Christian Photographers Community

I just received a Prayer Letter from a missionary in Italy.  He used to live in our parent's basement while he went to Bible School.  Mario and Rose Bruno share their news quite regularly.

We have many of his Prayer Letters here on the site but I thought I'd just share it in here for those of you who may not be able to find them in our Missionary area.


The Garlic Press

Hello,

"You're a fool for what you are doing. Why don't you just quit and go home!" Those words and many more a man with a severe limp hurled at me over a year ago. Apparently, he had taken one of my evangelistic flyers the week earlier. He started speaking as soon as he came out of the Metro (subway) station and continued to speak negatively with insulting remarks until he was out of sight. This continued every Wednesday morning. Each time he passed I tried to have him stop long enough to respond but He never would. Last Monday (as only God can arrange) I met him by chance on a street corner and he was not in a hurry. As I suspected he was angry with God because of his inability to walk well. We spoke for almost 30 minutes. His last question to me was: "What is life?" The answer Christ gave seemed to touch his heart: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent," because he then said: "I admire you. I wish I had your faith." We parted shaking hands with my offer to have a coffee together the next time we meet.



Our evangelistic campaign of 3 days went very well. An Italian pastor spoke on the topic: «Why Believe?» What encouraged to me was the 10 new people who came over the weekend were individually invited by the members of the church and came because of a personal relation with them. Though none made any kind of a public profession of faith they all remained after the meetings for the refreshments to ask questions about the message with the speaker and their friends. These meetings are another link in the chain that we pray will lead them to salvation.



I had a similar experience to that of the apostle Paul found in Acts 28:14,15. "And so we came to Rome. The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged". While I was out very early one morning a young man introduced himself as a fellow believer. He was in Rome to seek for a job. He told me of his conversion 3 years earlier and of his home church in Catania, Sicily. He then said: "Here, let me help you give out these evangelistic flyers. My train doesn't leave for half an hour." With that he took a large stack and began to give them out. He told me, as he was leaving, how happy he was that he could do something to help spread the kingdom of God. I thanked the Lord for the encouragement he was to me to keep strong in the Lord.



"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ...The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Romans 8:16-21. Let me share with you an illustration on this text that came to me while writing my latest flyer. My Italian is excellent but I must have the flyer proofread by an expert in Italian before I publish it. When I sent my copy to the lady who does the correcting I told her that if my flyer could talk it would say something similar to the text I quoted above. It is filled with mistakes and is eagerly waiting for her "perfecting and correcting" touch to make it polished and beautiful. Our hope is one day when the Lord returns He will do just that. We shall be like the Lord Jesus for we shall see Him as He is.



Thank you for your partnership with us in the cause of Christ. May God's grace be upon you.

Mario and Rose.
By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation –Psalm 65:5 (NASB)

Hi!

Oh Father, thank You for Mario and Rose.  Thank You for placing them where they are and for giving them such a heart to spread Your Good News!  Oh Father, I pray just now that You will fill them with love for the people there, and I pray You will open hearts to receive it and to truly and fully believe. Oh I pray You to enlarge Your Church in that place. And Father, in this place too.  Do these things through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen to Al's prayer

Marilyn We shouldn't look for change in others, we should look to God to change our hearts and minds.  Go back to your old church and look for the good and what you can do to strengthen it.

Good to hear about Mario Pat.  I had forgotten about him.  I will add him to my book.

Amen to Al's prayer.

Must run

Hi...

Yup, I'm one of those who read but seldom post.      I just can't    don't find much to say, I guess.

I have been a bit concerned with events and circumstances surrounding a family member, and the property of which I am joint owner, in California.  It is pretty difficult to get information or cut through the bureaucratic red tape when I'm here in Oregon and stuff to be seen to is in California.     Soooo

I am involved in packing and getting ready to drive down to Sacramento tonight/early in the morning to my daughter's house.  She and I will then drive to the Veterans Home in Yountville to take care of some business and then back to Sacramento where I will spend the next few daze sorting through stuff and arranging for a yard sale/give away in preparation for selling the mobile home there.

Joy is moving to South Lake Tahoe the end of this month and I need to do this while I can still stay at her place in Sacramento (for free).    

I've been reading and praying for each request and making mental comments to each of y'all .... you just can't "hear" me so I guess that's not too good after all is it?  hmmmm I'll be back toward the end of next week and (almost) promise to do better in here, okay?

Y'all take care......

Hi Al and Jane! 

Glad you stopped by and said "Hi". 

Jane, we'll be thinking of you as you travel.  How long will you be away?

Judy did I say I wanted to see if people had changed, I don't think I said or implied that. Sorry. there have been a lot of changes there, They have remodeled the bathrooms, the music may still be too loud or maybe not, but it sure hurt my ears enough that I had to wear earplugs. People have come and some gone. Lots of changes. I did not withdraw my membership there, so I am still on the membership rolls.  I left because I wasn't being fed there. I need to see if that has changed too.

I prefer to be fed from the word of God not someone else's message that has been copied from the web or that I have seen preached on Christian TV by someone else. I hear he is preaching his own sermons now.

Quote from: Pat on October 18, 2008, 03:54:08 PM
Hi Al and Jane! 

Glad you stopped by and said "Hi". 

Jane, we'll be thinking of you as you travel.  How long will you be away?

I'm really not sure, Pat.  Joy will be home until Wednesday, but she says I can still stay at their house even if they're gone.  I don't know if I'll need to do that this trip.  I just don't have any idea     I'll probably come back Thursday.  

God bless and prosper you in what you have to do there, Jane.  And God give you a safe and easy trip down and back as well.  All through our Lord, the Lord of our lives, Jesus Christ.

For any and all who might check in here yet this evening:  Please pray for me.  I'm going to try to sleep in my own bed tonight. I've been using the recliner since January because of problems, first problems with the hip, then problems with edema of the lower legs.  But if I continue to use the recliner, I'm quite sure I'll develop pressure sores on my calf areas, and then I'll be in real trouble.  This is the night!

  My wife and I were able to get out today after I came home from the mens breakfast.  We have lived now in Welland Ontario Canada for almost three years and we have a lovely farmers market and we had never been there but today we were able to go and it is a great market, there are many local farmers as we are in the fruit growing area also many vegatables.

After that we went and visited a senior citizen from our church who is not in very good shape but today she responded very good.  It was also a beautiful drive as many of the trees are turning into such beautiful colours.

Pat:  Thanks for sharing the Letter from Bruno I remember when he was at your dads and he is still supported by  Willowdale Baptist I think.

 I hope that you all have a wonderful day tomorrow God Bless.  Gordand Noreen.

Thanks for the prayers, Al .... and you can be assured that I am praying for you.   

Ohh, Alan.  Praying for you as you sleep tonight.

Hi Gord!  Did you see Mr. Harper's photo I took?

Jane, you travel safe, ya'heer?  And hurry back.

Hi Marilyn.

Quote from: Pat on October 18, 2008, 09:14:38 PM


Jane, you travel safe, ya'heer?  And hurry back.

Yes Ma'am

I guess everyone is in bed now, but I'm popping in to say Hi.  Jane, I forgot to tell you in the email I sent, but I didn't even check my messages yesterday I guess.  I didn't get yours until tonight.  Yes, please travel carefully.

I'm doing something I never thought I'd do.  I'm watching Saturday Night Live in just a few minutes.  Sarah Palin is going to be on it.   My daughter and I were wondering when it became imperative that candidates stooped to late night talk shows.  They've all been doing it.  I guess maybe it's to get the younger vote?

G'night from out here in Oregon.  Nita

HAHAHA!  Nita, I did the same.  I don't think I've watched Saturday Night Live for many, many years.  Actually, I don't remember ever watching it.

Anyway, I did tonight!

I only saw part of SNL with  Sarah - still awake much too early this morning.  We must leave at 7:15 to get to the 7:30 service.  I haven't been to this early church in a long time. 

Jane:  All the best wishes for everything you must do in California. 

Al:  I dearly hope that you are refreshed after last night & slept well plus everything in those lower legs is operating correctly.

Etta Sue:  Isn't it funny how things take so much longer to accomplish?  And, to beat all things, we have to take a nap after doing something so many times  - that is if we sit down in a chair, the nap just happens.   

I am ready for church.  Ivalou is still in Ohio so this will feel like ol' times...going to church by myself. 

I did get my windows washed in and out...the ones that I was planning on doing anyway.  And I got the yard done.  Two more things done on my list of things to do.  Not planning on doing anything this afternoon.  Tomorrow will be the big day with laundry, sweeping and cooking. 

Al, hope your night was better than mine.  I kept dreaming about doing something on the computer..something like Webshots and I haven't done anything with Webshots for years!!!  Never figured out what it was but just kept on dreaming about it.  Tossing and turning all night long!

It is cold today.  38.2°.  I had to find shoes instead of sandals to wear today!!!  But it is sunny and bright out still with long shadows but it promising to be a nice day.

I am praying everyone has a day just as the Lord intends and that all of you will rejoice in it. 

Yep Carol those naps just happen to me too. I didn't sleep all that well last night, I didn't use my CPAP machine because I have a few rollers in my hair and they make my  head gear way to tight and uncomfortable; so I was up and down a few times   and restless.

Church this morning isn't until 10:30 so I have lots if time to get ready.

This little house is so small that I can do it all in just a couple of house unless I'm deep cleaning. The Oregon house is another story, it is so big that I can't even vacuum it all in once try. I  have to rest in between. I have only vacuumed there once, mostly I stick to the kitchen since I am always in there cooking and I can't stand a messy kitchen. I do two of the bathrooms too if they need it, the small master bath is not used so I don't clean that one just the main master bath and the one in the hallway.

Hi everyone.  I just discovered that I apparently didn't read messages here yesterday so I had alot of postings sto read through. 

Yesterday was a busy day.  When I went to start my Hyundai yesterday morning to go to coffee I discovered my battery had failed.  Took the other car and a friend from coffee came back to the house and got the old battery out.  It was quite a task since the clamp holding it is in a very tight space and at the bottom of the battery.  I called an auto parts place and they said they had the battery I needed but went there and another place and neither had it. 

We had a meeting to attend yesterday morning so I didn't do anymore on the car until we got back after lunch.  I made several calls and finally located where I could get the replacement.  That took about 45 minutes.  Came home and watched the GA/Vanderbilt football game to conclusion and then went out and put the new battery in the car.  I had bought a socket wrench extension and that really helped in getting the new battery anchored down.

Then I went to work on disassembling the metal shelves.  I did apply the WD-40 and it did the trick and I finally got all the bolts out and the shelves disassembled.  I have a power screwdriver but the battery is old and it would only hold the charge for about 5 minutes.  I will invest in a new one before trying to put these shelves together down at my daughters as there are five shelves.

As Gord indicated we had a wonderful phone conversation the other evening.  It almost seems like we have been friends for many years.

Liz, nice to see that the visit with your friend from your younger days went so well.  I think all families have some less than ideal situations but often we don't talk much about that.

Pat, great photos of your PM.  Also, thanks for sharing the letter from your missionary friends in Italy. 

I am too many postings behind to try to comment to you all so will end this for today.  However, Al, do hope you had a good night's sleep in your bed.

Church was good this morning, it was good to back there. Saw lots of old friends there and some new faces too. It was like going home.

One of our members from a long time ago, needs our thoughts and prayers.

He posted here:

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=7562.0

OK, Marilyn, here I am.   

Marilyn told me that this is the place where folks "hang out" and suggested that I come here.  So, here I am.

I have read several of the posts in this thread, and I can see that there is a lot of Christian love here.  I know I will enjoy the fellowship here, if I don't go compeltely nuts from hitting the "reconnect to the Internet" button every time I need to get a new page to load.

I'll post a link to a little auto-biographical website that I built for the purpose of helping folks get to know me.  It has way more info than most people would care to know about me, so be warned... you may be overcome with boredom.


http://home.earthlink.net/~tsjay54/

If you just want the "short version," my name is Tom Johnson, I am 59 years old, I grew up in Hammond, IN, I have been married to the same gal, Georgeann, for 33 years, I have two grown kids and two granddaughters, and I live in western KY.  I was saved by the Grace of God in 1960 as an eleven year old boy.

God bless.

Tom

Hi Tom so glad you decided to come over to this forum,

Not much  going on here where I am, quite afternoon here at home as always. Took both dogs for their walk and Happy seems to finally be recovering for whatever  was ailing him and making him hide under the bed all week. Today he was more enthusiastic about going for a walk than he has be all week.

Now I will go to om's link and see what he has there.

Tom, thanks so much for coming to our "Coffee Shop"

We start this topic over every Sunday night and keep it open for a week until the following Sunday.  Etta Sue will be closing it this evening and she's an Indiana lady! 

I was happy too read your link.  I was especially happy to read about Jack Hayles.  He spoke often at the church I grew up in--Jarvis St. Baptist Church in Toronto.

Quote from: Pat on October 19, 2008, 09:10:53 PM
Tom, thanks so much for coming to our "Coffee Shop"

We start this topic over every Sunday night and keep it open for a week until the following Sunday.  Etta Sue will be closing it this evening and she's an Indiana lady! 

I was happy too read your link.  I was especially happy to read about Jack Hayles.  He spoke often at the church I grew up in--Jarvis St. Baptist Church in Toronto.

Now that is just TOO COOL!  You have heard the man under whose ministry I was saved, Dr. Jack Hyles, preach!  It truly is a small world.

Tom

All during my teen age years, he was quite a regular in Jarvis St.  Dr. Slade was our pastor then and Dr. T. T. Shields before him.  Dr. Shields baptized my brother and I in 1953 and that was the last baptisimal service he had as he took ill right after that and died a couple of years later.  But he was the pastor of Jarvis St. from 1910 to 1955 so that's a good long time!!! 

Pat:

My family left Hammond First Baptist when I was about 13 or 14 years old.  We moved our membership to Meadow Lane Baptist Church, which was started by a group of people who split off from First Baptist.  I was just a kid and didn't know the reasons for Mom and Dad's decision to move our membership, or if I did at the time, I have long since forgotten them.  I don't remember having a problem with First Baptist myself.

I guess there was a lot of controversy surrounding Dr. Hyles in the 1970s and 1980s, but I don't know all the details.  I choose to think of him as continuing to be the man of God that I knew him to be in his early years at Hammond FBC.

Tom

Yes, we (my late husband and I) had moved from Canada to Northern Ireland and then when we came back we were no longer members of Jarvis St. due to where we resided but I did hear of some of this strife but didn't pay must attention to it.  We were busy bringing up our family then.

But it's interesting to know that the pastor who was instrumental in leading you to the Lord, I heard preach so often.