Indescribable

Ok, here it goes: the fastest posting I have ever created! 

This afternoon we went to a party for Marco's school. Chiara and I rode our bikes there; it was just around the corner from the library. We passed a beautiful, huge, stone building and I was about to ask Chiara what it was when we turned into the gates! I saw many old people sitting out on the patio in fold-out chairs and wheel chairs, and many more in wheel chairs as we rode down a beautifull, lovely passage under an arch of sun-lit trees, lined by benches and light posts. At the end of this passage was the party, and on the left-hand side was a park. This entire set-up was within a huge fence that encircled not only this park and huge building but also a huge ground of green hills, huge trees, and statue-filled hedge gardens (later Chiara and I explored on our bikes; this is how I know). The reason I bring this up is because I thought it was truly marvelous! Chiara explained to me and now I will explain to you (fast-mode!): This was an old-people's home, a mix between a nursing home and a hospital, very cheap for the residents because it is largely funded by the government of this region. The wonderful thing about it is that it is also a park, so what I saw the entire time was family members pushing older relatives (presumably) in their wheelchairs out to sit and talk around the fountain, or else to go and sit on or near the benches that faced the PARK where mothers, for instance, brought their young children to play! Brilliant! I took many pictures showing this absolutely beautiful contrast between the young and old. People in nursing homes always seem so uplifted to have young people come and visit them, or just to get to watch them dance, for instance- and here they could be encouraged and entertained by the youth just by going outside and sitting comfortably on a bench under a beautiful walkway of trees. The kids and families, on the other hand, get a lovely, close park where there is lots to do, a beautiful place to play, and also some friends to be made with the elderly figures watching them (which I saw happen once) :) lovely 

Next: Chiara and I went with Stefano to an old villa with a church in it, that is modeled after a Russian Orthadox church, which was very similar to a Catholic church in many ways, but definitely with it's own distinctions. We went for a memmorial service for a woman whose husband had died in an accident four years ago. At the time of the accident, she had been pregnant and already had one child. Just to hear it completely broke my thought at even the thought of it, and I was quite depressed during the service for a number of reasons. I was feeling quite despicable in many ways for those many little unknown reasons that sometimes cause you to feel that way, and not knowing any of the prayers or songs (which were, once again, completely beautiful and played on an accustic guitar! It felt really quite familiar and nice), and not being able to take communion as I would be able to at home, or know how to correctly enter the church without offending people, especially the priest, by not doing the symbols that everyone else does, was all causing me to feel rather like an outsider, as well. I was caught completely off-guard when after the service, when Stefano was talking to two of his friends, very kind ladies, one of them greeted me SO warmly it was as if she knew me, as if she loved me! She embraced me, not only with her arms, but with her here wonderful, deep, and completely radiant smile, and she kissed both of my cheeks. I truly did feel LOVED, and I was so touched by that, at that moment, that I felt very drawn to her. 

Outside, as Stefano talked to many more friends and I was greeted by many more very kind women, I watched that one woman in particular greet different people, and her smile, her warmth, her joy never went away. She was simply radiant with joy! I was astonished! I was captivated. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. As we were getting ready to go, I felt desperate to know who she was. I knew that if I asked Stefano "Who is she?" the question wouldn't really make sense because yes, he could tell me her name, but what would that really mean to me? It's not as if I could really understand anything more except get the name of some incredible lady whose love, joy and peace were completely captivating. She embraced and kissed me again before we left, and I felt so thankful, and again, utterly compelled to know WHO SHE WAS. So I asked Stefano before we left, while I could still point her out. "She is Helena, the mother of..." two kids, so and so, Stefano said. I didn't know those kids; it didn't mean too much to me. And then he told me what I had least expected to ever here. That woman, Helena, is the woman whose husband died four years ago.

As we drove away, sent off with her smile and waves as we passed by, I was crying, and I could only think to myself, "I just saw Jesus." 

That is how God is revealed through His children. Joy in the midst of sorrow. Faith in the face of disaster. Stefano said "She is a very small woman" (physically she is quite short and very thin, though not unhealthy looking) "But she is strong, grande fede (great faith)." Stefano also quoted in Italian later "C'è il male, ma triumf il bene"- There is bad, but good triumphs. This made me think of "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." I went in feeling utter dispair at the thought of facing a trial like this unknown-to-me woman was facing... I left feeling alive with hope that there are people who are able to face the impossible and come out with joy because of the peace that passes all understanding, which they recieve from God, who pours grace out like floods of rain on us. Praise God   .... when His light is revealed to us in any way, especially through His chosen sons and daughters and their love and faith comming directly from Him (for where else could such peace come from?), it is simply intoxicating, and in a dark world where hope is NOT possible on our own, to find it so radiantly ALIVE from a source outside of ourselves truly is life-changing, and when you encounter it, you know you want it in whatever way you're lacking.

Tomorrow I'm leaving with Stefano to go on a bus that will take us to the city where, at about 8 we will go to a big mass, and then we will depart on foot for the 16-mile pilgrimage, all night, through different towns where people will wait to meet us. At some point we will get candles (with wax-catchers) to hold. There will be praying and singing. At one point a statue of the Mother Mary will be carried to meet us and we will "finnish the journey together," as Stefano said. I am so thankful for this experience and chance to just meditate on God and reflect on His thoughts. Please pray for me, for I will need physical strength and spiritual clarity. Thank you! God bless and I will write again in a couple of days and try to find some words for what I'm sure will be an indescribable experience (what isn't!?). 

(I only went 8 minutes over the time I set for myself!). I love you <3