Italy!

I can’t talk about WCC without mentioning how tight-knit, dedicated, cheerful, kind, and godly all the women are. A large part of our ministry is what people observe in us and how it affects their reception of our message. They are 35 of the best friends anyone could ask for!

At Saints Bible Institute shortly after arriving in Italy

We're poised and proper when we're on stage...

For four nights, we stayed at Saints Bible Institute, a small Bible school with connections to Moody. (Moody professors visit the school to teach courses and Moody accepts credits earned at SBI.) It was through the missionaries here that we first began to better understand the immense need in Italy. Our minds and hearts were opened to the Italian people and we began to see how important our presence there was. Most missionaries to Italy give up after a while; ministry there is painstakingly slow. We were blessed to spend a few days at a time with three different groups of missionaries, many of whom had been on the field for decades. They took the time to tell us about their work and their love for the people of Italy was evident in all they did. Every member of the choir would likely tell you the same thing: spending time around the missionaries was one of the best parts of the trip.

The view from my room

Nuns!

For two nights, we stayed at a convent in the hills of Tuscany. Our windows opened to either a manicured garden in a beautiful courtyard or a small vineyard with the hills rising in the background. Some hoped to see nuns walking in lines and singing like in The Sound of Music, but though disappointed on that count, we had a few funny interactions with the little elderly ladies there in white wimples. (One WCC member accidentally scared a nun on the stairs as she came around the corner.)

At the convent, the morning after a member found out that her mother had died of a heart attack, many of us saw a brilliant rainbow from the vineyard or from our windows. We all praised God for His sign of comfort to us and to our dear sister. We found out later in the morning that our sister, 50 miles away from us on her way to the airport, had also seen a rainbow and praised God as well! This is only one example of the Lord’s continued faithfulness to us in Italy.

Sarah, me, and Shelby

St. Mark's Square, Venice

Even with a busy concert schedule, we were able to see many beautiful and historical sites. We had a full day to explore Venice! We also visited Verona and Florence and spent four days in Rome. In a small town called Valvasone, two young women and a missionary gave us a tour of a small castle from the 1200’s. The two women took English classes with the missionary and commendably, did most of our tour in English though they were very nervous. When one of the women later approached a choir member at one of our concerts in Valvasone, it was evident that the women of the choir had made an impression on her. After sharing about her life and her desire to find the truth she said, “I feel that you all understand me even better than my friends understand me.” After hearing about this, we all prayed for her salvation and the Lord’s continued work in her heart.

The castle at Valvasone

Our tour guides

The trip was well worth the time and preparation. God surely heard all of our prayers (and yours!) throughout the school year. I was so blessed to have 2 1/2 weeks of sightseeing, fun with friends, and effective ministry all in one. 

Thank you for your support in whatever way you contributed! It was very much appreciated by all of us; the fundraising was definitely a group effort.

If you'd like to know what's up for next year...

I'm a senior this year. I can't believe it either. I graduate in May of next year. I'll come home for a while to get my life together and then I can see one of two things happening. I'll a) be called to a ministry position stateside and move there...or more likely b) I'll be moving to Tennessee to work, live, and do ministry while I raise money to be a missionary overseas. 

If you could pray for this next stage of my life, I'd appreciate it!

Thank you again! Ciao!