Missions from the Balcony

It is a place where laundry is hung, where neighbors interact from the building next door, where dinner is served on a hot summer evening and where you watch the sunset. In Italy, the balcony is a multi-faceted. It is also a place to cool off after a run. On this particular occasion, that is why I was on ours.

I was surprised to hear my neighbor Pina call my name and even more surprised at her insistent request for me to come to her apartment. We hadn’t lived in the building long but Pina and I had begun the delicate dance of becoming friends in a culture that prides itself in facades and a bella figura – putting on a good front.

To be invited into someone’s home is a big deal. So, I went immediately, even though my cool down wasn’t complete. In fact, I was a sweaty mess! Regardless, I went to Pina. She shared with me that her son had just had a heart attack. She cried and I cried with her. She allowed me to pray for her and her son.

Our friendship went to a new level that day. She invited me into her home often after that. I sat at her kitchen table drinking cappuccino and answering questions about the Bible and my faith in Jesus Christ.

We left Italy two years ago. When I said good-bye to Pina – She cried and I cried with her. I continue to pray for her – believing that God will complete the work he started around her kitchen table. I thank God for the impromptu opportunities he gives us to share his love with others. May I always be ready!