May 2025 Newsletter
Greetings from Sicily, where it’s sunny and hot today. For the past few weeks, we still needed to have the heat on. As you might know, Giuseppe and Pennie left in a hurry from Virginia Beach while visiting their daughter and family for a couple of birthdays. Changing tickets can be stressful — especially changing the flight back to Sicily.
Gandolfo, Giuseppe’s brother, fell and ended up in two hospitals in Sicily. He was in an induced coma that lasted 15 days or so. Lots of you prayed from north and south, east and west. Thank you so much. People in Italy and outside Italy prayed too. At the end, his heart gave out and no more could be done for him. Thankfully, Giuseppe made it in time to see him and speak of the gospel, not knowing if he could hear anything. A doctor heard the gospel, and Rosario, Giuseppe’s nephew, heard it too.
Your prayers sustained all of us. The Lord allowed Giuseppe to present the gospel to an almost full Catholic Church in Castelbuono. God is good. For Giuseppe, it was hard to see him leave this Earth not knowing if he was saved. Gandolfo had multiple opportunities in life to decide for his heart and soul. God grants us to hear His voice in many ways, but there is Only One Way to Him, John14:6, Jesus. God is good even in these circumstances. Evan, one of the Collesano grandchildren, has been praying so that the rest of the family of Gandolfo might find Jesus. He is only four years old. What a joy to see that even a four-year-old can understand the need for a Savior. God is good.
What a blessing to go to church and meet someone that you haven’t seen in more than 12 years. The Gross family was visiting Sicily and attended church on Sunday, April 13. What a joy to see them and to house them for a few days.
As you can see time goes by, the love of God remains. Well, God was not done yet. On that Sunday, the young man who was preaching was none other than Joshua A with his family here in Sicily. He is a graduate of Moody Bible and one of the single sailors that was part of the group that Giuseppe was teaching the Bible to. God is good. During their stay, we ended up helping another brother in the Lord by taking down a roof in a yard to be rebuilt. A little exercise does good too.
Your prayers go a long way to bless and encourage. Do pray for the little church in Scordia. Giuseppe has been a guest speaker there for the past five years while in Sicily. The enemy of our souls never stops in trying to destroy us and slow down what God desires to do with us in serving. Your prayers are needed more than ever.
Pretty soon, Giuseppe will travel north to serve in a few churches that have requested him to come and teach on evangelism, preaching and teaching. From May 12 through May 28 or even longer, he will be in three different regions of north Italy. To serve is a privilege and to know that you are praying and interceding for us means the world to us because we desire to Change the world for the Kingdom.
As you pray, please add to your list Edwin, our treasurer, as he is fighting cancer and other ailments. Thank you.
Thank you again for your love and support.
As always: Let’s go fishing (really) for one more for the One.
Serving together our Lord,
Giuseppe and Pennie Collesano
God bless you.
Ciao for now.