Dear Family and Friends,

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”. . . that’s what you’ll find on the streets of Bologna now that winter has set in. There are vendors roasting and selling the nuts throughout the historic center and the fragrance is sweet and inviting. So we usually buy some to enjoy as we walk back to our car.

For those of you who may not have heard, the Thanksgiving Dinner outreach was a huge success, with over 180 visitors in attendance. The response was very encouraging and all the missionaries here are following up with individuals who requested more information.

Please pray specifically for our Italian teacher, Barbara, who is presently reading “Dinner With a Perfect Stranger” and is asking all the right questions about faith, the Bible, etc. Also, pray for Giovanna, as she is very eager to go to church with us regularly and to other church-related activities. Both of these women are very intelligent and take the time to logically think through the issues before making decisions, and we are very careful not to pressure them, as they feel very comfortable with us and the discussions we have together.

Following the Thanksgiving event, we took off for Rome for a couple days of rest and relaxation. The weather was lovely and we enjoyed walking through 2500 years of history. We had an opportunity to visit the church of San Clemente, thought to be one of the churches that Paul wrote to, and to explore the excavations of a first-century Roman house, and the original church building built above it. To realize that one is standing where the first Christians stood and worshipped, is an overwhelming experience. To know that believers were actually baptized in the pool in front of you is difficult to fully comprehend. It’s humbling to walk those streets knowing that Peter and Paul and others mentioned in the Bible walked there ahead of you.

We thought we’d have a brief rest after all the Thanksgiving activity, but the past two weeks have been non-stop as we prepare our Christmas program for this Saturday night, and have several events at the other churches on the calendar. Tomorrow we will decorate the church. Please pray for our program as we have invited many people outside our fellowship to come and enjoy an evening of carols as we read the Christmas story and enjoy some light refreshments.

We currently have no houseguests, but we’ll have some next weekend as people come and go for the various Christmas activities. We’ll have some for Christmas Eve and Day, then we’ll be ready for the arrival of our children and grandchildren on December 28 and January 1. What a celebration that will be for all of us!

It’s definitely the Christmas season here. As the days are shrouded in fog, and darkness descends at 5:00 P.M., the Christmas lights shine brightly along all the streets and in the public squares. People are busy shopping as they have received their annual Christmas bonus checks. The stores are crowded with all sorts of tempting displays of food, gift items, and decorations. Christmas carols (in English) can be heard while one moves through the malls, along the streets, and in the stores. It’s almost like the USA - complete with Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) and Christmas trees. And, unfortunately, without GesuBambino (Baby Jesus). In this most Catholic country, He is ignored, forgotten, and rejected. As you takepart in the hustle and bustle of the season, stop toreflect on what we’re actually celebrating. Thank Godfor the gift of salvation that He has given us throughHis Son. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Sonis given.” “And the angel said unto Mary, ‘You shallbear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.’”

With our love and prayers,
Cas and Mary Jane