12/18/09
My spirits have definitely been lifted! Yesterday was a very long day, but it was extremely rewarding. We did the historic/church tour yesterday morning, and I was completely renewed in my brokenness. I would like to say, at this point, that I do not hold anything against Catholicism, and I consider my Catholic friends fellow believers whether they think the same of me or not. With that said, the Catholicism that is being practiced in Napoli cannot be biblical. I respect the Tradition, although I do not necessarily agree with the idea of it. Yet, most Catholics pray to everyone but Jesus in order to save them and heal them. It seems so sad that we ran into one man who has prayed to Saint Moscatti everyday for the past twenty years for healing rather than to God for spiritual and physical healing. The only reason most people call themselves Christians there in Napoli is because their parents were Catholic. However, this year, I saw a few people (older women mostly) enter the churches we were walking through and head straight for a replica of Christ on the cross. It was a small encouragement to the statistics. In Napoli, the top five “prayed to” saints include Peter, St. Moscatti, Mary, St. Genaro, and coming in last, Jesus. How heartbreaking. Yet, I have faith that there are those who have a real relationship like some of my Catholic friends back home. I have to believe that. Once we were done seeing the churches, Charlie took us down the shopping district in Dante and gave us more history of the city of Napoli. Then, we ate at Gino Sorbillo, the same amazing pizzeria as last year that is so packed, you have to get there right when they open the doors at noon to get a table (especially a table for twelves). We were given a couple of hours to shop for Christmas presents, then we went back to the ostello for the rest period. Afterwards, we had planned to say goodbye to some of the people we met this week, so we went to VanVitelli and prayer-walked to Megaglie D’Oro. I went with Mickie, Nicole, and Anna B., and they said goodbye to Rosi and Francessco at a dry cleaners/jersey store. They were so cute and sweet! After we left them, the group went with me to the Dragon Cafe to say goodbye to Alessandra and Enzo; however, they were not there because we got there around 7:15pm. Alessandra’s mother was at the cash register and understood who I was from what “Ale” had told her! We talked to her, Maria, and a family friend, Toni, for several minutes, and she even called Alessandra on her phone and let me talk to her. I said goodbye and promised to stay in touch via Facebook. Grace found out that she is a university student at the school they are focusing on during their time here in the Journeyman program. She will be an excellent person to know! We ate at Charlie’s and got to hang out for a little bit before going back to the ostello to meet with the students from WEdnesday night. And, Brando and Roberto from last year were supposed to be there! While I was waiting, I got on Facebook to post some journal entries, and I saw on my home page that Antonio from the Mexico bar had created a Facebook account and added me as one of his very first friends! I almost started crying again, I was so happy! Anyways, I confirmed him as a friend and was able to write on his wall in Italian via Google Translator. Hopefully, I can continue to talk to him, even after this trip. The high school students from the language exchange cam over and we talked and played cards together for a while. We bonded over language miscommunications often. For example, Marcello was trying to tell me that hi was going to stay in my bag on the plane back to America, but instead of ‘bag,’ he said ‘bed.’ So, all of us Americans started dying with laughter, and he was so embarrassed when we explained to him what he had said. But it was definitely a bonding moment for me and him. Then, the university students arrived and the high school students left soon after, except for Ivan and Caroline’s sister, Claudia. We met some new people that Ivan, Caroline, Brando,Vittorio, and Roberto brought over, including Mercol, Stefano, and Martina. I was so good to see Roberto and Brando again! Roberto’s English has always been very good, and Brando has gotten so good since I last saw him! They are both studying law. Caroline’s English has always been good too, and Ivan can actually say more than just “Victoria, I love you.” Haha! It was so good to connect, and I hope we will be able to see them again today before we leave for Roma tomorrow. I think i love moments like last night more than any building I enter or shopping market I go to. It is better than any historic site there is to see here! Ivan asked me what was the one thing that I did not want to forget about Italia (besides him of course – his words). I told him that I do not want to forget all of the people that I have met while here last year and this year. It could not be more true! I love this place, and I am already hoping to come back during the summer! I know that these past few days have not been in vain.
amen.
