From
the minute we landed at Milan Bergamo and discovered that our itinerary had
already been changed, it felt good to be back in Italy.
There would be nine brethren and sisters supporting the work this week.
As well as the five flying out from the UK (Bro Simon and Sis Anna
Phillips of Birmingham South, Bro Ben and Sis Becky Collard of Birmingham,
Longbridge and Sis Abby Lear of Milnsbridge), we were
to be blessed with the company of two Italian brethren: Bro Foster
Ankrah-Pambour and Bro Naizghi Tewelde.
We were also extremely pleased to have the company of Bro Peter and Sis
Dae Ventresca from Kitchener Waterloo, Toronto, Canada, not least because of
Peter's Italian language skills.
Leaving
the airport on Monday afternoon, we drove to San Benedetto Po in order to pick
up Bro Foster and make our way to Verona to meet the others. Squeezing nine
people into one of the bedrooms, our first evening was one of fellowship and
breaking of bread.
Bro Ben exhorted on the theme of profitable works for God, based on the
daily reading in Titus.
We then discussed the plans for the week.
As usual, the itinerary was varied with our three main aims being:
fellowship with brethren and sisters in isolation; discussions with existing
contacts; and trying to reach new contacts.
Tuesday,
after an early morning surprise visit from a contact, we were able to divide
into two groups.
The car left for Vangadizza for lunch and a breaking of bread with Sis
Betty Buselli.
As always, it was lovely to see and share fellowship with Sis Betty.
Bro Simon based his exhortation on Psalm 31, which finishes with the
lovely words: ‘Be
of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the
LORD’.
The Verona team spent their morning fly-billing for the evening
presentation of 'The Bible in an Hour'.
This
was to be the first time that we had rented a conference room for a presentation
so we were very much finding our feet.
Tuesday night the presentation was to be in English with Bro Ben.
Wednesday night was for the Italian version with Bro Peter.
We were blessed with one visitor on each night.
The enthusiastic visitor who attended Tuesday spoke little Italian or
English.
Once again we felt that we saw the hand of God at work as the visitor
spoke Amharic (the language of Eritrea), the first language of Bro Naizghi (who
is from Eritrea), who was able to translate throughout.
The only sorrow of the evening was that we lost the company of Bro Foster
who had work the next day.
Wednesday
again started with two teams.
While one group did the daily readings, three of us met with a contact.
Although amicable, it was good to be able to take the discussion a little
further than previous visits with a debate about the Holy Spirit and demons.
God willing this is a discussion that we will be able to continue in the
future, if the Lord remains away.
And
so to our tasks for the day: one team went to fly bill Verona, arrange
advertising and complete other 'admin' tasks in preparation for the next visit;
the other set off for Modena to see another long-standing contact.
This visit felt a little frustrating as, due to circumstances (including
our friend insisting, as ever on cooking a meal for us), the actual Bible
discussion was minimal before the team had to leave to get back for the
evening's presentation: definitely one to pick up on next time.
Wednesday
night's presentation, our first attempt in the language, was always going to be
a learning curve.
Bro Peter battled on in Italian while the visual presentation behind him
developed a mind of its own since the previous evening.
Bro Peter was able to leave his script and just converse directly with
the one visitor, a questioning Catholic.
The result was that discussions ranged much wider than the actual
presentation, continuing an hour after the allotted finishing time.
Our prayers are that we may continue them in the future.
Thursday,
our last full day, began sadly when, after the daily readings, Bro Naizghi left
for his train.
After spending time together we were sorry to separate and missed his
company throughout the day.
Our first stop was to be Bologna where Sis. Sophie Brown from
Australia
is studying for a year.
We were to join her and her parents, Bro. Philip and Sis.
Margaret, for a meal and a breaking of bread.
This time thoughts were led by Bro. Ben who talked about the theme of
'Today' from the Hebrews reading.
Still marvelling about the brotherhood and the opportunities of
fellowship with brethren and sisters from all over the world, we set off to
Padova.
Here we met Richard, a contact who grew up in England and spent a lovely
evening around the Bible focusing on the daily readings and then enjoying pizza
together.
We can but pray that, as with each one of the contacts, they come to
accept God's truth.
And
so to Friday morning.
After the readings and a quick trip to Verona, we separated: five back to
the UK, leaving Bro Peter and Sis Dae there until Sunday with the potential of
more contacts visiting the hotel.
Plans are already afoot for a trip in October, God Willing, and until
then we will remain in touch with the contacts, brethren and sisters, and as
always will keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.
We
continue to take encouragement from the Word of God for all that we do,
particularly relevant are Timothy’s words in 2 Timothy 4 v1-2:
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his Kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (ESV)
Our
prayer is that our work will bear fruit and that our heavenly father will bless
all that we do in his name.
For
further information on the work of the truth in Italy please either visit our
website www.italianocristadelfiani.org
or contact the linkman Bro. Simon Phillips on simon@italianocristadelfiani.org
Sis. Abigail Lear (Milnsbridge)