Adventure And Fear

Adventure And Fear

by | Nov 4, 2024 | 2024, Moving, Retirement

What to do with Fear

Adventure & Paralyzing Fear

When an Exciting Adventure Leads to PARALYZING FEAR . . . Because You Cannot See the Future.

There is Lots of Fun in an Adventure, But Also Lots of Unknowns.

Jerusalem Church Leaders' Distrusted Paul

When Fear of the Unknown Gripped Paul's Heart

The Apostle Paul knew he faced an unknown, namely, the unknown reaction to him, by the Jerusalem church leaders.

And Paul’s response? He sought prayer from his friends.

Romans 15:30 HCSB
Now I appeal to you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf.

Facing the Unknown Naturaly Moves us Towards Fear.

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, IN FACT, IT’S A NORMAL REACTION.

While fear is not from God. I think God UNASHAMEDLY USES FEAR to strengthen our faith in Him.
The challenge is not THAT YOU FEAR. The real challenge is what are you going to do WITH THE FEAR?

And there are only 2 choices:

  1. You can roll the “fears” over and over again in your brain.
    — The result is Despair.
  2. Or, you can SUBMIT YOURSELF to the God who is sovereign.
    — The result is Peace.

Knowing your whole life is changing AND YOU DON’T CLEARLY SEE the next step/s, begs you to:

  • consider and consider, to
  • wonder and wonder, to
  • figure and figure, to
  • imagine and imagine, and to
  • GO PARALYZINGLY CRAZY in your mind.

But the truth is, there is only 1 solution.

Submit to the Lord

You might think that solution, “submitting to God” is a cop-out.

Keep reading.

Before I Show You Our Updated Adventures, which prompted so much emotion this last week, let me ask you like Paul did his friends, in Romans 15:30 . . .

For the sake of & the witness of Christ in our lives, and
By the love which the Holy Spirit inspires you to have for us,
Pray earnestly to God for us.
I even ask you to gather with your loved ones, and/or
Your prayer partners and agonize in prayer to God for us,
That our unknowns will strengthen our resolve, our faith muscle,
Especially when the evil one prompts paralyzing fear.

Why Retire to Italy?

Historical 14th Century Castle

Imagine having an 800 year old building, just up the street.

Click Here For Photo

The Beauty of Our Town

One of the many beautiful homes on the walk from the Historical-Center to our home.

Click Here For Photo

One of Many Beautiful "Streets"

It matters not which way we walk to our home from the Historical-Center, we see these kinds of beautiful lanes.
Molto Bellissimo

Click Here For Photo

Great Perspective of Our Home

I can’t wait till we get to move in. There are so many things to do. We get to clean and garden and all kinds of things.

Click Here For Photo

The Sign Means Something

This is one of two cool little signs on the lower level of our property. It appears to be a direction and “time” indicator. The only problem is, THOSE ARE NOT the proper times . . . unless this sign was made for people pulling carts.

Makes one wonder about the history behind these signs.

Click Here For Photo

Lots of Beauty

What a view! Nothing else needs to be said!

Click Here For Photo

A Surprise Lower Room

In the lowest level of the building attached to ours, is an open room, BUILT INTO THE ROCK, below us.

Makes one wonder about the history of this room and the house. It may have been an early stable. We don’t know.

Click Here For Photo

My Dad Would have Loved Pruning this Yard

My dad loved pruning back the shrubs to nubs. Mom always cringed, but it ended up looking great.

I’m up for the challenge to make Naida cringe.

Click Here For Photo

Another Walkway Filled with Beauty

On this walk, which is a hundred or so meters above our home we found a little garden between homes.
Too lovely.

Click Here For Photo

A Romantic Little Espresso Stop

I’m sold! I can just see a little old Italian couple drinking their espresso in the morning.
Can’t you?

Actually, they could be enjoying their cheese and olives.

Click Here For Photo

Beauty, Just Great Beauty

What else needs to be said?

Click Here For Photo

Another Great Perspective of Capestrano

We had fun making this short video. I think it can be found on our IG & FB pages.

Click Here For Photo

Horse Trails

It doesn’t matter where I go. Horses, horses everywhere horses.

Click Here For Photo

The Mountain Town of Ofena

From our home we can see this other mountain town (Ofena). When we noticed it we drove out there.
Cute and quaint.

Click Here For Photo

Another Perspective of Capestrano

I’m almost embarrassed showing you all these photos.
Almost.

Click Here For Photo

One More Time

Okay, one more time. That’s our home!

Click Here For Photo

Crazy Beautiful

And believe me, there are TONS of walk-ways like this we haven’t shown you yet.
But we will!

Keep following our posts. They are released every Monday morning.

Click Here For Photo

Please Take the Time to Enjoy These Photos

We covet your prayers. Click here for our current prayer list.

Tour

Tour

by | Oct 28, 2024 | 2024, Italy, Moving

Our Fearless Leader

DAVID BENTON FROM AHOMEINITALY.COM
Naida and I affectionately call him Italy-David.

Italy-David's Tours of Homes in the Abruzzo Region

What A Great Trip for Naida & I

Some asked, “Since you are already committed to buying a home, why go on these tours?”

The answer is easy, “Italy-David.”

You see, we have come to trust his judgment, and we knew that watching him describe Abruzze communities would be good for us to get, “A lay of the land.”

WE LOVED IT!

And we are so glad we went; First, because of all the new friends we made. Second, because of what we learned about the communities. Third, we appreciate our home, SOOOOO MUCH MORE now. And fourth, the food!

The Last Property We Saw

This is Mark . . . I didn’t expect this. But the last property we saw, was in Casoli. I didn’t realize we were going to look at it, but we did.

AND I AM SO GLAD.

You see, the home we all saw, was the home Naida and I considered our second choice. And, after walking the property, we both agreed, IT IS STILL OUR SECOND CHOICE and by a LARGE margin, Praise the Lord.

This morning I found a passage in Scripture which encapsulates our experience, thus far (I trust you pardon me for my specific application).

Psalm 134 (HCSB)
Now praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord . . .
Lift up your hands . . . and praise the Lord!
May the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, bless you [in Capestrano, Italy, while He is] in Zion.

Naida and I began the day praising the Lord.

And then we went into school mode, learning from the Italian Driving Manual.

Make Sure You See it ALL . . .

(If your phone only shows words in the scrolling boxes below, TAP THE SENTENCE to see the pictures associated with the scrolling box)

The photos are GREAT!

"

How’s that for beauty? And I ain’t just talking about the building.

Lots of well behaved cats . . . and no rats, BTW.

We met some VERY SPECIAL friends. This is Daniel and Keller from Singapore.

All together now, say, “Ahhhh,” for Joe and Kara.

This photo has inspired me to a new detail on our place, A WRAP-AROUND BALCONY. I was told that it is low on the  list of priorities.

And then there are some architectural details you would only wish on . . .

This is Domenico. He is pointing out a part of our property which just became available. It’s what we affectionately call, “The Ruin.” It is attached to our living quarters but not a part of them, so we don’t have to do anything to it (until my wrap-around balcony is completed), I’m just sayin’.

Naida just made the beautiful flowers beautifuller, and I’m sticking to it!

We are now in a rental from our friend, Louis Ortiz at “RentInAbruzzo@Gmail.com” but for this to happen, Steve & Gina moved out for us. Thanks guys, now we don’t have to lug 4 suitcases around. AND BEFORE YOU ASK. The only reason we have 4 suitcases is because we knew we were going to have access to our new home soon.

Wow! What a view. Incredible.

Do you think you could get used to walking out your front door every morning, to this?

This is Italy-David and me talking over something important, but I don’t know what. BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT! Thank you Naida for capturing the historical moment!

And this was our group! Folks we will remain in contact with, in some cases, forever.

WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF PRAYER REQUESTS

Goodbye

Goodbye

by | Oct 21, 2024 | 2024, Moving

WE'RE IN ITALY

When this post is released, Naida and I will have been in Rome for a few hours, awaiting our bus to Pescara, in the Abruzzo region.

Actually, there’s a possibility we could be on an earlier #FlixBus (https://markmirza.com/flixbus/) which would be flinging us thru the Italian mountains to our hotel, in Pescara, right now.

We might even be very near the home we hope to buy, in Capestrano, Italy (https://markmirza.com/house/).

There certainly are a lot of unknowns. But far from being fearful, we are excited about The Adventure, the unknowns, and the views (https://markmirza.com/views/).

And AN ADVENTURE it surely is.

We Have “Quantified” Our Move as Follows . . .

1] WE ARE RETIRING

2] WE INTEND TO TRAVEL

3] WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE

While we’re not really keen on the photo above, it does typify “Goodbyes.”

BUT, there is a “SURE-HOPE” in Christ, which says this earth is not our home. We look forward to a permanent home in heaven, WITH YOU!

Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)
For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

1] We Are Retiring

(in fact, we are gratefully jobless)

— What does it mean to retire? We don’t know, but we intend to figure it out.

— Our weekly posts will disclose what we learn.

2] We Intend to Travel

(which will be less expensive from Italy than from the USA)

— A recent comment from Naida still resonates with us. “Mark, I want to hop on a train, head to a town we’ve never been to before, explore it for a few hours, and then get back on the train and be home by nightfall.”

— Of course, since we’re retired, we could just spend the night, too.

3] We Want to Encourage

(perhaps our home’s new name will be prophetic, “Oasis of Blessings”)

— During the last 15+ years, thru prayer, others were encouraged. How might that change, now? We have no idea. But that’s part of the adventure.

— Praise the Lord, Naida and I have a real sense of gratefulness for the blessing to take off into this adventure . . .

— Hence the name of our new home: Oasi delle Benedizioni

 

Find Our Weekly Posts Here

This is How it All Began

This is How it All Began

by | Oct 14, 2024 | 2024, Italy, Moving, Retirement

PHOTOS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

2023 Christmas on the Beach

. . . Turned out to be a bit, “BORING,” FOR ONE OF US.

And so Naida found this alternative for the following Christmas (this year, 2024).

While I reluctantly agreed, I am now ecstatic with anticipation, not just for Christmas, this year, but for the rest of our lives, beginning October 20th.

You see, while Naida found where we will stay at Christmas, she also found advantages and reasons for moving to Italy. We also found an INCREDIBLY INDESCRIBABLE PEACE, every-time we prayed about it.

I remember one time texting her.

I said, “Naida, can you think of ONE reason to NOT MOVE to Italy?”

“No!” was all she said, and I wholeheartedly agreed.

One Week Changed Our Life . . .

  • Basically, we had been investigating moving to Italy for a few months when, on a Thursday, we decided to buy tickets to go to Italy in October. We didn’t want to clutter our Christmas Holiday looking for homes in Italy.
  • THAT WAS THURSDAY, you caught that, right?
  • On Monday our financial adviser said, “Naida you could retire today.”
  • 2 hours later she was talking to the president of her company.
  • 2 days later we put our home up for sale.
  • 1 day later we put our horse up for sale.

The Beach was Boring, but the Future is EXCITING!

Though Christmas 2024 is NOT on the Beach, I Can't Complain (see below) . . .

FLORENCE

It’s a splurge, but this very unique location is across from “Il Duomo” in Florence.

BOLSENA

This turned out to be a “Renaissance-Aristocratic-Palace.” Nice choice, Naida!

ROME

While this is a “regular” Air-BNB, we are within a few blocks of “The Vatican.”

Don't Forget, Naida and I Still Have Prayer Requests

A NOTE ABOUT NOT WAVERING

We have had a lot of “BIG CHALLENGES” which have come our way since we decided to move to Italy, BUT NEVER ONCE, have we wavered on whether or not we heard from the Lord, regarding this move.

Never Once!

And for that “Sure-Hope,” “Confident-Hope,” “Godly-Hope,” we praise the Lord.

Mark & Naida

Remember Our Weekly Posts

Toilet Paper

Toilet Paper

by | Sep 30, 2024 | 2024, Moving

Covid-19 Taught Each of Us A LOT

What did Covid-19 teach you?

Don’t tell me about which government agencies you feel like you can or cannot trust.

And, I’m not interested in the fact that you now use A LOT LESS toilet paper than you used to. What else did you learn?

Again, I don’t want to know how many rolls of toilet paper you have hidden in your storage unit.

NEVERMIND

As Naida and I get ready to move to Italy, our storage unit is devoid of all useless things. In it are boxes, to be shipped, and extra toilet paper.

We realize that our lives have boiled down to . . .

  • A few boxes,
  • Some extra toilet paper.
  • And one more thing. One more. Hmmm, but, what is it? What is the one more thing our lives boil-down-to?
Don't forget, Naida & I Still have Prayer Requests

We Take HOPE With Us

★★★★★

Hope

Lord, I pray Romans 15:13 for these friends of mine. I lift them to You, the God of Hope. I trust You to fill them with joy and peace, as they believe.

Romans 15:13 HCSB
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him  so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

★★★★★

Good

Father, so many of my friends are dealing with problems, seemingly, brought on by others. The truth is, YOU have chosen them to go through this, for you have a plan.

Genesis 50:20 HCSB
You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people.

★★★★★

Promises

Lord, we know You’re the God of Hope and the God who does Good, because You are the ultimate Promise-Keeper.

Genesis 50:24 HCSB
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Have You Ever Called God a Liar?

A 2½ Minute Video

CALL GOD A LIAR?

No way!

Right?

Hmmmmm, well maybe I have and NOT EVEN KNOWN IT.

If God is your HOPE . . . If He has been GOOD to you . . . If you have experienced His PROMISES, then let this short video challenge you to trust Him all the more.

Stay Updated on Our Journey

Find our weekly posts which chronicle OUR ADVENTURE . . .

Our Weekly Posts

Traffic

Traffic

by | Sep 16, 2024 | 2024, Italy, Moving

Welllllll Kind of

  • We are moving AWAY from Atlanta
  • We are moving 2 hours outside Rome
  • We are moving to a small village
  • . . . on a rise
  • . . . in a valley
  • . . . between 2 mountains
  • Traffic will be different
Pray For Us, We're Gonna Need It

A New Season

Join Our Adventure

Follow our story as we navigate the joys and challenges of retirement in a new country. Every Monday morning Mark puts out a new post.

Read Them Here

Traffic in Italy will be DIFFERENT

And we are quite looking forward to the change.

What do you think the chances are the sheep we run into (in the non-accident sense of the word), or any other livestock we come across are going to line up like this for us?

We don’t think so either.

Mark & Naida

What We Won't Miss

★★★★★

Horns

I pray with friends who have tweeting birds in the background, while I listen to horns and sirens.

★★★★★

1.5 Hours

Most Fridays & Saturdays & Sundays it takes us 1.5 hours to get home from the barn, 33 miles away.

★★★★★

5 Hours

In Atlanta we are 5 hours from the beach. In Capestrano, Italy we will only be 45 minutes from the Adriatic Sea.

What We'll Get Used To

★★★★★

Serenity

Our garden has lights, for use in the evening, WITHOUT the sound of traffic, or folks yelling from the street, at 3am.

★★★★★

5 Minutes

Every morning we can walk up the road, between historic buildings to the market, for the day’s food, a cuppuccino, even a cornetto.

★★★★★

Views

Panoramic views from our pool chairs & garden, across the valley and to the Gran Sasso Mountains.

Our Neighborhood

A 3½ Minute Video

HEART BANDAID is the name of this short video. I made it for 2 reasons:

  1. It is a pictorial of Our Neighborhood. And,
  2. It is also a message regarding the politics OF YOUR heart, NOT OTHERS’ hearts.

Stay Updated on Our Journey

Find our weekly posts which chronicle OUR ADVENTURE . . .

Our Weekly Posts