Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who was and is and is to come!!
We so hope this greeting finds you happy and healthy and in love with Jesus more than ever…as well as enjoying the incredible confidence and sense of His love and care that comes as we trust in His sovereign providence. As always, we send our deepest gratefulness for being so gracious and so generous to our family with all your prayers and gifts.
We know at times, it has been a sacrifice for those of you who have stood alongside us in this quest and we feel so blessed. It is important to us that you know it is only because of you and God's grace working through you that we have been able to continue this ministry to glorify God and further the Gospel in Chiavari, Italy, by planting a church and developing an evangelism/discipleship ministry that will reach the lost. And those who have come to know Jesus or moved closer in their understanding and acceptance of the message of grace have been blessed because of you. It’s hard to express the many things God has done and the many relationships God has enabled us to develop but a couple of stories warrant telling:
A lady who works in a florist shop, Sonya, who we pass everyday on the street, especially as we would go to our ESL classes, grabbed Jeannette and asked her to come in her store. Sonya’s colleague actually attended our ESL classes but Sonya was never able to make it because she covers the afternoon and evening shift. Sonya, continuing her quest to tell something important to Jeannette, exclaims, “I want to tell you something.” Jeannette answered, “Uh huh?” unsure of what Sonya was going to say and afraid that she would proceed to tell a terrible story of some mischief Elijah had done (the first person from our family Sonya had met).
Sonya exclaimed, “Your different!” Jeannette continued listening, still hoping to not hear something terrible. “Your whole family is different,” she continued, “you’re joyful, friendly and seem to be always at peace with life.” And then she said, “I don’t have that.” Then she proceeded to share her life story of how she had been divorced and is now living with another man who isn’t her husband and that she is miserable, that he doesn’t treat her well.
Jeannette has now tried a few times to meet for coffee but Sonya is always busy with work. But pray for her. Sonya is a wonderful example of the 30+ relationships we are building into from the community and our ESL classes in Chiavari. Another example is Vicenzo…
We met Vicenzo because he is married to one of our ESL students, Eluvia, who is actually a Christian. Eluvia who is full of the joy of the Lord married Vicenzo at a time, early in her Christianity, when she did not realize God’s commandment to not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. Vicenzo is from Sicily and a really great younger man in his 30’s. He works in the construction business, constantly in the sun and heat. And though constantly around those who drink and party in his business, Vicenzo loves his wife and honors her Christianity. Eluvia is convinced that he will eventually come to the Lord, especially since he is open to her sharing.
About a month before we left to go back to the states, Jeannette and I and Vicenzo and Eluvia all walked along the river to the sea. As we were returning, Eluvia revealed that Vicenzo was really curious how I became a Christian. I confirmed this with Vicenzo who smiled a big smile and responded, “Si!” I think a lot of people wonder how in the world I got saved. In fact, many of my parents friends still wonder how in the world we two hooligans became Christians. So, there on the corner, about 2 blocks from where we live in Chiavari, I began to share my testimony of how God saved me. Vicenzo’s smile was from ear to ear. He responded in Italian, “Come un miracolo!” which translate means, “Like a miracle!” And I said, “Esatto!!” which means “Exactly!!”
Please pray for both Sonya and Vicenzo. There are SO many stories we could tell you of God’s amazing grace going forward through relationship evangelism that this update could not contain all the words of His goodness!
The end of May, our family was very excited and felt very privileged to return to the good ole' U.S. of A., to Florida, where our family lives, for 5 weeks. It was the first time to return as a family to the states in three long years. Many days and weeks, our kids begged us to go back to the states and through tears and God’s grace, we persisted and the Lord has blessed. But now we were coming back to where so many of our friends and family are! After a very busy schedule from Feb to May with our ESL classes, outreach events and speaking opportunities, we pulled our kids from Italian public school a few days early for the year in time to return to Orlando for our 2nd oldest, Hannah’s high school graduation from her home school academy. Hannah participated in Florida Virtual School for 2½ years while in Italy, graduating with honors and an “A” average.
It was both tearful and wonderful to see her say goodbye to a critical phase in her life...one that saw her make a commitment to Christ while living in Italy with us, serving in missions, maturing in incredible ways in her walk with God and growing in her relationship with us. From many teary days and nights at 15 years old, Hannah went from not wanting to stay in Italy, to getting saved but still being lonely to now, where she misses Italy dearly. At 18 years old now, she is an entirely different person, in love with Jesus and VERY missions-minded. We also had a really fun time at Hannah’s graduation dance at a local hotel, which, for many kids, was the very first time ever to dance! It was all mild and platonic but very hilarious to watch not to mention, "cutting the rug" a bit ourselves. Of course the girls were a little embarrassed but all of their friends thought we were “cool.”
It was also amazing to be with Bethany, our oldest daughter who has been in the Orlando area, working and going to school. Not only has it been sweet to see her maturity and how she has so wonderfully navigated the challenges of life without the help of her parents, but also congratulations were in order…Bethany completed her AA degree with honors and is now heading for a 4-year college, UCF to complete her college degree
Both of our girls excelled academically while all the time working about 20-24 hours a week; Bethany at Crusade in Donations Services and Hannah as an ESL teacher working with us in Italy. Hannah has now obtained a job working at Crusade so her and Bethany will be living/working together, though attending different schools (Hannah at Valencia, a local community college, to make for an easier adjustment).
It's was a lot of fun to be back in America to see family and friends, including many of you who also support us who came to visit or live in the area. Frankly, you, our sweet prayer and financial supporters, have been responsible for us even being able to return to the U.S. (for plane tickets, train tickets, lodging, etc.). God has even taken care of the smallest of details including two different vans on loan for free for our entire time here.
We had parties with friends and family including 30 church friends of Lee’s parents at their clubhouse, many opportunities to share what God is doing in our ministry, with some even wanting to receive our prayer letter and indicating they may begin supporting us. Lee has also had the opportunity to share about our ministry and the truth of God’s Word as it relates to missions and God’s call to us as Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. One of two churches was a very large Baptist college group of about 70 various college-age youth and the other was to our church of about 500 people in Orlando.
Lee also met with Marco, who heads up a Christian ministry that teaches biblical discipline through a very systematic use of the martial arts. They were originally talking of coming over to Italy to do a 2-week mission this summer (2011) but are now trying to prepare themselves to come in Summer of 2012. They would do exhibitions in the piazza’s and on the seafront and then we’d have testimonies and opportunities for more info. There are many things that have to happen for this to be pulled off including arranging schedules and having adequate time to plan things so please pray for Marco and his wife and ministry, that God would provide!!
Lee has also had opportunity to meet with some various men friends going through rough times. Many we found are struggling financially as well as struggling in their marriages. One separated, another having lost his very successful business and another, who Lee tried to reach out to, whose church is slowly waning away. So Lee felt very blessed to have had opportunities to help but we also ask you to pray for these as well.
On another yet brighter note, by God’s grace, we have seen the Lord provide two new ESL teachers as a result of our time in Orlando. So praise God!!
Nate is the son of some family friends and will be our first guy teaching ESL. A wonderful young man who loves the Lord and just wants to serve, he is 18 years old and excited about reaching Italians for Christ. I have rarely met a young man (remember I said young man) with Nate’s faith and enthusiasm in serving others!!!
Dawn is a sweet young lady in her mid-thirties who came from an unbelieving family that was less than entirely loving and very uninterested in the Gospel. Her testimony is quite powerful, coming to the Lord through observing the life and work ethic of a mutual Christian friend while both worked at Disney, and when invited to church, attended and got saved! This trip represents a huge life-challenge for her and she is so embracing what God has for her. Dawn may even consider joining us full-time, helping us to reach a younger generation!!
Maddie is from Romania and is an amazing little spitfire for Jesus. She is at about a 85% English-speaking ability and we believe she will be an incredible encouragement for us. She will return from some missions work she is doing this summer. Maddie may not join us for the entire time but we look forward to having her!
All three will help us in teaching what will probably be our biggest group of students so far (Please pray!!! We are praying for 100 Italians this fall) as well as helping us to do all we can to develop relationships with our students so as to share the gospel.
As we returned to the states a few days ago, we are torn. We miss our friends and family tons!! And we love the freedom, the friendliness of Americans, and the good ole’ American competition that leads to excellence and the variety of products and choices to choose from...and of course, many, many other things.
However, as we settle back in for what will at least be another 2-year stint before we return once again (probably for Jacob’s graduation), one of the most surprising things we found in the states was the naiveté about Western Europe and the state of Christianity, including in Italy. So many Christians are entirely disconnected from what is going on in the rest of the world!! So many have no idea or interest or care with what is going on with the Great Commission in the world or have somehow convinced themselves it’s a work others do.
It’s amazing that not more of us American Christians are doing something to address the problem. For us, .07% Christians in Italy is dismal and an indictment of Evangelical Christianity. That’s less than 40,600 Christians. Less than the Satanists in Italy. Less than Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s even less than the Astrologers. There are more Atheists here than there are Evangelical Christians!! So many Christians are saying the same thing: “I’m not called overseas. I believe my call is to my own country, where I live.” That’s wonderful!!
But in fact, if Christians, who actually said this, actually were focused on the U.S., we would find large number of American Christians radically sacrificing their lives and possessions to reach a dying world around them! We’d all feel blessed and take heart that the job is being done. That people are truly doing what God has called them to do (“Go and make disciples of men…”)!! But I’m sorry to say, this is not the picture we have before us.
Recently, the book, “Radical,” and it’s author, David Platt, has really moved me to tears and I believe, has really captured what is happening in many churches today in the U.S.A.:
“We live in a church culture that has a dangerous tendency to disconnect the grace of God from the glory of God. Our hearts resonate with the idea of enjoying God’s grace. We bask in sermons, conferences, and books that exalt a grace centering on us. And while the wonder of grace is worthy of our attention, if that grace is disconnected from its purpose, the sad result is a self-centered Christianity that bypasses the heart of God…
In the American dream, where self reigns as king (or queen), we have a dangerous tendency to misunderstand, minimize and even manipulate the gospel to accommodate our assumptions and desires. We desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the gospel is American and how much is biblical…
The message of biblical Christianity is not “God loves me, period,” as if we were the object of our own faith. The message of biblical Christianity is “God loves me so that I might make Him—His ways, His salvation, His glory, and His greatness—known among all nations…
God’s will does not ultimately center on His people! It centers on His greatness, His goodness and His glory being made known globally among all peoples. And to disconnect God’s blessing from God’s global purpose is to spiral downward into an unbiblical, self-saturated Christianity that misses the point of God’s grace” (Emphasis mine).
We love you and send our deep gratitude for all your love and support. Please pray for our ministry on a daily basis. We need your prayers. And also, we'd greatly appreciate it if you would lift up our ongoing needs as a family and a ministry. It is always challenging on a regular basis, but especially with the bad conversion rate. And we need to raise more funds for the church-planting aspect of our ministry here (to rent a place, to pay utilities, etc). But God is SO in control. And though things are always tight, we have not once gone without anything we need. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
God bless you and Coram Deo!
In Him,
The Walti Family
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| Abby hugs Bethany after not seeing her for 5 mos! |
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| A pic with the Swansons who paid for our airline tickets over! |
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| Dad and Hannah at her graduation reception. |
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| Bethany, our oldest, with the graduate. |
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| The graduate with Lee's dad and mom, Randal and Judi. |
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| Jake and Dad at Hannah's graduation (yes, he's taller!) |
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| The graduate (during the ceremony). |
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| Elijah with one of his best buddies, Daniel, from our church in Orlando. |
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Lee shares at Metro Life Church about our ministry
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| and challenges | the congregation to fulfill the Great Commission. |
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| Jeannette with one of her best buddies, Ellen Keyes. |
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| Jacob, having fun at Hannah's grad dance. |
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| Dad and Hannah having a dance together! |
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| Jacob and Elijah make a commitment to the Lord |
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| at a "Do Hard Things" conference that Lee and the boys attended | . |
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| Grandfather (Lee's father) and Elijah playing golf! |
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| Kids reconnect with some old neighbor friends. |
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| Abby poses at the Portofino Bay Hotel, a place we love to visit (but can't afford to stay!) |
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| Our friends, the Romanacces. |
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| Dad and Abby dance to the Italian music sung live. |
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| The Jamisons, the family that hosted Bethany for free for 2 years!! |
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| Our girls with two of the Knowles girls (Lidia and Rachel) |
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| Guy friends from church, Thad (the Knowles girls' dad), Ryan Hartlief (supporters of ours) and Rick McClimans. |
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| Amber Hartlief and Dawn Currey (one of our new ESL teachers) with Jeannette |
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| Jacob with all his old buddies, seeing many for the first time in 3 years. (they've all grown up!) |
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| The Romanacces with their new grandson, Will. |
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| Sparklers on July 4th! |
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| Relaxing our last night in U.S.A. with the Knowles girls (Rachel and Joanna), our most recent ESL teachers. |
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| Hannah with her friend, Claire Chin, and Bethany, our eldest. |
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| Jake and Hannah are so much closer after 3 years in Italy together. |
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| Elijah, giving a kiss to his sister, Bethany, who he will not see again for another 5 mos. |
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| Abby saying goodbye to her two older sisters. |
Love you!!!!
