My favorite Italian evening ritual... The Passeggiata

       As day softens into dusk in Italy, something in the air seems to tug people from their homes and workplaces to participate in one of the enduring traditions of Italian life: la passeggiata.
The Passeggiata is a popular Italian ritual, so regardless of where you are in the bel paese, you should always be able to find and join the local stroll. It starts around dusk and happens most often in the historical center of the town or along the beachfront lungomare. 
Andiamo a fare qualche vasca! (Literally, let’s go do some laps—as in a pool), Italians say to one another. However, this "cultural performance," as sociologists describe it, involves much more than strolling to and fro.

I (Edina) took this photo in Rome this fall on the Piazza di Spagna. 

In Riva del Garda (Trentino), the streets buzz with toddlers on tricycles, giddy teenagers in their glittery shoes, young couples, holding hands and stealing kisses and moms, dads and grandparents meeting other moms, dads and grandparents and talking about their day. I remember the air was balmy and the gentle evening breeze was irresistible. I simply couldn't stay in my room. 

During the week, the passeggiata marks the end of the workday and offers a moment of sociability before the family dinner. On Saturday and Sunday, the passeggiata often becomes the main social event of the day, when entire families take to the streets.

The most important thing, it seems, is simply seeing and being seen (vedere e farsi vedere). In some cities, people clearly dress to impress or at least to show how well life has been treating them. Shirts are pressed; jeans, if worn, are stylish. Even babies in their prams are ready for proud display.

For townspeople of all ages, the passeggiata reinforces a sense of belonging. The greeting of friends and acquaintances and the sharing of the latest news weave everyone into the human fabric of the community.

(Courtesy to Dianne Hales)

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77 fun facts about Italy

I bumped into this website (www.lifeinitaly.com) that had a list of fun facts about Italy. I thought I would share some with our friends. Enjoy!

1. Rome is further North than New York City. New York City is about the same latitude as Naples, Italy. In Rome and Naples, it only snows briefly once every several years while in New York snow is very frequent in the Winter
2. Pizza was "invented" in Naples around 1860s
3. Italy is slightly larger than Arizona
4. Italy holds the world record for having the most elevators. 
5. Every day 3000 euros is tossed into the Trevi Fountain
6. The average Italian family has 1.27 children.
7. The Italian flag is inspired by the French flag introduced during Napoleon's 1797 invasion of the peninsula.
8. The average Italian makes $26,700 a year, however those in the more prosperous north make almost $40,000.
9. The thermometer is an Italian invention.
10. Italy's unemployment rate is around 8.6%, but it is as high as 20% in the more impoverished south.
11. Italian farms produce grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives, beef, and dairy
12. The name of Electricity measurement Volt comes from Alessandro Volta who invented the first battery in 1779
13. The average life expectancy at birth for an Italian is 79.54 years.
14. The piano hails from Italy
15. The average Italian consumes half a pound of bread a day
16. Italy's contributions to science include the barometer, electric battery, nitroglycerin, and wireless telegraphy.
17. Famous Italian explorers include Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo  and Amerigo Vespucci.
18. Today's modern Italian language originated in the region of Tuscany.
19. The automobile is one of Italy's greatest products.  In addition to the Fiat brand, Fiat owns the Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler brands.
20. With almost 40 million visitors, Italy is the fourth most visited country in the world.
21. Italy is home to two microstates, San Marino and Vatican City .
22. Cologne came out of Italy.
23. The ice cream cone is an Italian invention.
24. Mt. Vesuvius last erupted in 1944, destroying a number of neighboring villages and the city of Pompeii.
25. Eyeglasses are an Italian invention.
26. The average Italian is 41 years old.
27. The average Italian consumes 26 gallons of wine a year.
28. Italy's major industries include tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, and ceramics.
29. Italy has more hotel rooms than any other nation in Europe.
30. The espresso machine hails from Italy.
31. Italy is the world's seventh largest industrial economy.
32. Barely a third of Italy's land is arable and suitable for farming.
33. The telephone was created by an Italian Meucci 
34. Since the end of WWII, Italy has seen almost 60 governments come and go.
35. The area around Venice is one of the wealthiest region in Europe
36. Over 75% of Italy is mountainous or hilly.
37. The typewriter is an Italian invention.
38. Italians used to be known for having large families, however Italy is now known for having Europe's lowest birthrate.
39. Most unmarried children live with their parents
40. The average Italian consumes 25 kilograms of pasta a year.
41. The Jewish Ghetto in Rome is now one of the most expensive real estate area in the city
42. Rome- over 5 million people
43. Italy has a population of over 58 million.
44. Italians refer to their country as Italia.
45. Italy imports over 75% of its energy.
46. The service sector accounts for almost 70% of the Italian economy.
47. The Seven Hills of Rome are Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal.
48. The symbol SPQR can be found on many ancient buildings in Rome. It stands for "the senate and people of Rome."
49. Rome was founded in 753 BC.
50. Italy did not become a united country until 1861
51. Every kid between the ages of 6-14 go to mandatory school. More than 90 percent of them attend public schools considered better for learning than private schools.
52. Before Rome became a republic and an empire, it had seven kings.
53. The first king of Rome was its legendary founder, Romulus.
54. "Ars longa, vita brevis" is a common saying in Italy. It means "art is long, life is short" and reflects the Italian love of leisure.
55. An engineering marvel of the ancient world, Cloacus Maxima, is the sewer of Rome.
56. The first Roman Emperor was Augustus Octavian, who came to power in 27 BC.
57. The Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, after its last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was forced to abdicate by barbarian invaders.
58. A Roman Legion was made up of 6,000 men.
59. Italy's current constitution took effect January 1, 1948
60. The president of Italy is a ceremonial figure.
61. The prime minister serves as the head of government and is the one who runs the country.
62. Since October 1946, the national anthem of Italy has been Inno de Memeli .
63. Family recreational activities in small villages include taking a traditional Sunday passeggiata (family stroll)
64. The colors of the Italian flag represent three virtues: hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red).
65. The Italian Republic does not have an official motto, but it does have a common phrase: "L'Italia e' una Repubblica democratica, fondata sul lavoro" (Italy is a democratic Republic, founded on labor).
66. Italy has over 3,000 museums.
67. The national sport of Italy is soccer (known as football outside of America).
68. The Italian language evolved from the Latin of the Roman Empire.
69. The Italian peninsula is surrounded by five seas (the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenean, Ligurian, and Mediterranean).
70. The Italian island of Sicily is famous for being home of the illicit Maffia criminal organization.
71. Napoleon spent his first exile on the Italian island of Elba.
72. The Alps mountain range form part of Italy's northern border, and for a long time, protected the peninsula from invasion.
73. Italy has three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli.
74. Milan is home to Italian fashion and finance.
75. Rome's nickname is "The Eternal City."
76. Around 1284 in Italy, Salvino D'Armate was credited with inventing the first wearable eye glasses
77. Italy has the highest number of cultural sites recognized by UNESCO world Heritage

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It's official! + What you didnt know about Tarantella

We know that the Lord is never late and He always knows the perfect time for everything, but we have been anxious nevertheless to receive our official invitation letter from NTM ITALIA. We can gladly declare now: it has come! Thank you, Antonio and everyone else who was involved in getting it ready for us. We are stoked to go and start our ministry in Italy as soon as God raises our support.
Praise his name for everything!

A different topic: I was just flipping through a book about Italy and I found an interesting article about
The traditional Italian dance of TARANTELLA. Maybe you have heard of it.
"Italy's lively and graceful folk dance, the Tarantella, grew out of tarantism-the hysteria that appeared in 15th-to 17th century Italy, and was prevalent in Galatina. Alleged victims of the tarantula spider's bite could supposedly cure themselves through frenzied dancing which sweated out the poison."

I bet ya didn't know that! ;)

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My trip to Hungary and Italy

So! I just returned from Europe. I am still fighting jet leg and constant headaches, but I'm getting there. It is so good to be back home.... HOME.... by the way, many of you ask me how it was being back "home" in Hungary. Well.... I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with my family, I miss them all the time, but as far as my "home" goes, it is here in the US right now, where my husband and son, and of course where my kitchen is!!
For years I resisted the culture here, I kept comparing everything to "back home", and I must say I was miserable all the time. I was homesick and depressed a lot. But after a couple of years living here in the USA I said to myself: "You know what? No! I live HERE now! This is the home of my husband and son, so this is MY HOME TOO! My home is where my family is!" It wasn't until I accepted it that I finally was okay living here. I learnt to appreciate a lot of things about the American culture and tried to pick up its pace. I adopted the culture as my own and stopped fighting it. So if you ask me today how it was being "back home", I will tell you, It was great, but now it is so good to be BACK HOME! :)

HUNGARY
I spent one week in Hungary. The main reason for this visit was my brother's wedding. They asked me to be the wedding photographer, which first made me really nervous (I am not a professional photographer), but then I got really excited about the task. I looked at a lot of wedding photos on Pinterest and other places for ideas. However, when the wedding day came there was no time for getting my little idea book out. It was like SNAP SNAP SNAP all day, I tried not to miss any important moments. :) So I had to just listen to my guts and SHOOT!! ;) I am so glad that they didn't only like but loved the photos. Especially a few which were actually taken in "in-between" moments when nobody looked or when we were just "playing around" with the light etc.

First few days of the week was preparations, then a two day wedding, then clean-up. I also did some visiting and shopping. It was tirering, but it was so good to be back with my family a little bit. 

The wedding: we made most of the food since it was a small family reception. Actually, lunch and dinner, and the next day a dinner for some more family members who were not there on the first day. 

Here are some pics of the food: (These are just samples, we had lots more traditional wedding foods like stuffed cabbage rolls, beef stew or Husleves)

ITALY

Then on Monday night I flew to Rome. My plane landed late, like 10PM. A nice guy, Alessandro picked me up and drove me to the Bible School where I stayed for a few nights. I was so tired and sick after that flight OMG even though it was "only" a 90-min. flight! As he was driving like 60 miles an hour on those narrow and curvy little one lane streets I commented, "Oh, glad this is a one way street, it would be pretty scary if there were cars coming from the other direction too since we cant see whats around the corner...." 

He goes, "Oh this is not a one way street..." Gulp. O.O  Oops. 

Driving in Italy: You keep pushing your "nose" out slowly but steadily and eventually you will get through intersections and jams. When you hesitate and pause is when accidents happen--my Italian guide explains. People drive fast. I could probably best compare it to driving go-karts and bumper cars. No kidding. 

I planned a ROME-DAY for the next day. I had my map with all the want-to-see sights staked out on it. I had my umbrella, because the weather-man said it would rain, I had my comfy walking shoes on, money, camera, sunglasses..... everything I needed! I spent 10 and a half hours WALKING in Rome, I literally couldnt feel my legs and feet by the end of the day, but I kept dragging myself. And I found ALL my sights!!!

Even those tiny little shops buried in narrow little streets that I saw in a travel book and wanted to visit!

So I was quite proud of myself. I took the subway too a few times and I found my way around Rome very well!! 

Vatican City, Basilica di San Pietro

The Italian "Hollywood"

On Wednesday I took the train down to PIETRACATELLA, a 1500 years old town built on the top of the mountain. I stayed with the Marino family for a few days. They are going to be our co-workers in Italy next spring when we move over there (God willing). We had a good time getting to know each other and talking about many details of our future ministry in Italy. 

Here are a few pics of Pietracatella, this enchanting little Italian hill-town. 

Antonio and Dolores, Director of New Tribes Mission Italia and his wife :)

Beautiful 1000 years old church. According to the legend, Hannibal buried his fallen soldiers here after a battle. 

The whole town is carved out of a HUGE rock

Pietracatella

Beautiful scenery

the little church plant of Pietracatella

Milk vending machine (fresh local milk from the farmers)

"Street of the Hungarian Revolution". I feel so honored. 

Very old church

"MY" Fiat 500 :)

Happy Birthday Antonio!!!

Tanti auguri a te....

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Edina to Europe

I am  leaving for Europe in a few days!!! :)  I will spend a week in my hometown in Hungary where my brother is getting married. I will be the photographer at the wedding :)
Then I will fly to Rome and spend a week in Italy. The plan is that I spend a few days in Rome, then I will take the train down to central Italy, Pietracatella where I will meet the director of New Tribes Mission Italia and his family for a few days. This will be a very nice opportunity to mutually get to know each other since Scott and I are praying about serving in Italy as full-time missionaries with New Tribes Mission.
Please pray for my travels and for God's direction and provision for our lives. Thank you!!!

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Immeasurable worth

I came across this great story in the book I'm reading these days called Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas.
I highly recommend the book to every wife who desires to grow in her marriage and her role as a wife.

Immeasurable worth

In the twelfth century, the vast wealth of Weinsberg Castle lay in peril. Enemy forces besieged the stone fortress and threatened the riches that at within. The inhabitants stood no chance of defending themselves against such a great horde, and the opposing forces demanded a full and complete surrender. If the occupants would agree to give up their lives, the women and children would be spared.
After consultation, the women of Weinsberg Castle asked for one provision: they asked to leave with as many possessions as they could carry. If the opposing forces would agree to this one request,the man inside would lay down their arms and hand over the castle's riches. Fully aware of the wealth of riches loaded within the castle, the enemy forces agreed. After all, how much could these women take?
Finally, the castle gates opened, and the sight that emerged elicited tears from even the most calloused soldiers. Every woman carried her husband on her back.
How many of those rescued men were perfect? Not one. But every one of those imperfect men meant more to their wives than anything they owned.

Where is y o u r greatest wealth?

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Blessed on Saturday morning

Blessed on Saturday

Saturday morning we went out to the Dutch Treat campground where we met up with some old and new friends. We were reported the day before that a few little girls in the campground decided to set up a lemonade stand for a whole week and give all the proceeds to a missionary family! Namely: to US! :)

They had a Buy one get one free sale going all week and even with that they were able to raise 70 dollars!!! 

Wow..... we were so humbled and encouraged, there are no words!

We went out to see the girls and we gave them a short presentation about the ministry and people of Indonesia. We praise the Lord for the hearts of these precious girls and pray that He will bless them through this as well! Thank you for blessing us!!!

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July update :)

 

H e l l o  F r i e n d s, 

We are getting ready for Scott`s upcoming trip to Indonesia in August. 

He is very excited about it! All the plans are coming together nicely. 

He needs to raise $2,500 for this trip. 

If you would like to donate or have more info on it please KLIKK HERE.  

 

Many of you ask how our support raising is going and how you can pray for us. 

The Lord allowed us to raise $1,507 monthly support so far. Praise His name!!!

But we can not consider leaving for Indonesia until we have raised at least $4,152 monthly support.

So we need to raise another $ 2,645.   :)  

Just to break it down for you,

if   we   had  264 people giving $10 a month, we would be fully supported! :)

OR

if we had just 132 people giving $20 a month, we would be fully supported! :)

OR

if we had just 52 people giving $50 a month, we would be fully supported! :)

OR

if we had just 26 people giving $100 a month, we would be fully supported! :) 

We are ready to leave as soon as the Lord opens the way for us!! :)

But we know that God is not late and that he will raise the rest in His good time.

Meanwhile please pray for us as we are contacting churches and talking to individuals about this ministry opportunity. Please pray that we will encounter with churches and individuals who want to partner with us financially too.

God is changing the lives of tribal people- You can be a part of that today!!!

The resources you invest in through our ministry are focused on one goal: 

PLANTING CHURCHES AMONG TRIBAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO THE GOSPEL!!!

If God is leading you this way, please visit our BLOG for more information. :)

Praise: Edina`s friend from Hungary is coming to visit for 3 weeks in August while Scott is gone to Indonesia. :) 

Praise: a couple of month ago we spoke at the Church of the Open Door in Wyoming and we met a nice lady whose husband was Indonesian! :) He had passed away a few years ago but she told us about 3 other Indonesian ladies who live in Zeeland, MI. So a week ago we all got together for lunch. They fixed us a very nice Indonesian meal. We talked a lot about Indonesia. It was a real treat!! :)

 

Thank you for all of you who have been praying for us and supporting us!!

May God reward your eternal investment!!

Orando et laborando,

Scott and Edina

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weekend in kankakee

A HOT weekend we spent in Illinois. Tim and Tanya Berg are old friends of Scott. He was actually best man at their wedding. We stayed at their house the whole weekend. Thanks guys for feeding us, entertaining us, letting us intrude your house! 

The city of Kankakee, IL

Benjamin at the farmers' market
The Illinois sweet corn was SWEET!! :)

Benjamin had a fascination with the flowers

Sniffing pretty flowers

On Sunday morning we went to Grace Bible Church with our friends. To our surprise the guest speaker was none less than Dave Meyers from new tribes! He spoke about perseverance in our journey. It was very encouraging. At the evening service we had the privilege to share our testimonies and about the ministry that the Lord has called us to do in Indonesia. Many people came up to us afterwards with questions, or to tell us about their Hungarian relatives. That was very cool! :)

Benjamin having fun with his little friends

The Carmical family from Papua New Guinea, Dave and Carolyn Meyers from the NTM campus in Missouri and us

Beautiful memorial roses from Ecuador. They are just as tall as me.  5'3"

On the way home

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