Christmas 2000

Blessed Christmas Greetings from Italy!

The first year of this new millennium is quickly drawing to a close. Rome has been a very interesting place to live during the Catholic Jubilee year! Predictions had shown an expected additional 30 million visitors to the "Eternal City" throughout the year, and while it has been busier than normal, it seems they overestimated some, much to our relief. As a family, we also have enjoyed numerous guests throughout the year. It’s been a joy to show friends and loved ones our corner of the world, although with all that Rome has to offer, we too, will be tourists along with them for many years to come.

Terry’s work continues to keep him fulfilled. Over the last few years, Confronti (which means "dialogue") has expanded its scope from an interfaith magazine focusing on faith, politics, and daily life, to include sponsoring a series of cultural initiatives ("Seeds of Peace"), conventions, travel-study seminars (which this year included a 1,200 person pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and a trip to Turkey) and international peace education (Kosovo) and training programs. Along with the English section of the web page, Terry’s translation work has increased as Confronti’s interaction with these international organizations requires English. He felt better about his translations when he recently read that the Alta Vista computerized Italian translator’s version of the sentence, "She is having a bad hair day," was "It is having a defective day of hats!" His work also includes overseeing Confronti’s Web page and a new program with the European Commission coordinating Italian volunteers with a Palestinian Christian organization in Bethlehem.

Michele continues to plug away at a psychology degree with Washington State University via distance-learning, which is both bane and blessing at times. The gray cells don’t function the way they used to! Additionally, she helps Confronti with communications, translation, editing, and seminar organization, all of which help to fulfil her need to serve others.

Travis and Jaime are still in Jackson, Mississippi, immersed in full-time school and full-time work. How they find time to fit other activities into their lives is a wonder to us! They are both working with MCI-WorldCom now, which is nice for their commute to work. We’re hoping they will be able to join us in Italy for Christmas next year.

With hard work and dedication Malia has successfully cut a semester off her study time at California Lutheran University, and will be graduating early, just in time to go to grad school! We’re so glad she’ll be with us for the holidays. We’re also glad to welcome our niece, who is studying in Florence for the year. Her boyfriend Will continues to be an important part of her life, and we were happy to get to know him better, as we had them both with us for a time last summer.

We are now in the second year of a second term with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) serving here in Italy, yet are continually amazed by the incredible new experiences each day brings. Somehow it’s that sense of feeling a bit out of balance, always in the learner’s position that keeps life in a foreign culture so enthralling. Security comes not from our satisfaction of feeling in control but knowing that someone who sees the larger picture of our lives is in control, and trusting Him to fulfil our needs as well as our heart’s desire to serve Him.

One can hardly look toward the future and another new year without also looking back. After over 13 years in the mission field, it was a sad sensation to realize that three of the countries where we’ve served (Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, and Sudan) either suffered ongoing civil war or had new fighting erupt, this past year. Yet, despite all the world’s problems and distractions that tug at us first in one direction, then another, the holy season seems always to be a moment when time stands still, and we celebrate with awe and wonder the birth of the Christ child.

I know it’s true, time doesn’t stand still. Many things can change but we know some things never will—the memories we share, the songs we always sing, the mystery of life, the hopefulness this season brings. And I have a dream or two… maybe they will come true—no more lives torn apart, that wars would never start, and time would heal all hearts…

—Amy Grant

We pray that time will stand still, if only for a moment, for you and yours this season, and you may revel in His love. Thank you for your presence in our lives and the unconditional love and support that we feel from all of you!

Terry and Michele Finseth

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 87