Today, our team left Paris, France, and flew to Rome, Italy. We thank the Lord for safe and smooth travels. All of our team members and their luggage arrived safely.
We truly enjoyed our time in France. One of the highlights from our last night was a soccer match with our team members and several of the Catholic volunteers who work at the retreat center. Jenny Harner, a junior missions major at Pensacola Christian College, shared how this soccer game turned into a wonderful opportunity for witnessing:
“On Monday evening, our team enjoyed playing soccer with two of the French volunteers that work at our residence. Over the past week. different members of our team had been sharing truths from God’s Word with them because they believe in Catholicism. I had the opportunity to talk to Gaetan after the soccer match because he asked me what the difference was between Catholics and Baptists. He said he believed that he had to do good to go to heaven, so I shared with him my testimony and how I know I’m going to Heaven because Jesus has fully paid the price for my sin. I shared with him the gospel of grace. He asked many questions and said that he would think about what I had said. Caleb, Jonathan, and Bella were also given the opportunity to share with another volunteer named John. We are so blessed to have been able to be a witness for Christ, and we have these men in our prayers that they will fully accept the Gospel and trust Jesus as their only Savior.”
Today was a day of transition and traveling. Haley Brewer, a senior Advertising/Public Relations major at Pensacola Christian College, summarized it this way:
“Our morning started off with a final delicious breakfast at Maison Regnum Christi. After breakfast, everyone began doing last-minute laundry and packing. Taking a quick packing break, we met together to practice songs for our upcoming concert in Italy.
It was fun to learn songs that we know well in English, such as “What a Friend we Have in Jesus,” in a different language. To me, this was an amazing reminder of the fact that despite different cultures and different languages, Christians all around the world love and worship the same God. Music is an amazing tool that can surpass language barriers and unite believers in glorifying God.
After choir practice, we finished packing and ate lunch. We said a sweet goodbye to Maria and Larry Pieri, as they are not coming on the Italian portion of our trip. Their fellowship, wisdom, and knowledge of languages blessed our team greatly. Finally, we headed off to the airport. Check-in went smoothly, and the whole team is eager to continue our ministry in Italy.”
Maria and Larry Pieri are retired missionaries who have worked in both France and Italy and now reside in Florida. We are so thankful that they were able to join our team for the French portion of the trip. Our team learned much from them and were greatly blessed by their love, evangelistic zeal, and heart for the Lord.
Our team will stay overnight in Rome and see the city tomorrow. We will meet Missionary Frank Maietta who pastors a church here in Italy. He will lead the group on a walking tour of the major sites. The day after, we will head to Terni where we will prepare for the concert and church ministry. Please continue to pray for this exciting evangelistic outreach!