Post by Chris Burnett Rome Italy on Sept 24, 2005 13:57:00 GMT -5
To all of you at Berean Bible Church, with all the love that you have shown me over the last few years, replete with such gracious hospitality in your homes and such warm times of fellowship, well…I just can’t find anything to say that seems appropriate in your season of heartache and loss. I wish that there were a way for me to be able to be present with you and grab my work gloves to help, and the fact that I cannot just reinforces a deep, disquieting sense of loss. You have all been there in so many ways to personally encourage me through my own distressing days with our family tragedies and back when I had no sense of how God would have me return to Italy.
Let me remind you of some of the things you did for me that gave me sure footing when I needed it most over the last few years: Kelly Driggers—exhorting me after a Bible Study never to apologize for my passion; Terry Birdsall—reminding me that I’m not “lucky”, I’m blessed; Clark Paton—showing me that “a worker is worth his hire” and that suffering can’t rob us of joy unless we let it (your migraines proved you learned that lesson a long time ago); the Wofford family—distributing to me as many necessary resources out of their home as they did funny stories and laughs while watching old home movies; Aaron Latina—participating in praise through music, and being passionate with me about “I Am Humbled”; Pastor Larry—showing us that servant leadership still works; John Ritchie for loving me like a son; the Whites who mysteriously find time and resources to reach out to me and love me like another part of their big family; Toni for always being bright and excited; the Viles for jumping in to help me musically with their great skills and happy hearts; Perrin for thinking enough of my future to link me to a great studio; the De Bruler family for just letting me be myself and for praying in 4-part harmony at the breakfast table; Ben Birdsall Sr. for tape recording his kids’ voices on his office phone machine as special memories and then also taping mine; and to the Johnsons who I only briefly dined with but who faithfully supported me financially whenever I needed it most; my dear friends, the Capasso family, who I have enjoyed in both Napoli and Metairie, who have thoroughly taken me in as a “fratellino” (little brother) and whose gracious nature keeps me always there alongside them at home, no matter how far away I might be in distance.
Times have no doubt changed so many of your life situations, and from what I have come to hear, some of the homes I stayed in with you are not currently usable. But as you have helped raise me up so I believe Jesus Christ will continue to do for each of you in a special way according to your specific need. Please know that as long as my tears will flow and as long as there is need for us all to depend on the Lord, I, and the Italian churches with whom I am connected will be praying for you all. I love you, dear brothers and sisters very much.
Let me remind you of some of the things you did for me that gave me sure footing when I needed it most over the last few years: Kelly Driggers—exhorting me after a Bible Study never to apologize for my passion; Terry Birdsall—reminding me that I’m not “lucky”, I’m blessed; Clark Paton—showing me that “a worker is worth his hire” and that suffering can’t rob us of joy unless we let it (your migraines proved you learned that lesson a long time ago); the Wofford family—distributing to me as many necessary resources out of their home as they did funny stories and laughs while watching old home movies; Aaron Latina—participating in praise through music, and being passionate with me about “I Am Humbled”; Pastor Larry—showing us that servant leadership still works; John Ritchie for loving me like a son; the Whites who mysteriously find time and resources to reach out to me and love me like another part of their big family; Toni for always being bright and excited; the Viles for jumping in to help me musically with their great skills and happy hearts; Perrin for thinking enough of my future to link me to a great studio; the De Bruler family for just letting me be myself and for praying in 4-part harmony at the breakfast table; Ben Birdsall Sr. for tape recording his kids’ voices on his office phone machine as special memories and then also taping mine; and to the Johnsons who I only briefly dined with but who faithfully supported me financially whenever I needed it most; my dear friends, the Capasso family, who I have enjoyed in both Napoli and Metairie, who have thoroughly taken me in as a “fratellino” (little brother) and whose gracious nature keeps me always there alongside them at home, no matter how far away I might be in distance.
Times have no doubt changed so many of your life situations, and from what I have come to hear, some of the homes I stayed in with you are not currently usable. But as you have helped raise me up so I believe Jesus Christ will continue to do for each of you in a special way according to your specific need. Please know that as long as my tears will flow and as long as there is need for us all to depend on the Lord, I, and the Italian churches with whom I am connected will be praying for you all. I love you, dear brothers and sisters very much.