Grandma's Dream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTzojWBwAiI

            As most of you know, coming to Italy was my Grandma's Dream. She longed to walked the streets of Italy, and she longed to see where her relatives lived. My Grandma passed away in November of last year, and never had the chance to come here. Even though I never had the desire to come to Europe, I truly feel so honored to have had the opportunity this summer to Study Abroad in Italy. After my Grandma passed away, the desire grew to come here and to see what she wanted to see.
            Today, I wrote my Grandma a letter. The attached link is me reading the letter that I wrote to her. My original plan on this trip, was to bring something that she owned to Italy and leave it on the "streets" here, however I did not do that. Instead, I wrote a letter and I put it in a bottle. I sent it down the river. 

            I know and understand that she may never see it, someone else might read it, or it might sink...but writing this letter really helped in my grieving process. I know that my best friend is radiating with pure joy in Heaven. I'm so thankful and blessed to have come to Italy. 

SBI

Our team arrived at where we will be staying for the next few weeks. We actually arrived 2 weeks ago, however I have not updated my blog since Switzerland… so I am telling you all about it now. 

We are staying at a place called, “Saints Bible Institute.” Where we are staying doesn’t feel like a college, which is okay. It is a small quaint area in the middle of nowhere. The staff here is really small as well, I would say there are less than 10 staff members here. A lot of them are full time missionaries here- which inspires me greatly, because they are doing ministry without an income… just living off of support. They literally inspire me.  

It has been so miserably hot here though. There’s no AC here, however right down the street is a bar with air conditioning.  I would say I am in there quite often, just trying to escape the heat. 

During my time here I have taken Hermeneutics, and tomorrow we are jumping into our next class, Roman Catholicism.  It's been so great learning and growing with the individuals that God has placed here. 

If there is one thing I am learning from my time here...it is to be vulnerable. It's learning how to be in a community with other Christians. I'm also learning that it's okay to have questions and that it is more important to know Him rather than just have head knowledge. 

If you would like to pray...please pray that God would continue to work in our hearts on this trip, drawing us close to Him everyday. Please continue to pray that my heart would be soft towards Him.

I hope your summer is going well and that you are keeping cool. ��

Carly Ann