summing up december

i guess when we took a break at the bible school for the holidays, i took a break from blogging.

i needed to let my brain shut off. half of us are back at the school now and we are trying to get back into a routine this week. we don't start classes or bible study back until the week of january 17th, but are trying to get a lot done now so that transition will be easy.

so after thanksgiving we continued our classes until the 2nd week of december and then i guess the bible school officially closed for the holidays. david, debbie, ermenita, emily, angela, and andrea all headed back to the states for most of december, while the 2 couples and peter held down the fort here. danielle and lulu (a young couple at church) stayed in david and debbie's apartment the whole month to look after things too.

we had 2 weeks for official vacation and our sweet family blessed us with the christmas present of a lifetime. during our 2 weeks we were able to travel to france, scotland, and ireland and celebrate a glorious 2 year anniversary on the cliffs of moher. we had a amazing time that cannot be summed up in a normal size blog post, so you'll just have to look at ryan's facebook pictures and use your imagination. our trip was very much needed rest and relaxation for us and we came back to the bible school feeling so energized and ready for another semester.

we returned to the bible school december 21st and since then:

ryan and i went to a nice restaurant in town christmas eve

we had 2 christmas dinners (one at a man's house from church, one at elizabeth whatley's, the pepperdine director)

i have crocheted 3 scarves & 3 hats

i have cooked a lot of food

i have painted

we have been practicing italian with rosetta stone and rosa (our cook)

we have washed a lot of clothes

we have cleaned the bible school

david has repaired the dryer

david and ryan replaced the brakes on his car

david and ryan replaced the tires on 2 bicycles

we had a church potluck

we renewed our health insurance

ryan and i have started a regimen of reading the bible through in a year

we have skyped our friends and family

i have made a lot of popcorn

we have started searching for apartments in florence

we had new years day lunch at our cook rosa's house

we have taught the kids bible class at church

the guys have watched a few football games

we have gone to lucca and fiesole and spent some more time in downtown florence

we have written thankyou notes and birthday cards

we have received some sweet letters

we are preparing for our spring classes

we have had friends over

so, we have kept ourselves busy. half of us are back at the school now and we are trying to get back into a routine this week. the other half of the group comes back at different times this week, and i'm excited to be all back together again. we don't start classes or bible study back until the week of january 17th, but are trying to get a lot done now so that getting back into the swing of things will be easy.

ryan and i have been asked by the church in florence to stay here and work with them and we feel that God has lead us to this specific ministry. we will continue one on one english classes throughout the semester but we will be starting a ministry aimed at students. we will be planning things to do with the students/kids at church like: VBS, field trips, weekend retreats, movie nights, holiday parties, camp. at the same time we will be trying to get involved with high school/university students in the community through concerts, movie nights, weekend retreats, holiday parties, cooking schools, game nights, and any other suggestions we might get. david has also talked to us about starting a soup kitchen and we are very much excited about the possibility of that. we are so thankful for the blessings God has given us to be able to be a part of this work here.

since new avanti workers will be coming in the fall, we have to move out of the bible school to make room. we also want to be closer to the church and the university. that is why we have started searching for an apartment. i think tomorrow ryan and i are going to go with david and look at some places. i'm really excited about having our own place to have people over and have bible studies.

please continue to pray for us and our work here. we want to be effective and useful and we are so thankful for the things God has already shown us and the ways he has already been using us. we could not be doing any of this without the unconditional love and support of the friends and family that God has blessed our lives with. thank you!

*oh yea, last night and tonight in searcy, arkansas, debbie is conducting an italian cooking school as a fundraiser for the bible school. i guess i'm a little late to tell you to go to it, but i can tell you that she has compiled 2 italian cookbooks that contain recipes for some of the best food i've ever eaten and they are for sale at mckinney supply in searcy. if you're in the neighborhood of searcy it will be way worth the $10 to get yourself one.

have a happy new year!