This past week we had a really busy week. We had two days of evangelizing in local piazzas and it was really good to be a part of this. Outreach like this is not easy for me. Number one, I am an introvert and find it difficult to enter into conversations with people I do not know and number two, there is still a language barrier that I am trying to work through. Combine these two things and it makes evangelism in this way difficult for me to do.
That being said, we had some help this week to do this out reach program. We, as a congregation, hosted a group from the States called "Overflo" who have come to Italy for seven or eight years now. It was a true blessing to have them here with us for two days. We hosted two of the members of the group, Kelly and Chelsa, in our home and fed them and the guys that were staying at the church 
breakfast each morning. This was a lot of fun to have them here and be able to hear about things that are going on in there lives and the ministries that their church has.
Overflo performed three concerts for us in three different piazzas here in Bari. Each of the concerts was about an hour long and within each one there was singing, time for testimonies from band members and Italians that are a part of our congregation of Centro Koinonia, a short message from Giovanni who is the Italian pastor that invited them to Italy and also a mime. Before each concert there was a time of prayer (pictured at right) for not only those giving the concert, but also for those who would hear the concert.
In the piazzas there were numerous different groups of people there to watch. There were old, young, singles, couples, families and probably even some gangs. These people would come and listen for a while, then some would walk away. Some would return later to hear more and some would not. People from our congregation would talk to many people during and after the concert; especially if someone was walking away during the concert. There were those who were interested and then there were those that were closed to the Message.
One of the most watched parts of the concert was the mime. It had five characters. Four are in the photo to the left. There is the "Hypocrite", the "Strongman", the "Clown" and the "Beauty". The fifth character was that of Christ who was able to remove the masks that each of the other characters wear. These are all masks that each of us wears in one way or another. when they are removed though, the true self is revealed. Behind that of the "Hhypocrite" is a person that sees all the faults of those around them but is blind to their own faults. The "Strongman" is really a person that is filled with fear and insecurity and puts on the front of strength in order to hide this fact. 
The "Clown" hides the sadness and despair in her heart through laughter on the outside. The "Beauty" seems to have it all together and yet hates the "ugliness" that she sees inside. Christ is able to change all of this and make us all clean. It was a beautiful and yet simple message that was able to break down the language barrier between the team from America and the Italians that were watching.
I have a new appreciation for short-term missions teams. I wondered at times, now that I am in long-term missions, just what the worth was to do short-term missions. Well, it is this. People who serve on short-term teams bring and share gifts with those who are doing long-term missions. They are a part of the Body of Christ that help share the Message of the Gospel in ways that the long-term missionaries may never think about. They bring a fresh approach to the field and they enable those in the long-term to make new and fresh contacts with people in their hometowns. Not only that, but they are an encouragement to the long-term missionaries. Overflo was a huge blessing to us as a missionary team, as a congregation and also to the people here in Bari. They shared their gifts, talents, energy and love with people that they had never known before and for this we are grateful.
Thanks to Matt, Jodi, Kelly, Chelsa, Ryan, Peter, Dave and Martin for putting this group together and coming here to Bari and investing their time and energies for the Kingdom. You all are a wonderful group and we pray God's richest blessings on the ministry that He has called you to do. Thanks also to Giovanni and Fiorella for their time and effort in bringing this group to Italy. Blessings to you all.
