Jul-Aug 2002 (Year 3, Number 8)
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News
Tidbits
1. We had 28 people in our house at the same time for Sara’s birthday party! That made for a very full and hot house in the middle of July! It was the perfect opportunity for the mission teams to interact with many of our friends. We were amazed as we walked around the house and balcony and witnessed so many Italian/English conversations taking place at once. It was also neat to see our Italian friends begin to mix with each other. They live near one another, but don't even know each other. We are excited about the little community God is creating all around us - we've just been the common denominator. If God changes the heart of just one of these people, what a testimony and influence they can have on all the others!
2. We made a quick trip to visit one of our neighbor families while they were on vacation near Ragusa on the other side of the island. It opened up an opportunity for us to talk with the whole family in a relaxed atmosphere. They asked us to pray before the meals, something about which we had not verbally spoken to them before. Obviously one of their sons who has spent a lot of time in our home had shared with them our “custom.” They treated us like family and showed us a great deal of respect. Late one night in a sidewalk cafe, we were able to have a long conversation with one of the sons about spiritual issues and about what it means to live Christianly in today’s society. He asked a lot of questions about our beliefs and how they compared to his. He has never once read the Bible, but he has a growing curiosity to know what it says. Pray for his continued search for God.
3. Joel had a very significant spiritual discussion with two university-age, Italian communists at a coffee bar in our neighborhood. He gained some significant insights into the mindset of politically-charged Italian youth and how they view the church and society. They shared that they believe in God but feel that the church is irrelevant to the lives of youth today. They are disillusioned about anything to do with any church. Pray for these young men and hundreds of other youth like them right here in our neighborhood. The hunger that we continually see in the youth around us keeps confirming our plans to open a youth center where youth can spend time together in a Christian environment and also explore their faith.
4. We have discovered that pancakes are a great way to meet people! Many Italians have seen pancakes in American films but have never eaten them - they are fascinated with finding out what they are really like. We have had several guests over for a pancake dinner, and without exception they have fallen in love with this “strange” food. There are several more families that can’t wait to try pancakes. Sara’s family makes maple syrup in Michigan, and that syrup is becoming rather famous in Palermo! Pray for this “pancake ministry” that as people fill up on pancakes that they will become hungry for God.
5. We finished up a busy summer with the help of a mission team from the United Kingdom, a Youth in Mission team from the US, a German student from European Nazarene College and the pastor’s daughter from the Catania church. At times we had 5 different nationalities ministering together at one time! Together, this ministry team made quite an impact on people in Palermo as they made new contacts throughout our neighborhood, built relationships with our friends, and laid a foundation by prayer walking through the city.
Answers to Prayer
1. The Italian youth camp was a success! God met so many of the youth during this week and we are so thankful for the lives that were changed.
2. One of the non-Christian youth that attended the youth camp was very resistant to participating in the devotions or services. However, he decided to participate in the Bible Quizzing and ended up answering questions and quoting verses from Ephesians. As a result, he took home several Christian music CDs as prizes. His sister says that he now goes around the house humming the tunes and singing the lyrics about Jesus and God. We continue to pray that God would reach out to him and transform his heart through the scripture he has studied and the Christian music he has fallen in love with. Thank you to everyone who has donated Christian CDs - your gift is powerfully impacting youth in Italy and across southern Europe!
3. The end of August brought to an end our summer of ministry with the youth mission teams. God was truly present in their ministry in our neighborhood and we are thankful for the lasting impact they have left behind. Thank you for praying for their ministry among us!
4. We have found a source willing to donate computers the Palermo Youth Center. These computers will be helpful for computer training and English lessons. Continue to pray that God will provide resources for this youth center.
5. We’ve just celebrated three years of living in Italy - 2 years in Catania and 1 year in Palermo! Praise God for all he has done to bring us this far. We know that he has been preparing us for this time, for this place, and for these people. Palermo is in his hands.
Prayer Requests
1. Pray specifically for our search for a Youth Center building. We believe that God has painted this vision and that he will provide the perfect place at the perfect time.
2. Pray earnestly that God would change the lives of our neighbors and friends. So many of them are hungry, and they are really searching. Radical transformation can happen! Will you believe it with us???
3. Join us in prayer for our Field Prayer Summit and Strategy meetings to be held in October in Montpellier, France. Leaders from Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy will gather together and unite to pray for God’s spirit to sweep through our nations.
4. Pray for the Italy South District Youth Council and their leadership retreat to be held September 23-25 in Palermo. Pray for renewed enthusiasm and commitment as we seek to invest in these young leaders and as we plan together for the coming year.
5. Now that Italians are returning from their August vacations, we will be restarting English Lessons and Bible Studies. These are both a means of building relationships with people and being a Christian influence in their lives. Pray that in addition to our previous students and participants that new people would attend.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. We realized that hot and humid weather = cockroaches in Palermo! Our neighborhood had a mini-invasion of two-inch cockroaches during the summer months. With careful cleaning and bug spray we think we have finally won the battle.
2. Keep sending Christian music CDs. We have already seen how they are a great encouragement to our Christian youth and an evangelistic tool for our non-Christian youth. Contact us for details on shipping your next collection of donated CDs or for information on how to contribute in other ways to youth ministry on the Western Mediterranean Field.
3. It was fun to have Sara’s parents visit us for a few days at the beginning of August. Thanks for coming to see us!
4. We will be on home assignment in the US from May-July 2003. Can you believe how quickly time flies? Our speaking schedule takes us to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, California, Oregon and Michigan. We will look forward to being with many of you!
5. Don’t forget: If you happen to eat pizza or pasta, remember to pray for the people of Palermo!
May God’s grace embrace you today!
Joel and Sara Mullen
1. We had 28 people in our house at the same time for Sara’s birthday party! That made for a very full and hot house in the middle of July! It was the perfect opportunity for the mission teams to interact with many of our friends. We were amazed as we walked around the house and balcony and witnessed so many Italian/English conversations taking place at once. It was also neat to see our Italian friends begin to mix with each other. They live near one another, but don't even know each other. We are excited about the little community God is creating all around us - we've just been the common denominator. If God changes the heart of just one of these people, what a testimony and influence they can have on all the others!
2. We made a quick trip to visit one of our neighbor families while they were on vacation near Ragusa on the other side of the island. It opened up an opportunity for us to talk with the whole family in a relaxed atmosphere. They asked us to pray before the meals, something about which we had not verbally spoken to them before. Obviously one of their sons who has spent a lot of time in our home had shared with them our “custom.” They treated us like family and showed us a great deal of respect. Late one night in a sidewalk cafe, we were able to have a long conversation with one of the sons about spiritual issues and about what it means to live Christianly in today’s society. He asked a lot of questions about our beliefs and how they compared to his. He has never once read the Bible, but he has a growing curiosity to know what it says. Pray for his continued search for God.
3. Joel had a very significant spiritual discussion with two university-age, Italian communists at a coffee bar in our neighborhood. He gained some significant insights into the mindset of politically-charged Italian youth and how they view the church and society. They shared that they believe in God but feel that the church is irrelevant to the lives of youth today. They are disillusioned about anything to do with any church. Pray for these young men and hundreds of other youth like them right here in our neighborhood. The hunger that we continually see in the youth around us keeps confirming our plans to open a youth center where youth can spend time together in a Christian environment and also explore their faith.
4. We have discovered that pancakes are a great way to meet people! Many Italians have seen pancakes in American films but have never eaten them - they are fascinated with finding out what they are really like. We have had several guests over for a pancake dinner, and without exception they have fallen in love with this “strange” food. There are several more families that can’t wait to try pancakes. Sara’s family makes maple syrup in Michigan, and that syrup is becoming rather famous in Palermo! Pray for this “pancake ministry” that as people fill up on pancakes that they will become hungry for God.
5. We finished up a busy summer with the help of a mission team from the United Kingdom, a Youth in Mission team from the US, a German student from European Nazarene College and the pastor’s daughter from the Catania church. At times we had 5 different nationalities ministering together at one time! Together, this ministry team made quite an impact on people in Palermo as they made new contacts throughout our neighborhood, built relationships with our friends, and laid a foundation by prayer walking through the city.
Answers to Prayer
1. The Italian youth camp was a success! God met so many of the youth during this week and we are so thankful for the lives that were changed.
2. One of the non-Christian youth that attended the youth camp was very resistant to participating in the devotions or services. However, he decided to participate in the Bible Quizzing and ended up answering questions and quoting verses from Ephesians. As a result, he took home several Christian music CDs as prizes. His sister says that he now goes around the house humming the tunes and singing the lyrics about Jesus and God. We continue to pray that God would reach out to him and transform his heart through the scripture he has studied and the Christian music he has fallen in love with. Thank you to everyone who has donated Christian CDs - your gift is powerfully impacting youth in Italy and across southern Europe!
3. The end of August brought to an end our summer of ministry with the youth mission teams. God was truly present in their ministry in our neighborhood and we are thankful for the lasting impact they have left behind. Thank you for praying for their ministry among us!
4. We have found a source willing to donate computers the Palermo Youth Center. These computers will be helpful for computer training and English lessons. Continue to pray that God will provide resources for this youth center.
5. We’ve just celebrated three years of living in Italy - 2 years in Catania and 1 year in Palermo! Praise God for all he has done to bring us this far. We know that he has been preparing us for this time, for this place, and for these people. Palermo is in his hands.
Prayer Requests
1. Pray specifically for our search for a Youth Center building. We believe that God has painted this vision and that he will provide the perfect place at the perfect time.
2. Pray earnestly that God would change the lives of our neighbors and friends. So many of them are hungry, and they are really searching. Radical transformation can happen! Will you believe it with us???
3. Join us in prayer for our Field Prayer Summit and Strategy meetings to be held in October in Montpellier, France. Leaders from Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy will gather together and unite to pray for God’s spirit to sweep through our nations.
4. Pray for the Italy South District Youth Council and their leadership retreat to be held September 23-25 in Palermo. Pray for renewed enthusiasm and commitment as we seek to invest in these young leaders and as we plan together for the coming year.
5. Now that Italians are returning from their August vacations, we will be restarting English Lessons and Bible Studies. These are both a means of building relationships with people and being a Christian influence in their lives. Pray that in addition to our previous students and participants that new people would attend.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. We realized that hot and humid weather = cockroaches in Palermo! Our neighborhood had a mini-invasion of two-inch cockroaches during the summer months. With careful cleaning and bug spray we think we have finally won the battle.
2. Keep sending Christian music CDs. We have already seen how they are a great encouragement to our Christian youth and an evangelistic tool for our non-Christian youth. Contact us for details on shipping your next collection of donated CDs or for information on how to contribute in other ways to youth ministry on the Western Mediterranean Field.
3. It was fun to have Sara’s parents visit us for a few days at the beginning of August. Thanks for coming to see us!
4. We will be on home assignment in the US from May-July 2003. Can you believe how quickly time flies? Our speaking schedule takes us to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, California, Oregon and Michigan. We will look forward to being with many of you!
5. Don’t forget: If you happen to eat pizza or pasta, remember to pray for the people of Palermo!
May God’s grace embrace you today!
Joel and Sara Mullen
Posted: Mon - September 2, 2002 at 11:22 PM
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