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English Posts Stewardship

Ten Upbeat Ways to Beat the Blues

Storms and difficulties of all kinds and sizes come our way. From simple doldrums or times of discouragement, to life’s great storms and even pandemics. And they can really start to get us down. Many of life’s problems are extremely serious, like the events of the past few years, from pandemics to financial crises to […]

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English Posts Home & Family

After Lockdown

We’ve been in and out of lockdowns here in Italy more times than I can count. And while they’ve varied in severity, they all have a few things in common. They’re inconvenient and unpleasant. But even worse, they’ve stolen our personal freedom and liberty. And from my observations, they haven’t worked. Thankfully, there were fewer […]

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English Posts Stewardship

The Benefits of Community

Our favorite pizzeria/restaurant of choice is The Red Wolf or Lupo Rosso. And some of our friends here wonder why because it’s a simple place. Nothing fancy or elegant, but the food is excellent. And we tell them, “It’s all about community.” And to us that’s much more important than elegance! It’s a come-as-you-are kind […]

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English Posts Home & Family Missions

Their First Look at the Americans

One by one they filed in, sitting around the smoky fire in the dark, dingy room. The entire village, it seemed, wanted a look at us — the Americans. While I in turn, through teary, smoke-filled eyes, examined them. Our new town folk, for this was our new home. A village from another era Life in that isolated […]

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English Posts Home & Family

Lockdown Isolation: Challenges and Blessings

Italy’s streets and piazzas are usually full of people, even in the evening. But with the lockdown all that has changed. An eerie silence has settled over the strangely unpeopled streets and towns. Except for the car that goes through town every day with a loudspeaker broadcasting the order to stay indoors. That’s the final […]