Schedules, Meetings, and Meanderings.

Ciao!  I am slowly making progress in taking care of everything so I can live in Italy.  I have registered at the police station, gotten my codice (which is like my Italian social security number), and my cell phone.  I still have to get my health insurance and fill out some more paperwork.  Hopefully it will all get done this week.

I know i told you that I would post my full schedule, but I haven't started teaching my English classes yet.  So i guess that i will tell you about my students another time.  So the schedule so far, everyday, is to wake up and get to school by 11:00 am Monday and Friday and 9:00 am Tuesday-Thursday.  On Monday nights we have a separate Bible studies for men and women, and this past week was my week to lead the study.  One of the Italian men in the group has some questions about specific passages in Bible that he doesn't understand, so we spent the hour talking about John 6:65.  He has such a great heart and is honestly seeking to know God better and to understand his word.  After Bible study on Monday night, there is a beginner's English class that Ryan, Andrea, and Angela teach here at the Bible school in Scandicci.  This beginner's English class also meets on Tuesday and Wednesday night and I got to help out on Tuesday night this week.   It was great meeting knew people and helping them understand English.  I would say that their English is better than my Italian!  On Thursday night we do another beginner's English class at the church in Florence, and also an advanced class if anyone there would rather do that than the beginner class.  After the class we have dinner and a Bible study in Italian.  We sing a few songs in Italian and then Robbie, the Harding University in Florence or HUF director, leads a Bible study.  Right now we are studying about the Lord's Supper.  On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon, after a wonderful meal from Rosa, the Avanti workers have a David and Debbie to talk about things that need to get done during the week.  After the meeting on Friday we have "Physical Fridays" where we do something around the School that needs to be done like painting, cleaning, moving furniture,
"e cetera". 

I have been here for two whole weeks now and have been able to do a little sightseeing of Florence in my little free time.  I went on my own last Thursday to the Duomo and the San Lorenzio market, and at 3 my language school went to the Accadamia, an art museum that has Michelangelo's David.  On Tuesday Ryan, Eric, Allen, and I had a guy day and we went around Florence to see the Duomo, the Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio, the Piazzale Michelangelo, and of course got gelato.  Here are some pictures of my trips around Florence:

 The outside of the Duomo (above and below)

And a view of the dome and inside the Duomo:

Here we are in the Piazza della Signoria and behind us was the Di Medici family palace was.

(from left to right: Eric, Me, and Allen)

Some in the Piazza di Singnoria:

And are the A.I guys with the Ponte Veccio behind us:
(Me, Ryan, and Eric)

And here are some views of Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo:

And here are the infamous A.I. guys at the Plazzale Michelangelo:

This past weekend while everyone was taking their own trips, I stayed at the School to study, get my phone, help David move some furniture, and some other necessary chores.  Language school is still going well and getting difficult. I was told that I would have to butcher the language before I mastered it, and currently I am butchering it. However, it does help to speak it with other people and Italians who will correct me.  I have put more pictures of my Florence adventure on Facebook, so if you are my friend then feel free to check them out.  Well that's all for now, but please keep praying for us over here.  Pray that we will open ourselves up to God and he will fill us with his spirit and use us for his glory.  A presto!