“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

— Isaiah 55:8–9

Dear friends,

This season has reminded us again and again that God’s ways are higher than ours. So often we pray with expectations, and yet the Lord answers in ways we didn’t imagine — sometimes stretching us, sometimes surprising us, but always for our good and for His glory. Looking back over these past months, we can see His hand guiding, providing, and weaving together things we never could have planned on our own.

Family Update

We’re thankful to say that after our summer travels, we’ve finally settled back into the rhythm of life here in Italy. Our time in the United States was both refreshing and meaningful. It was such a gift to reconnect with family and friends — and to make new ones along the way. We truly felt God’s hand guiding each step of the journey. Every detail seemed perfectly arranged, giving us the opportunity not only to rest but also to share what He is doing through the ministry here in Italy. We were encouraged to see how He brought people across our path who were eager to hear, connect, and even partner with us in this work. For that, we are deeply grateful.

Adrien has had quite a full start to the fall. He began high school this year, and his schedule is packed with studying and long commutes by train and bus to soccer practice. Unfortunately, an injury has kept him out of play for the last month, and he’s been doing physical therapy while waiting to return in the next couple of weeks. We’ve wondered if even this setback might be part of God’s answer to prayer — we’ve been asking the Lord to grow Adrien not only physically, but also spiritually and emotionally. It hasn’t been easy for him adjusting back into Italian culture after our time in the States, especially without strong Christian influence around him. Please pray that God would use this season to draw him into a deeper walk with Him, that he would place his struggles and concerns in the Lord’s hands, and not be discouraged or tempted to carry them on his own.

Rinat has started school well and is showing diligence with his homework, already earning some good grades. He’s also playing soccer, with his dad as coach — a wonderful way for the two of them to grow closer while spending time together. His transition back to Italy has gone smoothly overall, though like Adrien, the lack of Christian friends can be a challenge. Please pray that his faith would deepen during this season, and that our church would remain a strong foundation for him as he continues to walk with the Lord.

Ruzanna began middle school this fall, and the transition has gone well so far. A special blessing has been having our neighbor — who is in her class — as both a walking companion to school and a study partner. She’s enjoying this new stage of life, and we pray she’ll continue to stay focused, adjust well to the heavier workload, and thrive in this new environment.

Sitora is in her final year of elementary school and, as always, is full of enthusiasm. We have especially joyful news: on September 20th, she followed the Lord in baptism! She shared her testimony with such clarity and sincerity, expressing her desire to follow Jesus, knowing He is always with her and that she is saved by Him. It was a powerful moment not only for us as a family but also for the neighbors, friends, and relatives we invited — many of whom do not share our evangelical understanding of baptism. They were deeply moved by her testimony, her choice at just 10 years old, and the love they felt from our church family. Please join us in praying that their curiosity about faith would continue to grow, and that we can be a steady light to them as we walk alongside them in life.

Ministry Update

Church Life

Our small church il Granaio has found its rhythm again after the summer. It’s a joy to see everyone back together with fresh energy.

Training

Robert and Peter attended a training in expository Bible teaching and preaching — an exciting step in their growth and service.

Welcoming the Perssons

We are thrilled that the Persson family has finally arrived! Andrea has been helping them with the mountain of paperwork as they settle in. Their greatest need right now is housing in Opicina, where our church meets and one of their daughters attend school. Apartments in this area are hard to find, so we are praying for a miracle that God would provide the right home for them.

Creatives Conference

This coming week, Robert, Joshua (one of our youth), and McKenzie will be attending a Creatives Conference. Robert will focus on music, while she’ll be leading in visual arts, guiding a group and a creative lab designed to help people worship God through art. Our desire is to see creativity used more and more for evangelism and to strengthen churches across Italy.

Identity Conference

Later this fall, McKenzie will also attend another conference with several others from our church, focused on identity. She’lll be helping lead a creatives workshop there as well, bringing awareness to how God is using creativity in ministry and encouraging other churches to embrace it as a way of worship and outreach.

Pioneers Tuscany Team

Andrea has been encouraging the Pioneers team in Tuscany and helping one of the workers transition into the role of team leader. The goal is for this to become an autonomous team, with Andrea serving as area leader rather than team leader. This is an important step that needs much prayer. Please also continue to pray for more workers to come and serve both in Italy and in the other areas we are overseeing.

Looking Ahead

Our church’s core team will soon be meeting to talk about how we can grow in organization and faithfulness, using our structure wisely as we move forward. As part of this, we will also be doing a special workshop together — an intensive with a seasoned fellow church planter who has served in Italy for many years. He will walk with us in better understanding the challenges of church planting. We hope to learn how to plant and grow churches in ways that fit our local context, with the resources we have, and always led by the Holy Spirit.

We are also looking toward the holidays as an important time to connect with our community. Just as Sitora’s baptism gave friends and neighbors a glimpse of God’s love, we want to use Thanksgiving and Christmas as opportunities to help people see Jesus in a new light. Please pray that God would inspire us with creativity and boldness, and that many would have their eyes opened to the hope and life found in Him.

Praise God for

• Sitora’s baptism and her beautiful testimony of faith.

• The Persson family’s safe arrival in Italy.

• Robert and Peter’s opportunity to attend expository preaching training.

• The chance to participate in upcoming conferences that focus on creativity and identity in ministry.

Please pray for

• Adrien’s healing, and that this season would draw him closer to God spiritually and emotionally.

• Rinat, Ruzanna, and Sitora, that they would continue to grow in faith and resilience without many Christian peers.

• The Perssons to find housing in Opicina, near the church and their daughter’s school.

• Andrea as he equips the Tuscany Pioneers team to become autonomous, and for God to raise up more workers for Italy and the surrounding areas.

• Our church’s core team as we prepare for an intensive workshop and seek creative ways to share Jesus during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We want to sincerely thank each of you for your faithful partnership in this work. Your prayers, encouragement, and support sustain us and remind us that we are not walking this road alone. We are so grateful for your diligence in lifting up our family, our church, and the ministry here in Italy before the Lord.

May God bless you richly as together we continue to trust Him — knowing that His ways are higher, His thoughts greater, and His plans always for His glory.

YOUR PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT KEEP US GOING HERE IN ITALY AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR IT. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU HAVE BLESSED US.

CHOOSE ONE OPTION BELOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY!

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