News from Italy

FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS FROM ANDREW AND PATRIZIA

Dear fellow believers who meet at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,
Greetings from Fondi. This last month has been rather busy and also quite stressful at times.
It has been characterized by being “birthday month” in our family as well as being quite stressful, as Manoj was taken to hospital on the 9th of February to remove a tumour in his head and was operated on twice, on the 10th to remove the tumour and on the 12th again to install a surgical drain. He was fine after the first operation, but really tired and with various side effects that lasted days after his second operation.
Before I continue talking about Manoj, let's talk about what took place before the 9th when Lorenzo (his medical doctor) and Bianca took him to be admitted to the Neuromed clinic.
At the beginning of the month, I was up in Milan preaching and reaching some Bangladeshis with the Gospel.
After my return from Milan, I managed to go to Sperlonga on the 7th and take some evangelistic booklets to Sperlonga Alta (the historical part of Sperlonga up above the sea). I walked lots that day and discovered a wonderful, decent-priced pizzeria to take Patrizia to the next day for a quick birthday lunch before our Sunday afternoon worship service (photo on the next page, whilst we have the seafood entrées on our plates and await the arrival or our pizzas).
The following week after Patrizia's birthday was busy with Manoj going to the hospital and preparing for Marco's birthday celebration at my in-laws' place, as well as our usual activities, such as preparing for and teaching my online history lessons, as well as Patrizia's activities with the Indian women. Miriam, Marco's girlfriend, arrived on Valentine's Day, and the 15th (Marco's birthday proper), we went to Patrizia's parents' place.
I know for sure that we have been to Molise to visit Manoj a couple of times this month, as well as visiting him in his home after his discharge, I just can't remember the exact dates of when it took place. What I do know for sure is that tomorrow, Tuesday, the 3rd of March, my little brother's birthday, is, Lord willing, going to be a long day as Manoj is due to have his stitches taken out (he was discharged last Monday) and also due to have a visit with an oncologist. It would seem that we will have another complicated month ahead of us. Please pray that it might be possible to organise to have future oncological visits and oncological treatment (probably radiotherapy to try to prevent the tumour from returning) in the province of Latina. The Neuromed centre in the province of Isernia in Molise was excellent, but it is just too taxing time-wise and financially (as well as tiring) to have to take him several times a week for a month or more of regular post-operation treatment (to try to impede the return of his tumour). Please pray for the bureaucracy involved in transferring from one hospital to another (in another region!).
Manoj is also eager to resume the conversion of his residence permit from “special protection” (a type of asylum) to a regular work permit, allowing him to travel to India in June to visit his family. So much on and so complicated to help him with all these matters, considering that most men in the church have a job to be at in the mornings when he is to be taken for regular treatments in the near future.  Please pray for this whole situation.
Last week, on the 24th, our oldest son, Alan, turned 20 years old, and we celebrated his birthday during our home group meeting. Lorenzo, the young man from Capratica, was also present at the Home Group meeting. The topic was Luke 19:1-10! Please pray for him, he often comes to our home because he is lonely and because Alan helps him prepare for his school tests in view of his University Entrance Diploma exams, which are due to take place in a few months. Thanks for your prayers for him; he needs Jesus.

This month, we have also been working on obtaining a summer job for Marco (he has many financial requests, including funds for his trips to go and see his girlfriend in Northern Italy), so it is high time that he works during the holidays to pay his way for these extra expenses. It would seem that he has found a seasonal job in Sperlonga, which is to begin on weekends at Easter time and become full-time on the 1st of June. We, as parents, are paying for his driving school. He has just enrolled, and it will cost approximately 1200 euros! for him to be able to obtain his driving license (car license). It was approximately 1000 euros when Alan obtained his own driving license – Marco will be on a restricted license for 3 years (new law), whilst Alan's restrictions lasted just 1 year.

Last but not least, on Saturday, in the midst of many thoughts relating to Manoj's immediate future (and his needs), I was able to go with Mario to Sperlonga, and whilst there we went to Sperlonga Alta and were able to give out many tracts. In “Sperlonga bassa” (at sea level), I was able to finally meet Nella, a retired lady who used to be his client over 20 years ago when Mario and Tina used to sell clothes and other products in markets in various parts of the province of Latina. It was good that Nella had finally reached the Gospel. Mario also spoke to some JWs today and explained our Evangelical perspective on the end times.
On Saturday afternoon, Patrizia and I were able to go out on our bicycles to an adjacent pleasant rural area give out my last Frammenti di Luce calendar to Paolo, nephew of an ex-classmate of mine. I remember him when he was a child in the 80s. Now he is a builder.
We wonder if this will be the last year we get to give out the FRAMMENTI DI LUCE calendars. We received them for free from Kurt Jost, a dear Swiss missionary in Northern Italy, and reached significant parts of Seggiano and Sperlonga with them. Unfortunately, Kurt now has cancer. Please pray for him. Please pray also for Frank King III, a US missionary and founding pastor of a church in Northern Italy, a Bible Church where I preached in September 2024. He also has cancer. Please pray for him!
 
Please do keep Sperlonga (photo of Mario talking to the retired lady in Sperlonga on the next page) and Manoj in your prayers, and also our two boys' future and safety in your prayers.

Thanks for your regular prayers and financial support.
Yours in Christ,
Andrew and Patrizia Diprose with Alan and Marco