Hey Everyone,
It's been a while! I've been so busy, I hardly have time to talk to my parents, but it's my day off today so I figured I'd post a little update.
Things are going great here, classes are a BLAST! The students are so much fun. Now we are past that awkward nervous stage and they just love hanging out, in fact after class, they just want to stay and talk to us. It's so much fun! I've got a lot of meetings with students this upcoming week, so please be praying for me for many oppurtunities to share the Gospel! :) Latel it's bene really sunny and a huge blessing.
Last week was Carnevale in Italy, It's like New Orleans' Mardi Gras but better. We went to Venice on Saturday and had a blast. It's actually pretty safe, and there were no drunk people running around, or anything, the best part was all the crazy costumes people wear. Bethany, Hannah and I all bought masks and just had a fun time getting out and doing something fun. :) We also went to Trieste last week with the Walti family, and that was great! Trieste is on the Adriatic Sea and it's really beautiful, the castle there looks like the castle in the Little Mermaid.
Also this week the students from SBI, (the Bible school in San Lorenzo), were in Udine for ministry week, where they handed out tracts in Italian, and did mimes in the street. I heard it went well, but Bethany and I didnt get to see them because we had classes, we do get to participate tonight, though, when they come.
All this week I've just been so grateful for the team we have here. The ladies on my ESL team are amazing. We are having a blast. It's just amazing to me that we all come from different places, we are all different ages, but we are united in the body of believers, we are united in Christ. I know that if I am struggling with something they are always there for me. This week there has kind of been this theme running through all of our meetings about the body of believers and loving others more than we love ourselves. It's been really neat. The people on my team are such an example of that, of loving others and sacrificing for others out of love for them and love for our Savior. :) I love getting to watch them do this everyday.
Also as a side note, it's been requested of me (by Mr. Walti) that I let everyone know not to forget about their friends in Italy, or who are serving in other countries. It can get lonely and receiving emails, and letters of encouragement is huge. Some of my friends here have been feeling it, so please be praying for them.
I miss you all tons, today is actually the mark, I will be home in exactly 3 months. Crazy, I feel like I've been here forever, but at the same time 3 months just doesn't seem long enough! Well i love you all a ton.
Love,
Alyssa
P.S. I understand that Titi Donna has been reading my blog! I miss you! :) Just as a side note for you though, A.C. Milan is playing Udine team here in May. Yea you know what I'm talking about...Rinaldo! :) haha, someone told me that the other day and I had to let you and the family know! Love you so much!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
God is bigger than the boogeyman....
Hey Everyone,
It's been a while, but things have been really busy here. This last week, we started our ESL Classes! :) Monday the 9th was our first day. It is SO much fun! Our students are all great. I'm working on building relationships with them, going out to coffee and such this upcoming week. Monday, I taught out in Valvasone (this adorable town like 40 minutes from Udine, it's really tiny, but SO cute!) with Maureen (the ESL director). We did Italian together, and then did some class prep, and then I went out to coffee with the Julia my friend from the Tourist Office in Valvasone. I think we are going to try to get together every Monday while I am in Valvasone all day. We taught Base 2 and Intermediate that night and our students are a lot of fun. God is so good, I normally am not the one to want to get up in from of a ton of people and speak, atleast not without thinking I'm going to pass out, or throw up, but the Lord just really filled me with a peace and I was not nervous at all! It was just SO much fun! The students love every second of it and seem to be having a blast. Tuesday I taught in Udine, with Bethany and Sherry, we taught 3 classes that night Base, Intermediate, and Advanced. Several of our neighbors are taking the classes on the Tuesday/Thursday schedule and it was neat getting to see them, and them knowing who I was. One of our neighbors actually gave Bethany and I a ride home so we wouldn't have to wait for the bus. She's really sweet and it's neat because Mrs. Walti has been reaching out to her for sometime, and now we are building a relationship with her as well. On Tuesday we also had our Udine Team Meeting (for all those who live in Udine) and our ESL team meeting with Mr. Well (the head of the Udine Team) and we talked about how best to present the Bible to Italians and answering questions that Catholics often have, mainly they Roman Catholics here only believe Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, they think that the Old Testasment has nothing to do with the New Testament, so he discussed the best ways to talk about this and share the Gospel with out Contacts.
Wednesday I was back in Valvasone, with Maureen, teaching 3 classes, a kids class for 8-11 year olds and then Base 2 and Intermediate again. The students really seem to like us, even though we can't speak Italian, haha. They love talking after class with us and trying out their English, one lady in the class wants me to get together with her daughter and talk to her in English, so we are going to see if that can work out, she lives kinda far away, but we'll see.
Thursday we had out ESL team meeting at Maureen's house. We had a really great time. We have this every Thursday, we study Italian and get tested on our book, we have a time of prayer for our Contacts and students, we do class prep and then we are doing a book study with a book called "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore. I really love those Thursday meetings, because we all share what the Lord is doing in our lives and showing us in studying this book. This week the chapter we read was on Idols, and how we worship other things that aren't God, and how we need to have an accurate view of God, because if we don't see Him as the Lord Most High or try and fit Him into our little box we will bow to Idols. It was really neat getting to read the scriptures at the end of the chapter and just cry out to God for his help. Needless to say, I LOVE our Thursday meetings. :) That night Sherry and I taught alone in Udine, it went really well and I got to talk some with one of the ladies in our Advanced class, she is unemployed at the moment and said she's really bored...so I invited her out for coffee this week. She's really sweet and I'm excited.
It's just kinda crazy everything going on here. If you know me, you probably know I'm pretty scared of most things and the fact that God is just filling me with boldness to step out and go out with these people I don't know and teach these classes without fear, is amazing. God is so good. :)
Well I need to get going, we have Church this evening in Udine and we are leaving early to meet some friends for Carnevale in the city, there is a parade and such. But I just wanted to say I miss you all SO much and I'm praying for you all the time!
Love you all!
-Alyssa
It's been a while, but things have been really busy here. This last week, we started our ESL Classes! :) Monday the 9th was our first day. It is SO much fun! Our students are all great. I'm working on building relationships with them, going out to coffee and such this upcoming week. Monday, I taught out in Valvasone (this adorable town like 40 minutes from Udine, it's really tiny, but SO cute!) with Maureen (the ESL director). We did Italian together, and then did some class prep, and then I went out to coffee with the Julia my friend from the Tourist Office in Valvasone. I think we are going to try to get together every Monday while I am in Valvasone all day. We taught Base 2 and Intermediate that night and our students are a lot of fun. God is so good, I normally am not the one to want to get up in from of a ton of people and speak, atleast not without thinking I'm going to pass out, or throw up, but the Lord just really filled me with a peace and I was not nervous at all! It was just SO much fun! The students love every second of it and seem to be having a blast. Tuesday I taught in Udine, with Bethany and Sherry, we taught 3 classes that night Base, Intermediate, and Advanced. Several of our neighbors are taking the classes on the Tuesday/Thursday schedule and it was neat getting to see them, and them knowing who I was. One of our neighbors actually gave Bethany and I a ride home so we wouldn't have to wait for the bus. She's really sweet and it's neat because Mrs. Walti has been reaching out to her for sometime, and now we are building a relationship with her as well. On Tuesday we also had our Udine Team Meeting (for all those who live in Udine) and our ESL team meeting with Mr. Well (the head of the Udine Team) and we talked about how best to present the Bible to Italians and answering questions that Catholics often have, mainly they Roman Catholics here only believe Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, they think that the Old Testasment has nothing to do with the New Testament, so he discussed the best ways to talk about this and share the Gospel with out Contacts.
Wednesday I was back in Valvasone, with Maureen, teaching 3 classes, a kids class for 8-11 year olds and then Base 2 and Intermediate again. The students really seem to like us, even though we can't speak Italian, haha. They love talking after class with us and trying out their English, one lady in the class wants me to get together with her daughter and talk to her in English, so we are going to see if that can work out, she lives kinda far away, but we'll see.
Thursday we had out ESL team meeting at Maureen's house. We had a really great time. We have this every Thursday, we study Italian and get tested on our book, we have a time of prayer for our Contacts and students, we do class prep and then we are doing a book study with a book called "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore. I really love those Thursday meetings, because we all share what the Lord is doing in our lives and showing us in studying this book. This week the chapter we read was on Idols, and how we worship other things that aren't God, and how we need to have an accurate view of God, because if we don't see Him as the Lord Most High or try and fit Him into our little box we will bow to Idols. It was really neat getting to read the scriptures at the end of the chapter and just cry out to God for his help. Needless to say, I LOVE our Thursday meetings. :) That night Sherry and I taught alone in Udine, it went really well and I got to talk some with one of the ladies in our Advanced class, she is unemployed at the moment and said she's really bored...so I invited her out for coffee this week. She's really sweet and I'm excited.
It's just kinda crazy everything going on here. If you know me, you probably know I'm pretty scared of most things and the fact that God is just filling me with boldness to step out and go out with these people I don't know and teach these classes without fear, is amazing. God is so good. :)
Well I need to get going, we have Church this evening in Udine and we are leaving early to meet some friends for Carnevale in the city, there is a parade and such. But I just wanted to say I miss you all SO much and I'm praying for you all the time!
Love you all!
-Alyssa
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Ce is Ch...uh..what?
Hey everyone, It's been a while, but it's been busy. This week we had ESL Teachers Training, we started out with Monday, where we met at the church and played a game. The game was an icebreaker, called the Change Game, we paired up and had to observe our partner, then we had turn around and change 3 things about ourselves, then turn bac
k see if they could tell what we had changed. Then three more, then finally ten things. We all started using outside objects to help us and asking the other team to help as well. It got a little crazy as you can see in the pictures, Bethany went a little Jack Sparrow on us. :) The other pictures are of Sherry and Becky, the other two ESL teachers. We are having a lot of fun together. We then sat down and did a bible study time and had a time of prayer, then we shared about ourselves, and shared our testimonies. It's so neat to come together and just have unity already because we are all part of the body of Believers. :) Then we learned how to teach a Base 1 (beginners) class. We have three levels for teaching, Beginners (base), Intermediate (Intermedio), and Advanced (avanzato). Becky gave us newbies a lesson on how to teach. That night we had registration from 6-8, it was a lot of fun, and kind of scary. I just kept saying in my head, "Abbiamo tres livelli, base, intermedio, e avansato." (we have three levels, beginners, intermediate and advaced). It was raining that night, but we still got about 25 sign ups. Tuesday we met up at the church again, this time we started 
with a bible study, and then went over time management, talking about scheduling and being disciplined so that we can make the most out of our time here. Then Maureen had Sherry, Bethany and I each teach Lesson One, for Beginners, I was kind of nervous, but it was actually really fun, having Maureen, Sherry, Becky and Bethany as my students, haha. I'm SO excited for classes now. That night we had registration again and had about 35 people sign up, and I actually had a semi-conversation with this guy about what level he should be in. Typically, if the person says they want to be in Intermediate or Advanced, Becky will say "Do you understand what I am saying?" one guy said he wanted Intermediate, when Becky asked that he gave that total deer-in-the-headlights look, but still wouldn't change to base, so we let him sign up, and he can just find out on Monday I guess! :) Wednesday and Thursday were spent in Valvasone, at Maureens house, finishing up training and doing registration, we did registration in the Tourism Office of Valvasone, (which by the way is the sweetest little town, where everyone knows everyone, it's great). We got to hang out with the girls who work there and they were really sweet, I think one of the girls and I are going to go out for Coffee next week when I am in Valvasone. So pray for oppurtunities to share the gospel with her! :) The last picture is of me, Bethany, Maureen, Julia and Daniela (the two girls from the Tourism Office), and I have to add that Hannah wanted me to say that "An aging process was done 
on Alyssa to make her look like she was 50." To Which I say "Oh Hanone, if you looked half as good at 15 as I do at 50, well you would be very lucky." I'm just kidding, everyone, but I do look like I'm 40 in this picture. I promise I'm still 20. :) lol. Love you guys so much. Please be praying as Maureen and Sherry are both sick with bronchitis, please pray for their healing, and for protection from sickness for Bethany, Becky and I. We start classes on Monday, so please be praying for a lot of people who are excited about learning and open to our friendships and to the Gospel. Love you all!! Love, Alyssa
k see if they could tell what we had changed. Then three more, then finally ten things. We all started using outside objects to help us and asking the other team to help as well. It got a little crazy as you can see in the pictures, Bethany went a little Jack Sparrow on us. :) The other pictures are of Sherry and Becky, the other two ESL teachers. We are having a lot of fun together. We then sat down and did a bible study time and had a time of prayer, then we shared about ourselves, and shared our testimonies. It's so neat to come together and just have unity already because we are all part of the body of Believers. :) Then we learned how to teach a Base 1 (beginners) class. We have three levels for teaching, Beginners (base), Intermediate (Intermedio), and Advanced (avanzato). Becky gave us newbies a lesson on how to teach. That night we had registration from 6-8, it was a lot of fun, and kind of scary. I just kept saying in my head, "Abbiamo tres livelli, base, intermedio, e avansato." (we have three levels, beginners, intermediate and advaced). It was raining that night, but we still got about 25 sign ups. Tuesday we met up at the church again, this time we started 
with a bible study, and then went over time management, talking about scheduling and being disciplined so that we can make the most out of our time here. Then Maureen had Sherry, Bethany and I each teach Lesson One, for Beginners, I was kind of nervous, but it was actually really fun, having Maureen, Sherry, Becky and Bethany as my students, haha. I'm SO excited for classes now. That night we had registration again and had about 35 people sign up, and I actually had a semi-conversation with this guy about what level he should be in. Typically, if the person says they want to be in Intermediate or Advanced, Becky will say "Do you understand what I am saying?" one guy said he wanted Intermediate, when Becky asked that he gave that total deer-in-the-headlights look, but still wouldn't change to base, so we let him sign up, and he can just find out on Monday I guess! :) Wednesday and Thursday were spent in Valvasone, at Maureens house, finishing up training and doing registration, we did registration in the Tourism Office of Valvasone, (which by the way is the sweetest little town, where everyone knows everyone, it's great). We got to hang out with the girls who work there and they were really sweet, I think one of the girls and I are going to go out for Coffee next week when I am in Valvasone. So pray for oppurtunities to share the gospel with her! :) The last picture is of me, Bethany, Maureen, Julia and Daniela (the two girls from the Tourism Office), and I have to add that Hannah wanted me to say that "An aging process was done 
on Alyssa to make her look like she was 50." To Which I say "Oh Hanone, if you looked half as good at 15 as I do at 50, well you would be very lucky." I'm just kidding, everyone, but I do look like I'm 40 in this picture. I promise I'm still 20. :) lol. Love you guys so much. Please be praying as Maureen and Sherry are both sick with bronchitis, please pray for their healing, and for protection from sickness for Bethany, Becky and I. We start classes on Monday, so please be praying for a lot of people who are excited about learning and open to our friendships and to the Gospel. Love you all!! Love, Alyssa
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