What am I doing here? What am I doing anywhere? Am I loving people? Am I showing God's love? Am I a disciple?

Matthew 28:16-20

This is God's call to ALL of us as Christians...not only the foreign missionaries. Thanks to a tip from a good friend of mine, I decided to download and listen to Michael Easley's message on the Great Commission at Fellowship Bible Church. It was very straightforward in showing how God has commanded us to lead our lives. It's not just a favor that He's asking politely for. It is an order from the Highest Authority.

This message came at a great time for me. I have been given the opportunity to share deep parts of my faith with three very key people in my life right now. There is, of course, much more to all of this story than what I will write in my blog, but this week has been such a great challenge and eye-opener for me regarding how I want to live my life. We are always commissioned to be His disciples. We, as Christians, are all very much sinners - saved by His grace. However, we can't let that (our imperfection) keep us from sharing what God did for each of us on the cross and the unconditional love that He has for us!

Through this, I have also been forced to back up my beliefs in many ways. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to my 11th grade Apologetics class. The witnessing of the Catholic system here has been part of what has allowed me to open up and pose questions to some people. We took Isabella (6 years old) to sign up for Catechism classes on Saturday. These will be held every other week throughout this school year to prepare her for her first communion. On Sunday, I attended mass with the family. I was able to understand a bit more than when I first moved here, but most of it was still over my head. This was mainly due not to the fact that I can't speak Italian, but that I'm not a part of the Catholic faith and don't know any of the movements, sayings/repetitions, songs, etc. For reasons I don't know, I was forced to sit in the very front row, right on the center isle. I was about eight feet from the priest (whom I have met several times), and it seemed like he was glaring at me the entire time for being there and not participating in anything. I'm sure this feeling was just because I felt so out of place. The only thing I did participate in was at the end when everyone shook hands and said 'Pace', which means Peace. The whole experience opened up many doors for me to learn about others and ask/receive stirring questions.

People here are born into Catholicism. However, many people that I've encountered so far (Catholics included) do not actually believe in a God. When I ask why they are Catholic, they respond something like "because my parents raised me this way", or better yet, "because I'm Italian". I have also been asked recently "and what about you? Are your parents also protestant Christian?" To which I respond, "Yes, my parents raised me in the Christian faith", but I hope that we all have better answers than that. I believe that I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family that also believes the Truth! It was my decision to believe what I do, and I want to share this faith with everyone. I want to be the disciple that God has called me to be.

Many people here can tell that I am very different. I stand out for sure. My prayer is that this won't be just because I'm American, but because I'm a follower of God. I hope this has been the case so far, but I want to make it clear. I have to pour out God's love.

I have finally gotten to start experiencing life here in Alba, and already I've had quite a few adventures. However, I have come to realize that life in Alba doesn't really take place in Alba. It seems like even though Alba is considered the 'big city' around here, we are always going out to other towns for various things. The best kebabs are found in Bra. The best shopping is in Torino, Serravalle Scrivia, or Milan. The best discotecas are in Saluzzo or Cavallermaggiore (actually, I should say they are outside of these towns...in the middle of nowhere). Alba, of course, does offer all of these things, but we wanted the best! So I took last weekend off from going to the beach with the family and ended up visiting all of these places instead.

Friday night I ventured out with my other American friend in the Smart Car. We went first to Bra, then continued on for a much needed night of dancing at Evita near the town of Cavallermaggiore. We had a GPS system, but still had to stop and ask for directions to both places. After finally finding the first spot, we were forced to sit in the car for another 30 minutes while trying to figure out how to turn off the overheard light of this little toy car. On the way to our next stop, we mistakenly asked directions from a group of males from Palermo...bad idea for two American girls! Finally we escaped with the knowledge that we had driving about 15 minutes too far. Backtracking, we were both convinced that nothing could exist this far in the middle of absolute darkness. But finally, neon lights appeared out of nowhere. Heather mistook it for a water park. But sure enough, we had found Evita (one of the biggest discotecas in Italy). I am used to our American way of putting the nightspots in the center of town, but here it seems that only the most knowledgeable and determined people receive the prize of good night of dancing. The only dancing spot in Alba is frequented by the swarms of young high school children making an effort to grow up way too quickly. It took even longer for us to get around because Heather was driving like a grandma to avoid any accidents or getting pulled over in a borrowed Smart Car with no Italian documentation.

Saturday night was spent in Torino and I was able to experience a real western American steakhouse (Italian style). They had the peanuts on the floor and everything! Then Sunday I spent the afternoon shopping at the outlet mall in Serravalle Scrivia. The stores were definitely cheaper than in Alba, but it turns out that even on sale Prada and the other Italian designers are still out of my price range.

It finally happened. I knew it would eventually...as predicted early on in my blog. Today, I had my first run-in with a car while riding my bicycle, hahaha. Only me. I'm still not exactly sure what happened or whose fault it was, but basically I collided with the passenger side door and mirror of this guy's car as we were both trying to squeeze through a tight space in the lanes. Maybe I was a little off balance due to my shopping bags on one side and purse on the other. I just couldn't react quickly enough. Oh well, no harm done except for the humiliation caused as I tried to run off and hide afterwards (and he may have a little scratched paint).

Just when I thought I was getting really good on bike riding in the city! I even answered and talked on my cell phone while riding just this morning. And then this happens...

I guess I should have saved my last post title for this one, because now I really am 'back in business'. Since we have finally returned to Alba and I will have a lot more free time on my hands with the children in school, I started another part time job at a large manufacturing company here. I was unexpectedly offered a very flexible position in my host family's company as a kind of 'English consultant' among other things. So I went in this morning for the first time just to get set up, but we'll see how it goes. At least this way I can earn a little bit of extra spending money. Once again, God is good. :)

Anyway, as mentioned before, we went back to the beach this past weekend for some more time in the sun. Sailing is something that I've been wanting to experience for a very long time and I finally had the opportunity to do so on Saturday. We could not have asked for more perfect weather! Well...yes, we could have asked for a little bit more wind. We were able to use the sails for a little bit and enjoy the serenity of quietly being pushed off into the sea. However, we moved just a bit too slowly to stay on schedule (even with our help of manually blowing into the sail), so we had to also incorporate usage of the motor.

It was an all day adventure in which we embarked early in the morning towards a little private island off the coast of Alassio. We had an aperitif on the way and then enjoyed some swimming/snorkeling around the island along with great people watching from the various other boats anchored there. Afterward, we had a very typical, but nonetheless excellent, Italian lunch with three courses and multiple deserts and wines. Sailing home alongside the dolphins, I couldn't help but think that to do that full time wouldn't be such a bad way to live. Back at the port in Finale Ligure, there was an Inter-European competition of sailing vessels, some dating all the way back to the late 19th century. All in all it was a great day with great company.

Yes, I did learn to love the beach this summer. However, I'm glad that it has come to an end and I can finally get settled in one place for a bit. Alba is now my home for at least the next three and a half months.

No worries, I'm back in Italy. All is well. My night in London was certainly an interesting one, but unfortunately no pics to show. It was great to meet some friendly English speaking folk! 

Our time here at the beach is up. It's true that after the first week here I was sick of the sun, but after two and a half months I have grown to love living in Spotorno, Italy.

I ended my last day here the same way that I spent my first. Each day is the same. The uniformity and regularity of everyone's lives amazes me. We get started at the same time every morning (we're usually amongst the first ones on the beach). Every family has the same net bag full of shovels, buckets, and trucks. Each beach is a pristine mix of the following: a row of smooth pebbles covering the sand along the water's edge, next the evenly spaced lounge chairs and multicolored umbrellas to be rented out, behind the last row of umbrellas lie the children's plastic jungle gym contraptions with slides and the inflated rafts, and lastly the bar and changing cabins. People's actions can be tracked like clockwork along with the timing of each vendor that walks by. I think every coastline in Italy has the same coconut boy with his cowbell that he rings to announce his presence, shouting "Coc-c-c-co, cocco bello!" We come inside for lunch around 12:30pm and feast on fresh foods and fruit. Isabella then does her summer homework, Ginevra plays semi-quietly by herself, and Claudio sleeps. As mentioned before, this is the time when the city sleeps as well. Later, everyone's back at the beach by 3:30 or 4pm (after our snack) and we spend the afternoon playing and swimming or 'doing a bath' as they call it. By around 7:30pm the sun finally starts falling behind the buildings and we pack up to head inside, shower, dinner, and out for the night. The town comes alive after 10pm.

Of course I have my free time and days off that I spend doing things a little different. I travel with friends or explore by myself, read, and go on hikes and bike rides. This is a very peaceful, yet energetic place. There are so many quirky things about this town that I laugh at; however, as with any new town you explore, that's what makes it unique... The Italians who show up at the beach fully dressed with makeup, hair done, belts, and jewelry over their costumes, and equipped with about 4 different costumes (swimsuits) to change into throughout the day each time one gets wet. The constant public 'canoodling' of the adolescents. The showy lifeguards...all the same. The abundance of kid's shows and games all geared towards the masses of families that want to keep their children occupied so they can relax. Good times. Yes, I'll miss this place. Of course, I think we're returning next weekend. :)

For now, I'm off to London this morning, only to return back here tomorrow afternoon before heading back to Alba. It's going to be a long two days. Every say a little prayer that I make it back in the country!