Italy CBM Trip 17^th-21^st September 2003

 On Wednesday 17^th September 2003, our team of nine including two children arrived late at night in Verona, and were blessed with a good night’s sleep ready for the work to begin.  On the Thursday, we stayed in Verona, and met with brother Roshan (English speaking) for a reading then breakfast (a complicated affair to order, how much we missed bro. Jason’s language skills and his natural enthusiasm).  We then did the bulk of our fly-billing in the centre of Verona near the arena for most of the day, and met some interested people.  On Friday, our plan was to visit sister Betty (English) in Vangadizza, taking bro. Roshan with us.  Getting there in our hired cars was tricky, but by lunchtime we had found her and enjoyed lunch and an uplifting breaking of bread with bro. Mark presiding, and bro. Simon exhorting.  Rushing back for 6pm we met our very interested friend Pier Luca (has some English) and his Sri Lankan girlfriend, and bro. Mark with the aid of much gesticulating and bro. Roshan’s translation took them in two hours through some of the basics of our faith and the importance of prayer and reading the Bible daily.  On Saturday we met with a very questioning interested Egyptian Muslim friend named Mimo (has some English), and had a vigorous discussion before heading out to Brescia to follow-up two contacts and do some fly-billing.  Unfortunately neither of the contacts were to be found, having relocated, but we managed to hand-out many bills near the station.  We again met with Pier Luca in the evening for another discussion and both he and Mimo agreed to return the next day.  Pier Luca arrived bright and early on Sunday morning again and we showed him how to read his Bible by taking a reading from the reading planner for the day and were led in some thoughts and discussion by bro. Simon.  Mimo later arrived and while some of us needed to leave to catch a plane or do some more fly-billing, an interesting discussion of God’s truth was held, and the trip ended in prayer.  All in all we had a very spiritually uplifting and profitable trip together full of fellowship and friendship.  It also emphasised to us the need to support our brethren and sisters in isolation as well as to guide interested friends and bring new individuals to a knowledge of the Bible.  We all sorely missed brother Jason, but were extremely grateful for bro. Roshan’s help and support especially with translation, and to sis. Rachel, who organised much of the trip despite the difficult and emotional circumstances.  We plan to carry out two similar trips each year God willing, and will be contacting everyone who has been involved previously in this work with dates and arrangements.  Any other brethren or sisters able and willing to help (especially if speaking any Italian), please contact Simon & Anna Phillips, Birmingham - Longbridge.  We pray that our heavenly father will continue to bless our preaching work in the future.