Great day on Sunday

I was looking for an Assembly of God Church and it looked like there was one in Bari. So Sunday morning, I got in my rental car about 9 am and headed to the big city! Bari is about 20 miles from here and not a bad drive. The roads are very nice, and the map programs are usually pretty good. I found the location, but after a few phone calls I found the service didn't start till 7 pm and I was at the wrong location.

It was only about 9:30 am but I decided to hang out all day and check out some sights I read about. I found the touristy area and it was great! This area turned out to have a Castle, at least 4 churches, lots of beautiful little shops, women making pasta by hand in front of their houses. It was a beautiful area to wonder around in for hours.

Because of the good timing I ended up going to 3 services in the beautiful Catholic Churches. All in Italian, but I enjoyed resting, praying, enjoying the buildings and the people.

Next I decided to go to Ikea! I love Ikea and I was curious if Italian Ikeas are different then Seattle WA Ikea. I'm on my way there and took a wrong turn, and I look over and see the sign for the Church I'm going to at 7 pm. I couldn't believe it was right there!

Ikea was slightly different. Mostly in the food area. No free tea! :( Instead there was the espresso bar, there were raviolis and other pasta. Along with the other normal items.

I then went back to the tourist area and got a bit to eat. It was hard to decide since what to get because last trip when I was in Assisi I had tortellini bologeniesi con Panna e prosciutto . It's tortellini with a cream sauce and prosciutto! It's was so good and I've been looking for it again, and they had it here in Bari. But they also had other things I would like to try. So the decision, do I eat what I have been wanting to eat again, or try something new!

I decided to try some Cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. It was delicious!

So now it was 6:30 pm and off to church I go! Nice simple building! But I loved meeting with these dear Christians! I sat next to a someone that spoke a little English. Then some kids behind me were talking and I could tell they were excited to have an American visiting. So I told them where I'm from and that I just came from Africa. The lady next to me stopped a man and said something and the next thing I know he's asking me if I would share a testimony about Africa! Oh boy, I was so surprised and nervous! This was a good size church! But of course I said yes! He said he would translate if I talk slow!

Women covered their heads, men sat on one side of the church and women on the other. They sang some songs, some very familiar. One was a Keith/Melody Green song and I thought how interesting that someone that I knew, wrote a song and years later they are singing it across the world!

Because of the time difference our AOG church in Libby was meeting at the exact same time as this AOG church all the way in Italy. (Libby at 11 am and Italy 7 pm)

So I got up and shared and surprisingly communicated ok! Someone translated the service for me. This was communion Sunday for them. They start with a whole loaf of bread that they brake up to serve, and of course serve real wine. People went forward in groups.

When the service was over everyone greeted each other, women with a kiss on each cheek and men a handshake. That was a lot of kissing, since everyone was greeting me as a visitor!

It was so refreshing to see the Holy Spirit move and hear the prayers of these saints in Italy. I was so glad to be able to join them!