God is in Control

Wow! What an exciting journey we are on! It's been amazing and exciting to see God guide and provide as we are in the preparation process to move to Italy as a family and serve with Saints Equipped to Evangelize.

One quick story of God's faithfulness has been in relation to our trip to Udine, Italy for our S.E.E. Staff Conference (June 30 - July 4) and our need to get our National (long-stay) VISA for our eventual move (currently scheduled for September 7).

About a month ago, we got our tickets to attend the staff conference...challenging with all that is going on to move only in a few months...but important. Of course, the tickets are double the price what they normally are in the off-months. But we trusted God and stepped out in faith. Well, not only did God provide the funds necessary through a couple of supporters for these two tickets (only Jeannette and I are going) but we also experienced some very neat things in God's providence in relation to this.

First, we actually bought tickets that were out of Miami to save $300 per ticket (compared to flying out of Orlando). At the time, we were kind of remiss in doing so (getting down there, etc) and even tried to change them a couple of times (seeing if we could get cheaper fares out of Orlando) within the allowed time limit but to no avail so we trusted God that this was His will. So then, a few days passed and it dawns on us...we have to get our VISA at the Italian Consulate and the one that handles Florida residents is in Miami!

Well, if anyone has ever tried to get a VISA and all that is involved, you know that the documents, the copies, the notarizing, etc., can drive even a detailed-person crazy let alone two people that sometimes show weaknesses in this area ;-) So anyhew...

First we needed a way down...so, we looked into car, bus, and train (the only thing we didn't check was a boat but because Orlando is land-locked, that wouldn't work!). Seriously, we were so blessed to come across an Amtrak fare that normally was over $75 for only $56 (for the two of us!). Given we had saved $600 on our airline tickets by flying out of Miami, this was a drop in the bucket! And we don't have to drive or find a place for our car, parking, etc.

Next, we knew we flew back to Miami about midnight on July 9 so we really needed a place to stay if we hoped to go to the consulate the next day (Thursday, July 10...pray!). So about 2 1/2 weeks ago, I asked a good buddy of mine, George, if he knew anyone in Miami that could help us (knowing they have many friends there, have attended our sister church there in Miami, and his father lives not too far away). The first person he mentions is a gentleman by the name of Nando, who plays bongo drums, etc., for the worship band in the church in Miami. He says, "Nando is a great brother and I'll get you in touch with him."

Not more than what seemed like 3 minutes later, he walks up and introduces Nando! I was like, "What?" It turns out that he was in town for business-related work and attending our church even though he lives in Miami! Of all weekends! So right away, this sweet brother asks us if we can come stay with them the night before we depart so we can have a meal with them, attend church the next morning (our plane leaves that Sunday night, June 29) and though his wife and him and his family will all be in Puerto Rico that weekend, he can then give us the keys to his home so we can stay at their house during the days after we return from Italy!

Both Jeannette and I were so blessed and blown away by God's goodness. Then out of curiosity, I got on line and checked where his home was in relation to everything. They are 9 miles from the Amtrak, 11 miles from the airport and 15.6 miles from the consulate, all three in different directions, and their home is right in the middle! Praise God for His goodness to the children of men.

Then yesterday, after many days of preparing to get all our documents together, the Lord graciously provided everything we need including a lady, Emily, at our church who notarized everything....and for free! We have everything we need and we had just wondered if we would ever get everything together...What a blessing.

Another neat thing related to this, which we'd also ask you to please pray for, is that the kids have to appear with us the consulate. About a month ago, a good friend of Bethany's started making plans to come visit her. So here we are making our plans and realizing that we had to somehow get the kids down safely when we realized that Bethany's friend, Kelly, would arrive the day before (the 9th) and would be able to drive with Bethany and Hannah the kids down to Miami during the day together...what a blessing. They will also have the ability to go straight to Nando's home and get settled early afternoon so that Bethany and Kelly can come pick us up from the airport that evening on our return to Miami while Hannah watches the kids back at Nando's home.

Obviously, we would really ask you to pray for all of this, especially for protection and safety in travels for us but especially for the children. And we'd ask you to please pray for the time we will have over in Udine with our new team members, an important time to get more vision, get a better handle on future plans of the leadership, and just bond in the fellowship of our Lord. We will also have opportunity to spy out the land for an apartment. Though it's possible, we could actually secure a place, we are most desirous of just sensing God's lead on where, what, by who (neighbors the Lord wants us to reach, encourage), when, how, etc, He wants us to live. This is a very exciting but scary time for us. Exciting as we trust the Lord and scary when we don't :-)

But GOD IS IN CONTROL as Twila Paris sings in her song of the same name (I've added it to the playlist of songs on this page so you can hear it...it's a great one).

There is so much more we could share about God's wonderful sovereign providence in all of this. We are just so grateful for you and for your prayers. The three biggest prayer requests we would ask you to pray for include:

1) That God will provide the settling-in expenses and any additional monthly support we need, especially with the Euro exchange in mind. Things are going well but we just sent out a financial list of all our needs. Pray that it would be GOD that would move people to help. We don't anyone to give out of a sense of obligation. We know God will provide...we're just looking for who He wants to provide through. Yet it will require faith...this is no small task or journey. So we really desire that those who support us catch a vision for the 6 million people in Italy who need the Gospel...the seat of where the most powerful but most "dead" church resides, reigns and rules over the ideas and concepts of Italians let alone RC's all over the world...and of course, greatly influenced the theology and Christian thought of the entire world...what they think about Jesus, God, the Gospel, grace, forgiveness, justification, etc. We just continue to be amazed that with over 44,000 towns and villages, 42,000 have no evangelical witness whatsoever (no Bible study, no prayer group, no Bible bookstore, no support group, no church, no nothing). The town where we will be living (Udine) has 98,000 people and as far as we know, has only one evangelical church of 38 people that our ministry helped plant. So pray, and IF God leads, give. Give to the Walti's"

2) Pray that God would rent/lease/sell our house. Whatever He wants to do. If God wants us to, we'd give the house away for free and walk away. We are more than willing to lose every bit of equity we'd built up to follow God's will for our lives.

3) Pray for our time in Miami at the Italian Consulate getting our VISA. Graciously by God, Jeannette and I have great faith for the consulate granting us our long-term VISA (for religious activity) the first time we go. We know that many have had to go 2, 3 or even 4 times before they are granted their VISA because of how tight or picky the Italian Government can be about these things. Pray that God would truly give us favor as we walk in that door on Thursday morning, July 10, with our entire family...right through each step and document and detail and with whoever God ordains to handle our case. God is in control!

4) Faith and growth in godliness as we walk through the details of all of what God is doing. Please pray for us individually, for us as a couple, for the children. They are excited but it can be scary at times for them too. And it can be stressful for them like it can be for us so please pray for each of them (Bethany, Hannah, Jacob, Elijah, and Abigail). God has given them faith for the journey and it is so very encouraging for us to know, He is calling them as well. Praise the Lord.

Well that's it for now. We love you and appreciate you and are so thankful for all your prayers and encouragement. We're having fun but holding on to His grace and sweet love as God moves us to another country for His glory (Soli Deo Gloria...His glory alone). Please drop us an e-mail or a post here and let us know how we can be praying for you!

The Walti's with our sweet friends, the Romanacce's and Hannah's good friend, Claire.