It doesn't seem right to be writing about our last few days more than a month later but I suppose I have to finish what I started. On Sicily I said "Sometimes when things don't come easy and when they don't turn out at all like you plan or hope, the best thing to do is take a deep breath, reflect, and regroup because then you can begin to move forward again." We moved forward as we boarded our flight from Palermo to Rome and were met at the airport by the driver our hotel had sent. Daniele - who explained that he was a liberated enterpriser - or something like that - was the most beautiful thing we had seen on our journey. Moving forward...

We arrived at our hotel in the heart of the city and found the owner to be an australian new yorker Italian whose family had owned the building since the first century. It had been nicely modernized and was a block from piazza navona where so many lovely things awaited - street musicians, hundreds of artists, four rivers fountain, restaurants, and more. My friend, Dudley, who lives in Rome as a missionary, met us at our hotel that evening and walked us past the Parthenon and around a corner to an amazing restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal of his suggestions that reflected the most typical foods of the area. Dudley had been a summer youth pastor at my church when I was in high school and I hadn't seen him in more than 30 years but he looked the same and still had his Alabama accent even after 23 years in Italy! I had wanted to visit with him to find out what God was doing in Italy and that evening Dudley shared from his heart. It was apparent that he loves Italy and especially Rome and loves Italians even more but his heart beats in time with his Father's as he loves and blesses the people of Italy with the truth of the gospel in the face of centuries of religious tradition and spiritual blindness. He joyfully shared about each of his children and grandchildren and his wife all in context with how they all loved their lives knowing they were precisely where God had desired even if people didn't understand. Revelation one: our hearts and prayers for those called to foreign places in full time ministry should never be of pity for their losses through the sacrifices made to answer the call and we should not equate their success with numbers of converts. Instead, taking a queue from Dudley, we should rejoice with them that they are right in the right place at the right time and pray that Father will bless them with courage and endurance as they love the people He has entrusted to them. If we could operate from that platform we would be trusting God to fulfill His plans and rest would come because none of the 'work' would be up to us or those ministering and the 'results' would not be expected or measured by anything but His great love.

After our dinner Dudley walked us back around the Parthenon to a gelato shop that had over 100 flavors all made there daily. Baskin Robins was put to shame to say the least!! We all got different flavors and as we walked back toward our hotel Dudley continued to share history facts and ministry experiences and family fun with us. The more he shared the more I felt that he was hungry for a bit of Americana and also for encouragement that was genuine confirmation of his calling. And I realized that God had answered a prayer for me. I have prayed in recent years that if I couldn't go to foreign lands to minister that I would at least be able to bless those who do. Visiting with Dudley was on the trip agenda because I thought it would be fun and perhaps helpful to us as he shed some light on Rome for two tired Americans. But the visit was really about our giving Dudley a chance to share his heart and be encouraged. Revelation two: sometimes - if not many times - God takes our selfish motives and transforms us in the midst of them in order to do as He had planned all along.

The next day we did a historical Rome walking tour that included such amazing places as the Parthenon, trevi fountain, the forum and ended at the colliseum. Rome was surprise after surprise as we walked. From normal city street sights and sounds to ancient ruins where Nero ruled and Julius Ceasar was murdered and Peter and Paul were imprisoned to Constantine's monuments to his faith in Christ to the steps that Martin Luther climbed only to find his faith still in reformation was amazing. My feet were on the same stones as some of history's most memorable people. It brought life to many things in my heart and mind as I imagined the days and times of those people. And it made me angry as I saw where the Romans cheered at the sport of murder in the colliseum and sad that so many had died in that city because of their faith. But I was also inspired by the knowing that those faithful people really existed and really stood strong in such difficult times. Revelation three: my life is sometimes hard from my limited viewpoint but when I see and experience true faith of true martyrs my life and it's struggles becomes trivial. And I find joy to be deeper and peace easier as I commit to grow in faith. It is refreshing to know how blessed I am as I offer this blessed life back to God for His purposes.

On the way back to our hotel we stopped to refresh at a cafe and ended up sitting with a group of young american girls who were all studying in Rome and missing home. Then we enjoyed a lovely dinner and celebrated my birthday one more time that evening and the next day we did a tour of the Vatican city and all it's wonders. I enjoyed it and saw many beautiful things but it was very crowded and I found it disappoInting that it was really all about the members of the papal lineage memorializing themselves by outdoing those who had gone before. The works of Michaelangelo were awe inspiring and amazing in every way. St. Peters basilica was beautiful and huge but we didn't spend much time there. We wrapped up our last day shopping and celebrating Dee's birthday one more time with yet another great dinner. Revelation next: celebrate every chance you get and love your friends deeply.

Coming home the next day was rough - not so much physically but emotionally as we were tired and wanting to see home and family but sad that our adventure was ending. But for both of us turning 50 began our 'year of jubilee' - a year when the people of Israel were to find restoration of what had been lost or taken and return home in freedom. So Revelation last: coming home is intended by God to be a restoration so I will enter into His jubilee and look forward to all of His joys of restoration and return.

So the adventure continues on...

amy

Proverbs 10:22 The Message  God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.

Read all of my blogs by visiting www.blog.amyharvison.com