and I loved making friends with people outside of out family group! They are all pretty cool people! :)

That's a typical day in Italy. Before I end this post I want to tell you one of the things I learned
while I was there :)

 This year I have been calling out to God to show me my purpose in life, and I found it in Italy. The theme of the week was, Radiate. Radiating His light, near the end of the week I realized something. My purpose is to Radiate His love and light. That's always been right in front of me. It's amazing how many times I encountered this truth this year, but it never clicked for me. God had to take me all the way to Napoli, Italia to show me that. I wrote  a short story this past school year, and I realized I actually wrote that into the story. And I didn't even see it!! It's amazing how blind we can be sometimes.

I challenge you to look at your life and see if there is something God is trying to tell/show you that you have been blind to. You just might be surprised!

So, there's a short summary of Italy. Don't worry there's a lot more to come! Please excuse the disorder of this post. It's a little late  :p

~Ani


Psalm 73
 " Surely God is good to Israel,

    to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
    I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
    they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
    with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
    you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
    completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.

21 When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;
    you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
    I will tell of all your deeds."

Here's a song by our worship leader in Italy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5T-X95Q3us&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL2352DB9C160A26D9