Hey Everyone! 

Boy, do we have some catching up to do. Let’s start with a few quick life updates.  

-I've been living in Italy for nearly two months! Traveling across the country, partnering with various ministries and exploring this beautiful country! 

-Over half of our group went home for Christmas. Our class started with 27 students, and the Christmas crew is 10 students including me! Our class will join us again in Mexico, on January 3rd(:  

-Our time in Italy has been spread out across the country. We spent the most time in Iscernia and Sorrento Italy. We stayed in each place for about two weeks. In Iscernia my team evangelized in schools! Then we headed to Sorrento, where we debriefed the first semester and started PVT(Parent Vision Trip). 

-My family spent a week traveling through Italy with me! Dad, Mom, Brecken, and Kanyon flew across the world to see me and meet the team. It was an amazing experience! 

That’s it for a little update. Now let’s get real. Recently, I was sitting in a morning bible study with my team, and we were reading Philippians 4. Verses 14-20 say this:

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

In recent weeks, I have concluded that Paul is my favorite bible character. He just HAS to be! Paul is straightforward and honest in each of his letters. He wrote whatever God put on his heart to share, and he shared it with confidence! The Lord convicted me through this passage. I have an incredible team of supporters back home who helped send me overseas to share the gospel. That's you, reader! Whether through prayer, reading this blog, or supporting me financially, you are a part of my mission. But you cannot see the fruit of your investment if I never write about it! 

Recently my team hopped on a call with AIMs director, Seth Barnes. Seth blogs often, and I asked him how he stays consistent. Especially when it feels like there aren't a ton of crazy miracle stories to share. He encouraged me to share it all. The miracle stories, and also the hardships. In fact, many times the stories of hardship are what people connect with most. So in the future, I want to share it all with you. The weeks where I feel on fire for the Lord, and the days that I am tired and unmotivated. Life as a missionary is quite different from a week-long mission trip. Excitement and enthusiasm can get you through a week, but it sure can’t get you through nine months. Relying on the Lord, and living honestly is what has sustained me. Which is why I’m writing this blog. I want to share what is REAL with you! 

A fun fact about the apostle Paul, if you didn’t already know, is that he wrote the most books in the bible. He wrote the most books in the inspired word of God! I don't know where my words will go or how many people they will impact. All I know is that I have a duty to write about the Lord's goodness. There is so much of it! As Paul said in Philippians 4: Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

I am grateful for the ways you, readers, are supporting me. My hope and goal is to see you benefit spiritually from your generosity! I want to hear how God has been working in your life the past four months. So, to wrap up this blog, post a comment below, answering this question. 

What is one way God has provided for you over the past four months? 

I'll answer too! 

God has provided me with a beautiful community on the mission field. He has provided ministry connections, opportunities to live with host families, and a close-knit family among my classmates! I believe many of these connections will last a lifetime, and I can't wait to share more about them in the next blog. 

As we close, this is my prayer for you. On the words of Paul in Philippians 4: My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Until next time, 

Emme