Well guys, my team made it safely to Bologna...and what an adventure it has been already.
Let me start by saying that the earthquake did not affect us at all (praises!)
Truthfully, I don't even know where to begin.
Saturday, I met my team and they are all awesome. I already feel that we are a family and it has only been a week. At our debriefing weekend in Dallas we were told that our team was a gift and that they are all called by God.
This week has proved that those two statements are so true, so very true.
So that you can pray for us specifically, here are the names and schools of my teammates:
Catherine Rutter- Missouri State University
Lauren Holt- Texas Christian University
Paige Alwood- LSU
Madison Paulette- University of North Texas
Eli Lopez- UNT
Austin Matthews- UNT
Brian Rollins- UNT
and Christian who also goes to UNT.
The crazy, cool thing: we are all either psych, art or music majors. It's legit and there have been many jamfests already.
Our beloved staff members are:
Karl and Keri Armentrout- who are on staff at UNT
Natasha Larrinagua- also at UNT
and Caitlin Clark who is at LSU.
On Saturday, Lauren picked Catherine and I (Note: those two are my roommates here in Italy) up from the airport in Dallas and we spent the day at the Ft. Worth Zoo before we had to go to debriefing. Talk about a bonding experience. Then we went to debriefing, met the above awesome team and spent a day and a half in Dallas praying and learning how to love one another well for the trip.
On Monday, we headed out for Italy and first had a 10 hr. plane ride to Germany. Surprisingly, it really wasn't as bad as I expected.
Then, we only had about a two hr. flight to Bologna. We arrived here at 2 p.m. Bologna time a.k.a 7. a.m. and super early American time. Yes, there is a sevevn hour time difference.
Honestly, Bologna is exactly what I expected and I love it. It's still kind of surreal to me that I'm actually here and not just here, but here to tell people about Christ, the guy who changed my life.
Since our arrival, we have been busy and I have been learning a lot (and taking pictures!).
Here's just a taste of what life in Bologna has been like for me:
Wednesday, we learned: how to use the bus, the to-do's and not-to-do's Italian grocery store, cafe etiquette and lots of Italian history.
*Italy has been a nation since 1860. Its way younger than the US.
*For this reason, people identify more with their cities than their country.
Ex: People from Bologna are "Bolognese", not "Italian." It's joked that the only time that Italians actually call themselves "Italian" is when Italy is playing in the world cup.
*Each of the cities in Italy typically have their own slang and dialect.
*Bologna is made-up of 500,000 people 100,000 of which are college students, much like Conway just on a smaller scale.
*In 1088, scholars found the first mention of the university which makes it the oldest university in the Western world.
*Bologna had three nicknames: La Rosa, La Dotta and La Grassa.
La Rosa= the red. Given due to the use of much terracota or could possibly be due to communism
La Dotta=the learned. Given due to the university.
La Grassa=the fat. Given due to the fattening food.
*This is the home of ragu sauce, tortilenni, lasagna, mortadelli (bologna) parmesan cheese and balsalmic vinegar. There are 650 different types of pasta and wine is cheaper than bottled water here.
*Bologna is known as "the city that functions," though it is the center of Italian communism. It prides itself in upholding communist values yet having free enterprise.
*Here, they are not big fans of the pope and are known for being fiercely independent.
*In the grocery store, no one touches produce with their hands. You must wear a glove...or you get yelled at.
*etc., etc., etc.
Seriously, my brain is overwhelmed as I'm still trying to process it all and take it all in.
Thankfully, I'm finally over jet-lag; Today is the first day since being here that I've felt completely myself.
Thursday, we visited Florence and twas lovely. Today has been spent learning how to do ministry here in Bolgona and we have been gifted free time tonight, time to blog. :)
Tomorrow, we are headed to see Verona, the place known for Romeo and Juliet.
Yet, Monday is the exciting day. On Monday, we are headed out to campus for the first day and will be meeting students.
I'm excited to see how the Lord will use all of us this summer, though I know that ministry here, in a place full of rules to follow and lacking pursuit of the one true God, will be difficult.
Please continue to pray for me and my team as we head out. Specifically, I want to ask that you would pray for the people that God will put in our pathways and that we would be able to present Jesus to them in a respectful, loving way.
We are confident that through us, HE will SHINE.
Love to you all,
Brittney
p.s. I've tried Italian pizza, pasta and gelato and they are all fantastic! Oh, and pictures will be coming soon. Thats a promise.
Let me start by saying that the earthquake did not affect us at all (praises!)
Truthfully, I don't even know where to begin.
Saturday, I met my team and they are all awesome. I already feel that we are a family and it has only been a week. At our debriefing weekend in Dallas we were told that our team was a gift and that they are all called by God.
This week has proved that those two statements are so true, so very true.
So that you can pray for us specifically, here are the names and schools of my teammates:
Catherine Rutter- Missouri State University
Lauren Holt- Texas Christian University
Paige Alwood- LSU
Madison Paulette- University of North Texas
Eli Lopez- UNT
Austin Matthews- UNT
Brian Rollins- UNT
and Christian who also goes to UNT.
The crazy, cool thing: we are all either psych, art or music majors. It's legit and there have been many jamfests already.
Our beloved staff members are:
Karl and Keri Armentrout- who are on staff at UNT
Natasha Larrinagua- also at UNT
and Caitlin Clark who is at LSU.
On Saturday, Lauren picked Catherine and I (Note: those two are my roommates here in Italy) up from the airport in Dallas and we spent the day at the Ft. Worth Zoo before we had to go to debriefing. Talk about a bonding experience. Then we went to debriefing, met the above awesome team and spent a day and a half in Dallas praying and learning how to love one another well for the trip.
On Monday, we headed out for Italy and first had a 10 hr. plane ride to Germany. Surprisingly, it really wasn't as bad as I expected.
Then, we only had about a two hr. flight to Bologna. We arrived here at 2 p.m. Bologna time a.k.a 7. a.m. and super early American time. Yes, there is a sevevn hour time difference.
Honestly, Bologna is exactly what I expected and I love it. It's still kind of surreal to me that I'm actually here and not just here, but here to tell people about Christ, the guy who changed my life.
Since our arrival, we have been busy and I have been learning a lot (and taking pictures!).
Here's just a taste of what life in Bologna has been like for me:
Wednesday, we learned: how to use the bus, the to-do's and not-to-do's Italian grocery store, cafe etiquette and lots of Italian history.
*Italy has been a nation since 1860. Its way younger than the US.
*For this reason, people identify more with their cities than their country.
Ex: People from Bologna are "Bolognese", not "Italian." It's joked that the only time that Italians actually call themselves "Italian" is when Italy is playing in the world cup.
*Each of the cities in Italy typically have their own slang and dialect.
*Bologna is made-up of 500,000 people 100,000 of which are college students, much like Conway just on a smaller scale.
*In 1088, scholars found the first mention of the university which makes it the oldest university in the Western world.
*Bologna had three nicknames: La Rosa, La Dotta and La Grassa.
La Rosa= the red. Given due to the use of much terracota or could possibly be due to communism
La Dotta=the learned. Given due to the university.
La Grassa=the fat. Given due to the fattening food.
*This is the home of ragu sauce, tortilenni, lasagna, mortadelli (bologna) parmesan cheese and balsalmic vinegar. There are 650 different types of pasta and wine is cheaper than bottled water here.
*Bologna is known as "the city that functions," though it is the center of Italian communism. It prides itself in upholding communist values yet having free enterprise.
*Here, they are not big fans of the pope and are known for being fiercely independent.
*In the grocery store, no one touches produce with their hands. You must wear a glove...or you get yelled at.
*etc., etc., etc.
Seriously, my brain is overwhelmed as I'm still trying to process it all and take it all in.
Thankfully, I'm finally over jet-lag; Today is the first day since being here that I've felt completely myself.
Thursday, we visited Florence and twas lovely. Today has been spent learning how to do ministry here in Bolgona and we have been gifted free time tonight, time to blog. :)
Tomorrow, we are headed to see Verona, the place known for Romeo and Juliet.
Yet, Monday is the exciting day. On Monday, we are headed out to campus for the first day and will be meeting students.
I'm excited to see how the Lord will use all of us this summer, though I know that ministry here, in a place full of rules to follow and lacking pursuit of the one true God, will be difficult.
Please continue to pray for me and my team as we head out. Specifically, I want to ask that you would pray for the people that God will put in our pathways and that we would be able to present Jesus to them in a respectful, loving way.
We are confident that through us, HE will SHINE.
Love to you all,
Brittney
p.s. I've tried Italian pizza, pasta and gelato and they are all fantastic! Oh, and pictures will be coming soon. Thats a promise.
loved getting a taste of this city through your writing! many prayers your way...so excited for you and for what God is doing!
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