Sunday, May 31, 2009

Someone You Know, May Need a Life-Changing Experience

Dear supporters and friends,

The following is a recent flier put out for our bible school (Saints Bible Institute).

As many are graduating from high school (and even college), important decisions are being made about the future. We thought that maybe for some of you and your family (your children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, friends or children of friends, even grandchildren of friends), this might be a wonderful option. It is half the cost of all comparative programs. And of course, we think it’s twice as good! Students learn about things like Philosophy, Biblical Archeology, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Poetic Books, Church History, Renaissance and Reformation, Introduction to Italian,Christian literature, art, music, etc. Just as fun, they get to travel to places like Rome, Venice, and Florence. But most importantly, they get a heart for missions and evangelism and cross cultural ministry. If you have any questions, let us know or you can go to www.saintsbibleinstitute.com to check it out.

Love you all, the Italian Walti Family


PS. Keep your eyes out for our prayer letter coming via US Postal mail in the next couple weeks!


PSS. Click on pic below if you'd like to see the flier close-up.



Slide 1





Friday, May 8, 2009

Praise God for Spring!



















Well, this spring season ended with a bang...

  • 23 Bible students (Americans) graduating successfully from 3 months of overseas bible and Christian studies!
  • 4 students making the decision to come back and join us in full-time missions, two of which will begin this fall!
  • Over 170 Italians graduating with certificates from the ABC language school (Udine and Valvasone combined) where we teach English as a 2nd language, sharing the gospel through relationships
  • Several "fun" events both as a way to mark the occasion (for the ESL students) and provide opportunities to share the gospel including (most recently) a game night, a picnic at the park, a bowling night and a barbecue with nearly 100 in attendance - see pics
  • 2 mission teams this Spring with over 5,000 tracts distributed, dozens of mimes, skits, puppet shows, chalk talks, concerts, etc to Italians (children, pensioners, local schools, piazzas, parks, etc) all over Udine and surrounding cities
  • 3 new Italian believers, 2 of which are getting baptized this Sunday along our own very Hannah as well!
We'll try to provide a more thorough update shortly...in the meantime, please pray for:
  • Our support. With the economy down and after the conversion rate, this last month (April) we received the equivalent of about $3,500 to live on as a family of seven. Please pray that those who are committed to our family will be able to consistently help us and that others will come alongside us.
  • Bethany. She returns to the states on June 23rd to attend college in Florida (she received a full scholarship). Please pray for her to get a job, to get roommates for a place to live and to get completely registered and set-up for school without her parents in the country.
  • All of us when she leaves (including Hannah). It will be hard...very hard.
  • A small reprieve after a very busy season. We had a sweet supporter family give us their timeshare to use and though we were excited because we haven't had time as a family for nearly 2 years, all of this region is booked so we can't find a place right now and we don't have the money but could really use the time as a family.
  • A new used car (the current little compact only fits five and we have seven) sometime in the future. We can continue to make as we are now but it would be nice as we must always do two trips and always include the bus and train in our thinking.
  • A miracle for our director's wife, Chris (who is supposed to die in five years. For a close friend, Leo's father, who fell at work here in Italy and has a brain hemorrhage and is not expected to make it. For Steve Moe, who has cancer, is doing better but still needs prayer.
We love you and we thank you so very much for all of your prayers and support. We could not do this work here in Italy, over 7,000 miles away for God's glory and the furtherance of the gospel if it were not for you.

Love the Walti family