UNSUAL Places

So I promised posts from the lessons I’ve learnt previously, but I feel this one is more pertinent for today.

I had to move out of via brenerro very quickly. I had started getting hassled by the street chicas I meet at 11pm on my way home. They never physically attacked me, but they would stare me down and try to intimidate by breaking my walk as I walk on the pavement where they worked. I am told it’s because they think I’m trying to steal their spot. I had promised myself to find an apartment and leave, but I was too lazy to find one, couldn't understand a word of Italian - I have project deadlines no time - and instead of giving a landlord 3 months rent as a deposit, plus another huge amount to activate phone line, electric gas and water I would rather pay it towards my mortgage which I am yet to lease out. So as you can see I am a tight ward and playing with my life.. lolol.. Anyways I met this wonderful family who go out of their way to make sure I am happy - you remember my 21 yrs old friend. So her mum found me a room at her friend’s house, and I moved in. Shoot, all I pay is rent; I’ve given myself till October to find a very nice place.

So where was I,

Yes, it appears that these people I’m staying with found their way to Italy via the mountains of morocco, and because of their very poor poor background got involved with a madam that helped them come here. I remember thinking how far apart our worlds were, and how in normal circumstances I may / would never have walked with them. I pondered on this thought for a while, and I started to wonder was I so proud that I had to be brought down a peg or two, or did I think too much of myself that I am to be taught a lesson. I asked my mum this, and you know how mothers are, she said that I have always thought less of myself and the Lord was using this opportunity to show me how He has favoured me and how much He loves me that He has raised me so high. I felt a little better, but I never stopped thinking of this. I mean I should not judge, so I shouldn't be bothered what these people do with their lives, but then I remembered the saying...show me you companions and I'll tell you who you are..lolol..

So yesterday, it finally all made sense; remember the story of David?

In 1 Samuel 22 vs. 1 – 2 : – David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him – God had used the discontented, the ones with problems, in distress and debt to bless him. He used rejected people to bless David. These people's beginnings were nothing to talk of, yet God used them to secure David's destiny. Even though David was in a cave, hidden from the world - he was sought out. His destiny located him, the favour of God, His mercy and Grace located him. His light shone so brightly that his blessings located him.

I then realised that through my meetings with these people that God was moulding me so that I will be a blessing to others, and that I am in the right location at the right time. That He’s using these people to bless me; Like in Judges 11 vs. 3 - So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him - how God used the people Jephthah will not normally associate with to bless him. And that I am in the right place at the right time - Like the ordinary man in 2nd Samuel 6 vs. 6 - 12;10 He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household - , whose house the ark of the Lord was left in, because his house just happened to be there.

Therefore, I thank God that He loves me so that He has given me much favour with everyone I meet, even if on the outside it may appear they have nothing to offer. So as I conclude my prayer is to ask God to continue His holding of my hand as I step into the great things He has in store for me in Jesus Name. Amen.

Hope you have a Great week. Mine has already started with a blast.

So I found a church in VERONA

Sometimes I thank God for my chatty ways. I saw this "aunty" at my regular bus stop where I caught my buses home, and went on to greet her. I found out she was Nigerian, and I asked her about churches where English was spoken. She told me that churches here tend to be Catholics and they speak only Italian as their population don't speak or understand English, but she had a daughter who went to a church behind "Brenero".

I got so excited, took her number and called her. She introduced me to her daughter, and she was a delight. A very pleasant 21 yr old. Well, her daughter told me that she no longer went to the church behind "Brenero" but have found a very good church in Verona. Well I was a little surprised. You see Verona is like 100 kilometres from Povo, and I couldn't imagine me going all that way just for church. Back in blacksburg, I did 30 miles to go to church, I couldn't imagine any further that 30 miles.

Anyhow, we popped on the train went there, and I must say it was a typical Nigerian church. The choir members were all women, they screamed into the microphone which was so loud that I was almost deafened by the noise. I have had this same experience before, how can I forget the wonderful church in Newark New Jersey. It was a very small church of possibly 30 people.

"But if the fruit is good, eat of it". They prayed a lot which I liked, but it was mostly a binding and casting geared prayer. The Pastor preached on relationships, but there was something he said, and I realised that I was at the right place.

It might not be what I'm used to, or I might have to miss the praise and worship bit, because of the noise - [anyways to those that can't sing, God did say make a joyful noise - so their noise is good] - but I believe I have been placed at this place for such a time as this, and thank God for the help he has brought into my life.

Did I tell you that the pleasant girl has offered to show me around, take me shopping, basically made herself available. The Lord indeed is faithful. Psalm 32 vs. 8 is definitely in motion.