Last week I didn’t publish a blog post.  I was dismantling the last 10 years of our life.  Last Friday morning we said goodbye to our house.  It was the only house we’ve lived in as a family, the house where I gave birth to three of our five children.

Why did we do it? Because we sensed God asking us to move to Italy as missionaries.  Anyone who’s met me  knows my passion for Italy.  So it’s natural to assume this was my idea.

For the record: If this is my idea, it’s my worst idea EVER.

It was my idea to move to Italy when I was in college.  I was fluent in Italian and eager to serve.  God had other plans.  It was my idea to move to Italy when we were newlyweds.  We had very little debt and no kids.  But the  time  wasn’t right. It was my idea to move to Italy when I got a job translating for a growing company in Italy, and doors of opportunity were opening.  It still wasn’t time.  It was my idea to go to Italy when my husband started working for the same company, and we had two kids who were still very young.  But it still wasn’t time. Yet.

After praying for half my lifetime that God would send me back to Italy, I tired of waiting.  I asked God for a different dream, one that actually had a shot at coming true.  Besides, by then we had five children, including a teenager.  And I couldn’t stomach the thought of putting them through the stress of leaving friends and family and adjusting to another language and culture again.  We were finally settling back into our community after our last international relocation. And the savings we had carefully amassed (with the hope of going to Italy) were disappearing.

That’s when God began speaking to my husband that it was time to move to Italy. My son got the same message. And God connected us with partners in the region of Italy we felt called to, doing work we’re passionate about (fighting human trafficking). And our house (which had been the market three times in five years) actually sold.

Here I am, between excitement and fear.  We have no house, no steady employment, and it looked like we barely had enough savings left to cover the cost of airfare.

Why am I telling you this?
We’re not victims here.  We chose this and we take full responsibility for our actions.  Maybe we’re not discerning correctly and this is a really foolish move.  But maybe, by obeying with our whole lives, we’re stepping into an adventure only God could orchestrate.  Either way, I can’t write a blog about listening to God and not share the fruit of our listening with you.

If this is God’s idea, He’s going to show himself strong on our behalf.  And you’re going to be the first to hear about it.

Just today my husband had an interview with an Italian school for a full time teaching job.  AND we found airfare for thousands of dollars less than before.

If you’re at all curious how this will pan out (and you haven’t already) you should subscribe below.  You’ll get email updates on our trials and triumphs,  and weekly activities to hone your ability to listen to God and to each other (hey, if nothing else, you’ll know what NOT to do if this all goes South, right?!).

Now it’s your turn:  What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever felt called to take?  How did it turn out?