La Piazza Press

La Piazza Press is our newsletter that we use to keep everyone informed of our progress as missionaries with Saint's Equipped to Evangelize in Valvasone, Italy.  Our vision is to see the piazzas (town squares) filled with evangelical Christians.  Would you be willing to share in that vision?  If so, please click the Subscribe button above to receive our newsletter.  For more information, you can visit our website at www.littlesitaly.com

Ministry Highlights - February 20, 2010  

In January, we had our semi-annual staff meeting in San Lorenzo.  This was a great time of refreshment and refocusing on what direction the Lord is leading.  We discussed the growth of our church plant and how we might initiate a new work.  It was decided that within the next year we would move forward with planting a church here in the Casarsa area.  We are very excited about this as it is very close to where we live and work.  Udine is 45 minutes away...Casarsa is only 10 minutes.   We teach ESL in both Udine and Valvasone and believe beginning a church here will increase our effectiveness and give us a greater opportunity to reach out to our community. It will also be a growth opportunity for our church family in Udine who will be involved in the church plant.  Although this is a very exciting time in our ministry, it will not be without opposition from the evil one.  Unfortunately we feel his obstacles during every advancement of the kingdom.  Will you please pray with us that God's will would be done.

We began our Spring semester of English as a Second Language at the beginning of February.  The Lord continues to bless us with lots of students.  We have 175 adults and 15 children attending classes.  We have six full time and part time teachers including Tom and myself.  Seventy percent are returning students which gives us a great opportunity to continue building relationships and sharing the gospel. The beginners class had a dinner party for us a local restaurant this past weekend.  It was a great opportunity to reconnect on a personal level with our students.

Maureen has been enjoying leading a weekly Ladies Bible study on the Books of Ruth and Esther with the ESL girls.  We are using a Wiersbe study entitled "Be Committed" and are learning a lot. 

Personal Highlights

Maureen was in Florida with her mother for Christmas and had a great opportunity to visit many friends and supporters.  She traveled to Jacksonville, Merritt Island, and Ft. Myers.  She also had the opportunity to visit with our family in Pennsylvania.  She left lots of snow in PA and returned to more snow in Valvasone.  We are having a really cold winter just like the USA. Tom attended a missions conference at the beginning of February at McGregor Baptist Church in Ft. Myers.  The Sunday school class that he met during this week blessed him with a new computer.  His old one died the week before he left.  God is always right on time!  He then drove to PA visiting churches, friends, and supporters along the way.  He made it to PA just before the second blizzard hit.

March Schedule

We are planning several events and activities with our English students.  We have a couple of bowling nights and several dinner parties in the works.  In addition, we are in the process of organizing a Ladies Bibles Study on the Book of Ruth and a general Bible study for men and women.  Our church in Udine is also planning several Bible studies and will be inviting the ESL students.  Please pray that many students come.

Support Update

Last month our monthly support took another dip.  We are now at 61% of our monthly need.  If you are able to help, please make your check payable to Saints Equipped to Evangelize.  Put our names on the memo line and indicate whether it is a special or monthly gift.  All contributions are tax deductible.  Please mail your check to:  

S.E.E. - P.O. Box 587 - Bradenton, FL - 34206-0587

If you prefer, you may click on the web link below to pay through Paypal by follow the instructions.  Your donation is tax deductible.  We look forward to your partnership.

http://www.seeteams.org/paypal/MakeOnlinePaymentStep1.php

Praises and Prayers