Feb-Mar-Apr: Spring
Check out previous posts here!
If I had to sum the last 3 months, I would use the word challenging and consuming. There has been a great amount of movement forward in all the areas of our lives and I am so grateful to God to have moved all of us into a new season of stability. He carried us through the challenges and I thankful we are on the other side of them. I sit here writing this newsletter at my quarterly Jesus retreat looking out the window at the mountains, looking inside at the fireplace and my cup of tea, and listening to the sheep and cow bells outside. I am in awe at the world we live in and the provision and goodness of God.
PWOC
I hosted a pizza making event, a watercolor paint night, had worship practice with a team of amazing women, got my colors analyzed by a new friend, and attended the spring retreat on the Amalfi coast with my spiritual mamma, Janine Byard with our local women’s Bible study group called Protestant Women of the Chapel.
Church
We have come alongside Jack and Pat Brundage, pastors of Bethel Worship Center (a Ministry to the Military church) and are now leading worship with our new portable keyboard (John), cajon (Nate), guitar (Lauretta), and microphone (me) and helping them to church plant. We hosted a Passover Seder event with them for the military community on base and celebrated the first three spring feasts together as a family. We love getting to know our new church family and watching God work! We also continue to meet up and support Ogni Cosa Nuova, a ministry to the prostitutes on the streets of Caserta led by Herb & Joyce Zick, close friends of ours.
Family & HomeLife
We sold our house! The money allowed us to pay off our bills and finally catch up on life. John is killing it with piano and guitar growth. My birthday celebration with my peeps was simple and pleasant and I got a color analysis from a friend who is in training. Nathanael finished his senior thesis defense online and is so close to graduating high school! Lauretta is now the family haircutter and went to Rome as a mom's helper. Miriam's 10th birthday trip finally happened and she got to go to a friend's birthday party. Tirzah is reading on her own now! The kids are continuing school and counting down the weeks till summer. We get phone call updates on Sara and Maggie and we are so proud of all that God is doing in their lives so far away! My children take so many photos of the dog and our gorgeous home here in Italy to share with you, which I love.
Trips: Jesus Retreat & Miriam’s 10th birthday
Quarterly, I spend a few days away so that I can pray and spend some time with Jesus. It is a beautiful reset that helps me connect with God, refocus and receive direction for the next three months. Miriam turned 10 back in November but we didn’t have the funds to celebrate her then with our family tradition of a trip away with Mom. Once we sold the house in March, we ventured out together!
The Bees & Italian Flora
Spring is here! The flowers are everywhere and the poppies are so happy alongside the roadways and in the fields. This is really good for my three beehives. The spring inspections on my bee hives have started and they are growing really well. John and I are learning how to take care of the bees. It has been a challenge! The Worker Bee Podcast has been growing also. We are finishing our second season and have had the privilege to host some incredible speakers. We got our last podcast with guest speaker, Ken Thornberg, posted... finally! You can check it out here: https://www.classicaltools4change.com/the-worker-bee-podcast/e15-archipelago-cleaning-your-lamp-amp-fighting-dangers-on-the-island-guest-ken-thornberg
Freedom Encounters
I finished chapter 6 on the book for Freedom Encounters that I am working on. My personal goal is to finish by the end of the summer. God is positioning me to start training teammates in Europe too and I am thrilled. We have a training week planned in July in Switzerland. It is so fun to watch Him work! There is nothing greater in my heart than to partner with God as He frees people from bondage and heals them. An encounter with Him is worth everything.
We need your support!
To support us financially:
Click on this QR Code or click the link below.
It will take you to the Omni Fellowship site. You can donate to our family and receive a tax free receipt.
Tax Free through Omni Fellowship Just click on my name from the drop down menu.
How you can pray for us!
Family- Nathanael's graduation and family trip in June (Moriarty family is all flying in!). We are so happy we can all celebrate him. John’s application for year 2 in Italy was approved easily! Next step is to figure out how to apply for an Italian DL and that we would stay under our Italian budget and current income with our finances.
FE- Details for training teammates to pan out and direction in ministry appointments that are starting again. For me to get the book I am working on finished!
WBP & the bees- The podcast series "Archipelago" to be completed in editing quickly. John has 3 episodes to work on. Vision and perseverance to stay in a rhythm for the podcast.
CT4C- I would like Tools for Transcripts classes to make these next few months so I need students. It is time to teach again.
PWOC- The new leadership team to be finalized and that I can keep my InReach position next year. I like leading the events and getting to know this community. I would also like to stay on the worship team.
OCN- That I would get opportunities to go on the streets with the team to pray alongside the trafficked and vulnerable men and women.
Church- That we get our building soon and make the connections that God wants us to make. We have a facility! The negotiations are happening so please pray for favor with the landlords and everyone involved and that the renovations would happen quickly and easily. We are growing as a family in leading worship and will help with worship come May for the MTTM spring retreat in Spain. Practicing as a family is hard! We are growing really fast but need patience and the kindness of the Lord for each other as we grow in unity.
Stamina and calm in the crazy as we enter into a rather busy season these next three months. We will be hosting a lot of people and a few trips in the works, along with closing out this school year. We are all ready for beach days to get here.