If you haven't already heard .... we have purchased a motorbike and have enjoyed the freedom of being able to get around much easier, not to mention how much time we save walking & waiting for the train.
A HUGE thankyou to the very generous donations we receievd this month specifically for the motorbike purchase, insurance, helmets, change of ownership & a service!!
Great to catch up with Laura, our friend and Italian teacher from 2020! Laura has been a great help in answering lots of questions for us with regard to school, language, places to visit.
Language School
School seems to be getting a little easier - some days anyway!!! Lots of new people for us to connect with. Toro is from Venezula, we hope to have him over for dinner in the holidays, as he's in Palermo on his own. Over the summer break we are planning to trade English lessons with Italian lessons over coffee!
Afghanistan Refugees
Last month we mentioned Deane had connected with Habib at school. This month we have had the opportunity to spend some time & share meals with Habib, his wife Sahar and their 2 children.
As we listen to their story of escape, it certainly seems unbelievable & unimagineable what some people are faced with. They hid from house to house for 40 days while they secured a visa into a neighbouring country. They then had to hide there for another 40 days until they were able to secure visas to Sicily where Habib's uncle lives.
Arriving in Sicily with 2 suitcases, they left everything behind, Habib was able to bring his mum & an aunty too. Sahar has left her entire family in Kabul - 7 siblings & her parents, her father is currently unwell with heart problems no doubt from stress & her youngest brother is being targeted by the Taliban to join them, as most young men are being forced against their will.
They are sad, lonely, homesick (they can never return to Afghanistan as their lives will be in grave danger) and struggling to settle so we will continue to love them and help where we can.
Sahar and the children have received 5 year Assylum Visas, Habib is waiting confirmation of his.
Habib has been working in a restaurant after language school from 3.30pm to 2.30am, he still hasnt been paid but says he doesnt have a choice, he has to stay to secure a job and income so he can provide for his family.
We were able to buy a washing machine & small TV for them from specific donations but we wondered if you would like to encourage them by donating towards school supplies, medicial expenses, visa costs, clothing & shoes for summer. There is also a need for a benchtop oven (approx nz$130) as Sahar only has 2 gas rings for all cooking.
If you would like to donate to help this family, please email us if you have any questions or donations can be made direct to our NZ Mission bank account ref: afghanistan
Residency Visas Paperwork is finished, after a slight hiccup - they lost our photos so we had to wait another 3 weeks ..... waiting with so many others wanting the same thing... the VISA!! We should have them in 3 weeks.
A day in the countryside with friends from Lifehope Church - great company, food, views & excellent language practice
more great Italian food
So thankful for :-
Motorbike purchase
Visa paperwork finalised.
Friends & people we have met here that have helped us in many ways.
New english speaking friends.
Language school & the opportunity learn the language for free!
Praying for :-
Italian language learning over Summer.
Ukraine - the war is very real here in Europe - there are Ukrainian people that have escaped to family in Sicily.
Our family & friends in Sweden with the continuance of the War
Habib & Sahar as we continue to spend time with them and build a relationiship of support & love for the family.
The new people we are meeting every week at school & new opportunities Deane is having.
