Emily in real life

First vision: Ministering to missionaries and other people that can have spiritual influence on nations. Combating the burn-out phenomena through a restful environment and Biblical hospitality. Second vision: Working with YWAM, investing prayer and service towards an Italy that will more reflect the Kingdom of God; connecting Milanesi with God through prayer outreach; discipling; and planning ahead for outreach in 2015 at the next World Expo.

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Italian word of the day:

fai da te. do-it-yourself.

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City of Portland (OR) offers free you-fix-it bike shop. Bravo!

Il comune di Portland (Oregon) offre un posto dove tu puoi riparare gratuitamente la tua propria bici (gratis, fai da te). Bravo!

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16-year old builds his own tiny self-sustaining home on wheels!

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Sedicenne costruisce da solo una micro-casa

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Daniel Kish has been blind since he was a baby but that hasn't stopped him living an incredibly active life that includes hiking and mountain-biking. To do this, he has perfected a form of human echolocation, using reflected sound waves to build a mental picture of his surroundings.

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Siciliano.

Photography by Emily Saylor

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furbo

Italian word of the day: furbo (masc) / furba (fem)

agg. cunning, wily, crafty; shrewd, smart, clever: una mossa furba, a cunning move ♦s.m. cunning fellow, cunning old devil / un - di tre cotte, un - matricolato, an absolute rogue / fare il -, to try to be clever: stai attento a non fare troppo il - con me!, don't try to be too smart (o clever) with me! / Bravo -! Finalmente l'hai capito!, Well done Mr Clever (o what a genius)! The penny has finally dropped!.

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Classic scene of Italian grandfather looking after his grandson.

Photo by Emily Saylor

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the bike wizard

This week I went to pick up my bike from a bicletteria (bike shop) where my friend left it to be fixed. My wonderful bike I have been missing was in the care of a jolly, wrinkled, 84-year old bike repairman. Turns out that this man/legend known in Milan as the "bike wizard" started learning about fixing bikes from his dad (another legend who repaired bikes for cycling champions) when he was only 9 years old. Posters of legendary Italian cycling champions beamed off the walls, as I'm being told "and the father fixed his bike and his bike and..."

With a twinkle in his eye, the wizard reassured me that my bike was okay. He would only charge 10e because he barely did anything (he just made it work again!). Though he would have loved to continue to fix all the not-working parts, I sadly declined because I don't have a secure place to leave it at night. In a big city, a perfect bike is a theft-target. Shrewd bike-owners leave them dirty and old looking in order to reduce it's chances of being stollen. A dirty bike is better than no bike.

When the wizard found out I'm an American, he recounted that his first time meeting an American was as a teenager at the end of WWII. Just a block from where we were standing (he gestured toward the canal street), he watched the US army roll into Milan on their tanks. 

The magic of living in Italy continues. I love my life!

I rode home quickly as it was beginning to rain, trying to outpace the thickening/greying of the clouds above me. And around me was the evening rush hour traffic. I was praying the whole way that I wouldn't get hit by the bus with whom I had to weave and zig-zag, like an uncomfortable dance with a creepy stranger, thanks to the fact that the bike lane was on the right side, with all of the bus stops. But most of the streets don't even have a bike lane, so when I had to ride against traffic, I hopped onto the sidewalk. Sometimes going .5 mph behind someone's nonna (Grandma) and her shopping cart. 

My bike and I are going to have to learn these streets better.

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My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands-- For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you-- bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

King Solomon, ancient Israel

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Duke Street, Liverpool, England

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Duke Street, Liverpool, England. 

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Duke Street, Liverpool, England

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Lefthandedtoons.com

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Photography by Emily Saylor. Albert Dock. Liverpool, England.