Italy 2006 - Wedding weekend
Italy 2006 August 20th, 2006 by Dave-Greetings to all of our much appreciated prayer warriors and friends!
Settling into a groove here has been a little interesting, but little by little we are more fully realizing how to fit into our own temporary niche among the ministries already present in this field. We have already made contacts with a number of folks in Rome that will be very important to us in making connections with other non believers, but there is still a long list of people to track down before we run out of time. Most all of the ministry is relational, as we are trying to open up opportunities to share with friends of friends. We want to amplify the influence of the Gospel within the spheres of inlfuence of our Italian brothers and sisters.
The few days we have been here have been spent running to the open market down the street to pick up fruit, tracking down cell-phones, figuring out which buses to use in this new area, and other such necessary activities that don’t feel much like ministry. Saturday, we had the opportunity to attend an Italian, evanglelical wedding. What an experience! The ceremony started at 4:00 in the afternoon, and Daniel and I (Mark) assisted with the music, playing a number of songs including Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” All went well, and afterward we were treated to a four-star hotel dinner in Frascati, a hillside town south of Rome. Below we are pictured in the middle of the marathon dinner.
I’m going to have to train hard before I attempt to eat that much again! The recepetion went into the wee small hours of the morning, and we awoke to attend our first (very sleepy) Sunday moring.
We are all well except for being a bit tired. Continue to pray for the Lord’s guidance in our lives and the plans we make, and that He may give us endurance as we fight the affects of jet-lag.
alla prossima,
Mark Maricle
August 20th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
yea boys! we’re cheering for you! aub wishes she was there with you instead of looking for apartments here in london, but alas… eat some gelato for us. sending prayers and a bit o’ wit your way!
the gals
August 20th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Ciao Mark, Dan & Dave,
It’s good to see the three of you finding a bite of food among friends.
Here’s my shot at yesterday’s journaling of O.T and Romans…
1 Chronicles 29:15
We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land… and,
:17 –I know, my God, that You examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there. [God rejoices over three men of integrity, among friends and visitors, ministering in His church].
Paul’s letter to the Romans
Romans 5:15
…What a difference between our sin and God’s generous gift of forgiveness.
We’re praying for your strengthening and for fruitful testimony of God’s genereous gift. Guitar has not yet arrived. I’m hoping the bass worked out well for Dan. Send our greetings to Dan and Alice, Julio & family, Michele and Anna.
Love,
Dad Maricle
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Mark, Dave and Dan
Great to know that you have a heart for Italians and a desire for them to truly know the Jesus they see so often around them in art and sculpture, but have probably never heard has come to save them and offers them a living relationship. It seems so strange for me to be in Italy where there are so many churches and religious focus and realize that on any given train or bus there is probably not one persoh who knows Christ personally. Its a reminder each time that Europeans have a need to know the Christ their churches once celebrated. .
Envy your Italian wedding feast as I know the food is terrific. Having post-Italy-depression still.
Hello to Dan and Alice for me as well.
Colin