Check out the previous month’s posts here!

October was packed with a continuation of the previous month’s challenges but there was also breakthrough!

We are very thankful for:

Finishing the Fall Feasts, especially the Feast of Tabernacles
Public transportation when our car broke down
CC community where we are beginning to make friendships
A home that gives space for each of us to thrive
An opportunity to bless Nathanael in a special senior sunrise service
Hikes & Views to provide nature therapy
Hobbies like beekeeping to teach us to look closely
Direction from God where we are going

CC Community

We meet weekly on Thursdays at our local Classical Conversations Community on the military base nearby. Friendships are beginning to grow for my children.

Public transportation

Our van broke down and while we were waiting on the part to arrive for John to fix it, we were back to public transportation. This requires us to leave at 530am to get to the base and can even take 3 hours one way depending on all the connections. We have to impose on others to pick us up from the train station and it can involve bus, train, car, and walking just to make it across town.

Making our home our own

We spent some of October deep cleaning and organizing our spaces into enjoyable living spaces. The three girls are all together in one room on the third floor in a huge room. Nathanael is across the way from them in the same size room that he shares with the guest area, TV area, and an office space. The second floor is our bedroom, my office, and a bathroom and the first floor is the living room, bathroom, and kitchen. It is more than sufficient and we have space to host families from out of town too!

Nature therapy

This is a short hike to the ruins of a monastery only 10 minutes behind our home. It offers an amazing view and an easy drive to the top. I am thankful we can explore around us and the time in nature helps to bring gratitude to our hearts and focus on the gifts of God in our lives.

Feast of Tabernacles

We finished the fall feasts and spent a lot of time in prayer concerning our yearly goals and the direction that God wants us to go. Thankfully, we received a vision that helped clarify our purpose, relief from many attacks of the enemy, and patience to wait for His perfect timing. Please check out the podcasts we recorded to help explain these beautiful opportunities to meet with God!

Senior sunrise service

We joined the Hendricks family up on top of a mountain before sunrise to worship, bless our boys, and enjoy some coffee and a sweet treat. It is hard to believe my only son is 17 and nearing the end of his high school career. I am so pleased with him and his hard work!

Beekeeping

This month marked my first ever hive inspections where I found all of my queen bees and I began to identify the various parts of the hive. I have no idea what I am doing yet but I am learning! I make weekly hive inspections until it is time to close them up for the winter.

There is some capped honey and brood on this frame

Please support us financially & with prayer!

To support us financially:

Tax Free through Omni Fellowship

To support us in prayer:

Provision Update: We currently have a contract on our house in WA and should close on 12/19. Please pray that it goes smoothly. We also have received a loan from family to allow us to make ends meet until the house closes and we are so thankful for this relief!
Breakthrough & Purpose update: We received a vision from God for our purpose here. Following this, we had our immigration appointment where God is miraculously moving. We were told we would have to fly back to the states to get some documentation that was required to every state the original documents were issued or the kids and I would have to leave Italy by 12/3 permanently. The Lord provided financially (we sold our table for $1150 and all the fees associated with our Visa equaled 1115e and came at the right time), He provided the avenues to get the documents without having to fly back to the US, and he provided patience and peace throughout the process. Tomorrow, we should get our next appointment to give them all of the required items. Please pray this comes to a completion quickly and smoothly and the kids and I get our “permesso di soggiorno” also.
Healing & rest update: I am physically out of pain, Amen! That was a rough few weeks of pain and sickness. We are beginning to recover from the last two years. God has told me that my bees will parallel His plan for us. As the bees overwinter, so will we. We are going to take a rest, adjust to life here, connect with people, and recover emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Please pray for our strength and stamina to increase. Season of transition are very challenging.
Joy update: As we trust in the Lord, our joy increases. Laughter is also beginning to bubble up in my soul again.
Upcoming Events:
Sara and Maggie are coming to Italy for the holidays (thanks to Grandma Mary and Pa Pa)! Pray for a beautiful reunion and connection with them.
The kids are finishing up the last few weeks of school before our Christmas break. We need to finish strong.
I have started a new podcast series with Kate titled, Archipelago that tells the story of every Christian. Please pray these are executed clearly and make it to whomever He desires.
I am painting the purposes God showed me in a vision for our time in Italy. I would like to get these finished and put up on the wall. It really helps me to stay focused.
Relationship building. We need community and connection. The fact that I want it is evidence of the healing God did these last couple of months. Pray that we position ourselves to be present in community and move into opportunities that He presents.
Thank you for your financial support and your prayers!

October News