June 20th, 2024
“We can make our plans but the LORD determines our steps” – Proverbs 16:9
If you would have asked us last year what the year of 2024 was going to look like, there would have been a very different answer than the one we would give you now. If you know us on a personal level, you know that we, thankfully, love spontaneity. This year has been full of faith-filled adventures, divine encounters, Spirit-led decision making, and lots and lots of reliance on the Lord.
We announced a few months back that we made a big transition from Austria to Italy. If you missed that post, surprise! We’re going to serve in Rome, Italy! This was as much of a surprise to us as we suspect it was for you all, but Jesus has BIG plans. Just three weeks before we were set to depart for the field, we were notified of a big change in Austria that led to the door being closed for us. Thankfully, we do not serve a God of confusion or worry. God was quick to make His plans for our future clear and full of peace.
In December of 2022, we had the opportunity to take a vacation to Rome. We were both ecstatic considering Stephen’s family is of Italian (Sicilian) heritage and he wanted to explore his “homeland.” At this time, we were serving in Egypt, but we knew that the Lord was leading us to serve in Europe. That being said, we set this trip apart for both prayer and rest. A random moment in the day, Stephen was reminded of an Assemblies of God church that he heard about that was located in Rome. We knew nothing of this church nor did we know any of the individuals there, but we decided we would go visit for a Sunday service. We were welcomed with opened arms into what felt like a family. Little did we know at the time that this was a divine encounter.
It was this encounter that led us to our assignment in Rome.
While we were praying for a place to go and serve, our new mentor, Pastor Jennifer Pasquale, was praying for a young couple to join alongside her in her ministry. We are so excited and grateful that we have the opportunity to be this couple and serve at ICF Rome as Associate Pastors. We will be helping out with the ministry that is already taking place at ICF Rome while also serving our Missionary Mentor, Pastor Jennifer, and sharing the Gospel with those that the Lord allows us to cross paths with in our day to day.
We are so grateful to our amazing support system (you all) for praying for us and bringing us encouragement and wisdom. We have been beyond blessed by you all and we are excited to bring you on this new adventure with us. We are set to depart for Italy on July 15th! We are thrilled to say that the next newsletter you will receive will be from Rome!
Praise Reports:
- We are fully funded!
- We have received our visas!
- We have our flights, set to depart on July 15th!
- We have a home lined up in Italy!
Prayer Requests:
- Preparations for our big move
- Favor in our travels
- Our transition to a new country, culture, and language
- Saige’s transition to a new time zone, and her new life as an MK (Missionary Kid)
Lupos On The Go 