I have been advised to start a blog concerning the amazing study abroad/mission opportunity God has brought me in recent weeks so that those who wish to learn and follow how God has been working can do so at their leisure (and so I do not have to repeat the story a hundred times over). At first I was tentative, but alas here I am. So how did I get here?
About a month ago God directed me to Saints Bible Institute (SBI) in San Lorenzo Italy (the one in northern Italy, by Venice – there is two). It is similar in style and organization to the Wisconsin Wilderness program (WWC) that I completed my freshman year of college; however it has a different focus. WWC was a year long program had a very strong emphasis on defining worldview, evaluating the worldviews of others, and fleshing out the details of our own worldview. SBI is a semester long program with a very strong emphasis on international missions/evangelism. Only a small group of students is accepted every semester (20-30ish) and it is very community oriented. I am going this coming Spring semester (2012), which means that I would be in Italy from February 3rd – April 30th (88 days). Any longer and the participants would need visas. This program would offer me the chance to get some really cool first hand exposure to Italian culture while still working toward my degree. I would have a full course load all geared toward the purpose/focus of the program, plus an “Introduction to Conversational Italian” language class (not for credits). Even though most of the credits will not transfer to PBU they will still be on my transcript. And, by the LORD’s blessing, I will still be able to complete my degree by the end of Spring (2014) as was expected/planned. Yay!
I was hesitant to create a blog for a few reasons, the main two being that: I was not sure if I would have the time and/or the discipline to update it regularly and because I did not want to the loose the personal interaction. The first reason stood out to me because I like to finish what I start. If I commit to something I like to see it through (that doesn’t mean that always happens, but I do my best). Also I have had friends and family insist that I give them pictures and regular updates while I am over in Italy and if I did not have this blog that means I would be telling the same stories 50 zillion times over which would take a lot of time and energy that I am not sure I will have. This brings us to reason two. Through interacting with a few people in my immediate proximity about how God brought this opportunity to me and has guided every step of my life since then towards Italy I have realized how much I love encouraging others by sharing the stories. I really do not mind telling it a hundred times over for those who take the time to listen because of the joy it brings others to hear it and me joy to share it. However, for practicality’s sake and for the convenience of others and myself, I have reflected and prayed about the idea. I came to the conclusion that the wisest thing to do would be to create this blog and obviously I have decided to do it.
