Agape Italia update

 

Individuality vs. Community

As Simona entered my apartment the other night for our bi-weekly Bible study she didn’t even bother to take her jacket off before she made the obligatory round of baci to everyone present. If she didn’t know someone, she took time to introduce herself and after about five minutes she was able to unwind from her scarf and settle into the evening—now that the introductions were finished.As I watch her go through this same routine every other Tuesday I have started to wonder, “Is there more to Simona’s behavior than just being polite?”As we learned from Elfi last month, Americans tend to value individuality more than Italians. This affects us in a wide range of areas–from our outlook on life down to our clothes. To take this thought one step further this month, we wanted to look at how our independence can affect relationships.Do we end up disregarding community because we value individuality?The more I think about it, Simona is not only honestly sweet to everyone-even strangers- but when she enters our full apartment she isn’t thinking about herself. Her focus is on the group.Examples of this community-centered mindset abound in Italy. In the education system, the success of the whole class is of utmost importance. The teacher pairs up kids who are struggling with the kids who understand the lesson so that everyone can learn. The Galloways witnessed Italian community in a unique way in the hospital. Shared rooms, families caring for the other patients, and an overall sense that it is more enjoyable to share the experience with others.Marti Sanders learned a lesson about community on a recent train ride. The elderly woman across from her pulled out a bag of cookies and before eating one herself, promptly offered her snack to the three strangers sitting around her. Marti appreciated this thoughtful and yummy gesture, but didn’t think too much about it. Later, she was traveling with a group of Italian friends and bought a snack for herself. After eating the entire helping, her Italian friends kindly told her how strange it was that she never offered what she had to the others. After slight embarrassment, Marti now understands. It’s not about the food, it’s about being aware of those around you. “Even if it’s as little as offering each person in my train car a piece of gum or a cracker. It communications a wealth of caring to those around me,” she says.As we try to build movements everywhere they will take place in community. It is vital for us to understand what community means to our Italians friends.So, the next time you enter a large group, don’t stand in the corner only talking to the people you know. Embrace the Italian perspective. Get to know everyone there. Not only will it kill that wallflower image, it will express genuine friendship and care.Oh, and share any snacks you may have on you. It can’t hurt. 

Special thanks to Sarah Verling for this article.  To read more about what God is doing in Italy, check out the latest Agape Italia update.

Dostoevsky…

he just keeps coming back

I don’t believe much in coincidences.  I think there is usually connection when things keep coming to the surface.  That being said, Dostoevsky just keeps coming back.  I’m not sure why that is, but this Russian author has been popping up everywhere.  I remember the first time I heard of Fyodor Dostoevsky was when I was on a mission trip to St. Petersburg, Russia back in 2005.  The only thing I knew was that he was an author and there was themed restaurant by the same name of one of his most famous novels, The Idiot.

This past summer I got it in my head that I wanted to read more classical novels.  A little strange because in high school I avoided having to read anything of the sort.  I started by reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wylde because I had seen the play and there is a song by James Blunt called Tears And Rain that references the main character.  After finishing that, I was searching through the Barnes and Nobel classics and came across The Idiot so I decided to pick it up.

I’ve been reading it for quite some time now, picking it up and putting it down from time to time.  This latest time I picked it back up after reading an article from Relevant magazine that listed the novel in their top five list of modern classics.  In their review, they said that like a typical Russian writer, Dostoevsky can seem to write about a streetlamp for 45 pages.  I laughed in agreement.  What drove me to pick it back up is that the “idiot” is considered by many to be the greatest Christ figure in literature, displaying grace unthinkable and redeeming those truly needing a deliverer.  (I am still reading with about 200 pages to go).

As I was reading The Holiness of God, by R. C. Sproul last month another instance of Dostoevsky showed up.  Sproul wrote a common paraphrase from Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov.  “If God does not exist, everything is permitted.”  I thought this was a thought provoking quote.  Just a few days before reading this quote I was talking with a student and I asked them what their life would be like if there was no God.  She said that her life would not change at all because she didn’t even know if she believes in God.  I told her my life would be radically different if there was no God, because God has worked so much in my life that for there to be no God, I would live like the rest of the world and there would be nothing to stop me from seeking every desire that I have.

Today was the most recent Dostoevsky sighting for me.  I was listening to the second of a series ofsermons by Tim Keller titled Reasons for God.  Tim is a pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NYC.  This particular sermon was on pain and suffering and why God allows it in the world.  He talked three ways to look at pain and suffering.

 

Look back to Christ suffering and dying for our sins as proof that the reason for pain and suffering is not that God doesn’t care or unable to do anything about it.

 

Look ahead to our inheritance found in heaven where we will experience restoration, the first fruits seen in the resurrection of Christ.  Here Tim Keller quotes Dostoevsky from The Brothers Karamazov (which happens to be on my bookshelf, but I’m not sure how it got there).

“I believe like a child that suffering will be healed and made up for, that all the humiliating absurdity of human contradictions will vanish like a pitiful mirage, like the despicable fabrication of the impotent and infinitely small Euclidean mind of man, that in the world’s finale, at the moment of eternal harmony, something so precious will come to pass that it will suffice for all hearts, for the comforting of all resentments, of the atonement of all the crimes of humanity, of all the blood that they’ve shed; and it will make it not only possible to forgive but to justify what has happened.”

 

Look into the Gospel where our hope is found in Christ, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross so that He might redeem us.

If you go this far, thanks for sticking with me and listening to my Dostoevsky connections.  I’ll let you know how the rest of The Idiot turns out.

 

Don’t let this happen to you… 

I recently received and email from my mom saying: 

“Jack and Carson were so excited to see your prayer letter arrive that they actually got it off the kitchen counter and ATE it before I even had a chance to open it. Could you please email me a copy of it?” At first it sounded like the stereotypical high school excuse for missing homework, but she sent a photo as proof.

If you should find yourself in a similar situation, do not be alarmed.  You can just check out my foro romano section linked at the top of the page to check out any past prayer letters that the dogs might have eaten.  

 

Amazing Race…

  This week my friend Megan is visiting.  Megan went to Miami with me and some of the others, and we worked together at the university  bookstore.  While everyone was at Bristol for the student conference, Megan and I took an Amazing Race style tour of Italy making stops at Florence, Pisa, Verona, Venice, Orvieto and Civita over four days.  It was an intense, fun weekend, but I am glad to be back in Rome.  I will be posting pictures on my flickr page soon.

 

Coming your way…

Speaking of Bristol, thank you for all your prayers.  We were able to send seven students from Rome and several others from Salerno to the student conference in Bristol.  I can’t wait to tell you all about it in my February prayer letter.

 

Please be praying…

Please be praying for us as we are planning for spring break trips that are coming up.  From March 8-28 we will be having around 120 student from Miami, Ole Miss and other campuses coming to Rome and sharing their faith with Italian students.  Please pray for these students that they would raise the financial support needed to come over, that their hearts would be prepared to take steps of faith and for the Italian students that they meet.  This is such a great time and a huge encouragement, but can be quite tiring with so much responsibility. 

J. Crew coming to Rome?

Actually no, but from this ad it looks like J. Crew is trying to bring Rome to the US.

From the looks of things, I think it would be best if J. Crew just forgot about Rome.  Please know that Romans do not dress this way and if they saw someone wearing this they would probably laugh.  Don’t get me wrong, Rome is as diverse as any big city, but it also has a much more urban grunge feel to it.
Check out this video though.  If you don’t have the desire to visit Rome, maybe this romanticized  ad will entice a change of heart this Valentine’s day.  If you can look past the conspicuously placed yellow purse you will be able to see many  great shots of Rome:  the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Castelo San Angelo and the Pantheon.
It is quite a fun video.  Click here to check it out.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Rome,
Joel
PS-  Thanks to Eric Macum for telling me about this video!

What do Christopher Columbus, Star Wars II and the Barber of Seville have in common?

Have you ever played the game called Tribond®?  It’s the game that asks:  “what do these three things have in common?”  At first glance there does not seem to be any possible connection but the object is to figure out the connection, no matter how obscure.  Here’s my Tribond® question for you:  “what do Christopher Columbus, Star Wars II and the Barber of Seville have in common?”  The answer isn’t too difficult.  In fact the answer is in the last clue.  All three have ties to Seville, Spain.  

Christopher Columbus:  The tomb of Christopher Columbus is found in the Cathedral of Seville.  This is (L to R)  Me, Matt, Chris and Kanda doing O-H-I-O in front of his tomb.  But it seemed like an appropriate thing to do.

Star Wars II:  In the second episode of Star Wars there is a scene of Queen Amidala’s palace on her home planet of Naboo.  The scene was filmed in Seville at the Plaza de España in Seville.  This is a photo I took from one of the upper balconies.  I really like this plaza.

Barber of Seville:  This opera was set in the town of Seville and while I was there I felt compelled to find the Barber of Seville and have my hair cut by him.  I mean, how often are you in Seville and in desperate need of a haircut?

Thanks for playing the game with me.  I’ll tell you more about Spain over the next few days.  In the meantime you can check out my photos on flickr and tell me what you think.  I love feedback.  

Ciao for now,

Joel