Archive for the ‘Italy’ Category
House Hunters International
House Hunters International is a show on HGTV that follows home hunters and their real estate agents as they work through the idiosyncrasies and challenges of finding a home in a foreign culture. This has been one of Sandy’s favorite programs to watch whenever we’ve stayed at hotels or homes with cable on deputation.
Last week I flew to Italy in order to secure an apartment in Rome for my family. I felt like I was on HGTV as our co-laborer in Rome drove me around to the twenty-plus appointments he had set up. We are so thankful for the Homan family and especially the hard work Brother Jamie put in on our behalf in order to help us obtain an apartment.
Each night I would call Sandy to describe the properties we visited and send her pictures through e-mail of the ones I thought might be a possibility. In the spirit of House Hunters International I’ll share our “wish list” for an apartment as well as the three choices that we narrowed it down to.
Wish List:
- Safe area
- Walking distance to grocery and market
- Close to metro that would take me to language school as well as easy access to city center
- Close to church
- 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
- Kitchen appliances (some apartments in Rome have nothing in the kitchen – even the plumbing, cabinets, and countertops need to be installed)
- Large terrace
- Walking distance to play ground or park
- Within our budget
Apartment #1: Beautiful Terrace
On Monday we visited an apartment on the third floor of a three story apartment building on the outskirts of the EUR region of Rome. It was a quiet neighborhood with a police station about a block away. The grocery and market were about a mile walk but a bus would be needed to get to a metro stop. The living room was rather small at 11’x11’ but it had three nice sized bedrooms, with one located upstairs that Isaiah would have loved. There were three bathrooms and the kitchen had updated cabinets and appliances with space for a table. The living room, kitchen, and master bedroom all had access to a very nice terrace that would have the usability of another room. There was a playground for the kids about 100 yards away from the apartment. It was within our budget.
Apartment #2: Ideal Location
On Tuesday we visited an apartment within a gated-complex that was ideally located in the EUR. It was less than a
mile to two metro stops and half a mile to a grocery and market. Within the complex was a basketball court, volleyball court, soccer court, as well as a small playground. Several parks were within walking distance as well as a lake. Also there is a large mall that is only a mile away. The apartment was smaller than we had hoped but was very nicely done. Both bathrooms were updated as well as the kitchen with new appliances and cabinetry. The balcony was fenced-in which provides safety for Pearl since she is such a climber. The living room and dining area would be shared in a larger room that measured 24’x11’. There are three bedrooms with the kids’ bedrooms measuring 8’x11’. It was within our budget. There was a bus stop in the front of the complex that would be great access to church in about 10 minutes.
Apartment #3: Dream Home
Sandy located this apartment on-line a few weeks ago. It seemed perfect although it was at the upper end of our budget. We visited this apartment in Terrino on Thursday. It was by far the largest apartment with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It included a fireplace in the living room and had great natural lighting throughout. The kitchen and bathrooms were a little dated but still nice. There were two terraces with multiple accesses but the wall was less than 3’ high and wasn’t very thick which would be a concern with Pearl’s climbing ability. There were no parks within walking distance and a bus would be needed to get to the metro quite a distance away. We would need to take the bus to the metro to another bus in order to get to church, which would likely take an hour all-told.
So which apartment did we choose?
We chose Apart
ment #2. Even though the rooms were smaller than what we hoped it met all of our needs and even some of our wants. With Sandy’s organizational skills and IKEA furniture we’ll make the most of the space we have. The apartment is beautiful and the convenience of its location, for the price, cannot be beat. Sandy and the kids will feel very safe and there are a lot of things in the area to do as well as easy access throughout Rome with the metro system. Isaiah and I will be able to play ball within the complex and Pearl will have a playground as well if we do not want to walk to the park. Two blocks away is a great pizza place as well as a gelateria. It will be great to minister in our neighborhood which is so close to our church. God provided wonderfully.
I was able to return to the States with a registered contract on this apartment. The Lord answered our prayers for a prosperous week. We are so excited to live in Rome, serve and fellowship with our colaborers, and finally be in the land where God has called us to minister.
An E-mail from Italy
I received this e-mail today from a Christian brother in Italy. He expresses the great need for the gospel there. I thought I would share it with you in hopes that seeing the need, you will develop a deeper burden for Italy. Pray that we can get to Italy no later than September of next year so that we might reach Italian souls for Christ…
Hello Brother Planck!
I just wanted to write you a short email and let you know how glad my wife and I are that you will be coming to be a missionary here in Italy. My name is Jason and I and my family live in the Veneto region of Italy (The Venice/Padova area). We so desperately need more Bible preaching Baptist missionaries here in Italy. I don’t know where you are praying about going to start a church when you get here, but I do feel the need to let you know of the tremendous need of more churches and believers in this North-eastern part of the country.
It grieves us to have to tell people that the city of Padova has just recently eclipsed Torino as the base of a growing Satanic movement in this country! I’m not sure why they chose Padova, but it may have something to do with the large number of Universities in the city with the multitudes of young Italians who are sickened by what they were taught is “Christianity,” aka the Catholic church, and who subsequently, are looking into other religions. It has been documented that our region (Veneto) has approximately 4.5 million people, of whom, only about 2000 are identified as “Evangelical Christians” regardless if they are truly saved or not!!!
The picture here is pretty dark! My wife and I have to drive 1 hour to get to the nearest Bible believing Christian Church. The other few “churches” scattered about are either cold and liberal or Pentecostal-charismatic – hardly a choice for an Independent Fundamental Baptist family!!!
To give you a clear picture of our immediate geographical area, we have two small cities close by, “Este” and “Monselice”, the combined population of which is about 35,000 people and there is NOT ONE even lukewarm “evangelical” church, let alone a real Gospel preaching, soul saving Church for this entire area! Not one! And the city of Rovigo (about 25 miles south of us) is no different with the (sad) exception that the “baptist church” there, has a woman “pastoress” whose EX-HUSBAND is the “pastor” of the “Baptist church” in the nearby city of Ferrara! It’s not hard to see how there is an urgent need for true Bible believing Christians – Fundamental Baptists preferably – to flood this area.
As I stated above, I don’t know where the Lord would have you to go or where you feel led to start a church, but if you could, please pray sincerely about coming to this area. Again, I think of all those college kids in Padova who know the catholic church is false and are looking for answers and the ones who are “evangelizing” them are the new agers, muslims, cults, and other religions from Hell. By the way, please feel free to read this whole email from any pulpit you preach from to let everyone know of Italy’s true spiritual condition, which, I’m sure, you yourselves already know from your survey trip to Rome that I saw from your website. I also have to tell you that, just like in the USA, the southern part of Italy is more evangelized than the north. It’s usually not hard for us to find at least one Gospel preaching church nearby when we vacation in the south. It’s seems to be the North that gets neglected by many missionaries and I don’t know why that is.
Well, Brother Planck, I’ll conclude, by once again thanking you for coming to be a missionary in Italy and following The Lord’s leading! I do hope that no matter where you all go to begin your first church that we will be able to get together and meet. Once again, you can read this email aloud in all the churches you speak at, forward this email to all the pastors and Bible colleges you know of, run off copies, etc.
Oh and one more thing to consider, I’ve heard from different sources that the Satanists have made it one of their primary concerns to “pray” for the removal and expulsion of all Christian missionaries out of Italy! Wouldn’t it be great to “answer” back by tripling our presence here? Amen!!!
May The Lord Jesus bless you all and keep you safe and get you all here soon!
In Christ Jesus,
Jason and Angela
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:36-38
Rookie Notebook
When I presented the need for the gospel in Italy at Calvary Bible Baptist Church in Rochester last month, Pastor Drew Stewart recommended I read an article he found on the internet prior to my arrival that relates what it means to be a cross-cultural missionary to Italy.
The article was written by a Church of Nazarene missionary to Italy in the 1970’s who relives his first nine months on the field. He beings with a military illustration about priorities and relates it to ministry.
If you ask a soldier on the front line how things are going he may say, “Well it’s pretty rough up here. We’re attacking on that hill. We sent a few men up and some have been hit… I think one is my buddy. But we can’t get to him. Listen, when you get back there, tell them to send up more ammunition, we’re running short.” (Front-line problems)
But go back to the rear and ask, “How are things going men?” “Terrible. My tent leaks. I had a sand crab in my boot this morning. The guy next to me snores.” (Rear-line problems)
What are your concerns? What we talk about most displays whether or not we are concerned about the last marching orders of Jesus Christ – His Great Commission.
This article was very insightful about potential “front-line problems” we might face in Italy. He penned his thoughts on his first nine months to “preserve that fresh rookie perspective.” Although I disagree with him doctrinally, it is clear that this missionary had a heavy burden for Italy. The article spoke to my heart personally as I long to be with the people the Lord has called me to reach with the gospel. You can read the entire article by clicking here.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18a