God has been very clear to Anna Ciociola that she will not be returning to West Africa to serve for the next year, but she still finds it hard to believe. After recent surgery, she began a preventive medical treatment for her health; this requires her to stay in Italy, her passport country, for a year.
It hasn’t been easy for Anna to process this unexpected news, because she LOVES being in West Africa – her ministry, home, and all the relationships that she has built over the year but above all, because that is where the Lord wanted her to be.
However, her desire is to do His will. She will continue to be under Ethnos360 Italy and maintain contact with the young women that she mentors in a church in West Africa. Sadly, she won’t be able to attend three of these young women’s weddings later this year.
Please PRAY that the Lord will bring Anna clarity for this year, even about where to live. May He open doors and grant peace and joy in being in Italy when she would rather be in West Africa.
PRAY for Anna’s short trip to West Africa later this month. It will be a chance to say goodbye to the church (hopefully only temporarily), pack her things into boxes to be stored for the year. PRAY for the journey, goodbyes, and emotions – that God may guard her heart.
Sunday school classes from a church in her region of Italy donated funds to purchase school supplies for children in West Africa. A portion of the donation went to a school that serves children from impoverished villages as well as children with disabilities. Anna’s colleague delivered the supplies to the school, located a great distance from the city where she lives. School has not yet started but the donations will provide these children with all the supplies they need to attend this school! PRAY that ALL the children may come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.
PRAY for another of Anna’s colleagues now on home assignment but having to continue her normal work as Anna is now unable to cover for her. PRAY for the stretched support team in West Africa, for strength and encouragement.