One year?!  Yes, one year!  What a challenge it has been.  Some of the challenges have been good and some, just plain tough. 

On the good side of the struggle, I am learning a new language, a new culture, a new way to organize life, and discovering a whole new faith.  Notice the word “new”.  New is good.  New is exciting.  Too much new is overwhelming and tiring.  I think this is one of the primary reasons that people experience culture shock or culture stress.  It is just a normal part of adjusting to all things new.  Needless to say, I am exhausted.  My brain has to work constantly.  There is no auto-pilot.  When I do let myself function there, I find that the produce I am buying isn’t weighed (thus we don’t know how much it is) and I look dumb and I have to go weigh it before I can buy it. 

Health has been a struggle!  It seems my kids have been sick, one right after the other! I suppose this is normal, new (oh, there is that word again!) viruses or strains of colds.  Rowen fell at school and split her eye open -5 stitches and an ambulance ride (she likes this memory –now).  Rowen was also in the hospital for 6 days with a bacterial infection.  I have also had a few minor things here and there.  I have some muscle-skeletal issues that give me problems …making lugging groceries a challenge.  
Soon after I arrived, I received news of several major family health issues State side which included my mom having kidney failure.  When I left, everyone was fine.  It seemed things were falling apart! It was a very difficult time. 

Put an extreme introvert, extrovert, feeler, and thinker on a deserted island and what do you get?  Perfect harmony right?! Everyone circled up singing kumbaya.  Ah, if only.  Team is hard work.  As in all relationships, it takes a lot of effort.  In our context, we are not just co-workers, we are the support network, friendships, and cultural ties that fuel each other.  So when my personality clashes with my teammates personality, we have to figure it out or we’ll drive each other crazy.  This year has been a year of learning each other and how best to relate to one another.  It is not always easy –but it is an excellent opportunity for personal growth!   I have to say that I have some extraordinary teammates and look forward to how God is going to use us -together.  

Ministry here is starting something from nothing.  I’ve never done anything like this before.  When I was in Ukraine, there was a church ready to plug into.  There was a local pastor in charge giving us things to do.  Here, we are it.  We have begun with learning the language (a must! Most people do not speak English well –or at all) and cultural learning.  It is important to be able to communicate –but in ways that are respectful, relevant, and effective.  In essence, this first year has been laying a foundation.  Soon, we will be able to start building!  The cool thing here is that it is God who builds His church …I guess that makes me the hammer.

Everyday life here is more taxing.  A few things that make it different are: It is impossible to multitask at home.  Examples … I cannot run the oven and the vacuum at the same time.  Only one appliance at a time.  In fact, this winter I could not use the oven at all unless I unplugged the hot water tank!  (I am feeling the need to remind you this is a modern country.)  To get all the things needed on the shopping list, I have to go to multiple stores –by foot or the bus.  This takes a lot more time and effort.  In the summer, the day is had in whatever the temperature is for that day –no AC!  When paying a bill or mailing a card, you go to the post office.  There you take a number and prepare yourself to wait …30, 45, even 60 min. before it’s finally your turn.  Daily life just takes a lot more planning and effort. 

Maybe I am supposed to say that living in Italy is wonderful or that serving God cross-culturally is an incredible experience.  And while those things are true …I wouldn’t always describe them that way  …at least not in the first year. 

What I do know is that I am ready to see the Italian people experience God! I am longing to walk an Italian through the bible and see her become a disciple of Christ! I am ready to be a part of the church God is going to build here.  I know that it is all worth the challenge.