In early 2024, Naida made a good argument she’d like to try something, “away from the sun,” this year for Christmas.

Being a good husband, Mark agreed (AFTER HE ARGUED).

So they chose Italy.

As Naida started to prepare their tours and look at things to do, during Christmas she started finding surprises in Italy, which she did not expect.

• Cost of living incentives.
• The rich beauty of the people.
• The healthiness of the foods.
• And the help, IE: AHomeInItaly.com

When she came to Mark with the thought of moving to Italy, he agreed it was interesting, but his ministry opportunities were too great for him to consider Italy seriously.

They both agree, that, “surprisingly” Naida backed off until one day Mark said, “Naida, I have to give up the idea of expanding Common Thread Ministries into the Daniel Prayer Garden.”

“Why?” She asked, knowing that Mark was resolved to this decision. She knew it wasn’t about the money. So what was it?

“Because, at 66 years old, God did not call me to be an administrator, He called me to bring people into prayer.”

IMMEDIATELY afterwards, the Lord started “melding-the-hearts” of Mark & Naida unto the idea (her idea, by the way) of moving to Italy.

Which was sure to be a few years down the road. (YEAH, RIGHT)

Little did they know the Lord had other ideas.

Mark admits he is ALWAYS SKEPTICAL of salespeople on public forums. So when Naida showed him a video from www.AHomeInItaly.com and he turned to her and said, we need to follow this guy, she was surprised, and grateful, but surprised.

Greatly surprised!

They both agreed, no matter how much they liked a home, they would NEVER buy it sight unseen.

Absolutely not, no way.

Mark & Naida purchased their tickets, for their “Italian Home Purchase Tour,” to go to Italy “JUST TO SEE” if they really wanted to move to Italy.

Don’t miss the date (Thursday, April 4)

Mark & Naida met with their financial advisor who said, “Naida, you could retire today.”

Don’t miss the date & time (Thursday, April 4; 11:00am)

Naida met with the president of her firm, and they worked out the final day of her employment, September 30.

Just 4 days before, they had purchased tickets to go on their Italian Home Purchase Tour, set for October 20th.

Don’t miss the date & time (Thursday, April 4; 1:00pm)

2 days later they put their home up for sale.

Don’t miss the date (Wedesday, April 10)

2 days later they put their horse up for sale.

Don’t miss the date (Friday, April 12)

Mark & Naida spent the next few months familiarizing themselves with everything Italian, from the religious focus, to the language nuances to the great food.

They continued to be amazed at the cost of living, the beautiful views, and all they read about the people, especially the people in the small villages in the Abruzzo region.

Mark was thinking he could take Common Thread Ministries and his novel-writing to Italy. But when they realized the visa they would be qualifying for did not allow retirees to make money while living in Italy, he had to abandon his plans.

And while it was “hard to swallow” he would later realize that serving Naida would be his new ministry.

So, finding Kevin to take over CTM & Joe to take over Mark’s praying in DC, www.CommonThreadMinistries.org is in GREAT hands.

Even Mark’s book publishing, which went to Bruce is excelling: www.CommonThreadPublishing.com

Independent of one another, Mark & Naida kept going back to the same home, and so, after agreeing TO NEVER BUY SIGHT UNSEEN, they pulled the trigger on a home outside the city walls of an ancient village. You can see the original sale video here: www.MarkMirza.com/House/

As it would happen, Mark & Naida needed their US home to sell by a certain date, to keep the process moving. Upon advice from their realtor, they repainted, and the home sold in a week. I memorialized the story here: https://markmirza.com/home-sold/

It turned out that their US home closing date and Naida’s last day on the job was September 27th.

They like to say, “On September 27th we became jobless and homeless. AND WE ARE SO EXCITED.”

Thank goodness, Greg & Marie put us up in their home for 3 weeks.

They left the USA on October 20th, and arrived in Italy on October 21st. After a beautiful drive by bus to Pescara, they saw their new home the next day and then met with like-minded folks who also desire to move to Italy.

“The first thing I noticed,” Naida says, “Is that we could walk around at night and have no fears.”

She continues, “The people are friendly and inviting, the medieval towns are beautiful, and the food is incredible.”

But the challenges would come over the next few weeks.

We told you Mark learned his new ministry was his wife. What we did not tell you is that he did not learn that fact until they arrived into Capestrano.

The new residence and, “details of the unknown” are a strain on one who has been at the helm of project management for nearly 40 years.

But together, Naida & Mark are enjoying their new adventure and “THEIR NEW DIGS.”

They opened up about the fears in this post: https://markmirza.com/adventure-and-fear/

What a Christmas! Mark has praised Naida’s choices even admitting that Italy was better than the beach. Okay, in all honesty, he did struggle saying that, a bit. But look at Mark’s Musings on their YouTube channel. You will see how much he loved this Christmas Holiday. Here’s his PLAYLIST.

The photograph above, Mark took and wrote on their first day in Italy. Little did they know they would go back to it often. And probably for the rest of their lives.

You see, while God has clearly spoken in their lives about moving to Italy, they have had to wait on Him for TONS OF OTHER ISSUES.

Mark has often said, “If God is sovereign, He will overcome your doubts. So, if you still have doubts, you haven’t heard from the Lord.”

Go back and read his photo:

Until I know I’ve heard from You, Lord . . .

I know I haven’t heard from You, Lord.