Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done [it] unto me.
 

After a 20+ hour flight (which included a 5 hour wait in Brussels due to an air traffic control strike in Italy...) I at last arrived in Rome, meeting my dear friend and "father" Riccardo.  Emailing for three years and one short visit brought about the thought that maybe I could go to Italy for not only a vacation, but a trip that would be one of the most fascinating events of my life.  How true this thought was.  Not only did I get to spend time with my friend, but I have learned to further appreciate, and love, everything from the beautiful landscapes of the earth, to just how much trouble people go to do things for me.

R' arranged just about everything (except for the flight itself) to spend an entire month to experience Italy.  There I saw some of the most beautiful places and scenery that God could have ever made with His bare hands.  And I'm so glad He took the time to do a good job.  Everywhere I travelled, I was constantly reminded by the landscapes, sunflowers, mountains, lakes, etc. etc. that God truly loved us, and wanted to bless us all tremendously, just as He did with this country.  Italy has everything it could ever want or need.

The people I stayed with and visited with were equally loving.  I could not help myself but to call them my own family.  R's entire family and all of his friends all treated me with respect and kindness.  Yet they did not really know who I was.  And even though we had written for 3 years, Riccardo really didn't know me all that well either...  But yet they all gave, and equally.  Uncle Steve pulled off some amazing surprises, R's aunt and uncle always had the best food on the table at dinner that I've ever eaten, his cousin and wife created the most beautiful musical piece of work that I could ever hear.  Even their son trusted me enough to let me give him a piggy-back ride all over the town one night.  As for Riccardo, he gave, gave, gave, just as if I was his own son.  Time, money, energy, and a lot of patience were all invested into me.  The love from these people will never be forgotten.  The trip to Italy was dearly fascinating.  Sure I will remember the Vatican, Venice, Rimini, Rome, and other places.  But why I will always remember them will simply be because these people loved me as a friend, cousin, nephew, and a son.  These are some of the most wonderful and loving people that I have ever met in the entire world (even if I haven't seen much of it yet...)  My future has become more hopeful, more satisfying, and happy.  I look forward to going back as soon as I can, not to see things that I have missed, but to see my family that I miss so much over in Italy.  If all of the world had a family like the Guarino's, and friends just as pleasant associated with this family, the world would be love and happiness, and nothing else.  I value every minute each member spent with me, and I will make sure that I pass this to my own children one day.  I may never be able to repay these people in my entire life.  But I hope to help Mauro set up an exciting vacation in the States, to have Joseppe' and his wife play here at my college and to visit Mac. Island, to send Eva and her husband pictures of my first-born child, and to see Riccardo, Peter, and Sergio find their faith in God...  It is a tremendous hope, but even miracles happen sometimes...  After all, I never imagined to go to Italy.

God, please bless these people on this page for their kindness.  May their days be full of joy and happiness, and may their gifts and time with me be a constant memory that anything is possible with you, as long as we believe in you.

Go back to italia.htm