This week our Shevet community was enriched by the visit of Giovanni and Simone, father and son from Italy. Giovanni came for a medical consultation at a private clinic in Tel Aviv. For most of us our communication was limited due to language barriers. However, it didn’t take much time to feel that we had known each other for a much longer time. At Shevet Achim we have experienced this many times before with our Kurdish friends, and it still amazes me. Our Italian co-worker Sonia (above right) was a huge source of encouragement and great help to Giovanni and Simone, as they did some sightseeing during their first days.
The day before their departure we went to Tel Aviv for the consultation. The professor told them that there is only a slight chance that Giovanni could be helped, and if so it would be really expensive. Both father and son agreed afterwards that the outcome of the appointment was not worth the exhausting travel and high expenses. Nevertheless, because they got to know our community, they did not regret having come all the way to Israel.
Before they left for the airport the following day, we entrusted them into God’s arms “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). Giovanni and Simone have left their imprints in our hearts and we are very thankful for the time we had together.