In the last few weeks there have been several break ins in our area. We started hearing about the robberies in early April, then in the last week our team has been either directly or indirectly affected. First the woman who lives above the Coopers was robbed, then Cristina's next door neighbor woke to two men trying to open her balcony door. Sunday Jason and Caleb couldn't get into their apartment, and after a locksmith came to help we found out the reason was because someone had tried to crack the lock on their door. Obviously stuff is just stuff and doesn't matter, but it is something to pray about and take precautionary measures toward since you never know when something could turn violent. Also, this weekend after leaving Taylor's birthday party and walking home, our friend Marco was surrounded by a few guys and threatened in an area we all frequent regularly. He got away with just a few scratches, so we're thankful and now he has fun telling his story of pulling a Chuck Norris in defense.
Now on to the really awesome part of this post- Monday afternoon the Lord blessed Manuela and I with an incredible conversation. We met for lunch and ended up running into the boys, so we all ate together and it was good for Manuela to meet them. Afterwards, she and I went to McDonald's (the rooftop terrace is so far where we've had our biggest spiritual conversations, believe it or not) for sundaes. God did not disappoint this tradition, for we ended up talking about grace, prayer, making decisions, the Holy Spirit, having joy and peace in hard times, and so much more. Through that, and her sharing that she prays but feels like something is missing, the Lord gave me a chance to share the gospel in entirety, complete with how it is on us to decide if we will accept the gift of salvation through Christ. Huge!! She wanted me to write all the verses we talked about, so I sent her back with them to read in Italian. I offered to help her start reading through the Bible, beyond the gospels she's read in her father's Catholic church, and she's deciding. Even more, she's wrapping her mind around the idea that it is a choice that we are given on whether or not we will follow Jesus with our lives through a real relationship and embrace the Holy Spirit. Please, please join me in prayer for her as she seeks God and asks Him to show Himself to her...He is SO good, and she is so close!
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| precious Manuela |
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