What an incredible amazing God! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be able to venture to Italy! But then again I never greamed of going to India or China either! As a matter of fact, God sent me to both of those places and I went afraid!
It wasn't that I came to Italy in fear but I just never asked to come here, but God has certainly delighted me while here already! We arrived on Tuesday morning here about 7:30 a.m. (about 1:30 a.m. in Kansas City) Patrick Nachital, Regional Director for the Church of God Missions met us at the airport with the pastor, Daniel, of the host church of the Three Worlds Conference site. What a joy to be met in a foreign country by familiar faces! Even though they are new friends, they both speak English! What a relief in a world of Italians! And yes, it is so true that they really speak with their hands--their entire body!
Pastor Daniel transported us to the church where we became acquainted with the "apartments" there where we were to stay. We met, George, a pastor from Canada, there who is also teaching at the conference.
Pastor Daniel wanted to take us to his favorite local coffeeshop on the corner several blocks from the church for a cappucino along with chocolate creme filled flakey pastries! So we went! One of the men working there attends the pastor's church. He was very glad to see us and served us with a big smile! Italians have warm strong geniune handshakes!
Alot of Italian sounds vaguely familiar, such as: Grazie = gracias, thank-you and Buon appetito! equals Bon Appetit! I didn't realize that Italian, Spanish and French could sound so similar!
We hopped back in the car and returned to the church where our host suggested we take a rest for a couple of hours as Patrick and George had flown in late just the night before. So we rested and then walked the two blocks west to be greeted by an angry ocean! The brown sandy shore was taking a beating as the waves crashed violently in rapid succession! The majesty of the ocean never fails to astound me! I love it! We walked and walked It didn't matter that the temperature wasn't pleasant! We savored every brisk moment of it!
Hungry by this time as it was well into the afternoon, we turned from the windy beachfront inland in search of a good Italian place to eat a late lunch. We stumbled upon a little cafe that was open as not all of the shops are not open all day in the wintertime. Two young dark haired beauties stood behind the pastry window and bar and pointed to flat pastries filled with ham, cheese and tomato sauce. One of the young women knew a little English and one knew even less as she proceded to embarrass herself, but we will never know what she said because we didn't understand! She however was so flabbergasted at herself that she squatted down behind the bar and wouldn't come out for several minutes!
In the meantime we noticed patrons coming into the coffeeshop and "bellying up to the bar," purchasing a "shot" of espresso, throwing it back, all while just standing there and then leaving with less than 5 minutes being spent there!
Ahhh,Italy!
