That's me.

I have had a great time here in Italy so far and Sara's family has done everything possible to make me feel at home, but it is still obvious that I am an outsider...a foreigner to this place. I try my best to blend in; however, that is hard to do once people start trying to talk to me and I just give them a blank stare. I mumble something to the effect of 'non parlo italiano' and they get the gist. Not too many people try to continue the conversation after they find this out.

That being said, this is a great reminder to me of our life here on Earth. We are not made to feel comfortable and we are not made to fit in. We pass through for a short time and even though we may learn the ways and grow accustomed to the traditions here, this is not our calling. There is something so much better even than this waiting for us! What a great ending to our story. Oftentimes we are called to do something that takes us out of our comfort zones and forces us to trust in God and rely on His provision. That calling is very different for each of us, but it is almost always difficult. However, the amount that we grow from these circumstances is exponential. Grab hold of what God wants to do in your life!

Aside from my lack of communication skills (which hopefully will get better), everything in Italy is quite nice. The scenery is indescribable! The food is amazing and never-ending. The people are very warm and encouraging. And these kids are really fun. Tiring, but fun. I have managed in just my first couple of days to attend a business meeting with Luca, explore a town called Monza outside Milan, go to a birthday party, a ballet rehearsal, a 'Welcome to Italia' dinner, a Roman Catholic mass (even though I almost fainted), a family-style Italian potluck feast, and much more. There are castles and fortresses all around me. And I have eaten more strawberries, nutella, and gelato than I should in a year.

Thus begins my new life in Italy.

(oh, and please pray for me because I have been sick with either a bad cold or strep throat ever since I arrived, and it's only gotten worse.)