This is God's painting! Above is the sunrise I saw on the bus to Florence. :)
This week is the second week of classes. Last weekend I was in Florence, which was pretty cool. It was a long a weekend, but of course a good weekend. I am truly blessed to be here. Although, I will be honest there are some points in time when I FORGET that I am in Italy. I am around American students a lot, however I don't think that is the reason why. I must just not realize it yet.
I already have a pretty decent amount of schoolwork, but I'm staying pretty good with it. However, the professors decided to assign work on the same day and have it due on the same day. But, I think that happens everywhere; it's happened to me before.
My little travel group is planning our first travel week which I am pretty excited about it! We are going to Milan, Paris, London, and Dublin. I am SO excited, especially for Dublin for some reason. However, the other locations are going to be great too. Don't worry, I'm excited for them too. We have already reserved the Last Supper. I can imagine that it may be a slightly emotional experience for me. This painting depicts the point at which Jesus announced he was to be betrayed by one of his disciples. All this art often gives me a realization of who I am and what Jesus has done for me. (I also saw A LOT of Madonna and Child and Crucifixion paintings which make me ponder too.) I would stand at the paintings and just remember and think back to Jesus on the cross...
I have been disappointed with my dedication to spending time with God here. It is definitely hard while traveling to get away for a little bit or to make time to journal. But, I don't see those things as legit excuses. I even missed my Sunday study of Ecclesiastes this week because I was in Florence and then traveling home. However, I plan to do more later this week and weekend with that...since I plan on staying in Paderno. I spend time in prayer, but have failed to spend time in the word. I also feel as if I have not completely exposed who I am here.
God had been exposing my own flaws here. But too often I seek out the flaws in others. I'm striving how to love people the way God would and it continues to be a work in progress.
I did not get the last scholarship that I applied to. It was disappointing, but I'm still here in Italy! I know there is a reason that I did not get it and I just have to trust God that everything with finances will be okay. I have been working on my summer project application here and there, but not very faithfully. I've only been in Italy for 2.5 weeks, but those SP application deadlines come quickly. My mother worries I take on too much and am planning for the summer too soon. However, I cannot wait to apply until I get back in April. I'm not sure if summer project is really what I should be doing this summer, but I am taking a step and seeing what happens.
I'm still taking it all in. For those of you who are reading this, just know, it's very likely I'm missing you! I have pictures of people up in my room and of course look at them often. I pray everything is good at home and just know that right now I'm good here. I'm still learning and growing, and I think that is the way God intended it to be.
