June 2004

Warm spring greetings from the Eternal City!

Until only a few days ago we had concluded that the “eternal” meant eternally cold and rainy! However, we’re happy to report that the sun is shining, birds are singing, and it looks as though Rome has finally turned the corner on spring—it’s been slow in coming this year.

It feels as though the months since our last communication have held many extremes. The U.S. dollar took its worst beating ever against the Euro, inflation in Italy sky-rocketed (with many prices doubling), public service strikes have often paralyzed the cities, and several major companies teeter on the brink of collapse, while Prime Minister Berlusconi’s near monopoly on the media is ever increasing. The number of immigrants entering Rome on any given day (400) seems to speak to the continuing global situation, which doesn’t look any happier (anti-immigration and anti-Semitism are rife). Living out the reputation that Italy is a country of paradoxes, Berlusconi's current political stance supports the United States on Iraq and Israel-Palestine while demonstrators regularly gather below his window in protest (especially since the prisoner torture scandals).

The depth of their witness can be seen in the reactions of those whom they visit here. In a moving demonstration of support for the peace process, one town gathered its citizens, dividing them on each end of Main Street. In a mock face-off the two groups (one led by the Israeli, the other by the Palestinian participant) met in the middle and using cardboard boxes, solemnly constructed a wall between themselves. The job emotionally completed, they then celebrated by tearing it down together! This action serves as an impetus for all of us to think about the walls that exist in our lives—how constricting and crippling they become, and how we need to seek ways to topple them and regain the joy that emerges as a result. The full and abundant joy of reconciliation that God offers to all of us.

We continue in faith to believe that these encounters will touch people’s hearts and move them toward active participation in dialogue and peacemaking. We look forward to Confronti’s next event—the gathering together of Israeli, Palestinian, Italian (and hopefully American) youth groups here in July.

We recently celebrated our grandson Reed’s first birthday (even though from afar)! We blinked and he was a year already! His papa (Travis) continues working full-time while pursuing a master’s of business degree, and mama (Jaime) has just recently returned to work part-time. We’re looking forward to seeing them hopefully in August. We have also so much enjoyed having Will and Malia (our son-in-law and daughter) with us. They will return to the States (much to our sadness) in August to resume life and work in the Thousand Oaks area. We have enjoyed some wonderful times and travels with them during their stay here.

We do ask for specific prayer requests (besides those listed above):

• We were recently robbed three times in a span of only five days—pray for both thieves and victims.
• Pray that we are able to get the Palestinian summer camp youth out of Jenin refugee camp in Israel-Palestine, as many times visas are denied at the check-points.
• Say a prayer of thanksgiving for the breakthrough on the Sudan Peace talks, which we hope will also help influence an end to the Darfur conflict. Remember the families of the two million people who have died so far.

To the many folks who support our ministry either financially or with prayer, we say thank you for your continuing concern and love shown! Please let us know your prayer requests as well!

Grace and Peace,

Terry and Michele Finseth

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 328