On September 15th, the ‘08-’09 STINT team arrived in Roma. The guys were able to move into their apartment, which was the girls’/MY apartment last year, while we girls had to wait 2 weeks to move into our new apartment. I admit it was a little challenging the first couple of days to get used to not having a home while the STINT guys were beginning to live in my old home, their new home. During the whole moving-in process, I realized some expectations I had and was reminded how everything I and the Rome STINT team have is the Lord’s and we are simply stewards of these possessions.
Our second week in Italy we went to a conference called Nuovo Inizio (New Beginning) in Tuscany for all of the STINT teams and new long-term staff to get better acquainted with the ministry, Italian culture, and other staff in Italy. It was such a blessing to see the beautiful Tuscan countryside, enjoy lots of delicious Tuscan food, and to experience a terme (“tayr-may”) which are hot springs in Italy. The national staff team also shared more of the vision that Agape Italia has for trusting God in changing Italian lives so they truly know & follow Jesus. It was a great reminder of the direction that the ministry is taking and of what to be trusting God for this year. I may share later more about some of the thoughts from the conference that I am thinking through and wanting to focus on this year in Rome.
As for the rest of settling in, we girls are mostly settled in except we are still waiting for internet to be installed at our apartment, for kitchen cabinets, an oven, and some smaller details. Our settling-in process was slightly interrupted when our apartment had plumbing issues. Apparently the water pipes were “raining” into the apartment below us, which had been a problem before we moved in. It took a week of tearing up bathroom tiles and shower floors to find and fix the problem, but for the last week we have thankfully been able to use all of our water appliances. Some of my flat-mates have said it seems like we keep taking two steps forward, and one step back in getting settled into our apartment, but I just think it seems very Italy.
Rome STINT team at Nuovo Inizio conference ( back: Jimmy, Sam, Ella, Chris, Brian; front: me, Jenny, Kerry, April)
08-09 Team Tradition: a pyramid!
April sitting amongst all the STINT team stuff at the guys new (my old) apartment.
Our first night at our new apartment AKA the Palazzo! (Ella, Jenny, April, me, Kerry)
One small step in solving the Palazzo Plumbing Problem 2008.
