Drake's 2016 Spring Update

Welcome to Italy!

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Since January 17th 2016 we have been living in Isola Gran Sasso, Italy with 27 students from 14 different countries. The rest of us staff make up a grand total of 40 people living in community at the Centro Evangelico. We have 8 musicians, 13 Visual artists, 4 dancers and one journalist/dancer! They are from: Taiwan, Hong-Kong, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Faroe Islands, Canada, USA, Moldova, New Zealand, Ireland, Northern Ireland, UK and South Africa ranging in age from 17-60 years of age!

So for the last 3 months we have been pouring into them, discipling them, praying for them, teaching them, laughing and crying with them; basically doing a lot of "life" with them!
Starting this weekend (April 3rd) we are starting our week long exhibition of the visual artists and then next weekend we will be having our musicians and dancers perform a 2 hour concert for the town! We are set up in the town's cultural and event center!

I'm going to let the students speak for themselves here starting with Bonnie from Hong-Kong!

First art exhibition opening night in Italy : )
I never had any formal drawing lessons in my life and all I knew is to sketch on my textbooks and lecture notes. I enjoy drawing but never give myself time to draw and create as I used to think it's a waste of time and I'm not good enough. Well, I guess I was wrong...and here I am, proudly presenting my artwork as both visual artist and missionary here in Italy...
I mean, OMG is that for real? : )

This is my first attempt to paint with acrylic about identity inspired by the lovely people I met here...I'm so grateful for everything and everyone who sponsored, supported, helped and encouraged me throughout the process, sending me here and giving me the freedom that allows me to explore and speak up through my art.

It's such a great joy and pleasure to be here with all the talented people from all over the world, having our stories presented through our artistic gifts given by our good good father. Can't wait to see how God is going to speak through our arts! It's gonna be AMAZING!

Anyway,
I'm just so happy to be a visual artist that owns a vision and carries a mission for the ultimate creator of the universe..
How cool is that yay ; )

Just want to say thank you to this awesome leader. Thanks for what you doing for me. I am so happy we walk in His way.
-Sara (Taiwan)

The "I JUST KNOW SEASONS":

Each morning I wake up in Isola, Italy I can't help but feel more and more blessed. There's times in a person's life were they JUST KNOW they are living in the will of God. Being here for this season is one of those times for me. The staff and students are some of the most inspiring, encouraging and creative people I have ever encountered. Each one has a unique gift which is so important to all that is happening here. I JUST KNOW God is looking down at His children in this place and is smiling.
This morning why don't you ask yourself this question "Am I living in the I JUST KNOW?"

-Seamus (Ireland)

Our Incarnate 2016 dancers are working hard to prepare for our arts festival in Italy, taking place April 8th and 9th..

This month has been blowing my mind. The Lord is so sweet. I feel that I have been on cloud 9, it has only been 4 weeks and my heart has encountered many many things. It's like the Lord has gifted me a place set a part from where I've grown up; a place to see others, myself, and God with a new and honest perspective. Something gently forcing me to see things deeper, cleaner, and richer. This is only the smallest amount of words I could use to describe life here in Isola, Italy. I am so honored and overwhelmed daily at the love here and the love all around at home who support me and sent me. Thank you thank you thank you. I'm being renewed.
-Larissa (USA)

This is how we "eat" hot chocolate in Italy! Yes you have to literally spoon it in to your mouth!

Bill and I ocaisionally hike around in the mountain areas! It's a wonderful experience!

PANAMA?

In the middle of running our Incarnate program in Italy, we had to fly over to Panama for the OM International leaders meetings! It took 25-30 hours each way so it was quite an exhausting trip. We were gone for 10 days including the travel times.

A promotion for Bill -

Bill is being promoted to a new senior leadership position in OM

which is why we had to go to the International Leaders meetings in Panama. OM International has asked him to be the director of the International Ministries of Operation Mobilization (OM). This means that Bill will be the leader for the leaders of OM Arts International (the ministry he now leads), Aidslink (those afflicted with aids mostly in Africa and Asia), sports ministry, sex-trafficking ministry, business for transformation, and relief and development. This is an incredible honor and privilege, very humbling, and Bill says, "extremely daunting." These ministries span the globe, reach the un-reached, touch the two-thirds world and have the potential to make deep impact for the Gospel directly into the heart of a culture, since all cultures engage in all or most of these things. Bill is making a change in his job description on June 1st

More on this in later editions of our newsletter.

We were privileged to have one hour with George Verwer, the founder of OM, so we thought we'd take a selfie! LOL

Our hearts are full as we participate with the great Creator in His awesome creation and enjoy the creativity of these awesome artists! Not only is it a blessing to listen to, look at and watch their weekly creations but we also get to disciple and shepherd their hearts! The transfomation we are seeing in these students is mind-blowing and we are so thankful to be used of God in this area!

-Prayer Requests-

That we will finish well - The school ends on April 14th!
The students will also finish well!
Things learned here will be life-long for them
All the funding for the school will come in
Many Italians would respond to the gospel in our Arts Festival

Speaking of funding - Thank you for supporting us so we can do what we are doing here in Italy! We all had to raise the money to be here to pay for our food and lodging and other extraneous expenses such as transportation etc. and we are grateful to those who gave above and beyond!

Three of our students we let come on a full scholarship, meaning they didn't have to pay the $5000 tuition and room and board. We did this because they are from countries where people don't have resources to draw from. We have managed to raise some of the finances to cover them but there is still a financial need to be met for the three students.

Would you pray and see if God would want to use you to invest in their lives in a practical and tangible way?

Click here to support an Incarnate Student