November 1st was All Saints Day, which meant everyone got the day off of school and work, and there was a giant market in Luserna! Caleb took all of us to the Valdesian college, where the Valdensians were exiled from France. They lived in the Val Pellice area for almost 600 years where they studied the bible in caves and sent out young men to spread the word of God, knowing they would most likely be killed by the Catholic church. After a long morning of history, we went to the giant market in Luserna, where they sell everything from kid's toys to live animals. Then, we stopped at a sandwich truck where I had the best sandwich of my life! After the life changing sandwich, we walked back to the car and went home, where we cooked dinner and had girl's night with the Vitter girls! It was so fun, we played card games, did face masks, line dances, and watched a movie. After the movie, we all crashed in random beds or on the floor. 

On Saturday, we had girl's brunch with the Vitter girls, Eva, and some other ladies within our church. The food was so good! And after, the girls and played games while the older ladies chatted. Later that afternoon, we had our team meeting and Italian lesson, where we learned more about sentence structure.  After that, we went home and deep cleaned our spaces. I've been really enjoying learning how to steward a home and taking pride in having a clean space. After cleaning, we made dinner and went to bed early. 

On Sunday, we went to church in the morning. I love getting to worship, even if I don't fully understand all of it, I can still encounter the Holy Spirit. I've been starting to understand the sermons better and can understand the teachings more as my Italian improves. After church, we went home and had lunch and just got to hang out before we went to Caleb and Eva's for dinner and English Church. 

Monday was our Sabbath, so we didn't have anything scheduled, and we just decided to stay home and relax. I got to call my family and friends back home and spent the day studying my bible, running, and enjoying the last of the sunshine. 

On Tuesday, we just had discipleship and one on ones. I woke up and was feeling very homesick just for work and school and a set schedule, but after talking to Eva and praying about it, I realized that God is trying to teach me that I can still be busy and learn a lot even without a strict schedule, and that as an adult, I will have to be able to create my own schedule and hold myself accountable for the things I need to get done every day. Later that night, I made dinner which was pancakes and homemade hashbrowns. Then we did our discipleship, which was about judgement and how to love others unconditionally, because at the end of the day, Jesus didn't die for them and give me another chance for me to go along hating people. 

On Wednesday, we had Italian lessons in the morning and learned more conversational questions and answers. After Italian, we went to lunch at David and Becca's where we talked about our testimonies and faith journeys. After lunch, we went back to Forterocca, where Paula came over and taught us some of the history behind the building. It was originally an army bunker, but hadn't been in use for a really long time, so some missionaries from OM decided to rebuild it and use it for missionary housing. After our mini history lesson, we moved furniture around for one of Paula's classes this weekend and deep cleaned the reception area of Forterocca. After cleaning, it was time to make dinner! After dinner we all hung out and played card games.

On Thursday, Annaleigh and Molly went to Turin, which meant Allie and I stayed home. I just worked on college scholarships, Italian, and other weekly homework . That night, we had dinner with Caleb and Eva! On Friday, we went to the market and then went over to the Vitter's for lunch! That night, I was really struggling with feeling unproductive and having a hard time in finding my worth in just being a daughter of God. I think recently, within my downtime, the Lord has been teaching me that my worth can only be found in Him, and that nothing else will every truly define me. After dinner, we had middle school group where I got to play foosball with some of the kids! 

On Saturday, I studied Italian for a few hours in the morning, then we went over to Caleb and Eva's for lunch. After lunch, we had a Team Meeting and Italian workshop! I'm really trying to learn as much Italian as I can before we leave for Ireland, but I still struggle with comprehending what exactly people are saying sometimes. Especially when they speak really fast, but I know that it will all come with time, I just need to be patient. After lunch, we went home and cleaned our spaces for the afternoon. I really enjoy getting to have our own space and getting to take care of it. It's honestly such an underrated way to worship and serve. 

On Sunday, we went to church in Torre. Our church is a Bretheren Church, so it's run by a team of elders and supposed to be mostly spirit led. Meaning, anyone can pray, speak, or request songs at any time. This Sunday, someone went up and said he was feeling convicted that the church was dead spiritually. Which definitely ruffled some feathers, but I like being surrounded by people that are focused on inviting the Holy Spirit into every interaction, meeting, and activity. After church, we went home and I studied my bible and did some homework for our young adult group that night. Later that night, at the group, we had dinner and discussed the last chapter of Hebrews! After, we sat in the kitchen and talked to Paula about her life and our plans for the next month. Monday was our Sabbath, so we walked to Torre, did lots of bible reading, took naps, and watched movies. 

On Tuesday, we just had one on ones with Eva and discipleship. This Tuesday, I focused on creating a set schedule for myself so I didn't feel unproductive. I struggle with connecting my worth to how many things I can do in a day, so when I create lists where I can cross off even little things, like going for a run, it helps me feel better. I told Eva about how this method has been going since she recommended it to me and then we talked about literature and writing! Eva is like the big sister I never had! She always knows what to say and can relate to how I'm feeling! I'm so glad the Lord has placed me here! After my one on one, we just had dinner at Caleb and Eva's and had discipleship! On Wednesday, we had our Italian lesson in the morning where we practiced more conversational vocab and time words. After our lesson, we cleaned the lobby of Forterocca, and I worked on my English lesson for the week. 

Today, Allie and I got to go to Turin where we ran some errands with Eliseo in the morning, then we went to La Casa Della Bibbia which is the donation and distribution center for goods for refugees. There, we helped to package a bunch of clothes and pack them into trucks. At lunch time, we went to Eliseo's office where we helped some kids with their English homework and even met a girl from Australia! Her name is Izzy and she's been solo traveling Europe for the last year! It was really cool getting to talk to another young adult who's so well traveled. She talked about how solo traveling was so exhausting but so rewarding and how it has led her to so many people and friendships she never would've gotten to experience. She had some really cool stories and pictures to go with them! Then, a lady Eliseo has helped came in with wine and snacks to toast to her paying off her car! So, we got to talk to her for a little before we packed up to go home. That night, we played card games before dinner and then had and early night.  

On Friday, we went to the market in the morning where we got coffee and then wandered around a little. I was in charge of CIAO that day, so I had to try to find some props for our games. After shopping, as I watched a disabled beggar get ignored, I felt the Lord remind me of Jesus's teaching of taking care of the poor as though it were Him in Matthew 25:35-36. So, I decided to get him some fries, and when I asked if he was hungry and liked fries, his whole face lit up! It was so rewarding getting to see how one little act of kindness can greatly impact someone's life. As we were walking toward our favorite thrift table, I danced to Sweet Caroline in the street with some Italian guy selling African books. Life is so much more fun when you're not scared to try to connect with people, even when you can't completely understand each other. After the market, we went to the Vitter's for lunch. I love how Robert and Lara Vitter speak the word of God into every circumstance and don't sugar coat things for us or for their children. We always have the most engaging conversations with them. After lunch, we went to CIAO, where we played games and sang songs with the disabled adults. I love getting to make them happy. They remind me that being happy is sometimes as simple as just dancing to your favorite song, happiness doesn't come from materialism or status, it's a choice, and it can be so simple. After CIAO, we helped the Vitters move some mattresses into their new house, and got the ultimate tour! Their view is so pretty! You can see the whole valley! Then, we went back to their current house and walked their puppy, Lucky. Then, we had dinner and sang Christmas karaoke! Later, we went ice skating! I was so close to being taken out by so many little Italian kids. 

On Sunday, we woke up extra early and went with Eliseo and Paula to Pavia, which is about 15 minutes from Milan. We went to a service where Eliseo gave the sermon and a little message about his non profit. After, we had lunch with the congregation and sat with a few people our age! It was so fun, they wanted to know all about America! They kept asking us about Trump, prom, and firearms, one girl even made us write our names down so she can name her future kids after us! After lunch, we went to the city center and got to explore the old cathedrals and this castle that's right in the middle of the city! The cathedrals were so pretty! walking through was like walking through a living museum. There was art from all time periods, since the buildings were pre medieval. While exploring, we found a giant Christmas market! All of the little crafts were so cute and festive! After exploring, we tried to go to a cathedral that Eliseo wanted to go to, but it was closed and the sun was going down. So, we decided to start heading home. On the way, we stopped at an Italian McDonald's where we played games on tables with screens and made too many jokes about Eliseo wanting to be a nun. 

Monday was our Sabbath, so we didn't have anything planned. I just got to spend extra time in the word and doing things that recharge me, like going for long walks and playing card games with the girls. I love practicing Sabbath because it's like a quiet rebellion against all that rushed American culture is. When I give myself time to really relax and just live without worrying about my to do list, I naturally end up worshipping the Lord for all that He has done! Because, when you strip away all the things distracting you, you can truly see who's behing all of it, and how His fingerprints cover everything. 

On Tuesday, Annaleigh and Molly had their one on ones in the morning while I did chores and worked out. Then, we moved tables and chairs up to our space and set everything up for Thanksgiving! Molly and I spent four hours making way too much mac and cheese and before I knew it our ministry family was arriving! We had a giant feast and got to share our traditions with our Italian family! I love getting to share my culture with others and getting to serve them, it reminds me that God has made all of us for one thing and it's so simple. He just comands us to serve Him and serve others, and when I do that, I am filled with so much love and happiness that can only come from the Lord! 

On Wednesday, we had an Italian lesson in the morning where we learned more vocab and conversational questions and answers. After our lesson, we had lunch and cleaned the lobby and conference areas. Then, we just hung around and did homework for a couple hours before we went over to Caleb and Eva's for dinner! On Thursday, Annaleigh and Molly went to Turin with Eliseo, so Allie and I just stayed home and did homework and that night I made dinner!

On Friday, we went to Torre for the market! Molly and I went to the gym to ask how much a monthly membership is, and I got to practice my Italian with the front desk guy! After our recon mission, we met up with the other girls and wandered around the market for a little where we ran into the Vitter kids and their uncle! Later, we walked to their house for lunch where we talked about family and Jesus (of course!) After lunch, we walked to the bus stop and got a ride home, where I went for a run and did some Italian homework. We had Middle School Group that night, so we had an early dinner. When we got to Middle School Group, we played a game called Assassin, where one person "kills" people by winking at them and the detective has to find out who the killer is. Then, for our discussion, we read the story ofJesus being tempted in the wilderness, and talked about wearing the full armor of God and being able to recognize where and how the Devil tempts us. 

On Saturday, we just had a Team meeting and Italian workshop in the afternoon, so that morning I just went for a long run! This valley was made for running, it's so quiet and the weather is always perfect for a run! I even love the random herds of goats I run into around every other corner. After lunch, Caleb just debriefed the week ahead and told us the plans for Bologna! After that, we learned how to tell the time and weather in Italian. Later, we went home and cleaned our spaces, cooked dinner together, and watched a movie!

On Sunday, we went to church in the morning and we had a guest speaker do the sermon today! It was so good! It was about Jesus calling us His friends and how important it is to truly know the Lord's voice before trying to do His work. I love the thought that Jesus calls us His friends because it beautifully communicates how He chooses to know us and love us. As friends, He desires to be with us and we should desire to just be in His presence, just like we would with any of our other friends! After church, we went home and I did some homework and part of my deep dive on Ephesians. Then, our young adult group came over and we had dinner and discussed the last chapter of Hebrews!

We went to Bologna today! We woke up before the sun and piled all of our stuff into the van and drove five hours to Faenza. I love me a good roadtrip! When we got there, we had lunch with the team we would be working with for the next couple days. Then, we went to the house we would be staying in and had a siesta before going back to the community center. There, we got into our pilgrim costumes and served Thanksgiving dinner, sang, and danced with tables full of Italian families! At the end of the night, I shared my testimony with the group. I was definitely scared, but it ended up being so rewarding! I got to see the Lord work through my story to touch so many people that night! 

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, we went to a high school and taught a class on Thanksgiving in America and the history behind it (in our swag pilgrim costumes of course). It always cracks me up how interested Italian kids are in American culture, especially high school. Like, they all want to know if we have letterman jackets, if we go to football games, if we can drive, and if prom is like the movies. After the lesson, we went back to the community center and had lunch. After, we went to a medieval tower that overlooked Bologna, Faenza, and Ravenna! It was so pretty! Then, we went home for siesta, and rested before another night of serving Thanksgiving dinner. When we got back to the center, we put on our costumes again and had another night of singing, serving, dancing, and posing for pictures. 

Today we got to explore Ravenna and Cesenatico! In Ravenna, we got to see all of the mozaics and the old cathedrals! It was so beautiful! It's so crazy how much time and effort they put into every piece, and all of the stories they told. When the cathedral in Ravenna was built, many people couldn't read, so they would learn the Bible's stories from the mozaics covering almost every inch of the ceilings. After Ravenna, we went to Cesenatico which is a small village on the coast! It was stunning! We got to go put our feet in the ocean, which was freezing! They also decorate the old boats in the harbour with wooden sailers and christmas lights!