Life in Bologna

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.

Prayer requests

2:30 a.m.

I'm still awake and probably will be until late Saturday night.
Luckily, I'm a morning person who likes her coffee black and strong.

In two hours, I'll be leaving for the airport.
My first stop is Dallas where I'll be until Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. Two days will be spent getting to know my team and doing some training.
From there, we have a 10 hr. flight to Frankfurt, Germany. It's estimated that we'll get to Bologna at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. :)

All of that being said, I wanted to leave all of my dedicated followers with some prayer requests:

*Physical strength and endurance

*Confidence and boldness in His Gospel

*That seeds would be sown and fingerprints left all-over Bologna, Italy and the University of Bologna
*For eyes to see and for wisdom to speak into the things that I am shown in student's hearts.
*Salvation to the nation of Italy

Before heading out, I just want to thank you all again for your never-ceasing support, continued prayers and outpourings of love.
I am truly blessed with greater friends and family than I deserve and I am more grateful than these words could ever say.

Again, thank you. I love you. I would not be who I am today without the investment that you have made in my life.
Be looking for updates here and on facebook...and be ready to hear countless stories and see even more photos when I return.

Ciao, bellas. :)

~Brittney

My first lesson

God is funny. In fact, He has a better sense of humor than anyone I've ever met.

I sure hope that you all have experienced or will one day experience the God humor that I speak of, that this post is about.

You see, on Monday I posted about sacrifice.
Some of the highlights are as follows (or you could just go read the entire thing below):

("There can be no fruit without sacrifice."
2 Corinthians 9:6 reads, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
We are told to live sacrificially.
Sacrifices are costly. They stretch us. They aren't easy. They hurt.
But, their results can be remarkably beautiful.
They range from the salation of man-kind to seeing one Italian student grasp the reality of the Gospel.
You and I can have as much fruit as we are willing to sacrifice...
How much of "your life" are you willing to sacrifice? )

On Monday afternoon I also posted on facebook that some of my teammates were still needing funds for our  trip to Italy.

Tuesday afternoon, I was given a check for $1,000........
(cue God-humor here)

The donor told me to spend it on "myself" and that I could do whatever I wanted with the money...

If you didn't already know, I'm a broke college kid. I have little money to my name.
$1,000 could go a long way.
I currently don't have a job and let's just face it, being a RA for the college isn't going to pay much next year either.

But
I can't keep it or spend it on myself. I simply cannot. If I do, some of my friends may not be able to go to Italy. This means that they wouldn't get the opportunity to spread the good news of Christ... 
My luxury and security are not worth it. All of the money will be given to one of my teammates on Saturday.
That is what I want to do with the money. It's what He wants me to do with the money. I have no other choice.
I'm not really sure what money I'll live off for the rest of the summer, but I am sure that that my God will provide a way for me.

Sacrifices are costly. They stretch us. They aren't easy. They hurt.
But, their results can be remarkably beautiful.
"There can be no fruit without sacrifice."

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.

Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;

 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.   
His praise endures forever!

~Psalm 111~

 

Sacrifice

Today is May 13, almost May 14.
In approximately five days, I'll be leaving McRae, Arkansas

for Bologna, Italy.

Talk about a bit of a culture shock.

As most of you already know, I am so, so excited. This is literally a dream come true for me.