We are celebrating 30 years of being in Italy this month! Although our years here have not always been easy, we would choose this path again in a heartbeat. It’s been a good life, and we have seen God’s faithfulness throughout.
Life overseas is joy mixed with sorrow
Being unable to attend the funerals of my inlaws and my own grandparents meant that the necessary closure took much longer. Rarely getting to meet our new grandchildren as infants, left our empty arms aching.
We’ve missed many important moments and milestones in the lives of our children and grandchildren, including graduations, first dates, marriage engagements, special holidays, birthdays, and even weddings. It’s difficult not to be there for our loved ones or miss their important events.
It’s also a big concern to be so far away when elderly parents or other loved ones are hospitalised. Knowing we can do nothing to help, all we can do is call and pray.
It’s often been difficult. There were times when we didn’t know where our next meal would come from. There were also times when we couldn’t buy new shoes or coats for our growing children. Sometimes, we had to walk long distances because we couldn’t afford a car or gas. There were times when life seemed like an uphill struggle.
You might be wondering what makes us stay. We know this is where God has placed us, and we want to fulfil his will. But it’s also because, when we look back, we see how many lives have been transformed. We see the many Italian towns that still need to hear about God. There is still work to be done.
In the film “The Inn of the Sixth Happiness,” Jeannie Lawson tells her young missionary helper, Gladys Aylward: “It’s a hard life for a young woman. But, it won’t seem hard, I promise you, when you’re my age and look back. It’ll only seem beautiful.”
It’s a hard life for a young woman. But, it won’t seem hard, I promise you, when you’re my age and look back. It’ll only seem beautiful.
Jeannie Lawson to Gladys Aylward, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
That’s what we see when we look back. The trials and hardships somehow fade away, and all that remains is beauty. The radiance of lives transformed, churches formed, and the grace of God poured out on hearts and lives. It’s all beautiful.
So even though it has been hard much of the time and our hearts are often heavy, ours is a story of rejoicing. The Lord has always met our every need. He has been with us through every sorrow. He has led us down amazing paths.
God has done great things through us and for us. He has blessed us beyond anything we could ever have imagined! Even to the point of blessing us with a second home!
The blessing of a summer home!
That’s right — the Lord has blessed us with our own summer home! It seems crazy to us that people who have lived on such a low income should own their home, let alone two houses.
However, we inherited Hubby’s ancestral home — the very house he was born in! Although he co-owns it with his siblings, they all live in the United States, so for now, we’re the only ones using it.
We used to visit the tiny village often, especially while my father-in-law was still alive. Our children always loved having the freedom to roam around the whole village, and they even got to ride a donkey once in a while!
My husband’s siblings, who are all older than him, eventually stopped visiting from New York. However, they still wanted to maintain the old place. They encouraged us to continue using it and generously paid for repairs. So, thanks to them, we were able to add a summer house to our list of blessings!
I realize that this can make missionary life or living abroad seem exotic, and it can be. However, for the most part, it’s similar to life anywhere, with its ups and downs.
God is always with us, through everything. He blesses us in ways we cannot imagine. He helps us through difficult times, turning what seem like misfortunes into blessings.
We’ve shed tears over the occasions we had to miss out on. Our hearts have been torn in two every time we’ve had to leave our loved ones. They still ache daily for those we miss.
Yet joy is mixed in with that sorrow. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for all the good things that God has brought into our lives.
And we realize that our sadness we feel comes simply from how blessed we’ve been. Winnie the Pooh is right: leaving the ones you love is what makes saying goodbye so hard. He says we’re lucky to have them, but it’s not luck, it’s God’s blessings!
Looking back over our 30 years in Italy, we are reminded of the many difficulties we faced. Many things are still hard. Yet we also recognise the many blessings, good times and victories we have experienced. Life is full of both good and bad times — sometimes we just have to look a little harder for the good ones! In the end, all we see is beauty!
How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
Winnie the Pooh
📷 Image credits: woman; girl waving; graphic made on Canva; others are mine.
The Lord has blessed you for these 30 years because you chose the path of faithfulness. Happy 30 th anniversary!!
Thank you so much, Ron, for this encouragement. This is an older post that I’ve just translated into Italian. We’ve now been here for 37 years! It doesn’t seem possible, but God has been so good and faithful throughout it all. And we rejoice in the fruit He has granted. All the glory goes to Him for He is always faithful! God’s blessings to you and yours!
Missing important dates and days is a challenge at the moment. But the Lord has blessed you with a wonderful ministry in a place many don’t have the opportunity to go for Him. I love that Winnie the Pooh quote–how easy it is to not value the reason saying goodbye is so difficult. You have a rich life, my friend, which has enabled others to have one as well.
Thanks much for the encouragement, Dayle. The Lord always helps us through these times. He is good and has been ever faithful! And it’s all worth it if we can touch but one heart for him!
Praying that you are able to pick up where you left off last summer with the open-air Bible studies. I know God has been preparing hearts over the months you’ve been absent. They will no doubt be anxious for your return and excited to learn from the Bible, ready to be introduced to the abundant life in Jesus! I can imagine more people in attendance, too, as word-of-mouth spreads the good news. And I’ll be excited to hear the results! May God bless your efforts, Sheila–many fold!
Thanks Nancy, for I know that you do truly pray for us!
Another summer approaches and its opportunities! I continue to pray for you and your husband, Sheila. P.S. Thank you so much for becoming a follower of my blog. I am deeply honored, knowing your time is limited for blog-browsing. I sincerely pray you find the posts meaningful whenever you’re able to visit!
Thanks Nancy, I appreciate all your prayers! I love your blog and deep insight, and always come away restored and encouraged. I appreciate you, dear sister!
Hi Sheila, I can only imagine what you have missed but I also understand that you know where you are supposed to be. That in itself is a blessing because many of us don’t find that until much later in life. There is a peace in being in God’s will, trusting Him, depending on Him. For many years I did not understand that, I stayed in the driver’s seat and I was wrong. Yet He forgives and continues to draw me closer to Him. So I look up to you both because of your faithfulness. And I am sure that not only are you two an inspiration to me but also to many others. Grace and blessings!
Yes Bruce, that is exactly the way it is. Great peace in knowing that this is God’s place for us for this time. But all the glory goes to God. HIS faithfulness makes it possible for us to keep keeping on. It is only through his strength, for believe me we are often weak! I thank you for your heartwarming words, especially your prayers that we may be a tiny blessing and encouragement to others. If we can touch but one life for Christ, that makes it worth it all!!!