First off, I apologize for my serious lack of blogging while I have been here in Siena. I thought I would have way more free time with a computer to do all sorts of in-the-moment updates. The reality is and was, the free time I do have is usually spent bonding with my team, or taking desperately needed rests with the Lord. Taking time to recharge my batteries after long days on campus quickly became a necessity.
However, I have a free morning today and would love to share with you what has happened in Siena while we have been here thus far. We (my team and I) have become friends with dozens of Italian students. Every day we go onto campus, in pairs, and strike up conversations with random groups of students who are taking smoke breaks, eating lunch or just talking. Yes, smoke breaks. Sad to say, but almost ALL Italian college students smoke. Every day my hair smells like cigarette smoke. Once we have opened up a conversation with a student or group of students, we tell them who we are and why we are in Italy. Most are very curious because a) we aren't on vacation and b) we aren't study abroad students. After that, we usually do one of two things:
One route we take is using Soularium. Soularium is an evangelistic tool that uses about 50 4X6 pictures of various things. The pictures are all random things--a picture of a girl dancing in the rain, a picture of a telephone booth, a picture of an ocean sunrise, etc. We show the students we are talking with the pictures, and then ask them to choose 3 images to describe your life RIGHT now. They choose the pictures, then we ask them to explain why they chose those pictures or what the pictures mean to them. Next we ask them to choose 3 more images out of the stack to describe how they WANT/WISH their life to be. They explain after why they chose those images. Finally, to get into "spiritual conversations" we ask them a third question. We ask something to the effect of, "Can you pick three images to describe God?" or "3 images that represent God or your beliefs about Him?"
Once students have answered these questions we have a clear picture of who they are, who they want to be (aka what they are missing in their life) and their views about God. From there we share what we believe about God, and the Gospel story. This technique allows us to get into conversation and then steer the conversation quickly to spiritual things without it being akward. Most students answer the questions very honestly and go much deeper into their lives than people in America.
I have heard more stories about hard break-ups, depression, difficult times, fears and deep-rooted longings in the first five minutes with some of these Italians than I have ever heard from some of my close friends. It is astounding how relational the Italian culture is. I am a human, they are a human and Italians believe that is enough connection to discuss anything and everything with. Its refreshing, eye opening and has taught me so much about how complete honesty creates a friendship that crosses all language barriers, time restraints and culture differences.
Of course, we have had conversations where student outright call the Gospel story foolishness (because of the corruption of the Catholic church here in Italy most students do not trust organized religion in any form, at all). I have learned so much about how to answer questions, what Bible verses are strategic for answering said questions, and how to explain what I believe in a way anyone can understand.
Besides using Soularium, the other way we get into spiritual conversations is to just share our life stories. It sounds so funny to say that we just sit down on park benches and share our lives with complete strangers but that it exactly what we do. In sharing our stories (usually in 5 minutes or less!) the Gospel is always the end result we come to and center upon. But again, Italian students don't mind doing this and are very good listeners. Most often I only can do this with Italian students who speak English proficiently. Otherwise using Soularium is a better way to get points across, go deep etc.
We are sharing the Gospel as fast and as widespread as we can here as this is possibly the last Siena Summer Project for a while we recently found out. To date, our staff leaders Steve and Megan Yen have told us that they are so proud of our team because they believe that never before on a summer project has the Gospel been shared in its entirety, as much as on this trip. I know for myself I have shared my life story and/or the Gospel with at least 2 dozen students who I now have friendships with. How many have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, we cannot know, but God does.
How many times have students thanked me for sharing the Gospel with them? Almost every single one. They always thank us for sharing our life stories and our views about the Gospel. Even the girl this last Tuesday who told me outright during Soularium that God does not exist, thanked me for sharing the story of WHY Jesus died on the Cross and told me the next day that she had thought about what I had said that night while she tried to fall asleep. We only have about a week and a half left here in Siena before we leave for our project debriefing in Florence for a few days. I will try to update again.
We have an outreach next Wednesday night. We are doing an "American Night" where we have invited all the Italian students we have talked to, to come hang out with us. We will be cooking "American food"--think hamburgers, french fries, corn dogs, lemonade and Coca-Cola, playing American music, and playing American games. It should be a good time with a lot of friendships strengthened and the solidification in the students minds that we are missionaries, but moreover, Evangelical Christians who can have fun and not be legalistic.
Hope this update finds you all well, I am healthy, happy and so thankful for all of your support and encouragement!
For His Glory,
Kaley Dawn Adams
