Caiazzo

Where do I start!?  So much has happened since my last post! 

June 28 we left England and arrived in Naples.  We were so glad to finally be here and begin this new adventure.  We enjoyed catching up with Emiliano, our host and friend at the B&B. We also met up with a new friend, Luca, who works at the small Christian bookshop in Naples.  What a joy to fellowship over an espresso and hear about his ministry and heart for the people in this area.  

Marketplace Naples

Meeting Luca

Reuniting with Emiliano

July 1, we took the train up to Caserta and were met at the station by Benedetto, our host of the B&B there.  We stayed with them for a week while we were looking for a place to land in Caiazzo.  He and his wife, Nancy, are absolutely wonderful people and we have become good friends.  He speaks pretty good English and they were such a blessing in helping us take care of so many details.  He went out of his way many times to drive us places and interpret for us.

B&B Montalbano Caserta

Benedetto and Nancy, our hosts and new friends

Steve’s cousins were incredible at helping us find an apartment in Caiazzo.  It would take way too long to go into detail, but there were many amazing little parts of the story that made us aware of how much the Lord was in control and guiding every step.

We moved into a really great apartment July 11 in Caiazzo and were so glad to finally have a place to call home and unpack our suitcases! The apartment came fully furnished so we haven’t had to buy much at all to begin living here.  The first 3 weeks, we had no electricity or hot water.  Things work slowly here in southern Italy!  So it was kind of like being in a camping cabin with candles, flashlights and the propane stove for heating water.  The good thing about no electricity was the fact that we had to go out to eat and hang out at coffee bars or cafes while we were recharging our phones and tablets.  This forced us to get to know the people working in these places and begin to build relationships.

moving into our apartment

Front door to our building

our street...via Latina

view from our apartment

Emma the sweet owner of our apartment

We have a favorite place where we go for coffee almost every day and the owners have been very good to us.  Fabiola studied languages in college and speaks very good English.  She has helped us over and over and we have hired her to teach us Italian starting in a couple of weeks.  We know the Lord put her in our life for many reasons. 

Fabiola

Borgo Antico Caffe

We are slowly learning to communicate in Italian to the people we see every day.  It is a good feeling to be walking around town and hear someone call out your name and wave to you!  They are mostly very patient and gracious to us and try to understand what we are saying to them.  Some are even wanting us to help them learn to say things in English!

Sergio

Our favorite pizza place..Ferie, Christina and Luciano

Alessandro...he has a store that is like a general mercantile..a little of everything

Great family that have a pannini/sandwich shop...Guiseppe, Francesco, Nunzia and Maria

The town is ancient and small…about 5200 people live here.  The old part (where we live) dates before the Romans came and it sits high up on the top of a steep hill.  There is an incredible amount of history here and we are learning more all the time.  Most of the people are not too concerned about  becoming more modern.  In many ways, they still carry on their lives the same way as they have for generations….simply and unhurried. It is an easy and uncomplicated lifestyle.

good water flows out of the mountains and people can get it for free

We have met many of Steve’s family and there are more that we haven’t met yet!  They are very good to us and have taken us in as if we were long lost relatives who came back home after years of being away.  We feel very blessed to be so welcomed by them.

Antonio Tessitore is a professor in Rome.  He took us to the library of  town records and we found out he and Steve have the same great, great grandfather.

So far, our time has been spent in fixing up the apartment and getting to know the people and the ways of the culture.  It is more different than we thought it would be and there have been times when we have been discouraged and very lonely. We are hopeful that the language lessons will help us begin to communicate better soon and we will be able to develop deeper friendships. That is our prayer and desire. 

revamping an old buffet into kitchen cabinets and a bookshelf

Cleaning the propane stove

Thanks so much for all of your love and prayers and support.  This is truly a walk of faith we are on and we are so thankful that we are not alone in it.  The Lord is continually directing and encouraging us every day and we are so very thankful for all of you!  We are amazed.

Jeremiah 32:17 

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.


Jer 32:17  "Ah, Signore, SIGNORE! Ecco, tu hai fatto il cielo e la terra con la tua gran potenza e con il tuo braccio steso; non c'è nulla di troppo difficile per te;