The reality of living in Siena…

Tuscany and Umbria are according to many Italians the regions where God is blasphemed against the most. Tuscany actually has the lowest percentage of evangelical churches. Gradually we are starting to see more and more the hardness of the Tuscan people in the reactions we see as people pass us by.

We’ve been in the university at least twice a week with the book table; we’ve given out hundreds of flyers explaining GBU and publicising the different events we do and have been helped by some of the students which has been good. We’ve had a number of good conversations with different students and also with the Vigili. The Vigili are part of the police but to me seem like glorified traffic wardens, they check permissions of the cars, market stools, direct traffic, and sometimes give tourist information to lost Americans. Every time we’re at the book table at least two different vigili pass by and ask for our permission slip. We’ve managed to have some good Gospel conversations with them. Please pray for a guy called Matteo who after having told us to move one day in quite a rude way actually ending up having a really long conversation with Rocco (elder of the church) and received a New Testament, he said he would like to come along to church one day.

Although we’ve had some good opportunities seeing the reactions of the students as they walk past has been quite difficult. Seeing people laugh as they read that we’re a Christian group, or just swear in your face as you give the flyer to them is not easy. Don’t worry we’re not ready to pack up, we’ve just been really saddened by people, their hostility towards God and the Bible, we’re offended because God himself is offended in the way people don’t even think about him, or are just so rude towards Him. We are really appealing to God’s mercy for these people and ask you do the same in prayer.

So that’s news on the book table. The Bible study has been a real encouragement to us. Last year there were just 4 people going along and so far we’ve had an average of 12 so already a lot more than we expected. We’re going through a different book of the Bible each week, Giovanni’s writing the studies and then different students lead. The studies have been excellent so far, really getting stuck into God’s word. We’ve also had a couple of non-Christians come along which has been great. Please pray for Lucio especially (he lives with a guy who comes to church) he's Catholic by name, doesn’t read the Bible, or go to church, but seems to show belief in God, he comes out with some really good answers to the questions but hasn't really grasped salvation yet.

We also started a language exchange to meet non-Christian students-after handing out over 300 flyers we had two new girls the first week and none yesterday! Many students said they would like to come but unfortunately the association with Christians and the Bible doesn’t help the publicity. Pray students would get over their ideas and presumptions about Christians so that we might be able to befriend students and also that the Christian students would bring their friends.

Also had a welcome night for students on Tuesday. We didn’t realise before but there was actually a massive concert for all students on in the main piazza in town!! Anyway 3 non Christians came along which was good in the sense that in Italy you kind of always anticipate zero. Also a few Christian students who haven't been involved in GBU before came along to support us. Lavinia, a student who became a Christian about a year ago shared her testimony for the first time which was great for us to hear and for her to do. We had a great time together and the non Christians that came really enjoyed themselves and said they would like to come to the Bible study next week, we keep praying.

OK what else…ah, youth group. We’ve enjoyed meeting up with the young people every Saturday night. They’re a great group and really want to know God better. The other week one of the young people lead a study on Moses; it was all about the fact that Moses had many excuses for God when he was asked to do something. We were then asked what excuses do we often give to God when He asks us to do something like evangelism. Then what happened? Well Giovanni then lead the next part of the evening, putting the study into practice. We split up into pairs and went out into town with some questionnaires and tracts. We were to go among the young people and do these questionnaires as a way to share the Gospel with people. Many of the youth group were very worried at first in fact I was with a guy who had never done it before and really didn’t want to. In the end he ended up sharing the Gospel with one of his friends who we did the questionnaire with, it was just great to see him get over all the anxieties which can come when we have to step out for God.

The group for teenagers has started with just 2 girls coming along. Giovanni and I have enjoyed getting to know the girls as they are the only teenagers in the church, they’re lovely girls. We are hoping in a couple of weeks time to go to some of the schools and give out flyers over the coming weeks.

I think that’s enough to recall so far, there’s always so much to say. Please continue to pray for these things and 9.37. As a church we’re also organising a youth camp for the weekend of the 29th. There should be about 40 Christians there as well as a good number non-Christians from Siena who will come along for various meals. Please pray for this.

Oh, also Monday we’re going to a small town nearby with some of the young people to give out new testaments to Muslims. It’s the end of Ramadam (their biggest celebration) so there should be quite a few people there (more than 200). We were asked by a guy who works amongst muslims to get a group together. Please pray for our protection and willingness on their part to receive the Gospels as many muslims respect the Bible and if they read it we believe their lives can be transformed.

Sorry there are no pictures this time, we’ll try for the next entry. By the way we’ve had our first day of rain here today, it looks like winters coming!!

Ciao Ciao