back to Italy

Posted by Drew | Filed under General

Some of you know that after my time in Russia, I was able to take a trip to Italy before coming home.  Thanks to RyanAir, I was able to afford a round trip ticket from Germany during a brief layover on returning from Moscow.  It was a great trip, but with the cheap airline came a lot more travelling stress.  Joy from my staff team was travelling with me for part of the time.  Between shuttles to airports, flights, trains, more shuttles… no method of travel functioned as it was supposed to.  It was a great reminder that I was back in Italy.  But strangely, as exhausted as I was when I finally flew over the border, I just had a good feeling knowing that I was back in Italy.  I still have a strong desire to return there to do ministry, and I think part of me feels at home there.

It was great seeing old friends.  I didnt’ see as many students as I wanted to, but my priority was to visit with Jim and Angela, Scott and Tracy, Ryan and Karli in Pisa, then Nathan and Katy and the rest of their team in Salerno, which I was able to do between long legs of travel.  I was travelling over 70 hours during the 6 day period between leaving Russia and arriving in Auburn.  But it was well worth it.   Good time with friends, good conversations with students during the two days I was on campus in Salerno, good time at a church service in Naples where we watched 15 Italians get baptized… great confirmation that Italians are coming to Christ, and we’re not fighting a hopeless battle over there.

Change of Plans

So most of you probably read the title of this post and thought, “Oh, he’s going back?” then read the first paragraph and concluded that I was only referring to my brief stopover over spring break.  But as it turns out, you were right the first time.  It came as a shock to me, and I’m still a little in disbelief.  But while I was in Pisa, I got a call from the regional office (SE Region within Crusade… they make all the important decisions like staff placement for ministries in MS, AL, GA, and FL).  They have asked me to go back to Salerno next year to lead the STINT team again.  This was completely out of left field for me.  I didn’t understand, and initially I actually thought, “No, thank you.  Please find someone else.”  And while I didn’t say that, I did continue to feel that way for the next several days, simply waiting for the Lord to confirm that I should stay at Auburn.  It’s still very strange to me that I’m actually in a place where I would prefer to stay here than go back to Italy.  Strange because I have such a strong desire to be in Italy, and also strange because I had such a tough period of adjustment to being here.  But God has confirmed the calling to be here, he has blessed me in ministry and in fellowship and in growth here, and I had simply assumed that would continue into next year.  But surprisingly, that’s not the case.  It seems clear now that God’s plan is for me to return in the fall for another one year commitment.

I’m growing more excited about it.  I think honestly the biggest reason I’m hesitant is because this will be the 4th consecutive year, (and a guarantee of a 5th to follow) that I’ll be in a new location with a brand new team.  And emotionally, thinking about investing in those relationships, pursuing deep community with brand new people again makes me very tired.  It makes me tired because I know how challenging it is, and how much effort it takes, and sometimes I just want to feel like there’s some consistency and that the fellowship around me doesn’t have to change so frequently.  But this is my calling.  And one potential blessing from it that I can anticipate is that I will find deeper satisfaction in the constance of my fellowship with Christ.  I also see the value in learning more about relationships and fellowship and community.  That’s something I feel like I’ll be learning about the rest of my life.

So I covet your prayers as I mentally and emotionally adjust to the thought of leaving Auburn and going on STINT one more time.  Pray that this change will feel like a calling and not like a burden.  And pray that as God confirms this direction for me, that he will fill me with a vision and excitement for my new team, and for Salerno.

Thank you all.

Permalink | April 12th, 2006

4 Responses to “back to Italy”

  1. Mike Sense Says:
    April 13th, 2006 at 8:53 am

    Drew, did you push the stipulation of a certain Great Lakes new staff being required to be on your team?

  2. Katie Wolfe-Williams Says:
    April 16th, 2006 at 9:14 pm

    Drew, I think its wonderful that you are going to Italy again! I’m very excited for you! Thanks for all the wonderful updates!

  3. Beau Lacey Says:
    April 19th, 2006 at 9:17 am

    Drew,

    I know you have “inquired of the Lord” and have found peace in knowing this is where He expects you to go for Him. Will you be in Tupelo before then, when and how long? Would love to get you in front of our Sunday School class again.

  4. Lori Jones Says:
    April 19th, 2006 at 10:41 am

    Drew, I’m happy for you, although I know that resettling again so soon will be hard. When will you leave? We’d love to see you before then.

    Now George and I will have a tour guide when we finally make it to Italy! :)

    Take care!

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