Ciao!

There is a scene in “The Giver” when Jonas learns Gabe is going to be killed. He’s never been outside the safety of his city, and he is scared. His whole world is about to be turned upside-down. To give him courage, The Giver bestows Jonas with experiences that prove life is worth it: skydiving, kayaking through white water, a baby laughing, families celebrating, a runner in the dessert. All these and more flash through Jonas, and it gives him the conviction to fight.

Last Sunday at my tiny, white steepled church, I felt like Jonas. Hearing about Abraham, who walked by faith into a place and life that had not yet been revealed to him, I knew that the only way to travel to Rome was to do it under the assurance of God’s provision. If there was a challenge before me, I, just like Abraham, would need to count on the promise of grace provided in the moment.

God has indeed provided.

After 11 hours of flight time and 35 sleepless hours (orientation began as soon as we arrived), we spent our first night in the city of Rome. Since then, we have been going on a whirlwind of adventures. They started small--learning how to flush a toilet--then grew larger--shopping in an Italian grocery store--then finally culminated in a photo scavenger hunt of Ancient Rome with just our maps and cameras. Here are some things we found:

 

 

There are adventures every day here. C.S. Lewis was right when he said adventure comes by stepping out your door. (Motorcycles drive on the sidewalks…you literally have to check before stepping outside.)

Next week’s adventures include classes starting, grocery shopping, and trips into the city. I am also finalizing B&Bs in Switzerland, where I will be going with two others in a few weeks. I’ve only been here a few days, and it’s clear the biggest challenge will be keeping up as the time flies!