Deane has met many people and had great opportunities throughout the month at the Cafe and at our apartment now that the Cafe has closed for summer vacation! Some of our regulars have been enjoying weekly bible study, discipleship & encouragemnt from Gods word, and of course they all love a bowl of hot chips & cold coke too!
There have been many new young men that have come along for food and many questions that has kept Deane busy, in particular many that follow other religions and wanting to know & discuss the difference between their religion & christianity.
Deane continues with his whatsapp broadcasts and has received many "friend requests from Uganda & Kenya" to follow Gopsel Hope fb page - inevitably it ends up with them receiving our introductory African videos on christianity and a Pastors testimony. That creates many questions and long whatsapp phonecalls - thankful for social media, the opportunity to talk & share with many people outside of Palermo too!
Temple’s Testimony
I was once a publican but now I thank God for my life . It has not been easy for me but I believe with God all things are possible. Both my parents died when I was 17 years old.
When I was 19 I left my family (my 2 sisters, my wife and my daughters) in Nigeria. I travel from Nigeria down here in Italy - it was not easy because I came across many temptations on my way in Libya.
They took me to a prison and treated me in a beastily manner but God also saw me true by using one of the Arab men so he took me out of the prison to his house. He told me to be taking care of his sheep & fowls so that was how I stay with the man until he asked me if I will like to come to Italy. I said yes, that was how he took me to another Arab man that put me on a boat. That was how I got to Sicily and when I got here I just decided to follow the way of God because HE has done what a man cant do for me Amen!
According to my story I receive the anointing of God here in Italy then I was a smoker there was a day I fall sick they took me to hospital, I couldn't talk, I only see people when they talk to me, I couldn't reply, I was now praying In my heart that God should forgive my sin & see me through - after three days, before I was able to recover & right from that day, I promised to follow the way of God.
My wife Gift and my 2 daughters Prosper (8) and Creative (5) live in Nigeria, I have not seen them for 5 years, I have never held Creative in my arms.
I am now 23 years and live in Palermo, Sicily where I have documents and try to find work so I can send funds home to help support my family. It is not easy life, it is not easy to find work and it is very difficult to be separated from my family.
Please pray for Temple, this month his daughter Prosper went to hospital feeling unwell and Temple received a phonecall from his wife to say their daughter had passed away!!
Temple has documents in Palermo but needs his birth certificate & entry card from Nigeria to apply for a passport which has to be done in Rome .... this could take anywhere from 6 - 9 months to get & he has to find the money, but he would like to go home!
This is the hall that Temple & Lucky are currently living in - no work or money so they have had to go back to a Refugee camp - there are around 500 young men living here - tin roof and building so when its 36+ degrees outside you can imagine the heat inside!
Foodbags SIM PROJECT # 99756
The project is now up & running internationally & we are thankful for the good exposure in SIM NZ's recent magazine & an article that is being done by SIM International - we get reports monthly but no personal details are included - we cant thank you personally for any donations .... so please accept our peronsal thanks now if you have made a contribution!
Sherilyn continues to meet & encourage young mums - their priority is to get foodbags to feed their families - its sometimes hard not to feel used & vulnerable to their needs .... the limit comes when they start telling you their children wont eat this but you could go to this shop & buy them something different!!! We stock a good variety of foods but if their child wont eat fruit or chicken foods, then they are out of luck LOL!!! Im getting good to not catering to specific requests, as the more women that come for foodbags, the harder it is to remember what each one does & doesnt like!! Im thankful that Deane is very good at reminding me to keep it simple & basic!!
WELCOME to Loui Samuel Grainger born 8th July 2020 in Karlskrona, Sweden.
As Palermo is slowing down with the heat of summer and people heading on holiday, we are heading up to Sweden - all borders are currently open - for 3 weeks in Karlskrona with the family, back to Palermo in early September. Sam has a few DIY projects ready to go when we arrive and Deane is looking forward to some physical outdoor work. Sherilyn is looking forward to time with the family, grandies & bellas family, plus a little cooler weather!!!
Enjoying the summer in Palermo ... enjoying 35+ degree days and lots of swimming in the middle of the day when everyone here is staying inside to escape the heat!!
PRAISE & PRAYER
Thankful for:-
Safety on the motorbike and swimming
New Contacts, especially young men questioning their religion
Foodbags that go to families and babies especially
Contact with English speaking missionaries working with refugees on other side of the Island who we hope to meet in Septmeber when they return form USA
SIM International article & Project exposure
Summer break from the heat and to spend time with family
Please pray for:-
Temple to find work to pay for documents & maybe flight back to Nigeria
Hadim for work contract so his documents will be renewed in January
Social Media ministry with locals & in Uganda/Kenya
The christian tracts that go out with the foodbags will be read & understood
Continued Good health, especially as we travel to Sweden
Our son Zach who is currently living in Melbourne lockdown
Family and friends in NZ, Australia and Sweden
SIM Project # 99756 - that people around the world will support & donate for foodbags.
