Jan-Feb 2002 (Year 3, Number 5)
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News
Tidbits
1. The European Nazarene Youth Congress was held in Gelnhausen, Germany between Christmas and New Year’s Day. We had an awesome week in snowy Germany together with more than 100 Nazarene youth from 12 different countries. The days were filled with seminars, worship services, activities, and free time. God was present in powerful ways touching lives, changing hearts, and calling youth to ministry! The four youth from Catania had an incredible time and were really impacted and challenged spiritually. The next European NYC will be in Sofia, Bulgaria in August 2004!
2. We had the privilege of joining about 80 youth from Spain, Portugal, and the Azores at a youth evangelism conference in Lisbon, Portugal in February. Joel lead 2 workshops and also preached in one of the services. It was a great opportunity to meet more of the youth on the Western Mediterranean Field and to begin to catch a united vision for youth ministry across these nations of southwestern Europe.
3. As the Field Youth Ministry Coordinator, Joel will also be visiting each district on the Field (Azores, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain) this Spring to hold Youth Leader Training workshops. These will be good opportunities to continue to cast a vision for youth ministry, raise up youth leaders, encourage unity and communication, and to explore together creative ways for outreach and discipleship among today’s youth in these nations.
4. In the middle of January, a couple called us unexpectedly to ask if they could come and meet us. They had eaten some of our Christmas cookies we had given to one of their relatives who lives in our building, and they were curious to meet us. We welcomed them to our home and had a nice conversation. A few days later they came over for dinner together with their children. Since then, we have had several opportunities to spend time with them and get to know them better. The father claims no Christian faith, but he has now expressed a desire to talk seriously with Joel about the meaning of life and spiritual things. Pray for this family that God would soften their hearts and call them to respond to the Gospel!
5. We were in Catania on February 4-5 during the festival of Sant’Agata, the matron saint of the city. Many people (young and old alike) wore white robes and black hats to show that they were devotees of Sant’Agata. About 1:30 in the morning a cart passed carrying a Catholic priest standing next to the golden statue of Sant’Agata. The priest accepted money and other offerings to the saint from people throughout the night-long festivities. Another man picked up children that parents offered to him, and held them up so they could see the statue. Others collected tall yellow candles (more than a meter high) which people purchased and then offered to Sant’Agata. People clapped as the cart went by. Many made the sign of the cross toward the statue. Some of the devotees pulling the cart were yelling loudly over and over, "Citizens, citizens, citizens, are you all devoted? Are you all devoted?"
Pray with us for the people of Sicily. The people of Catania are this devoted to Sant’Agata. The people of Palermo are equally devoted to Santa Rosalia. They believe in them. They pray to them. They ask for miracles. They give offerings. Their devotion to these saints seems greater than their commitment to Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would illuminate people's hearts and minds. Pray for transformed lives and for freedom from superstition and fear.
Answers to Prayer
1. Our Open House in January was a blessing in many unexpected ways as God opened doors for us to interact with various neighbors whom we hadn’t met. Continue to pray for open doors.
2. The Nazarene Youth Congress in Germany was an blessed week for all the youth who were present. Continue to pray for our youth all across Europe as they seek to live out their faith in difficult situations.
3. We had an opportunity to minister to our doorkeeper Michele’s family during the recent death of his brother. We can’t measure the results, but we know that our love, concern, and sympathy for this family deeply impacted them during a difficult time. Continue to pray for this family and our daily interaction with them.
4. We have daily opportunities to speak with people in our neighborhood. Continue to pray that God would open doors for spiritual conversations during these encounters.
5. Construction began in early February on the church building in Catania!
Prayer Requests
1. Pray that God would illuminate our path as we make decisions about future ministries such as offering home Bible studies and community English courses.
2. Pray for the four youth ministry teams coming to Palermo this summer. They will be assisting in various ways to reach out and minister to people in the community around our home.
3. Pray for the Italy South District Youth Council - Joy Cereda, Emanuele Sorrentino, and Alice Frascaspata.
4. Pray for our physical health and spiritual wellness as we live and minister in a very challenging environment.
5. Pray that God would call Italian youth and young adults to be pastors, teachers, and leaders in our churches in Italy.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. It has been humorous to watch people adjusting to the new Euro coins and bills. In early January, we got a great deal paying less than 1 Euro for a pizza and a coke that cost nearly 5 Euro. The cashier had given us far too much change in the unfamiliar coins. We tried to explain it to the manager in order to correct the mistake, but she was also too confused and just said to keep the money!
2. In Italy, it’s not proper to eat bread together with the pasta dish (first course). Bread should always be eaten together with the meat dish (second course) or with the salad (following the second course).
3. Sicily is located just 5 km (3.1 miles) from the mainland of Italy and 160 km (100 miles) from Tunisia in Northern Africa.
4. Pizza + Pasta = Pray for Palermo!
5. Feel free to share Sicilian Sketches with others or with your church! Email us anytime if you wish to be added to or removed from our newsletter list.
Joel and Sara Mullen
Via S. Aldisio, 47
90146 Palermo, Italy
Phone: (39) 091.521635
Email: jsmullen@interfree.it
1. The European Nazarene Youth Congress was held in Gelnhausen, Germany between Christmas and New Year’s Day. We had an awesome week in snowy Germany together with more than 100 Nazarene youth from 12 different countries. The days were filled with seminars, worship services, activities, and free time. God was present in powerful ways touching lives, changing hearts, and calling youth to ministry! The four youth from Catania had an incredible time and were really impacted and challenged spiritually. The next European NYC will be in Sofia, Bulgaria in August 2004!
2. We had the privilege of joining about 80 youth from Spain, Portugal, and the Azores at a youth evangelism conference in Lisbon, Portugal in February. Joel lead 2 workshops and also preached in one of the services. It was a great opportunity to meet more of the youth on the Western Mediterranean Field and to begin to catch a united vision for youth ministry across these nations of southwestern Europe.
3. As the Field Youth Ministry Coordinator, Joel will also be visiting each district on the Field (Azores, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain) this Spring to hold Youth Leader Training workshops. These will be good opportunities to continue to cast a vision for youth ministry, raise up youth leaders, encourage unity and communication, and to explore together creative ways for outreach and discipleship among today’s youth in these nations.
4. In the middle of January, a couple called us unexpectedly to ask if they could come and meet us. They had eaten some of our Christmas cookies we had given to one of their relatives who lives in our building, and they were curious to meet us. We welcomed them to our home and had a nice conversation. A few days later they came over for dinner together with their children. Since then, we have had several opportunities to spend time with them and get to know them better. The father claims no Christian faith, but he has now expressed a desire to talk seriously with Joel about the meaning of life and spiritual things. Pray for this family that God would soften their hearts and call them to respond to the Gospel!
5. We were in Catania on February 4-5 during the festival of Sant’Agata, the matron saint of the city. Many people (young and old alike) wore white robes and black hats to show that they were devotees of Sant’Agata. About 1:30 in the morning a cart passed carrying a Catholic priest standing next to the golden statue of Sant’Agata. The priest accepted money and other offerings to the saint from people throughout the night-long festivities. Another man picked up children that parents offered to him, and held them up so they could see the statue. Others collected tall yellow candles (more than a meter high) which people purchased and then offered to Sant’Agata. People clapped as the cart went by. Many made the sign of the cross toward the statue. Some of the devotees pulling the cart were yelling loudly over and over, "Citizens, citizens, citizens, are you all devoted? Are you all devoted?"
Pray with us for the people of Sicily. The people of Catania are this devoted to Sant’Agata. The people of Palermo are equally devoted to Santa Rosalia. They believe in them. They pray to them. They ask for miracles. They give offerings. Their devotion to these saints seems greater than their commitment to Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would illuminate people's hearts and minds. Pray for transformed lives and for freedom from superstition and fear.
Answers to Prayer
1. Our Open House in January was a blessing in many unexpected ways as God opened doors for us to interact with various neighbors whom we hadn’t met. Continue to pray for open doors.
2. The Nazarene Youth Congress in Germany was an blessed week for all the youth who were present. Continue to pray for our youth all across Europe as they seek to live out their faith in difficult situations.
3. We had an opportunity to minister to our doorkeeper Michele’s family during the recent death of his brother. We can’t measure the results, but we know that our love, concern, and sympathy for this family deeply impacted them during a difficult time. Continue to pray for this family and our daily interaction with them.
4. We have daily opportunities to speak with people in our neighborhood. Continue to pray that God would open doors for spiritual conversations during these encounters.
5. Construction began in early February on the church building in Catania!
Prayer Requests
1. Pray that God would illuminate our path as we make decisions about future ministries such as offering home Bible studies and community English courses.
2. Pray for the four youth ministry teams coming to Palermo this summer. They will be assisting in various ways to reach out and minister to people in the community around our home.
3. Pray for the Italy South District Youth Council - Joy Cereda, Emanuele Sorrentino, and Alice Frascaspata.
4. Pray for our physical health and spiritual wellness as we live and minister in a very challenging environment.
5. Pray that God would call Italian youth and young adults to be pastors, teachers, and leaders in our churches in Italy.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. It has been humorous to watch people adjusting to the new Euro coins and bills. In early January, we got a great deal paying less than 1 Euro for a pizza and a coke that cost nearly 5 Euro. The cashier had given us far too much change in the unfamiliar coins. We tried to explain it to the manager in order to correct the mistake, but she was also too confused and just said to keep the money!
2. In Italy, it’s not proper to eat bread together with the pasta dish (first course). Bread should always be eaten together with the meat dish (second course) or with the salad (following the second course).
3. Sicily is located just 5 km (3.1 miles) from the mainland of Italy and 160 km (100 miles) from Tunisia in Northern Africa.
4. Pizza + Pasta = Pray for Palermo!
5. Feel free to share Sicilian Sketches with others or with your church! Email us anytime if you wish to be added to or removed from our newsletter list.
Joel and Sara Mullen
Via S. Aldisio, 47
90146 Palermo, Italy
Phone: (39) 091.521635
Email: jsmullen@interfree.it
Posted: Sat - February 23, 2002 at 11:20 PM
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