Heard It Through The Grape Vine

This week we started our new semester of classes.  We have had about 70 people wanting to take English classes with us.  We had a small party for our students last Wednesday so they could sign up for times and so that we could spend some time with them.  Not all of our students could make it, but we had about 25 come.  I have, right now at least, 9 individual students, the advanced grammar class, and the English conversation class that we have at the church on Thursday nights. I might have more students but the ones have have right now are Paolo, Edoardo, Lorenzo, Fabio, Felice, Alessandro, Lorenzo, Leonardo, and Flavio; and in my grammar class I have 5 students: Enzo, Leonardo, Morena, Vicenza, and Alessandro.  Next week I will post pictures of my students so you can have a face with a name.

On Tuesday we, the Avanti workers and the HUF students, got to help with the Vendemmia, or the grape harvest.  The vineyard was in next to a town called Montefioralle in the Chianti region of Tuscany.  The town is more like a village and you can walk through it in about 5 mins., but it is still a nice quiet place.

Montefioralle

 We worked all morning and even into the afternoon picking grapes off the vines.  They said that this year's harvest was better than last years because there was not as much rain as last year.  God gave us a perfect day for being outside: it wasn't too hot nor too cold and the wind gave us a cool relief from the work.  One of our friends/students, Clizia, came with us as well. 

 

Our friend Clizia harvesting grapes with us

 Kyle with a beautiful bunch of grapes.

Me workin' hard 

We had to stop working twice because all of the containers they provided for us were full of grapes!  During one of the breaks the owners of the vineyards made a delicious lunch for us of ribs, bacon, sausage, and bread.  It was awesome to have a chance to partake in this Italian tradition.  Next week we are starting our Monday night Bible study for men and women as well as our second week of classes.  We are still planning to do out Friday night activities again such as Movie Night and American Cooking School; we hope that Game Night will be more popular this semester.  David had an idea for a new activity: a chorus.  He wants to get our students together so we can sing Christmas songs in December.  I hope it takes off as well.

Above and Below:

The Vineyard we were working in

 Some of the containers of grapes we harvested

As I close out this blog I ask that you will continue to pray for us.  Pray that we will be open with our faith and the hope we have through Jesus Christ.  Pray also for our students and our classes.  Pray that we will also encourage each other and love each other as brothers and sisters.  Thank you for the support and encouragement I have received through the emails, Facebook messages, and Skype calls.  I will update again soon and let you know how things are going over here.  Ciao e vi voglio bene!