Why are you in Italy?

In a word: fate.

The truth is, I don’t have a simple answer to the question. Why am I here? Is it for the sake of the experience, to be an Au pair, to learn something about a world outside of my own, to heal far-removed from heartbreaks, to eat the good food, to build relationships with foreign families, simply because the opportunity presented itself, for the poetic closure of my mission, or because God led me here? I am in Italy for all of those reasons.

The journey really began in Corona, California. Corona: a trigger word, I know. Who would want to go to a place that shares a name with the virus that closed down the entire world in 2020? I did. Because I hoped that in a different way, Corona would change my world again. I had no clue just how true that would be. I only spent a couple of days in Corona with my lovely sales team before our CEO arrived to announce that he was moving our entire office across the US of A. That announcement spring-boarded me onto an unexpected adventure. And it all began in Corona, of course it began in Corona.

I landed on the East Coast in Boston, MA expecting to spend my whole summer there selling solar. Solar: capturing light and putting it to good use. Seemed about right to me. A word crossed my mind every day: heliotropic. It describes plants that bend toward light, always facing and growing and reaching for the sun. Like sunflowers.

I wanted to become heliotropic myself, always facing the Son. And I tried my best to do that. Every time I knocked on a door, my primary objective was to see whoever opened it the way Christ would see them. It enhanced each interaction. And if someone didn’t receive me well or treated me harshly, I would walk away from their porch thinking, “Jesus loves that person.” This mentality led to some lovely interactions with the wonderful people of Boston.

I only lasted in the sales industry for a couple of weeks. I should have known myself better, but I am glad that I tried and that I met my team of fierce and faithful sales-ladies. Those girls are the best of the best on God’s green earth. I sobbed when I left them. But I did leave, and I felt an urgency to do so. In the moment I didn’t fully know why, but I felt it deep in my heart.

I left and suddenly my calendar was open. When you are on the opposite side of the country from home, with no plans, no boundaries, no boss to report to, no relationship to tie my heart to someone… well, the possibilities are endless. I realized that I had a choice. I could go anywhere, do anything. And why not? I was already half-way to anywhere in the world! All I had to do was get creative.

The idea of being an Au pair had crossed my mind before: live with a family in a foreign country as a nanny for their kids. I got online and the profile I created matched with over 300 families in Spain, Italy, and France. I was up all night messaging over 60 families. In the morning I woke up and saw 10 replies. 2 video call interviews later, I found my family less than 24 hours after the search began. The Faccioli family of Nogaredo, Italy.

Figuring out all the logistics over the next couple of days was absolute chaos. I had luggage to ship home, tickets to buy, laundry to wash, my passport needed to be shipped to me, and to navigate Boston by bus, foot, and Uber. Despite the madness I was still able to enjoy church in the city, the Harvard art museum, and the beach. Pro tip: everything in Boston is expensive. I spent more money than I’d ever spent on a singular meal- $50 for a lobster roll from The Pearl. I couldn’t leave Boston without trying a lobster roll. Was it worth the cost? The jury is still out on that one…

As my plane finally descended into the Milan airport, I couldn’t help but get emotional as I looked out over the land. My promised land. A land I’d long dreamed of setting foot on. A quote appeared on my phone in that moment, “Don’t ever give up on Jesus- He will never give up on you!” (Schmitt). Jesus fulfills His promises.

Flash back: Young missionary Sorella Stewart praying every night for the people of Italy. Sorella Stewart spending every waking moment at her home MTC studying Italian like her life depended on it. I guess she thought that if she studied hard enough, maybe just maybe God would make a way for her to go to Italy. A singular word sustaining her hope: Adempiere. It means to fulfill. She trusted that Christ would fulfill His promises to her. Her heart breaking as she took off the name-tag for the first time and waited to be reassigned. Flying to Houston and wondering how long her stay would be. The day a year later when she got the letter that she’d finish her mission in Texas. She loved Texas, she really did. Her mission was Texas. But a part of her heart would always wonder about Italy.

Now three years after Corona first changed my world, it all came full circle. So many stars had to align to make this possible, and I had no clue it was happening until I was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. God’s hand was guiding me from place to place, step by step, until I was ready for Italy, and Italy was ready for me.

The Faccioli family said that from when they first met me over video call, they knew I was their girl. They said they were trusting Maria’s (the mom’s) instincts, her gut feeling that I was right for them. She works in the hospital as a midwife and meets many different women all day long. She says that she can recognize a good woman from her face and expressions. She felt good about bringing me into her home. People say I look like I could be one of their kids. It seems like we were made for each other.

So why am I in Italy?

If I had to put it in a world, I would say undoubtedly:

fate.