July 11th Update

The Lord is giving us fresh wind here in Sorrento! Our team is coming alive in our callings and grasping heaven to bring it down on Earth. All the glory to God as all we have done is show up with open hands and hearts and get to move with what the Holy Spirit is already doing here!

This morning our “yes” looked like setting our alarms for a 6am prayer meeting at the church. Not only did we show up but so did lots of eager church members hungry for the presence of God and for growth in their prayer lives.

Seth Barnes led us in getting uncomfortable. He encouraged us to get in small groups and pray out loud. Then we were charged to lay hands and pray for each other. Then finally we were sent out into Sorrento on a prayer walk. And God showed up!

One group felt a draw to a little side street near the church. We set off thanking the Lord for the things we saw. Then we turned around to see a black dog coming around the corner. Once the dog saw us he immediately plopped down, he wasn’t budging until we gave him the proper attention he deserved as a good boy. The owner invited us to pet him.

We busted out Brother Google Translate and explained to the dog’s owner that we were walking around praying for the city. We asked if she needed prayer for anything and then waited intently for the translation to load. She shared that there was a woman who had cancer and had 2 small children. Emotions immediately came as one of our students has a sister-in-law who is battling cancer and also is a mother to 2 small children.

The connection was made. The group knew God intentionally drew them down this road for this exact divine interruption. We got to pray for this woman and the woman who had cancer and also for our student’s sister-in-law. After the prayer, the woman said “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we met.”

These are the moments that impact our lives and, most importantly, others’ lives forever. This is how God shows us how much He loves us and how intentional He is. We can go through life with our heads down focusing so hard on the path, or we can look up, trust His direction, and make sure to see the people He puts in front of us.

After our prayerful morning, we were craving some worship to respond to the Lord for meeting us here. We sang

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior”

Bailey felt the Lord prompt her to share Isaiah 43 with us as encouragement. We will share it here in hopes it encourages you as well.

“But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are so hyped up about our breakthroughs and the new thing that God is doing here in Sorrento and our squad! We are now partnering with Seth and Adventures in Missions in preparing and exploring the options to continue these trips. We got to give feedback and honest truths about our experiences. We acknowledge the hardships of pioneering something unwritten and want to steward our knowledge to pave the way for the people coming behind us.

View all Italy Study Abroad Updates here