When we first signed up to go to Naples, Charlie (our supervisor) had us start a blog in order to let folks back home keep up with us. I was not super excited about it at first but over the past three years I have come to really like doing the blog. So, I decided to keep it. However, it needs a new name, and I need help coming up with that name. So bring on the suggestions!

Also, in my last post I wrote about the soccer player, Hamsik. He is from Slovakia, not wherever I said he was from. Thanks.

In my last post I alluded to something that happened before we left Naples…it actually occurred at the airport at 5:30 a.m.

While Paul was paying for our extra baggage, Shannon pointed out a man with tattoos who had matching Louis Vuiton bags, one of which held a small dog. However, when I turned I only saw a woman with a baby standing by the bags.

A few minutes later Charlie said, “I think that’s a soccer player.”

I turn…I look….I gawk…at…

Marek Hamsik. He’s a soccer player from Slovenia who plays for Napoli.

As Paul approached I not-so-calmly told him that Hamsik was indeed only feet from us and he should go talk to him, which he did not do, so we proceeded to our gate.

And upon arrival…who did we see??

That’s RIGHT!! HE WAS ON OUR FLIGHT!

So we sit behind him, his wife, and his son….oh, and his dog, which Lily played with. We (ok, really Paul) talked to him a little, got him to sign his game ticket from the Napoli vs. Roma game, which Napoli won. And we talked to him and his wife while waiting for our strollers.

Just wanted to share this little touch of famous with you.

We made it back to America safe and sound on Monday night. A couple of exciting things happened on the flights over….ok, like one really cool and exciting thing happened that I’ll write about later.

For now….America.

We are staying in my hometown, Kosciusko, MS, in the mission house of First Baptist Church. We are a tad bit overwhelmed by the house. It is a three bedroom, two bath house, with a dining room, parlor, living room, large kitchen, and breakfast area. Not to mention a little backyard. Our apartment in Napoli….two small bedrooms, small kitchen, one bathroom, living area, small balcony. There’s just a slight difference in size.

Wal-Mart. I never really cared for Wal-Mart before we left and was excited Italy did not have the mega-store. That’s all that needs to be said about that.

Coming to small town U.S.A. is quite a shock to the system when we just left a city of 4 million people that hardly had any green and we walked or took a metro everywhere. A couple of days ago I’d had enough, strapped Lily in the stroller and went for a walk.

We are just now getting over jetlag, so as we begin to remember things, I’ll write more.

The next several months will be so crazy for us. Good crazy, but crazy. We will arrive in Jackson, MS, Monday at 6:15 p.m. and go to Kosciusko (my hometown). We will be staying at the mission house owned by First Baptist Church. After we get over jet lag, it’s off on the amazing race…or so it would seem. We’ll be between MS, LA, TX, and NC, staying no where longer than two weeks for the first three months. But come January, I’m parkin’ it somewhere.

Some of you may be thinking, “That’s a lot of places to be going. Wonder why they are traveling so much.”

I’ll tell you.

Why MS? My family is in or close to Kosciusko, as are many friends. Also, the mission house was available.

Why LA? Paul’s family is close to or in Ruston. Most of his close friends are in south LA, as is all the fishing.

Why TX? Some of our dearest friends are in the DFW area. Uncle Julio’s, Cantina Loredo, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and Chiptole are there, and we miss our Tex-Mex.

Why NC? Paul will be serving as the missions pastor at a new church called Revo Church in Winston-Salem. We went to seminary with one of the other pastors who asked us if we’d like to be a part of the church, with Paul serving as the missions pastor. We prayed a lot about it….a lot. We talked to the other pastor a good bit, and we found out that there is at least one other man on staff with whom we went to seminary. We are really excited about the move, which we hope will take place at the end of April. If you’d like to know more about what we will be doing with Revo and in Winston-Salem, let us know. We’d love to talk to you about it.

It’s a little bit cooler, and there is a little bit of a cool breeze blowing in Naples, so you’d better hide ya kids, hide ya wives and hide ya husbands too ’cause:

-you will get a head ache
-your neck will begin to hurt
-you will get the flu

Something happened to me today…not a bad something, just a something. And it has me asking some questions that I don’t know the answers to and get conflicting answers from others. So, I am asking you…which may be all of 7 people, but I’m asking.

What do you do when you’ve helped someone and they ask for more? Is there ever a point when you stop helping someone in need? Is there a such thing as too much? If so, when or what is that point? Does it make a difference if the person is a friend or some random person who stopped you on the street? Is it okay to put your own family before the needs of someone who has nothing? Does it matter if you think they are lying?

I wrote that I don’t know the answers. Maybe I do know some of them. God has told us to take care of those who need taking care of….punto. (Period) So, does that answer all the questions above?

What do you think? I’d like to know.

With less than two weeks left in Naples, I can’t help but think of things I am excited about seeing, doing, and eating.

First, there is Uncle Julio’s, which may have the best fajitas outside of Mexico. However, we will have to wait until we go to Texas to experience the savoury flavors Uncle Julio’s has to offer.

Turkey hunting. WHAT??? Yes, I, MacKenzie, hunt turkeys….also deer. Don’t judge.

We have not really seen stars in a very, very long time. I might not even recognize them anymore.

I can’t wait to run on something other than cobblestone, somewhere with no noise, with air that is not polluted. My lungs will be happy to be filled with fresh air.

Paul is not too excited about MS State football or anything else, but I am…even if they are struggling.

Halloween = candy.
I like candy, therefore I like Halloween.
Italians do not have Halloween. I have missed all the candy.

Oh, wide open spaces…how they have been missed. It’s true that last year we spent about two weeks in the lush green mountains of Austria, but being stuck in a cement pond for 3 years can wear on you. I need green in my life.

Paul is missing the fishing. (This photo in no way represents him.)

If you have not had one of these yummy burritos. Stop, locate one, and go delve into the greatness.

I realize that we live in the land of gelato, and it is great and will be missed. But there is something about a scoop, or two or three, of Homemade Vanilla Blue Bell Ice Cream that beckons us both, especially if it is served with some hot cobbler or fresh strawberries. Be still my heart.

Yesterday was the Festa di San Gennaro. To read more about it click here.

Yesteray the Napoli soccer team came back to beat Sampdoria 2-1 in the second half. This was attributed to San Gennaro.