One Day at a Time
A drawing and a verse McKenzie did for a boy in Rinat’s class who recently lost his father
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
Lately, conversations outside in the school yard are quick and don’t go further than what happened that day and what might happen tomorrow. It’s crazy how our perspective changes when you realize that tomorrow isn’t really up to you. Sure, you can plan and prepare, but truly you don’t have total control of the events that may take place. Covid has accentuated this fact in our lives. At times it’s frustrating and somewhat depressing to think that we can’t plan much ahead and enjoy dreaming about it. However, at the same time it is making us think hard about how fragile life truly is. One day, we have school and the next day kids are home for a week because there is a teacher who is covid positive. Then stores are closed and extracurricular activities cancelled. It’s uncertain how the upcoming holidays may play out and it tempts you to feel depressed. Then a boy in your son’s class loses his father to a heart attack after falling ill with covid, leaving his wife and five children. A life, fragile like a breath, in and out and gone. So, what do we say to kids and ourselves when life and it’s circumstances are so unpredictable and out of our control? “Do not fear, because God is the ONLY certainty we have and in Him, through all circumstances we can live each day held up by Him knowing that tomorrow is in His hands and so are we.” At least Covid is helping us to recognise that we need our Father more than we need stability in our circumstances. Our prayer is that as we find our stability in Christ we can encourage those around us to do the same.
Our gathered worship celebration before multiplying TrE into two congregations, TrE and Granaio, back in August.
Since our last gathered service il Granaio has been meeting with zoom each Sunday. We are very thankful to be able to worship together and grow in God’s Word. However, we really miss being able to meet in the same room and cannot wait until that will be possible again. Our core team meets with zoom each Wednesday to pray and it has been a much needed and special time. Andrea has been preaching and leading worship regularly. McKenzie is leading the kids church at the moment and they are creating videos and activities for each Bible lesson. It’s been a great way to share the Bible truths visually and virtually.
First day of school
Even though school has been on and off the kids have enjoyed every minute of it and they have excelled in their learning. The teachers have been so impressed and excited to have them in class. We are so grateful for this!
Ruzanna in the hospital in Trieste
Ruzanna was born with Spina Bifida. In 2018 she was operated on in Russia to correct a malformation in her spine. We recently had some things checked out, because the information we were given about it was very limited. The MRI that was done showed that she still has a vast malformation in her spinal cord and they referred us to a specialist in Genova. Andrea and Ruzanna drove to Genova yesterday and are in the hospital today. We will keep you posted as we find out what steps we will need to take.
Our Thanksgiving meal with Vito!
There are so many things to be thankful for…..A family of six all together celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time, a wonderful neighbour and friend, an amazing God who loves and cares for all our needs…..need I say more?
Our new house!!!
We are moving!!! We are so excited to say that after praying and searching, we have found a new home that will allow us more space! Although, we have loved living in our current house and have enjoyed these past 6 years in our neighbourhood we need more space. All four kids are in the same bedroom and it has been great, but as they get older we would like to be able to at least separate the girls and boys. Plus the new house has more bathrooms so we all don’t have to share one! The new house has space for Andrea and I to have an office/studio, it’s closer to Andrea’s mom so we can help her more and closer to many people who are part of our community group. We can’t wait to be able to host community group nights once Italy’s restrictions are taken away. If all goes smoothly we should be moving by mid January.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN END-OF-THE-YEAR DONATION PLEASE MAKE SURE TO HAVE IT IN BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2020. YOUR PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT KEEP US GOING HERE IN ITALY AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR IT.
CHOOSE ONE OPTION BELOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY!
DOWNLOAD OUR SUPPORT SLIP HERE (instructions on the document)
SEND A FINANCIAL GIFT ONLINE HERE (after you click on the link enter: Andrea Dorigo & McKenzie Constantino, Account # 136144)
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and thank you for all your continued love and support.
Praises:
For il Granaio and the intimate bond God is growing in us with Him and each other
For how great the kids are doing in school and how much they’ve learned
For next steps for Ruzanna
For our family and celebrating the holidays this year together
For our new home
Prayers:
For the instability in Italy right now and the opportunity to share with others the stability we find in Jesus
For the possibilty to meet in person as a church sooner than later
For Ruzanna and the next steps in understanding how to care for her spinal malformation
For the possibility to at least invite immediate family for Christmas
For all that is involved in moving