News about our mission in Italy is best presented by Publishing parts of a letter received from our people there. The first part is written by Emilia’s mother, and the second part by Emilia herself.
“It has given me great pleasure to know that a good man from your congregation has thought of us, sending us a tape recorder, as you, minister, explain in your letter. I heartily thank you and the Lord, because it seems to me a thing inspired by the good God, because I cannot read as much as I used to when I had good eyesight. Therefore the gift has greatly rejoiced me.
“… With Emilia I have read so many times the sermon from you, sent in the previous letter. One time it was read with Claudio, but for the present I do not discern interest in him. Certainly to live among people and relations of a different religion is difficult, but with the help of the Lord we will overcome every obstacle. Sometimes I have tried to speak of that little that I know of the faith, but to go against the current is to make ourselves enemies. I think again of the word of the Lord which says ‘Cast not your pearls before swine’.
Yours in the Lord,
Irene.”
“When I received the precious sermon I was most happy and thought I would reply immediately to thank you. But I did not succeed in doing so; I humbly ask you to excuse me, and I assure you that I think of you even if I delay in replying.
The sermon is most precious, especially the last part. I hope that the Lord will have mercy on my soul, and will help me to find spiritual water to quench my thirst, and that it will not happen to me that I die of thirst as will come to those who do not accept His word.
“Thank you for your thought of us, also for the tape recorder which you have thought of sending us. It is impossible for us to make repayment, but the reward which you have from the Lord is more important, of that I am sure.
I have given the sermon to Ermete to read. Do not be concerned, minister, if you have not written them. We understand, and I ask you not to worry, because I will give every sermon that you send to Ermete to read. Tomorrow, D.V., I will send the sermon to the lady in Spianate. I am sorry you did not find the address of the old man in Barga; I hope that you will be able to find it.
“Renzo, Dario and Simonetta have been successful in school and are pleased to be on holiday.
Affectionate good wishes from us all,
Emilia.”
Reference was made already in the article printed in the March magazine to the various people referred to in these letters. Claudio is Emilia’s husband, and the three names mentioned at the end are those of her children. Ermete is her brother who, with his wife, was at some of the services we held in Emilia’s home. Our contacts with the old man at Barga and the lady at Spianate were mentioned in the March article. As Emilia indicated, we lost the old man’s address, but we posted the sermon to him, addressing it as best we could, and hope that he receives it.
It is very touching to find such gratitude expressed in these letters, when we think of how little they receive. The sermon was only a few typed pages on I Timothy 1: 15, but it seems to have meant something to them. How much it meant is indicative of how impoverished they are of the word of God, and how great are our privileges here in Scotland.
The tape recorder was referred to at the Synod in May: where it came from is explained in the first letter. As Emilia mentions, those who give to the cause of Christ in this way will never lose their reward. I have now recorded two sermons, one of each side of the tape, and have posted the recorder to Italy. We hope that it will arrive safely, and that it will be a means of blessing when it does. Even the novelty of hearing a sermon on tape may arrest the interest of the children, and we pray that they and their father may yet be made like their mother.
May the Lord Himself give to his people a spirit of true prayer for the Italian mission. The numbers are so tiny, but if He Himself would be among them, then they would be strengthened by His grace. May others be brought in as well. Especially we pray that a man may be raised up to be a leader among them.
J.T.