I want these writings and this blog to be a true window to my life and the work being done here in Italy. My honest thoughts, struggles, victories, etc, that i write here will hopefully let you feel more like you are here with me and experiencing this time with me. So to start, the past week here in Italy has offered many ups along with a few downs. First i would like to give you a breakdown if this past week so you can see what my day to day looks like. Our schedules vary every week but this will give you an idea of what things are like thus far.

Last Sunday the team woke up, had some coffee, and headed off to church. Church starts at 10am on Sunday mornings. We have Bible class and then church service. Service wraps up anywhere from 12 to 12:30. After Church the team got lunch and headed back to the house for the afternoon. On Thursdays I go into town for a Bible Study on 2 Peter. So Sunday afternoon my teammate Kristen, studied over the first chapter of 2 Peter in preparation for the upcoming study. The church family here in Prato is very close with one another and throughout the week will get together for activities. This night the Prato, Pistoia, and Florence Church of Christ congregations all came together to enjoy a night of jazz music in the downtown of Florence. Afterward we went to dinner and enjoyed the company of one another. Our coordinator has a strong desire to bring the churches throughout Italy closer with one another, so events like this are important.

Monday we attented our usual Italian class. In the evening we went to the house of one of the families in the church, Marissa and Luigi. Meal times here are a more special occasion than simply to satisy hunger. I am really fond of this family. Even though we still have a hard time communicating, I hope to become close to them. Marissa makes amazing food and always has three or four courses she insist we get plenty of. When we dont understand her she smiles and laughs saying "non capito"...or "you dont understand". Luigi is an artist and has paintings all throughout the house. He understands english almost perfectly but cant speak it....its fun laughing with him when he is trying to teach us different words for things. We had a good evening and are starting to form closer relationships with the church here which is great.

Tuesday is our Pistoia day. Roger and Heather always have things for us to do Tuesdays in their town. This Tuesday we took fliers and put them in mailboxes all around town. They are invitations to the church. Kristen and i had to run to the supermercato (grocery store) for sugar for the lunch...we effectively used our Italian to ask where the sugar was in the store! It was an accomplishment for us. Even with what we do know...our foreign accent gets in the way...but it feels so good when we are understood. Somedays its like...this is awesome living here and having this opportunity..but the realization of language barrier exists and is very real. When you stand in the store going over and over in your head the words youve learned, only to realize you dont know how to ask where the shampoo or something so simple is...it can be frustrating. This is another lesson in patiance God has offered! It is refreshing to see improvements with my Italian!

Wednesday we got and unexpected visitor in town. During our AIM time in Lubbock we have assisstants that act as mentors to us. Pam McAdams who was our assisstant and good friend in Lubbock came to see us! She had been working with the Chiesa di Cristo in a town about three hours away and decided to make a trip. Her time here with us was so encouraging. Pam is the type of person who goes above and beyond the call. Her example of Christ shines so bright and the few days she spent with us brought so much joy. Wednesday she got to experiance an Italian class with us and we showed her around town. It was a good day!

Thursday is our weekly Bible study in Pistoia. On the way Pam and I talked about the apostles and the progression of their faith. Being away from home and everything being so new, talking and being reminded of the lengths people have gone for Christ was encouraging. To see the first followers of Christ and look back at their examples, you can and will learn so much. From their failings and shortcomings, to the situations they end up in that offer their life to follow him. Its incredible and every time i read about them i find myself learning more about myself, Christ, and my purpose here in Italy.

Friday was awesome. Prato is located near the Tuscan mountains, so hiking paths are easy, accesible and plentiful. Heather and Roger took us on a few mile hike for a portion of the day. Kristen and I walk a bit faster than our 2 boy teammates, and Rogers family (due to children) so on the hike up we had a really great conversation just the two of us. Its here that i let you in on the not so fun part of my week. Kristen recently came to the decision to change fields. She believed she could be more effective for Christ somewhere else. Her talents and the gifts God gave her she didnt feel could be used to their fullest here. I am proud of her for being courageous enough to express this. She is an incredible person and one of my greatest friends on this earth, so it is a hard reality to see her go. Knowing that she made the decision with Christ in mind, i am so supportive of her. She will be finishing her field time in Salt Lake City with the current AIM team there. Back to the hike though, Kristen and i were able to spend a few hours together in God glorious creation and thank him for the friendship we have. As we were walking, realizing she would be leaving in a few short day, I was able to be ok. God promises us he will not give us more than we can handle. Though Kristen leaving is a very hard realization, God is still good, God is still faithful, He is still loving. I can have peace knowing God is not taking Kristen away but rather giving her love and her talents to a new place where she can impact so many people. With God all things are possible and there can be peace and comfort for any situation life throws our way.

Well i have written more than i should probably. But i hope this gave you a better picture of what im doing here! Love you guys so much and keep the Italy team in your prayers as we adjust to life without Kristen. Salt Lake City is about to be so blessed with her! I would love to hear from you guys by snail mail if you get the chance!

Tracie Hunter
Via C. Malaparte, 43
59028 La Briglia (PO)
Italy

Until next time!