First Week on Campus

So we have been here for a total of two weeks tomorrow. I can't believe the amount of progress we have made in the small amount of time we have been on campus doing ministry. The first day we were on campus brought me back to last year and I was really reminded exactly why I am here. Even with the amount of time that has passed between last year and now, my heart for these students is still as strong as the day I left. Our team has really hit the ground running. They are so confident in the message they are sharing that they cannot help but be bold in sharing the gospel. I am so lucky to have a team as excited and eager to be sharing the gospel with complete strangers. After the first day on campus we met as a team and talked about their experiences on campus. The results were amazing. After only one day, a few hours, on campus they had gotten numerous contacts and had shared the gospel multiple times. Not only did they meet people but they set up future meeting times to have lunch or get coffee and just hangout and get a little deeper into conversation. The rest of the week brought numerous stories of success in making contacts, but not without a few conversations that ended with disinterest. Those conversations are always hard to leave because we, as Christians, want so badly for these students to believe in the one true God so that when life on Earth is over, they don't have to spend eternity separated from God. But then again it is not our job to save those people. All we can do as humans is to share the gospel and let the Word of God speak. If they choose to reject it, while it is disheartening, we cannot be discouraged. We have to continue on and keep our eyes on the goal of this summer and know that we are a small part in God's perfect plan.


If you followed my blog last year, you heard about a student I met last summer named Filippo. His story is a cool one of how I met him last summer so please go back and read a little about him if you wish. Anyways, I haven't talked to him since I left last year because he did not have a facebook and for the longest time I could not find the piece of paper that had his email on it. He is one of the two main guys I had met last year and I had been praying for him by name for the past year, but I really had no idea what was going on in his life. So Friday, which for us is a half day because students leave campus after lunch for the weekend, we were once again eating at the Mensa, and I saw a familiar face sit down across the room. I contemplated whether or not it was really him because he was more clean-shaven than before, but when I got up to leave we made eye contact and then I knew. I had been reunited with Filippo! So he excitedly asked me to sit and I gladly accepted and we talked for a long time just catching up. Then we left and went to get some coffee where we stayed for another hour. Since we had met many times last summer, I did not really have to do the small talk which was nice. It really was like two friends catching up after a long time. After catching up I asked him about the past year and about the conversations we had a year ago about his spirituality. He said over the past year his views have changed a bit. He has become more open to the idea of God and what I believe. This was really good news for me because while he hasn't become a Christian, he is getting closer and becoming more open to the idea of Christianity, which is a major success in Bologna.


The first week was an overall success. We were on campus today and I met with the guys one on one to see how everything is going and I was pleased with our meetings. I am excited for what the rest of the week holds for our team. This summer has already gotten off to a great start and I know the Lord has so much in store for us. Thank you for all of your support and prayers over the past year as well as for the prayers that are to come. Pray for our team that we will stay confident in our actions and bold in our message.

God is so great....God Bless! Ciao!