Being sick in a foreign country

I get sick about 2x a year. Its almost a gurantee. And sure enough I have gotten sick. I am sitting in my room with a cough, headache, sinus pressure like an elephant is sitting on my head about to make it explode, and tired. And it just makes me realize how thankful I am for when I am in the States and I can get Niquil! I miss that more than anything else today! I have only a decongestant pill and it does help a little but it doesn't knock me out like lovely Niquil does. So enjoy for Niqiul for me and please pray that I get better soon!

--sick. kate.

Day by day

So recently I have thought a lot about what I want to do with my life and where I think God is leading me. I have for the last 4 years thought that I would go to Africa or India and serve and try to help save peoples lives from curable diseases. But since I have been in Italy I have been feeling less and less at peace with that future. 

As of right now I am not changing my major from nursing, but I feel as if there is something else I should be doing. I don't want to leave Union and the people I love there, but God is doing something in me and I have fears of what that might be. 

Don't get me wrong, I fear the Lord in that I know he has the master plan and that I am His to direct but that can be very scary when you surrender your life to Him. 

Since being in Italy and being around so many people that I don't have similar beliefs, my thoughts have been filled with new ideas and thoughts of where God might be leading me. 

I want to serve. I don't want to live a life that only satisfies me. I don't believe that I have been called to live in one area for a long period of time and I also think that God has created me to be good at facing difficulties. It might be painful but I always make it through with His guidance. 

So I don't really know what I am going to do next, but I have a feeling it will not be at all what I was planning. And I think that was God's plan all along. That I would never know. That I would change. That I would do something unexpected. And I am starting to see this semester as a time where God might have taken me away so that He can put His plan in play and not mine. (not that my plan truly is ever in action)but that drastic changes might be "a brewing" 

And here is where my thoughts have escaped me and I don't know what else to write, other than that I put my hope in Christ and His plan, even if that changes everything I had planned. 

-- anxious. kate.

Thank you

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has commented! It means alot to hear from you! It is hard being here and being the only Christian I know. I just keep relying on Christ and weeklt talks and emails with you all! So thank you for being my support even hundreds of miles away! It means so much more than you know!

-- thankful. kate.

A rainy day and perspective

So today is a day that I could either write on about being a great day or about me a bad day. Here are the two versions of my day so far...

Good day... I got up before my alarm so I was able to sit and just not think and enjoy the time in the morning when I am the only one up and start the day off with thoughts. I had some yogurt and fruit for breakfast and was ready to head out. It looks like it was going to rain so I grabbed my rain coat and enjoyed my 20 min walk to school. I got to school and had time to get on the computer and email my mom back before class. Then I had italian class where I learned a lot today. Then I got a yummy sandwich and cookie before my lecture at noon. I went to lecture and was able to relate reading from 2 of my other classes to his lecture and answer a question in the class. Then I went out in the rain to the library and saw it didn't open until 2 so I went for an hour and enjoyed a cappuccino until the library opened. Then I ran into a girl from my building and we chatted and I went to the library. I got in and got my library card and picked 2 oldies movies and then finished my reading for tomorrows Modern Italian history class. Then I came back to school to write this blog in the computer lab. That is the good version of my day. 

Here is the depressing version of the day... I woke up 30 min before my alarm. I could have gotten SO much more sleep. I hate that so I laid there until it went off and got ready. I was really  hungry and all I had was old fruit and watery yogurt. Then I put on my velvet flats and went out for class. I get outside and it looks like rain but I didn't think it would rain because it looked the same way yesterday and didn't rain. So I kept on going. Then I get to class and we have to start at the beginning again for 2 new students and it puts the class at an odd number of partners so today I was the professors partner and every time I made a mistake she would explain the mistake to the class and correct me. awesome messing up the language I am trying to speak everyday and then everyone knowing it. Then it did rain and my cute flats got so wet that I might as well have walked barefoot. Then the lunch I got was a gross ham meat instead of the turkey I thought it was but I ate it anyways and then the cookie I got was really dry. Then I went to lecture where a know it all girl chatted with the professor for half of the class. Then I went to go to the library and it wasn't open for another hour so I went and got a cappicino and sat around annoying British couples that were loud and annoying. Then I leave to go to the library and run into a girl from school that I just found out is gay and it was really awkward. Then I go to the library and the guy getting my library card for me kept asking me questions I didn't know the answer to so I kept saying "non lo so" or "I don't know" a very handy phrase. Then I went to get the movies and the guy around the cart was STINKY and kept looking at me as if I was in his way. Then I went to study and this lady kept talking on her phone very loudly. And then I came here to write this blog to show you how my days here in Italy have some highlights and some lowlights. I try to see the day in the former, but it is hard to always try and be positive. 

side note: I went to Aerzzo this weekend where the movie "Life is beautiful" was filmed and I suggest everyone visit it when you come to Italy. It is my favorite city so far in Italy. It beats Roma and Frienze! 

Have a good perspective on your day! Kate

Amazing God

So God works is just AMAZING ways! I don't know sometimes how I manage to doubt His power cause He proves it to me day in and day out!

So today I went to church at Florence Gospel Fellowship! And I loved it SOOOO much! It is VERY small. We sang about 5 songs that are some of my all time favorites like "mighty to save" and "blessed be your name"! And then had a great message that related to my life so well right now!

So the pastor was talking about how we need to rely more of Christ when we are feeling strong than when we are weak. And he put it in context of when we rely on our own strength it hurts more when we fall, and to rely on Christ even when you feel strong and confident in a situation that we still need to ask for God's strength to in a way even more boost our strength because of God's helping us. And when I was getting ready to come to Italy I was relying on my strength saying that I have traveld overseas, I have studied how to not have culture shock, etc. But then I get here and it all collapses underneath me. This past week has been one of the hardest of my life. I didn't talk to my parents at all since I had been here other than to say I got here. So I hadn't heard their voices, I haven't been able to have Christian support, etc. And then today, God brings me to an english speaking with people from all different world. (some include holland, finland, uk, and more!) And that is when I was reminded so clearly of what and why I want to do what I feel led to do, to live in worship with God's people from all over the world! It was so refreshing! AHH! I can't explain the extra boost I got from it today!

Then afterward they had us stay and have cookies and soda and chat! It was great! I will def. be going there for now on and trying to build relationships that will last more than a lifetime!

Philipians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anyhting, but in everythingby prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God.

He answers pray. He saves the lost. He is my Savior and my Friend!

--Kate

Rome top 10

top 10 events/ places/ people -- cause I don't have enough time for anything else.

10 --St. Peters - a bit overwhelming
9 - nutella- it is everywhere! I love it!
8 - food in general is just good!
7 - our room - pretty awesome compared to some of the other students rooms
6 - guy on the street that whiped out his member and almost peed on us -- just funny and gross
5- Spanish ISA lady - been EVERYWHERE and has the coolest stories
4- Pantheon - coolest ceiling
3- THE CHEESE -- chesse in the USA doesn't deserve the name cheese
2- Colosseo - but was rushed through it
1- Piazza Navona - prettiest plance in the WORLD.

sorry I couldn't do more.