Oikeo Music Inc

Italian for Conversation

2009-06-05T12:46:00.001-07:00

Hello Interested Student!

10 WEEKS of FUN

This fun style of teaching conversational Italian to beginners has become popular among students at Oikeo Music, Inc. This program introduces geography, cultural aspects of Italy, and the basics of spoken Italian for the travelor or mission minded person.

10 weeks of classes....affordable, relaxed environment with friendly likeminded people who are interested in Italian culture. $100 per student

Get a taste of Italian foods too! Our last session will include a 3 hr dinner of authentic italian cuisine.

Pre-registration is required, payment made at first session. Mid Town location at First American Baptist Church on the corner of LaTouche and Northern Lights. Classes are limited to 16 persons each, first come first served! Class will not start with less than 6 students. Ask for details. info@oikeomusic.com

There's A Fire Burning

2009-05-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

I have the most wonderful fire burning inside my heart. It's the hearth of my purpose. I am a prisoner of my calling and I LOVE it. I love that the mystery, knowledge and understanding of God are coming into their fullness. I love that God chooses to reveal it to us through the Holy Spirit.
The Italians are fellow heirs, of the same body and promise of the gospel. God is effectively working his power revealing his incredible riches to all of us. Here is the mystery we fellowship under, God's intent. His intent is that we, together, through his wisdom, would hold back the forces of darkness in the heavenly places. Global renewal is arising. What a privilege that our Italian churches would join with us to make known the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. We all bow our knee in worship to the only God and Savior boldly coming to him on behalf of Italy. Together holding hands we are rooted and grounded in love, daily making Christ the dwelling place.
He is able to do more than we can imagine. May his glory arise in us, in Italy, and the world.

My personal mission....Melissa Saulnier

Friendships Forever

2009-05-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

When you think of missions, do you think of making lifetime friendships? Well, I am learning that is what it takes to be a missionary. You can't just go on a mission trip for a week, do your thing and return with no thought of what comes next. There is a next. The connections that are made on a trip like the Italy 2009 trip are connections that are meant to prosper the kingdom of God. There is a serious unction that goes along with it. Last year when I went to Italy I knew I would be back regardless of those around me. I didn't go planning to be a tourist. I went to connect with the Italian Christian community and my intention is growing stronger as I write these words. God wants Oikeo Music, Inc to minister in Italy. I intend to go back in January to solidify further the connections we made. I hope to take Cate and a couple of our guild members to do a conference in Naples with the Bible Fellowship church there. You can see the video with Tim Falkner and Titti at our www.youtube.com/oikeomusic site.

This year we will be learning Italian at our music and worship school on a weekly basis for those who may wish to go on these missions with us. The Italian Christian community is rising up and going to another level in their unifying of the saints. We intend to facilitate this process any way possible. I want you to know that God HAS indeed given Oikeo Music, Inc. a mission and a plan. I am fully confident in sharing that with anyone. If you want more information about how you can connect with Oikeo Music, Inc. just write us at info@oikeomusic.com and we will be so happy to talk to you, and meet with you concerning our purpose and the move of God on Italy. Keep us in your prayers as we faithfully follow the will of God in our mission and vision.

Italy Journal Roma/Napoli

2009-05-07T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks

This is Keith form Oikeo, blogging for Melissa at the moment. Don't worry, we haven't lost her along the way. She just had to run upstairs and so asked me jot down some notes about our arrival in Rome (Roma in Italian). After what was quite the extended (though smooth) series of flights we arrived in Roma tired but excited. We jumped on the train headed to the Termini station in the heart of Roma. All travel through Roma seems to pass through Termini. We struggled through the train station unprepared for the first bout of excitement that lay before us. It was an encounter with one of the many former F1 racecar drivers also known as Roman Taxi Drivers.

Our previous excitement was momentarily replaced by moments of awe at the beauty of Roma and Terror at the streets of Roma. In NASCAR racing it is very exciting to see cars go "three wide". Three wide? In Roma that would be considered a quiet drive in the country. Try 6 wide on a road built for 3. Or try a scooter that is 20 inches wide fitting through a space that is only 12 inches wide (saw it, and still don't believe my eyes). Or try street signs and stop lights that seem to exist only in theory (as in 'Yes that's a good idea, but you don't really think I'm going to do it, do you?'). And as you consider all these things also imagine that they are happening at about 1000 miles an hour. Ok. Ok. So I'm exaggerating. It probably was more like 983 miles an hour, but that's still pretty fast. I believe the fact that drivers in Roma safely reach their destinations on a regular basis is tangible evidence to the existance of a loving God and further proof of his love for the people of Roma.

Hi, it's Melissa....I'm back! Really Keith is not exaggerating! I remember telling someone that I would never rent my own car here, and it's still true! We are having such a great trip. The host churches are so gracious. Also, all the the leaders that have come on this mission trip are submissive to each other. We have a very unique dynamic in our group. Everyone has something to bring to the table. I am amazed how God brought this specific group of servants together.

Cate and Keith have been able to participate in the concerts and conferences with their gifting and that has been such a blessing to see. We had two concerts at the Tent Camp and they sang at both of them. When they performed in the Piazza square in Roma, Cate was asked to give her testimony before singing a song she wrote. I was watching the crowd and they were really paying close attention to her share her story of redemption. I could see that it touched their heart. Afterwards many people approached her to share their thanks.

We stayed in a large church in Roma. That saved us all in our finances. We are so grateful for that. The church we stayed at had initially built their building to house older people who do not have family to rely on. However, they have been unable to work through the permit issues and have this amazing building with many rooms, therefore, they have been using the rooms to house missionaries that come through Roma. It was a huge blessing.

We are now in Napoli and staying in a wonderful little hotel that we were in last year. The family that owns this hotel , though not Christian, they seem to have a great respect for Douglas the pastor here in Napoli. He's one tough guy. (In a good way) Douglas is extremely passionate for the lost here. Napoli is more like a ghetto type city. Because of this the people are more needy and more receptive to hear the gospel. Douglas likes to put on festivals every year where they bring in rock music, clowns, face painting, etc. We might think it's no big deal because we've seen it all, but here....it works! The doors open up for Douglas to share his love and concern for the Italian community and they respond. Last Sunday 30 people came forward to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Manuel will be interviewing Douglas about the mninistry here and the needs they have. Cate will interview Douglas wife and a young lady who recently went to L'Aquila to help the earthquake victims. Hopefully, we will have pictures and video to show you very soon. Please pray for this last leg of the trip as we share the love of Christ not only with the lost, but with our brothers and sisters to encourage and strengthen them.

Italian Food

2009-04-26T14:55:00.001-07:00

Last year we ate in some interesting restaurants. Mostly salads or antipasta. We found the pizza in Rome to be very unique, sparce cheeses and fresh tomato with herbs on flat, hard, breads. I liked it however, if you have teeth problems it isn't the soft doughy pizza we are used to in America. We had a more Americanized version of pizza in Naples. Lot's of cheese and red sauce. It was great.

This year we ate at homes opened to us through the churches we were staying at. The food was fresh and fantastic. I was especially taken by the fennel served in a small dish with a little chilled water in the bottom. The fennel was fresh, crunchy, and sweet. Above you see a picture I took in Siena. We had one dy to explore so Cate, Keith Manuel and me went to Siena. I will never regret that! What a wonderful day. I walked until blister formed on my feet. It didn't matter. The beauty is astounding. The old mixed with the youth and freshness is something to behold. We stopped to eat at an outdoor trattitoria before leaving. I had sweet pears and honey with mild goat chees. All I can say is WOW that was good.