Italy Day 7

So, here's whats been going on. Friday we had our English conversation class and we taught on Work. We taught vocabulary words on work and some grammar too. Then we had a Bible discussion and talked about the Parable of the Sower. The parable of the sower talks about a sower who plants seeds. Some of the seeds get thrown on the road, some among thorns, and some on fertile ground. It says that the seeds that get thrown on the ground get eaten by the birds, the ones with the thorns grow but the growth is choked, the fertile ground grows and is what becomes healthy. We asked who the sower is, and they said Jesus. Then we asked them what kind of ground they think they are. Each one gave an answer and most were honest, some said fertile, some said thorns, and some said the road. It was cool to see how honest people were, they said they wer thorns because they let the cares of the world get in the way. I got to share that I am for the most part fertile ground, but that there are still some thorns, and with God's help he has shown me how to pull the thorns out, to pull the roots out so that the thorns don't grow back.

Friday night we had a party that we invited all the students too. It was our "Country/Western Party", we played country music and everybody got a bandana that they wore. Myself and another girl on the team taught everybody how to two step and we did that for a while. Then Sarah and Jennifer taught them a line dance, and we did that too. Everybody danced and had fun, most everybody got the dance moves down. Then a guy who put his faith in Christ shared his testimony of what his life was like before and after. The Italian spoke in Italian so I had no idea what he was saying. The party was a big hit!

Yesterday we went to Laggo Magorie, an a part of Italy that has three islands. The weather wasn't good but we did enjoy the time, it was neat getting to see how the mountaineous areas were covered in clouds because of the rain. We saw post cards of how beautful the island is on a sunny day and were in shock of the difference. We did get to hand out with the students that decided to come with us.

This morning we had church at Il Refugio and it was cool. Thankfully the songs they sang I knew in English and the teaching was translated. We went and ate at McDonalds for lunch today. So, naturally we took photos of the place, lol! It shows that we are American and I'm glad. :D I will keep you guys posted on more!!!

Were getting our line dance on!

Ready, Aim, Fire, Reload!!! :D

Hanging out with Columbian students at Lago Magorie

Hanging out with a student from Ecuador and Sound Korea.

A picture of Laggo Magorie

The worship team at Ill Refugio the church were working with at church this morning.

What's been going on!

So, I'm finally getting some time to update. We have been real busy! Planning our English lessons, teaching English classes, and hanging out with the Italian students. It has all been time consuming, sometimes a full nights rest isn't enough. Of course were still adjusting to the time change. We've really gotten to build some good relationships with the Italians over here. They are so neat to work with! My heart goes out to them because they need the truth of God in their lives. Here are some photos that I want to share with you!

Our Begginers English Class, Sarah, Cathryn, and myself are the teachers.

Us with a local Italian Sabrina who showed us around Turin!

The Intermediate Class, Jennifer, Christiana, Dan and Barclay are their teachers.

English Club Class 1

So, today we had our first English lesson. I'm teaching the begginers class with Sarah Brown and Cathryn Mayo from my church. We taught on the subject of friendship and it went well. I taught them some vocabulary words and Cathryn taught some idioms. We then had a bible study where we taught on Mark 2:1-12, we talked about the story and how friendship was related in that story. It was neat to meet the students in the class, they can't speak English very well and hopefully they will be able to speak better English and learn about God through our classes. :D

I have got to say that coffee over here in Italy is sooooo much better!!! For lunch I had a marachini (Spelling?), which is a cappucino with nutla chocalote coating the glass. It is really good! Anyway, I better go for now! I hope to upload some pictures later!!!

Jordan

Siamo Qui!!! We made it!!

So, after our long flight's we made it. We missed our connecting flight due to a gate number change, and us not knowing that. We stayed in Germany for about 6 hours verses 4. Thankfully all 11 of us were able to be booked on the next flight. So we made it to Turino about 6:00 PM in Turin time which would be about 1:00 pm Texas time. Anyway we've got to ready for our first English lesson for today!!! Be praying for us, I will update more later!

Ciao!!

Jordan

Closing Time, The Spring Semester is almost over

It's hard to believe that another school year is just about over here in Aggieland. There has been up and downs this year, but God is the same and he helps to keep my attitude positive despite the tough times. Homegroup has been amazing this year, and I'm excited to see what God is going to do next. We have our end of the semester party this Friday night, during finals weekend. It's been amazing to see God answer so many prayers that we prayed for this year. To see people take their relationship with God and fellowship seriously. To run after God despite what this world says and all the distractions that are around us. I truly am blessed to be apart of this group, and I enjoy the people that are in it. God is good! He truly is!

In 12 days we leave for Italy, we had our logistical training this past weekend of what we are to bring on the trip. I've got to go and buy a few things but were just about ready! The pastor of the church we will be going to is expecting us to have a promise that we believe God will answer for us while we are there.

In reading in the book of Ephesians, I found a verse that I will use as my promise. It is Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." So, I'm going to believe that God will do more than I ask or imagine in me and through me. I was thinking about this verse this morning and I was thinking about the word immeasurable. I thought immeasurable, wow God can do something that I can't measure. That really hit me, so we will see what happens, and I know God can do that to while I'm here. Well see!!!

In Christ alone!

Jordan

I've Reached My Support Raising Goal!!

So, this past week I received a check in the mail that put me over the mission trip!!! WHOOP!! God provided 2150 and I've so far raised 80 over what I needed. God is good and provides! I am so thankful to God and to all who have helped provide for this trip.

Time is getting shorter for the trip, we are 3 weeks away from leaving Houston. We have one more training time and then we will leave to go on May the 11th. I will be teaching the Beginner's level English class with Sarah Brown and Cathryn Mayo in our group. We have a lot of preparation to do to make lesson plans and getting things together for the trip. I've got my passport and everything, I should learn a few phrases in Italian before I leave.

Here is what our schedule will look like while we are there:

7:00-8:30 Rise, QT and Breakfast (QT means Quiet Time)
9:00-11:00 Worship, Prayer and Teaching
11:00-1:00 English Club Planning Time
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:15-6:00 English Clubs
6:00-11:00 Free Time w/ new friends & Dinner

So we will be busy busy from sun up till sun down. On Friday nights we have what's called an Outreach Party. It's themed and we invite all of the students there, and one of the church members will share a pretty lengthy testimony of when they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and what God has done in their lives. One of the Saturdays we will take an excursions to do some sight seeing and the other I think for suvinere buying.

Continue to pray for us!

ALMOST THERE!!!!!! For Italy

Hey Everybody,

So, this weekend is the deadline for the trip! I think there will be a little bit of flexibility, but if you said you would give, please send it today. :D I only have 225 left to raise out of 2150! Wow, God has provided sooo much! I'm blown away by it, and God has grown me more in my faith for it. Who knows maybe the rest will come in the mail when the mail guy gets here today. Well, I hope you all have an amazing day today, God bless!!!

Jordan

Update on my Dad

Hey Everybody,

So my Dad had a test this morning for his heart. Me and my brothers and Mom were there. They sent a probe with a camera up into his heart through his leg. They found that 30-40% of his main aterary is clogged. Thankfully he doesn't need to have surgery, they would have done a bypass surgery if it had been 50% or more. He will be on some heart medicine and has to eat right and excercise. Doing this will help his heart with since exercise moves blood to the heart quicker, it will grow his veins. Thankfully he has a chance to make it better. I ask you to keep praying for him, it will take a change to get him to be better at all of this! Thank you all again for your support in this!!!

Getting there, but time is short!!!

So, I got some more checks in the mail this week! I'm now up to a total of $1485 out of $2150. So, I've still got $665 to go, which is due on April 5th!! So, please pray that I am able to have the rest in by then!!!

We've got to get the money in so we can get it into the accounts, reserve our hotel rooms, and get the money transferred to Euros. We purchased all the plane tickets, we should have our itinerary very soon for that.

Again thank you all to who has been supporting me for the trip! God will bless you for what you are contributing to the work over in Turin, Italy. The trip is approaching! We leave on May the 11th, and get back on the 25th, a total of two weeks.

On another note, I ask you all to pray for my Father. He is in the hospital right now having some tests done on his heart. He had an EKG done on Friday and it turned out bad, so they sent him to the hospital. On Monday they are going to do a test to see if there is blockage in his heart. Then they will probably do a surgery on his heart. Pray for his healing and peace, our family can tend to worry a lot when it comes to something like this.

Italy

Hey Everybody!

So, I'm starting up a Blog again. I really like to keep people in touch of what's going on in my life. Also, I sometimes have to say something, and this can be a way of me getting it out!

The mission trip to Turino, Italy that I'm going on is approaching! I'm excited about it, but its going to be a lot of work. This trip will by no means be a vacation. So far I've raised about $1300 and I have to raise a total of $2150. If you want to help out with the cost please email me or post a comment. I would not like to leave my address on the Internet for all to see and have my identity stolen. My final deadline is April the 5th, so please send in what you have decided to contribute soon. :D

I do appreciate your support and I don't want it to seem like I'm just asking for money to go on a vacation. My heart is to reach the nations with the hope of Jesus Christ! There are so many countries in the dark, and even though Italy has been predominatly Christian, today, it is not like it used to be. So, I ask you to co-labor with me in this. By supporting financially you are being a sender of the news of Jesus Christ. Even though you aren't going, it's like you are, because you are using the resources that God has given you to send out people.

If you can't give finacially I ask for your prayers. Prayer is above all the most important part of this trip! Without us seeking and crying out to God, we can acomplish some things, but I believe he accomplish more if we ask. So, please pray with our team, there will 11 of us, and we are all still raising our support for this trip. Pray that God would prepare our hearts for this trip and that he would prepare the hearts of those that we will be interacting with in Italy. That's all for now! Have a great week!!!

Jordan