If you were walking down the streets of Via Nardini last Tuesday you probably saw many, many folks bundled up in their scarves, fur coats, marshmallow coats (the ones you just can't help but squeeze!), and boots. Then all of a sudden you see a girl; no jacket, short sleeves in fact. No boots, not even socks, just a pair of what look like slippers, with a pair of sunglasses on and earphones hanging from her head. And what is she doing? She is breaking out in dance towards someone (let's hope that she knows), and the girl is dancing back. Wow... she must not be from around here. You are SO right, because it was me :)
Rome has been blessed with some B-E-A-UTIFUL weather, this week. (Anyone catch that movie reference?) I was completely enthralled by the beauty of sunshine and "spring-ness" floating around Rome this past week. You can ask my roommate Crystal, I was grinning like a fool with my sunglasses already on my face before I stepped out the door. Seeing God's beauty displayed before me, for us, just made me feel beautiful. I never felt more like a princess. God paints these skies for us to see His beauty, His creativity, His power; and He loves us more than that! It makes me all tingly thinking about it. He captures us with it. Don't let go.
I realize I wrote about two weeks ago. And I felt I've gone routine, I'm not really sure if that is good or bad. Sometimes routines are nice but then sometimes you just gotta break out and dance :) I felt though that my last blog just wasn't doing justice to life in Roma, there was a list of "things to be done" and who likes reading that? Except for you mom, yes I know you are reading this... list freak. :) But I just wanted to share my heart with everything going on!
Spring Breakers have come and left, and it felt like I was caught up in a whirl wind of events. It was great seeing the SBer's just take the leap of faith with Christ and just go hard after Him and His people! It was such an encouragement to me, because I still feel nervous when I approach folks, and I live here and know more of the language, granted its only a little more haha, but still! We had great turn outs for both of the Festa della Donna events. The first one was at this place called the Felt Music Club. There were people everywhere, it was nuts! But so great at the same time, so many new relationships were being built! The Spring Breakers of Miami were encouraged to invite their new Italian friends they had met on campus to the event. We had such a great turnout!
The next week, the Ole Miss crew came! And with them brought some delicious treats such as Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce, thank you to whoever did that!!!! Haha, but the group was definitely larger this time, tripling in number. It was such an awesome group that reminded me of home so much! We had some of the girls over for dinner at our apartment and one of the greatest things I think were the hugs goodbye. I know it sounds lame. But it was a mass chaos of 12 girls all chattering away and squishing around to make sure EVERYONE got a hug goodbye before departing. It was just a huge refresher of home, I love it. Plus who doesn't like getting hugs? It was great seeing these guys move on campus, I saw several just tackling the obstacles that lied ahead and trusted God for it. It was encouraging to watch from afar and also to hear how God moved through the conversations. We had another outreach planned for the Ole Miss Spring Breakers to invite the people they met on campus, called a Southern Hoedown. Interesting I know. haha. Myself, and a couple of my roommates decided to dress a little "southern" for the event. I didn't plan on having a dance party for a good three hours with these folks, let's just say flannel was not a good choice haha. But I had such a blast getting to know the Ole Miss folks. The Italians also flooded in towards the end of the night and it was mass chaos! But that's the way we do it in the south, craziness! haha. It was great hearing their stories throughout the week, and seeing God move not only with them but within our team as well.
This next week I am headed to Athens, Greece. It is so weird that this time is here! I remember talking about it a lot, but I actually hop on a plane in less than 48 hours, provided I get there correctly! Haha. I am so excited to see what God is going to reveal to me through the team there, in my personal life, and just everything. I have decided not to take my laptop with me, sounds like I will be to be busy anyways. I've been talking about taking an internet fast for awhile now anyways. I believe there is no better time! Please be praying for the time there! I am trying to earnestly seek Him in everything. He is currently just enrapturing me in who He is. I am constantly seeing His power, His beauty, His guidance, His provision, His Truth, all around me. It is so overwhelming in such a great way! It gets to the point that the only thing I can even think to say is "Wow." But is that not the way it is supposed to be. For God to reveal Himself to us and us just be astounded at His greatness.
It is so weird to think that in a month and a half I will be home. I cannot believe the time is already here. I find myself wondering a lot about what I'm going to do next, or rather what God has planned next for me. As I was telling someone the other day, it needs to move from wondering to praying. I know it is all in His hands. I know I hope to continue blogging when I get home. It probably won't be nearly as exciting as my life in Rome, but who knows. I have found that I really like expressing my thoughts. But blogging is so much more exciting and quicker than writing it in a journal. To quote "Julia" from Julie & Julia, "I have thoughts!". I have been inspired by so many of the women here in Rome that I know who write blogs that are just too cute, I love reading them. Plus there are blogs like "Pioneer Woman" and "Lovely Little Things", that I just would love to do. By the way, you should totally check out both of those blogs. But that is a small tidbit of what I would like to do. Another one being cooking, haha. I have realized I actually have a small knack for it (thank you roomies!). It is kind of a long story as to why it makes me so happy, the fact that I can cook. But I love that God has given me that gift and desire to do it, and the joy in doing it. It is funny, I remember actually looking at going to culinary school a few years back. I am glad I did not decide to do it. It is, however, funny how God reveals our gifts and joys in other ways. I am most excited to see what God has me doing next ministry-wise. I know I am going to Camp Tsungani when I get back, which I of course love. But also for longer term, what God has planned. What He will use me for, and I am praying for when that time comes that I hear it and hear it quick and loud. I don't want to miss a thing He has for me!
I feel like this is the longest blog I have written, like ever. So I guess I will bring it to a close. Going to talk to my Jesus, and make some banana bread! See you guys soon!
For His Name to be Glorified,
Lindsey
Rome has been blessed with some B-E-A-UTIFUL weather, this week. (Anyone catch that movie reference?) I was completely enthralled by the beauty of sunshine and "spring-ness" floating around Rome this past week. You can ask my roommate Crystal, I was grinning like a fool with my sunglasses already on my face before I stepped out the door. Seeing God's beauty displayed before me, for us, just made me feel beautiful. I never felt more like a princess. God paints these skies for us to see His beauty, His creativity, His power; and He loves us more than that! It makes me all tingly thinking about it. He captures us with it. Don't let go.
I realize I wrote about two weeks ago. And I felt I've gone routine, I'm not really sure if that is good or bad. Sometimes routines are nice but then sometimes you just gotta break out and dance :) I felt though that my last blog just wasn't doing justice to life in Roma, there was a list of "things to be done" and who likes reading that? Except for you mom, yes I know you are reading this... list freak. :) But I just wanted to share my heart with everything going on!
Spring Breakers have come and left, and it felt like I was caught up in a whirl wind of events. It was great seeing the SBer's just take the leap of faith with Christ and just go hard after Him and His people! It was such an encouragement to me, because I still feel nervous when I approach folks, and I live here and know more of the language, granted its only a little more haha, but still! We had great turn outs for both of the Festa della Donna events. The first one was at this place called the Felt Music Club. There were people everywhere, it was nuts! But so great at the same time, so many new relationships were being built! The Spring Breakers of Miami were encouraged to invite their new Italian friends they had met on campus to the event. We had such a great turnout!
The next week, the Ole Miss crew came! And with them brought some delicious treats such as Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce, thank you to whoever did that!!!! Haha, but the group was definitely larger this time, tripling in number. It was such an awesome group that reminded me of home so much! We had some of the girls over for dinner at our apartment and one of the greatest things I think were the hugs goodbye. I know it sounds lame. But it was a mass chaos of 12 girls all chattering away and squishing around to make sure EVERYONE got a hug goodbye before departing. It was just a huge refresher of home, I love it. Plus who doesn't like getting hugs? It was great seeing these guys move on campus, I saw several just tackling the obstacles that lied ahead and trusted God for it. It was encouraging to watch from afar and also to hear how God moved through the conversations. We had another outreach planned for the Ole Miss Spring Breakers to invite the people they met on campus, called a Southern Hoedown. Interesting I know. haha. Myself, and a couple of my roommates decided to dress a little "southern" for the event. I didn't plan on having a dance party for a good three hours with these folks, let's just say flannel was not a good choice haha. But I had such a blast getting to know the Ole Miss folks. The Italians also flooded in towards the end of the night and it was mass chaos! But that's the way we do it in the south, craziness! haha. It was great hearing their stories throughout the week, and seeing God move not only with them but within our team as well.
This next week I am headed to Athens, Greece. It is so weird that this time is here! I remember talking about it a lot, but I actually hop on a plane in less than 48 hours, provided I get there correctly! Haha. I am so excited to see what God is going to reveal to me through the team there, in my personal life, and just everything. I have decided not to take my laptop with me, sounds like I will be to be busy anyways. I've been talking about taking an internet fast for awhile now anyways. I believe there is no better time! Please be praying for the time there! I am trying to earnestly seek Him in everything. He is currently just enrapturing me in who He is. I am constantly seeing His power, His beauty, His guidance, His provision, His Truth, all around me. It is so overwhelming in such a great way! It gets to the point that the only thing I can even think to say is "Wow." But is that not the way it is supposed to be. For God to reveal Himself to us and us just be astounded at His greatness.
It is so weird to think that in a month and a half I will be home. I cannot believe the time is already here. I find myself wondering a lot about what I'm going to do next, or rather what God has planned next for me. As I was telling someone the other day, it needs to move from wondering to praying. I know it is all in His hands. I know I hope to continue blogging when I get home. It probably won't be nearly as exciting as my life in Rome, but who knows. I have found that I really like expressing my thoughts. But blogging is so much more exciting and quicker than writing it in a journal. To quote "Julia" from Julie & Julia, "I have thoughts!". I have been inspired by so many of the women here in Rome that I know who write blogs that are just too cute, I love reading them. Plus there are blogs like "Pioneer Woman" and "Lovely Little Things", that I just would love to do. By the way, you should totally check out both of those blogs. But that is a small tidbit of what I would like to do. Another one being cooking, haha. I have realized I actually have a small knack for it (thank you roomies!). It is kind of a long story as to why it makes me so happy, the fact that I can cook. But I love that God has given me that gift and desire to do it, and the joy in doing it. It is funny, I remember actually looking at going to culinary school a few years back. I am glad I did not decide to do it. It is, however, funny how God reveals our gifts and joys in other ways. I am most excited to see what God has me doing next ministry-wise. I know I am going to Camp Tsungani when I get back, which I of course love. But also for longer term, what God has planned. What He will use me for, and I am praying for when that time comes that I hear it and hear it quick and loud. I don't want to miss a thing He has for me!
I feel like this is the longest blog I have written, like ever. So I guess I will bring it to a close. Going to talk to my Jesus, and make some banana bread! See you guys soon!
For His Name to be Glorified,
Lindsey
