Church Time

Well, there's a lot that's happened, but it's just way to much to write it all down, so I'll just have to go with the most recent. The other night, I met a new friends from America, Pat who is Catholic. After a few things, I got him to agree to go to church with me on Sunday! We went and he actually had a good time which was awesome! During the service, people who are new always have to stand and introduce themselves and this week, a couple from IOWA stood up! After the service, we talked with them and they ended up taking us all out to lunch! As in, they took all 5 of us kids out and payed for us! They were so wonderful, God is so clearly in their lives. This church is just attracting so many people who are just in love with God and I LOVE IT! Everyone we meet are eager to know God, love him, and some girls there want to join our connection group!

But yes, we all exchanged contact information and I do hope to visit them when we get back to the states! That would be such a wonderful treat!

After we bought them gelato and said our goodbyes, the 5 of us got back on the tram to head home. During this time, I got to talk with Pat about his beliefs and the differences between Catholicism and Christianity. We had a good conversation and we got to talking about how he personally thinks that all religions all lead to the same God, just in a different way, or that they must all be right, and I'm just like no! There was only one way we were created, only one way our world/universe came to be, so there is only one right answer for after we die. Just because we believe in something, doesn't make it right! I can believe I will fly....but I wont.....I wish! I just told him that after researching into it a little and studying, everything points to Christianity and to God and his son Jesus! All of the answers are right there! Then he goes and says that the God he believes in wouldn't condemn 80% of the population to hell. Well...God is who he is, not who you think he is, so in order to know God, you must read his word and understand that he gave us the choice! We choose not to follow him, and for those who have never heard the good news of Jesus, God still wrote the law into their hearts so they know the difference between right and wrong. It was a pretty intense conversation and he was getting pretty frustrated with me at the end. I've been trying to dig into the Bible and find some answers so that if I'm ever asked those questions again, I have direct scripture to give to them. I only pray that what I said to him was the truth and that it will weigh on him and make him seek answers.

But if you ever run into this situation, there are some amazing verses (BTW, just read Galations, it's awesome for this)

"But the scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God's promise is to believe in Jesus Christ." Galatians 3:22

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:16

Another issue we talked about is he just feels that as long as people are good people in general, then they will be fine, which is another lie being fed to him! Thankfully I knew this a little, that it is only through Christ that we will be saved, not by our good deeds! I found some other amazing scripture for this as well!

"I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith."
Philippians 3:9

For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It's not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift so that no one can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8-9

"Well then, is there a conflict between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could have given us new life, we could have been made right with God by obeying it."
Galatians 3:21

After this, I'm sure many people would question the reason for the law! Would say we don't have to follow it if all it takes is faith. Well, like I said before, Galatians is an awesome chapter/letter written by Paul, where he answers this.

"Well then why was the law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are."
Galatians 3:19A

The reason for the law was so that God would show us that we can't be perfect and holy on our own, but that we needed him and had to have complete trust and faith! I feel like I've talked about this before, but it's so important! And just very wonderful at the same time!

Well, I think that's about where I'm at on this subject and be sure that I will continue learning about it, but I encourage you all to learn more about it as well, even if you think you know it all, because I bet you don't! Even after a lifetime of study, it's not possible for us to fully understand the will of God, so you're only fooling yourselves if you think you do!

Well, I was going to put up pictures...but then I realized that they're still on my camera,...in my backpack... the good ones anyway...so I got lazy and didn't get it out. Next time! :-D

HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU ALL!!

Ciao!

Anna

I love Jesus

So, as I said in my last blog, I've just been having a lot of things weighing on me and it was becoming a struggle to let them go. I finally talked to my roommate about it and it was really helpful. I've also continued having a chat with Jesus and it's just been wonderful. Just know that prayers are being answered and I for sure love it.

Last night, we once again had connection group, and my goodness, we had questions flying everywhere and so many amazing things were said. Lot's of truth up in there. In case you want to know what we are studying, we're going through the book of Romans and last night was chapter 3! So, basically, from my understanding, God gave us the law because he knew we would be imperfect, and he knew that we would fail to hit his standard. He made us NEED him in order to be saved because obviously, we couldn't do it ourselves. All along, it was about having faith in God and trusting in him completely that we would be saved. This is why David was saved, and all the other people in the Old Testament. Yes, we must still follow the law, but if we have our hearts fully invested in Jesus, then following the law will just become part of our life. We will be walking in Jesus' footsteps, and he did NOT sin! Yes, we will stumble, but Jesus is right there to pick us back up which is so amazing.

I just love that Jesus fully forgives us for all of our past sins, no matter what we've done. I knew this, but man, it's always just so good to hear and to learn again. I am pure in God's eyes because of what Jesus did for me. What he did for US!

Also, another topic that came up was marriage. Of course us girls want to get married! But it was a topic of how the love between a man and a woman of God who join together, is completely selfless and pure. It's a beautiful joining of two people in love with each other, and in love with God. It just made me reflect back on a previous relationship, and helped me come to terms with it better. I know that there is better for me, and there is someone special if it is in God's will! So right now, we all need to remain pure to our future husbands and wives, because even if we do something now with someone else, that is disrespectful to whoever we will marry in the future, and also to the other person's future spouse. Right now, until it is in God's will for us to meet that certain someone and marry them, we need to be growing in our love and our faith. It's difficult, I realize this, but it is so worth it.

Well, who wants a recipe? Too bad, I can't think of one right now...haha

If you would, could you just pray that God will continue working on my brother's heart and showing him truth? It's still something I constantly pray about and so the more the better!

Ciao!

Anna

Cream puffs!

Be excited, another recipe at the end of the blog!

Well. One cool thing that I've come to notice about being over seas away from most comforts...it doesn't really bother me at all. After reflecting, all the time's I've been away from home, especially on my own, I've never been home sick or had any type of withdrawals. Yes on occasion I may miss my friends and certain things, but it's very easy for me to adapt to my environment. Normally, I'm very resistant to change, but once I get over that small instance, it's not an issue. I feel like this is something God has put into my heart and it's rather exciting. It's helping me be more comfortable with where God is leading me. For awhile, I was getting really anxious about my future and where I'll end up, but after having a few talks with people and with God, I just need to set that aside, because we're not supposed to be worrying anyway, and give all my trust to God. Letting go completely and being fully in the will of God is difficult but something that God is really teaching me to do. I really encourage everyone to strive for this and to let go of your worries and anxiety about the future. If we think too far ahead, we will miss what God has laid out right in front of us.

I guess I still have some things that are still weighing on my heart, but it's a difficult issue to discuss. Nothing I could say in a few sentences but have to have a full conversation about. It's something I continuously pray to God about and I know He hears my prayers and will answer them, it's just the waiting is rather difficult sometimes. This is just my time to really connect with our Father and grow in my relationship with Him so that all other ones become secondary compared to Him. Yeah.

Well, on a lighter note, recipe time!!!!!!!!!!!

Fried Cream puffs:
Dough:
Flour - 1 cup
sugar - 1 tbs or to your liking
salt - pinch
touch of cinnamon
water - 1/2 cupish...

mix all ingredients together and add water. mix together with your HAND! If too dry, add more water, if too wet, add more flour. It should be a perfect dough consistency. Not sticky!

Insides:
Cream cheese - 1/2 cup
sugar - 4 tbs
cinnamon - 1 tbs

mix together!

Roll out little 1/2 inch balls and roll them VERY flat with a rolling pin. Slab a little of the cream in the center, and put another rolled out piece on top. Pinch together very well! (make sure you roll them in a circle)

You should heat up some oil by the way...enough that you can have these be submerged!

Now submerge your treat one at a time until golden brown. Then pull it out and sprinkle a little sugar on top! TADA!

Good with some jam, chocolate or some other kind of sauce on top.

(FYI, I just made up the ingredient amounts...just go with what looks right, cooking isn't a science it's an art!)

Love you all sooo much!
Ciao

Anna

Questions, oh questions

Well, lately I've been having a lot of questions. Not necessarily doubts, just questions about how God works. One of my roomies said she doesn't like to ask them because she's afraid it's a sign of doubt, but I think we should because if we ask them, it means we want to know who God really is and we want to grow in our love and knowledge of Him.

Questions were as follows:

Why is David considered such an awesome guy after God when he murdered so many people?

Why did God allow polygamy when it's pretty clear that He only wanted one man with one woman?

How can we have free will if God is all knowing and we are within His will? If it's His will, how is it mine?

Starting with the first question, I came to the conclusion after much research and prayer that David was seen in such a great light because he followed the Lord with all his heart. No matter what God asked him to do, he trusted in Him and did it without question! What a truly faithful servant he was! Even I don't think I could go out and murder someone, even if God commanded it from me. We should all strive to be like David, following God everywhere He directs us and doing all He commands of us.

For polygamy, just like today, way back when the ratio of men to women wasn't exactly even... There were way more women than men. It was an issue that God had willed/allowed to happen, so he also allowed for husbands to marry more than one wife in order to solve this problem. Back then, the women were unable to provide for themselves since we weren't workers or hunters. If a woman was unmarried, she could either be a slave, become a prostitute or starve to death. Since God loved his children, he allowed polygamy to protect his precious daughters, but now that we're more capable of providing for ourselves (thanks all to God), he wants us to be back to his original plan, being one man and one women, coming together as one.

Now that moves us into free will and God's will. As I mentioned before, when God allowed for polygamy, that was His will, He was letting it happen and He knew that it would! But He also had a plan to move away from polygamy which is where we're at now! Now, let's focus! An awesome friend told me to think of free will and God's will like this: God is outside of time. Time is like this "bubble" and God is outside of it. Everything that happens is the will of God, whether it be something He allows, or something He controls. We were given the ability to choose. We were the ones who let sin into the world, and now we have the choice to either live in sin which leads to hell, or we can choose to live with God, in his love. God want's us to choose him from our own free will so he gave us that ability. So what does that mean about the rest of our choices? Since God knows what we're going to do, then how is it our choice if he already knows? Well remember, he's outside of time! He knows what we've done, what we're doing and what we're going to do. He let's us decide what choice we are going to make and we have to live with that decision because it is His will/allowance that we make that choice. He either allows us to do something, or He comes in and directs us along His path for us. We just have to listen and follow that path.

Here's another picture. For many of us, we were living in sin, not knowing God, and God ALLOWED this to happen. Since it was our decision, He let us make it. BUT, for some of us, He CHOSE us and lifted us OUT of that sin and darkness so that we can be with Him and serve Him. So, I could have continued living in sin, and God would have let me, but because He loves me, God lifted me from where I was and brought me to His kingdom, even though I in no right deserved it. God gave me a new chance at life and man, you have no idea how much I love it! If you are living in darkness, God want's you so badly. He is so much better and so much more fulfilling. I've never been so happy in my entire life. Let Him into your heart! Let him change you.

Change of topic. After my extreme joy in my knowledge that God CHOSE me!, I remembered that there are still sooo many people who live in darkness and are destined to spend an eternity in hell. Coworkers, friends, FAMILY! I've been praying that God would give me a heart for those people because I just always felt like I have a dis-connect with them and didn't really care when I should! Well, after really realizing that I was pulled out, I know what it's like to be in that hole and I remembered how it felt. I just got this overwhelming sadness for everyone who is still there and I just cried and cried. I want to help them and I pray that God will give me opportunities and boldness to drag them out. I did get the chance to talk to my brother over facebook about it (we're not much for phone chats...sad I know) and man, it did not go well. His heart was just so against what I was saying and it was so hard for me to accept that now isn't his time to really accept Jesus into his life. I know that I can't change his heart which was just really hard to deal with but I'm just going to really pray that God will open his heart and that I at least planted the seed within him. I feel like a slight failure but I guess sometimes you do get shot down but you just have to get back up and keep on going. Jesus experienced that many a time, but it didn't stop him!

This was really long...sorry haha!

Prayer Requests: Pray that God will work on my brothers heart and that He will choose Evan (brother) to be one of His children. I love him and don't want to spend eternity without him.
I will continue to work on my parents as well.

I love you all so much and thank you to those who have been helping me with answers and guidance!

Ciao,

Anna

You know it's Autumn!

Well. I think God has for sure been answering my prayers with my roommates. Being with them has been such a great sisterhood! It's nice to be able to share with one another and just have the conversation be fully about God. Nothing is more satisfying than He is! But it's also a good time to hang out with some random new friends!

Yesterday, in order to remember the Sabath, we decided to be lazy and just revel in God. We went to church in the morning and met up with one of our friends from studio! She was so happy to be with us! After church, we went back out our apartment, sans our friend from studio, and just hung out, doing a little bit of reading and researching. After awhile, we decided to pack a little snack/lunch (oranges....and LOTS of CHOCOLATE!) and a blanket. Then, we hopped on the tram and went to this huge park near our place. We sat down on the GRASS (there is virtually NONE in Rome) and just relaxed. After awhile, this group of guys came in front of us and started playing FOOTBALL! Not soccer, legit football. It was so hilarious, never have we seen a group of guys, our age, who couldn't even throw the ball! Obnoxious. After awhile, they started playing a mini game and we got to watch them be obnoxious. Then, Katelyn ran and grabbed the ball when it landed by us and asked to play so eventually, all three of us jut got up and played with them. It was quite a lot of fun, especially since these guys were only about playing, and not about trying to get something else! There english was very nice so we could communicate.

After awhile, they had to take a smoke break and it was getting late, so we packed up and went home. Once we got home. We decided to do a reading for class. Then, we got bored so we took a break and made popcorn balls! (recipe will be at the end!) We gave one to each of our roomies, then pulled our beds together and watched Prince of Egypt! It was quite a wonderful night! I think God just wanted us to revel in our sisterhood and in Him.

God has also been helping me a lot with my patience with others, and it's been so wonderful, knowing he is there when a situation is getting tense or stressful because I can just lean on Him and know that everything is going to be OK.

If you want to know an extra interesting story, ask me about the dream I had. It is rather odd and I'm still not quite sure of the significance of the whole thing, but I liked it!

RECIPE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As usual, you must make the popcorn from scratch.
Heat up the oil (1/2 cup)
put the seeds in the bottom. (I/4 cupish...)
Be sure to stir the whole time. Once they start to pop, put a lid on and shake it, alternating between putting the pot on the heat and shaking until all the seeds are popped!

Put in a bowl and let it cool.

Now, heat up some butter and marshmallows.

I would say....like 2 TBS butter
A whole pack or marshmallows?
Chocolate Powder (2TBS)

Once thoroughly heated, quickly add the chocolate powder and mix with a pinch of salt. Stir together and take off the heat (it should have been medium heat). Slowly add in the popcorn and stir it together like you would with rice crispies. Once it's all mixed, pull off some globs and roll into balls! If you want, mix in some M&M's or nuts or sprinkles or chocolate chips whatever you fancy! Enjoy and happy early Halloween!

Love you all!
Ciao,

Anna

Gazing in Awe

You know. So precious are the little things that God gives us. We don't deserve it at all, but he constantly is pouring gifts upon us. This weekend in Florence was just wonderful! Everything seemed to go so well and I knew it was God directing me and giving me patience and peace. There were times where I could have just flipped out or been running around with my head cut off but it would have been unnecessary for the situation and would have only made matters worse. God just told me to be patient and wait and He just made everything work so well! We almost missed our only bus into town and one of my roommates just kept barking at us, telling us to hurry up but the rest of us (Anna and Katelyn) were very calm with the situation and were praying that God would work it out. The woman who worked at the desk ended up taking us to the stop by cramming the 5 of us into her little car and driving us there! We made the bus because it was running late! Praise Jesus it was such an amazing moment!

But, you must know about our night beforehand! We were all walking this little town where our hostel was and decided to go get some Gelato! All the places were closed...so Anna, Katelyn and I bought a big tub from a convenience store and ate it on our way back. Then, we found this terrace pretty close to our room and sat on a swing out there. The swing had this obnoxious bar that was preventing us from getting a good view of the stars, so Anna looks at us and says "we should get our mattress's and bring them out" so we all ran back to our room, grabbed two mattresses from it with some blankets and pillows. We laid them out on the ground and just looked up at the stars, admiring God's creation. We prayed over our day and sang his praise. It was such an amazing experience. We saw so many shooting stars. I do believe I shall always remember that night!

God is still teaching me and helping me grow so I can only hope that when I come back, it will be evident that God has been working on my heart. I pray you all are well and I miss you!

Much love!

Ciao,

Anna

You ready for this?

Alright, it's been a few days, and sooooo much has happened!

Get ready, there are 3 stories coming your way!

First, this last week we went on a field trip for class. At one point, we were standing at the train station waiting for the train. We knew that it's about an hour ride so we needed to get on quickly to grab seats. Well, when the first train pulls up, I grab a friend of mine and we shove our way on and grab seats for ourselves, as well as Anna and Katelyn. We sit down and laugh about how glad we were that we managed to get seats. Then, this guy sitting across the isle looks at us and says "No Sorrento" (we were going to Sorrento...haha) and Katelyn looks and him and says "Si, Sorrento" and again he said "No Sorrento" We then realize that the train we were on wasn't going where we needed to go and we jump up and realize everyone else was getting off as well! We manage to get off just in time. Then we all look at each other and realize that NO ONE had said a THING about going to Sorrento! Somehow, this guy just knew that's where we wanted to go and he warned us to get off the train! Total God moment. He sent an angel to us to get us off that train before we got lost (Side note, 3 girls got stuck on that train and it took awhile for one of our professors to find them). It was such an amazing moment. We knew that was a gift from God.

Alright, ready for the second? It's quite wonderful!

On the train ride back from Naples (we went from Sorrento to Capri to Naples) Anna and I sat by this couple. The wife, (I shall call her Rosie) was so adorable and after talking for awhile, I was given the chance to start talking to her and telling her about God and his son Jesus. Anna was there too and the two of us were able to talk with her and answer her questions. I feel she just really needed someone to talk to about all of it and we were able to be there. God for sure put us there to be with her. We even got her email address and will be able to hang out with her soon! She was very excited to see us again!

Now, drum roll please! This story just happened to me today and was just such an answer to my prayers, it was amazing!

Well, today after my Italian test, I was getting ready to leave and ran into one of the guys in my studio. He asked me what I was doing and I said going home. He told me he was going to go get a cappuccino and tiramisu. Then, as we were walking out of studio, I asked him if he was going by himself and he said yes. Inside me, I got this feeling and heard "go with him, and talk to him about Me". Immediately after that, he asked me if I wanted to join him. I heard God say that sentence to me again so I said sure! Well, after getting our stuff, we sat down and just started talking. Things lead to marriage with him and his girlfriend and we talked about love, where I was able to talk about the love of God, because God is love! I asked him about his beliefs and he said he is Buddhist. I then started talking to him about this differences between religions and how Christianity is the right answer. The Bible is the only book to claim to be written by God with his word. All other religious books are written by man. I also talked about the Gospel and how all the prophecies about Jesus came true. We talked about the differences with Buddhism and how there are so many gaps with it. He had many questions and I just felt the Holy Spirit within me, helping me answer. Then, out of no where, he looked at me and said "Anna, sometimes when I'm in bed, I feel fear, because I don't know what will happen after I die" So I told him about heaven and hell, and the sacrifice Jesus made for us. I talked about the 10 commandments and that only through Jesus will we be saved and be able to go to heaven to be with our Creator, our Father God. He was so open to what I had to say, and what made the conversation so worthwhile was what he said at the end. He looked at me and said "Anna, I think God is talking through you to me", "I think this is my first step towards Christianity", and "I want to be with you in heaven." I was just so filled with joy and couldn't stop smiling. At the end, he told me that he wants to talk like that again soon, so I'm going to bring my Bible and we are just going to have a good time talking about God and Jesus. Please, please pray that the Truth will weigh on his heart and that he will be open to it and come to God. Today was so beautiful and I want for him to continue to grow.

God is so wonderful. I pray for you all back home, and may God be with you there. Just keep opening your hearts and growing.

"For the Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you""
Psalm 32:8

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened."
Mathew 7:7

Much love!!!

Ciao

Anna