Well, let's hope that our final days on the Ancona team, don't go down like the final days of Custer's last stand. From everything that has happened thus far, I expect quite the opposite. I anticipate a very tranquil "letting go" feeling. The girls are getting together at our house for a fun today together and the boys are getting together at Jason's house for some testosterone fun (video games), the only no shows will be Marcus and Josh. Marcus is leading our interns around in Rome as I type and Josh is on Home Assignment in the states (actually finishing up some course work at Regent Univ in Canada this week). We wish you guys were here too. Our last months have been filled with opportunities, ministry, relationship building, fun (we have loved our jobs here in Ancona) and growth. It is interesting to go through this pulling away, an experience that I am grateful didn't happen in a short band aid like rip. The time we planned in our transition has given us the opportunity to finish strong and leave behind some resources that we hope will aid the church in Ancona to grow. We will always feel a strong connection to the work here and will continue to lift the believers up before the Father. Thanks Ancona team for the fun adventure soaked ride for the past eight years. - Matt & Angie Crosser
PS - Feel free to keep up with our future work in Verona at our personal blog at www.thecrossersblog.com or our team's blog at www.goveronanews.com.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Lots of Lasts
As I've looked back on our team's history, I laugh at how many transitions we've had. The last couple of months have been building up to what I believe is one of the biggest our team has faced yet. On July 31st, Matt & Angie Crosser will transition out of their full-time status on the GoAncona team and become full-time team leaders of the GoVerona team.
Matt & Angie arrived in Italy in March of 2001 into a team context that was still storming and heading into norming. In the past 6 years since then they have become some of our closest friends. We've seen each other's ugly sides and been with each other through the best and the worst of times of this ministry in Ancona.
Since being accepted as the leaders of the new team, we have continued to work together toward a smooth transition and it really has been. We've talked lots about this month and how there would be lots of 'lasts' and yet for all the talk and preparation, I'm beginning to experience the reality of those words and thoughts. Last retreat, last outreach event, last English lesson, last staff meeting, last team meeting, last...you get the picture.
We will, of course, still see them for the next three months while they prepare to head back to the U.S. and we will still stay in contact when they are up North, but still, the reality of a post-Crosser team is starting to set in and I find myself full of emotion and anxiety.
Thanks Matt & Angie for your years of service together. Thanks for the laughs and meals and prayers and tears and dreams and new technologies and new TV shows and for everything else in between. As the lasts start to dwindle and fade and become replaced with lots of firsts up North, we wish for you a great new life and ministry in the fair city of Verona...
Matt & Angie arrived in Italy in March of 2001 into a team context that was still storming and heading into norming. In the past 6 years since then they have become some of our closest friends. We've seen each other's ugly sides and been with each other through the best and the worst of times of this ministry in Ancona.
Since being accepted as the leaders of the new team, we have continued to work together toward a smooth transition and it really has been. We've talked lots about this month and how there would be lots of 'lasts' and yet for all the talk and preparation, I'm beginning to experience the reality of those words and thoughts. Last retreat, last outreach event, last English lesson, last staff meeting, last team meeting, last...you get the picture.
We will, of course, still see them for the next three months while they prepare to head back to the U.S. and we will still stay in contact when they are up North, but still, the reality of a post-Crosser team is starting to set in and I find myself full of emotion and anxiety.
Thanks Matt & Angie for your years of service together. Thanks for the laughs and meals and prayers and tears and dreams and new technologies and new TV shows and for everything else in between. As the lasts start to dwindle and fade and become replaced with lots of firsts up North, we wish for you a great new life and ministry in the fair city of Verona...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Summer Sun, Having a Blast
The Summer is in full swing. Our interns have been involved with different areas of outreach supporting our overall ministry and vision. The Rotert family will be returning towards the end of the month, where they will be transitioning into their lives here once more. Angie and myself are in the strange place of winding down our involvement with the Ancona team here. Our transition to the new team has been going very smoothly to which we are thankful. After this month, you can find us on one of two blogs, our personal one which is at http://www.thecrossersblog.com or our new team news blog at http://www.goveronanews.com. Feel free to follow along as we proceed forward with both of these church plants which support the long term plan put into place by Shively Christian Church and Team Expansion. After this month, we will still be here for a few months, but our focus will predominately be on the new church plant and team. Thanks for praying for both teams and the momentum we are seeing.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy 4th of July!
Monday we started our first summer English Club for kids. We have averaged 5 kids a day so far and it has been neat to see the interns busy teaching and loving on these kids. Today, after their time is over we will be heading to Palombina, a local beach for a day of fun, sun and grilled meat! We always miss family on these American holidays but are grateful for our team and friends here. Please keep praying for our team and for the interns as they just passed the half-way point. Have a Merry Independence Day from the GoAncona team!
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