2nd day in Italy

Yesterday was an amazing day! I woke up early, had breakfast and then took a stroll to find some place quite to sit. The pool isnt open yet, but the lounge area around it is. So i went there to spend time with God reading and praying. I think having an amazing view of the mountains and surrounding cities completely adds to that time with God, you know thinking of his awesomeness and what he created. I was seriously looking at one of the paintings he created. It was absolutely beautiful. I had the best couple of hours there just praying/singing/reading and no one was around.

I have also found myself completely emmersed in the book "Redeeming Love". I know many of you have told me to read it because of how good it was but seriously I can hardly put it down.

Around lunch time, Caroline, one of my favorite people here, came to get me to take me to lunch. We went to the Palaghiacco (Rome's ice hockey stadium where the conference will be), where one of the AMAZING ladies in the cook prepared pasta for all the volunteers that were there working. I forgot how much I love those cooks in the church. Normally, after every service, one of the women will prepare a meal for people to purchase for 3 or 4 dollars. I desire to cook like them...i think it really is a gift and i am praying for God to give me....you know to cook with creativity and without a recipe. Anyway, so I ended up staying and helping them around the stadium the rest of the day. i am so glad i did too. I was able to practice speaking in italian and it helped me become more confident. I am still not 100% to where I want to be, but I am alot closer to that point than were I was when i first arrived. Now thinking back to Monday, I dont think I said much that was correct italian. Oh well.... at least David got a good laugh out of it.

I am always amazed at the heart of the people at this church. They always serve the church with their whole heart. I never, even when I lived here, heard any one complaining that they were over worked or that it was too much.... but most of them, though tired, kept working and laughing and enjoying themselves. I am so happy I was able to help them plus I was able to hang out with Caroline and Claudia. I love those girls so much and want them to visit DC so you all can meet them. Caroline just got married (in March) to the Pastor's son (Fabio). They are so cute together. Fabio is the Praise and Worship Pastor at this church and has an incredible ability to lead worship and God's presence be so real. i am really looking forward to the worship this week from the MXG band and also Hillsong.

After having dinner with everyone, which they brought to the stadium, some one took me back to the hotel. I was so tired at this point and was in bed at around 10am. I started to read a little of Redeeming Love so I could fall asleep, but the book was too good so i kept reading for an hour. I put the book down and 11 and tried to fall asleep...it wasnt working...my eyes were open wide. My mind was racing thinking of phrases I could say in Italian, thinking about the days to come filling my mind with excitement. Finally, I started to pray for everything I could think of. When i was younger my mom used to tell me to pray until I fell asleep and usually it worked, but not this time. Then at around 2am, i remembered that during the day I had 1 cup of cappucino, 2 cups of italian coffee (like straight shots of expresso) and a small cup of coke (there was no water left). That could very well be the reason my eyes wouldnt even close. I never thought the coffee here had that effect on my, but I guess caffeine is caffeine. Finally some time around 4am, I put my headphones on and listened to Paul's cd. That always soothes me...and I fell asleep sometime after that.

Lesson learned...No coffee for me today...or maybe just one cup and no more and definitely not after 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

Today jessica and gabby arrive. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. They are going to love it. i am especially excited that Gabby gets to be here. This is her first time in Italy and she is the last one in my family to come. Evan came last year with my dad when he preached at the church in Rome and loved it. She is going to fit in so well with these girls and I know they will love her as much as i do. They already love Jessica and think she is hilarious and have been asking about her and where she is and when she is coming.

Tomorrow the conference starts and I have the pleasure of helping out and going to the airport with a driver to pick up some of the speakers. I know God is planning great things for this conference and I am so happy that I get to be a part of it.

ciao!