Prayer Letter
February 2015
Dear friends,
If you remember, the last time I wrote to you was before leaving for Genoa (north Italy) to start a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) training at the International Evangelical Hospital. Four students of my Theological Seminary in Rome, including me, were trained by a supervisor and medical staff for a month. It was a great time of learning and reflections on the meanings of life in general and of my life in relation to illness, suffering and death.
With the other three students during a break in the terrace of the hospital, Genoa.
After Genoa I went back to Rome, where I am now, to study and complete all the exams left. I lived first in a house (quite far away from the centre) which a lovely brother, member of the Methodist church in Rome, gave me for free. Afterwards I moved to the student residence of my Theological Seminary. I have also worked to support myself and pay room and board. I have done some odd jobs and some people have helped me with money when I could not pay everything by myself. God provides, indeed!
With other people of my student residence, Rome.
Therefore in these months I have completed seven exams and now I have one exam left. In addition I have begun my thesis research in which I would like to explore those passages of the Gospels where, on one hand, there is a relationship between Jesus and his family, and, on the other hand, where there are hard sayings of Jesus on the family in general. Secondly, I would like to analyze to what extent Jesus’ relationship with his family influenced those hard sayings.
There is a news.
The 20th of February I am going to leave for the United States for a three months period (I will be back to Italy the 19th of May). My stay is going to be in Wisconsin, living with a couple of missionaries, in order to get to know with the social and religious reality there. I will be helping two ministers with the Methodist congregations and circuits they are serving. I am very excited to do this also becauseit is going to be my first time in a new continent, with a new culture, new people, and so on. I know that God is and will be with me.
Praise report:
-being able to accomplish so many things in this time of my life;
-health;
-the opportunity to join CPE training in view of my future ministry;
-concentration and speedy in studying,which allowed me to sit seven exams in three months.
-having found odd jobs and strength for working;
-people who have helped me with money;
-having had time to relax and take care of myself;
-having spent time with friends.
Prayerrequests:
-time in Wisconsin;
-travel safety and health;
-being able to settle in the new churcheswhere I will serve;
-being a blessing for those who will be served;
-concentration in writing the thesis;
-finding time to relax and take care of me;
-lastly and most importantly, constant relationship with God.
Thank you for your time and your prayers.
With love and blessings,
Noemi