Halfway finished

Well tomorrow starts week 5 here at FPO. Crazy how fast time flies. This past week there has been a group here for debriefing, and I thought a lot about how fast the next two years will happen, and then we will be back here for debriefing before we know it. Crazy!

This past week was good and tough at the same time. Some of our classes were just hard things to hear and hard to face that reality. But all good things for us to hear and know. We did get a lot of down time this week because we had shot clinics on Tuesday and Friday. I had to get three shots on Friday. It felt great! :) I got candy in the process so that is all I was worried about. We have shot clinics again this week and I'm already looking forward to getting more candy.

I've been really encouraged this week as God has been at work in my heart. I'm learning more and more about God's love and how different my view of love is from His. I'm sure glad that He is bigger than me and can change my heart.

Continue praying for the visa process, and for our time in classes. I'll try to update more often... Until then.......BYE

cort

....

the fact that I spelled "flys" wrong proves how tired I am.

Time Flys

Well either FPO has been really busy or I have been really lazy, because I haven't updated in a while. . . . WOW its already the end of week 3 here. Even though at times our days seem to drag on forever, the weeks go by fast. Part of me can't wait for Italy, but I know the great training I'm getting here is needed. I have been really busy these last two weeks with music. I didn't think I would be playing as much as I am here. But I love it and am not complaining. There is a lot of talent here and I'm loving it all.

Just a few highlights of our great time here at the compound...

Monday and Tuesday we were fed "special meals" for lunch. Designed to help us learn to be grateful and eat whatever is placed before us in new countries.... Monday was Middle Eastern: meatballs with flat bread, and only allowed hands to eat with, specifically the right hand. Try pulling bread apart with one hand. It's fun I promise. Tuesday was Eastern European: Beet soup with rye bread and sour cream. Ever had pink soup?? But in the end, neither was terrible. Or maybe I just don't care what I eat.

On Sunday nights we have Cultural worship as a whole group. I've been able to be a part of music for those and its great. Experiencing new cultures and how they worship.

We meet as small house churches for regular worship though; on Sunday mornings. I was nervous that it would be hard for me to adjust to house church. But of course God is great and I have enjoyed and learned much from house church time.

Just some things to be praying for....

Visas: our team in Italy is still trying to work out the best way for us to apply for Visas, because the country is not being generous in handing them out. So pray for God's hand to be over the whole situation.

FPO: Our time here at FPO is fun, but hard at the same time. We are fed so much information that it gets overwhelming quick. Pray for our capacity to take in all the stuff they are throwing at us, and that we would have good time management. Also, that we would get rest.

If I ever get around to taking pictures, I'm sure they will end up here eventually...

Cortney