avantiitalia.org

Participants who commit to the program must raise a minimum of $1,200.00 a month to cover their expenses. The final amount will depend on the city in which the participant lives. We encourage them to seek a monthly commitment from family, friends and churches where they are known. Before workers leave they are given two weeks of intensive training in Searcy, AR, with classes in evangelism, doctrine, atheism, Christian evidences, cults, group dynamics, and cross-cultural communication. They then go to Scandicci, a suburb of Florence, Italy and live together at the Florence Bible School. They immediately begin language study and evangelistic work, teaching English using the Bible and learning hands-on. The College church of Christ elders established a committee to direct this ministry. Current members include Dr. Evan Ulrey, Dr. Carl Mitchell, Dr. Cliff Ganus, Jr., Dr. Fred Jewell, Bob Corbin, Scott Finley, Howard Bybee, Jim Woodroof and Paul Love.

Our primary goals are simple:
1) to use our individual talents in sharing the Good News of Jesus the Christ with those who are seeking to have a more perfect relationship with Him,
2) to learn to share Christ with others more effectively, and
3) to participate in mutual encouragement and edification with the Italian churches of Christ.

Our main method of outreach is teaching private Bible lessons in the English language. In advertising, we are completely up-front about our purpose. Our team members teach an average of 10 Bible lessons a week, and we often have to place names of interested persons on a waiting list. We have developed our own curriculum, which includes basic grammar lessons, a set of "bridge" lessons that span the gap from grammar review to English conversation about the Bible, our own editions of the Shawn Daggett "English Using the Bible" books, and advanced studies in the core Gospel message. Every teacher will have his/her own method of teaching and may choose to develop his/her own curriculum.

Besides our private lessons, we organize a men and women's Bible study in English at the Bible School on Monday nights. On Thursday nights, we have a conversation class at the church building and attend another Bible study for discussions among Christians. In addition, we strive to serve the members of the churches of Christ throughout the entire country by hosting seminars with guest speakers. In August, we help with a yearly retreat sponsored by the Florence congregation. At this retreat we meet Christians from all over the country who often invite us to help with their projects.

Much of our work could be described as friendship evangelism. We make friends with people and share God's saving message with them. To get to know our students better and to help them get to know each other and the members of the Florence congregation, we often organize game nights, movie nights, book clubs, and USA cooking schools. Sometimes we help with summer camps for young people from the Italian churches. Whether we are having friends over, going to eat at someone's house, or taking an excursion together, we're never lacking opportunities to share the love of Christ with our friends.

Each team member is committed to finding ways of using his or her individual talents to contact more and more people for God's glory. For example, some have become members of the Scandicci band. As a result, several of our students have come from the band, and two have been baptized. Other A.I. members have coached boys' basketball, taught music and English in the public school system, helped with a local ambulance service, and volunteered at the local hospital. Each member tries to find his or her niche.

Most of our work is centered at the Florence Bible School inScandicci, which has a living/dining room, kitchen, large classroom, library, offices, and living quarters. We also teach some Bible lessons at the Florence church building located in Florence proper, and occasionally we travel to other cities to help out with special projects or seminars. After sufficient orientation and language study, A.I. members may be asked to work full-time with congregations outside of Florence. In such cases, the workers are closely supervised by the local church leaders and by theWoodroofs on a regular basis.

Before leaving the United States, A.I. members attend a two-week training session in Searcy, Arkansas. During this time, classes are taught by Harding Bible professors and former Italian missionaries. Their stay in Florence begins with an orientation to help the new members adjust to Italy, take care of official business and paperwork, set group goals, learn how to teach the curriculum, and learn more about their teammates. Since speaking Italian is a priority, all members attend language school for about three months. This serves as a springboard into the language and culture.

Since its beginning in 1986, scores of people have been taught the Gospel and have been baptized. Since Florence is a cosmopolitan city, we have been able to evangelize people from other countries, having taught and baptized students from Kenya, Taiwan, Nigeria, Argentina, Albania, Austria, Romania, Russia, and Korea. Although evangelism is about as challenging in Italy as it is in the U.S., we are convinced that there are many who are seeking to know God's will for their lives. Our neighbors have thanked us for "reviving" the school, and many people who have called about lessons have mentioned that they are just as interested in knowing more about the Bible as they are in improving their English. This is the work of God in the hearts of our friends and the result of much prayer.

Above all, an Avanti Italia member must love God and seek to serve Him wholeheartedly. Each member of the team must be fully committed to our primary goals: sharing the Good News of Christ with our friends, seeking to serve Italian Christians, and encouraging God's people everywhere to be rich in faith and good works. A desire to promote these principles must be the main motivating influence for anyone who wishes to join in our labor. There are many secondary motivations one may feel for wanting to work with A.I. -- love of Italy, excitement of living in a different culture, interest in meeting new people, fascination with foreign languages, love of good Italian food, thrill of travel, interest in the arts, a passion for history, etc. As long as these secondary motivations are honorable, we praise God for whatever means he uses to send workers our way. There are, of course, motivating factors that are not as noble, therefore we pray that you reflect deeply on your rationale for wanting to join Avanti Italia and prayerfully decide whether A.I. is a part of the Lord's plan for your life.

We seek missionaries who possess spiritual wisdom. The Avanti team member invariably faces every ideology from atheism to pantheism. There is no way to prepare for every question you will face, but you must be a searcher for truth who is able to handle these situations withspiritual understanding.

Many different personality types prove effective in our ministry. Whether introverted or extroverted, what matters most is that you are truly committed to our evangelistic and ministerial call, but since we live and work closely together, and since so much of our work involves meeting new people, those who are communicative -- who converse freely with their friends, family, and roommates -- tend to adapt better than others to the challenges of our everyday environment. A generally positive outlook on life is a key to effective communication of the hope that we have in Jesus.

Avanti Italia is not your normal 8-5 job! A.I. members are subject to considerable demands and sacrifices, and often work long and irregular hours. Consequently, we seek mature individuals -- those who have attained stability in their lives and who have proven themselves to be self-starters. Above all, flexibility, tolerance, and patience overflowing with a generous serving of love are the main ingredients for maintaining harmony within the group. Things such as gossip, impatience, moodiness, selfishness, procrastination, and laziness seriously impede the work of our Lord.

"Well then?" What do you think? After having said all of the above, we wish to clarify that we don't want to discourage you from aspiring to work with us; on the contrary, we pray that the Lord will send many laborers. The above guidelines were written to help you determine if the A.I. mission team is right for you. We know that you will ask the Lord to lead you to the decision that is best in light of the magnitude of our task.

The Bible School is a comfortable, three-floor building in the suburbs on the southwest side of Florence. It consists of bedrooms and bathrooms on the third floor for housing A.I. workers and guests; the director's apartment on the second floor as well as an office and library/computer room/workroom; and on the ground floor a kitchen, laundry room, living room/dining room, and a large classroom. Life here is a mix of communal and family-style living. We spend quite a bit of time together, and as mentioned earlier, for this it is imperative to have good communication skills and a lot of patience and tolerance.

Our team members have 3 weeks of vacation per year, to be taken at times approved by the director, in addition to 2 weeks for the Christmas holidays. Sometimes extra days are given to those who make a trip home in a given year. One of the best times to take vacation days is in August (except for the days around and during the August Retreat) when most Italians are on vacation. Vacation time is not cumulative from one year to the next.

In addition to housing current A.I. workers, our building can accommodate guests, who must make reservations through the Harding University International Programs office. During high tourist season (mid-April through August), one should contact Harding well in advance to request a bed. Of course, availability of beds is also dependent upon our schedule of evangelistic activities.

The suggested minimum support needed for Avanti Italia is $1,200/month. While this amount is sufficient for living at the Bible School, those who work in other cities may need additional support, depending on the cost of living in that area. The A.I. committee requests that prospective team members not seek pledges for more than this amount without consulting first with the committee. An exception is made when extra is needed to cover a student loan payment.
Some costs to consider:
$800----Monthly room and board contribution to the College Church of Christ, while living at the Florence Bible School
One-time expenses (approximate):
• $2,500 for language school and related expenses (books, bus pass, etc.)
• $500-$1,500 for airfare
• $500 for health insurance for two years
• $100 for the Permesso di Soggiorno
• $75 for cell phone start-up

You are required by Italian law to have healthinsurance while you sojourn in Italy. You can apply for and receive Italian insurance at very little cost. If you buy Italian insurance, you are covered in Italy and anywhere in Europe, but if you return to the States for a visit, you will not be covered there by Italian insurance.

If you are an American citizen, you are required to pay U.S. income taxes unless you are a bona fide resident of a foreign country or you meet the conditions of the "physical presence test." The latter requires that you be physically present in a foreign country 330 full days during a period of 12 consecutive months beginning on the date of your arrival on foreign soil. Due to complications involved in seeking residence status, we encourage our workers to seek exemption based upon the physical presence test.

Here's a plausible scenario based upon physical presence: You arrive in Italy in September 2002, and the first 4 months of your two-year stay fall at the end of the tax year. Using form 2350, you request an extension through the end of September (you are allowed an additional month after the 12-month period) 2003 for filing your 2002 taxes. This allows you to finish a 12-month period in Italy, thus you do not owe income tax on the 4 months spent abroad in 2002. The complete tax year in the middle of your two-year sojourn is exempt because you are physically present in Italy for 330 days of that year. (You must, of course, not spend more than 35 days in the United States during any 12-month period.) You return to the United States in July of 2004, and the income you earned while living abroad during that year is exempt from income tax since you meet the physical presence test for the 12 months leading up to your return and ending on the date of your arrival in the U.S. Your affidavit stating that you were residing abroad (accompanies your 1040) is reported on form 2555.

Most American ministers and missionaries are required to pay Social Security self-employment tax regardless of whether or not they are paying U.S. income tax. Some ministers and "ordaining" churches have a conscientious objection to paying social security tax due to religious convictions (in such cases an application for special exemption is submitted on form 4361). Thankfully, the matter has been investigated by the Avanti Italia overseeing committee in Searcy, and based upon the same exemptive regulations in the Social Security code cited by the Mormons, it has been determined that it should not be necessary for our workers to pay this hefty 15.3% tax (which would be around $110 per month for A.I. workers). Part of the reason behind this decision is that, technically speaking, it can be sustained that you do not really have an income for the next two years. You are merely volunteering your time to your sponsoring congregation who provides you with what you need. If you choose not to begin paying Social Security, you may want to use the following statement:

“Dear Sir,

I include this letter to explain that I am on a two year subsistence income mission for the Church of Christ and for that reason am not obligated to pay Social Security for this period. This is based on articles Reg. 31.3121 (a-1)h and 31.3121 (a-3) that are also understood by other religious groups such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as exemption under such circumstances.

Sincerely”

Of course, if you prefer to begin making Social Security payments, you should do as you wish. If you choose to begin making payments, check with the Avanti director about how to make the "Estimated Tax" payments.

By the way, filers living abroad have a 2-month extension on the April 15 filing deadline, but interest on anything you owe will accrue daily during the extension period. If you decide not to pay Self Employment tax, you will need to indicate that on your 1040 (long form is required) with the section of the tax code upon which you are basing your exemption. Some of your sponsoring congregations will probably issue you a W-2 or a 1099 form at the end of the year declaring how much was paid into your personal account. Make sure that this amount does not include money that was sent to the College Church.

SIMPLIFICATION
It took a great deal of research to get this information but we advise you to check with your own tax advisor for current information regarding income taxes and Social Security taxes you might be required to pay.

Before anything else, pray, then seek advice from as many people as possible. Former missionaries are generally helpful. Meanwhile, begin looking for an overseeing or "sponsoring" congregation (see the "Sponsors" section). This could be the congregation you grew up in, or it could be another with whom you have spent a significant period of time. If you are unable to find a sponsoring congregation, the College church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, will take the role of receiving funds for you. When you have found an overseeing church, begin coordinating your efforts with them. Raising funds is an activity that has the potential of discouraging even the most qualified servant, but if the Lord wants you to go to Italy, he will help you find the way.

Prepare an attractive folder including a cover letter which makes your request personal, a description of the program, a letter of recommendation from the A.I. committee and other letters of recommendation, an explanation of your financial need, and necessary addresses and phone numbers. Try to find a balance between presenting too much and too little information. After your originals are ready, make plenty of copies for your prospective supporters.

Next, create a list of all family members, relatives, friends, and churches who might consider supporting you, and give each one of them a copy of your folder. Make sure that you mention when you will be getting back in touch with them.

Send one to everyone on your list, for there is no way of predicting who might help you. It often happens that those you felt sure would help will not be able to, while many you thought were too committed already may respond positively. There are many good people who will be very excited to join you in this endeavor.

When contacting churches, you should request permission to make a presentation either to the congregation, to the elders, or to the missions committee. If you know someone in the congregation, it is usually more effective to have them deliver your materials to those concerned and request a meeting on your behalf. Plan to spend a lot of time on the phone. After making initial contact, don't let much time lapse before you call back, and always make appointments for personal visits when possible.

When making a presentation, whether by letter or in person, be sure to stress the positive aspects of involvement in your mission to Florence. It is helpful to point out that while all of us share the responsibility of taking the Gospel to all the world, most people feel they are unable to leave their homeland and take the Gospel to Italy or to any other country; however, we all have an obligation to "preach the Good News to every nation."

Demonstrate how God has prepared you for this mission, and how you would like to join into a PARTNERSHIP with them to take the message of grace to Italy in the same manner that the Philippians supplied for Paul's needs on his second missionary journey (Phil. 4:10-20). In this way, together, you fulfill the Great Commission.

You will also need to explain your financial need and ask for a specific amount of monthly support. We have learned that it is always correct to keep your presentations brief and to the point. When making an oral appeal, you should confine your remarks to no more than 7 minutes if possible. When answering questions, respond directly with concise answers. If they want more information, they will ask for it.

We want to emphasize again the need to follow up on your contacts with phone calls and letters. It is also wise to send out progress letters and remind them of your need. Keep looking for new contacts and pray, pray, pray. Contact David, Debbie, and the team in Florence by e-mail, phone, or letter. They, too, will pray for you and try to keep you encouraged. Talk with others who are raising support or have done so in the past to get ideas and encouragement. Keep an optimistic attitude. God's work is worth the effort.

Your State-side Coordinator

A faithful coordinator is a lifesaver! If the elders of that congregation agree, we strongly suggest that you find a very dependable member who is willing to serve as your coordinator. This person, perhaps working with a church secretary, should be responsible for collecting, recording and transferring funds, and should communicate all necessary financial information to you regularly as well as oversee the distribution of your newsletter. We suggest that you create an outline describing your entire support system in detail (handling funds, sending out newsletters, etc.) and give copies to the main people it concerns. The better they know you, the easier it will be for them to encourage you while you are in Italy, and the greater their motivation will be to keep their commitments to you.

Some workers of the past have had to deal with negative situations due to the negligence of some members of their sponsoring congregations. For example, if a coordinator does not communicate to a worker that some of the monthly support did not come in, the worker runs the risk of a bounced check. This tends to be a bigger problem in Italy than in the U.S. and also reflects badly on the Bible School. Do your best to find a trustworthy coordinator.

Your coordinator should have the names and addresses of all of your supporters. You may also want to make a chart so the coordinator can check off the funds as they are received monthly. You must tell your supporters the date they are supposed to begin sending their checks made payable to your sponsoring congregation. Even though a sponsoring congregation may have its own way of collecting and distributing funds, many churches have chosen to proceed in the following manner:

1. Your monthly contributions are received by your sponsoring congregation.

2. A designated person records and deposits checks into a special "holding" account that they have set up for your funds (or in some cases the general church account).

3. The designated person is also responsible for writing a $600 check each month from your fund to the College church for your room and board. For tax purposes, be sure that the room and board money is not deposited into your personal account so that there is a clear separation between your personal income and your room and board money.

4. The remaining amount of your monthly allotment should be deposited into your personal checking account (you might want to set up a separate personal Avanti account) on the date that you have agreed upon with your sponsoring congregation. It may be convenient for you to have your personal checking account at the same bank that services the church's accounts. It is imperative that the person making the deposit informs you immediately if the amount deposited is different from the monthly amount you agreed upon.

5. The most convenient way to receive your funds is with an ATM card. They are easy to use in Italy and always give you a good exchange rate.

6. If necessary, your coordinator, a family member, or some trusted individual may also need a supply of checks from your personal account to pay any recurring State-side bills.

7. Your coordinator should inform you of any unexpected contributions so that you can send a special thank-you note.

8. Your coordinator should kindly and promptly get in touch with any of your supporters who, for whatever reason, fail to follow through with their commitment.

Some sponsoring congregations consider it wise to open the "holding" account with a generous amount of "floater" money from their own funds. If they are willing to do so, this is an excellent buffer for you in the event that some of the monthly support checks from your contributors are received late. In this manner they are still able to deposit the normal amount into your personal checking account on the established date despite the fact that some funds might arrive late. For the same reasons, other sponsoring congregations might suggest that you request 25 months of support instead of 24 and have your supporters begin sending their checks one month before you leave the U.S. This is also advantageous for when you are reestablishing yourself at home after your two-year sojourn in Italy. You may also want to investigate whether your bank will contact your representative in the event of an overdraft. The penalty for a bounced check is considerably more expensive in Italy than in the United States.

The most convenient way for you to communicate with your coordinator is by e-mail, phone, or Skype. You should plan on sending a newsletter home by e-mail. You must plan to send a report of your activities to all your partners at least once a month. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own laptop.

The passport should be in your possession at least 3 months before your departure date. An application can usually be obtained from the city hall or post office in your respective county seat. When you submit the application, you will need several passport photos which can be made by a photographer, at FedEx Office copy centers, and at many other locations. You will also need a birthcertificate with a raised seal and about $100. Allow at least 4-6 weeks to receive your passport.

While you are working on your passport, you should also request information and an application for a student visa from your regional Italian consulate. You must apply to the consulate in the region where you are residing (see list below). The Italian consulate will probably want the following documents, etc.:

1. a completed application that can be obtained online. Download a Schengen student visa application.
2. a passport
3. four passport-sized photos
4. proof of support letter (request three notarized originals of this letter of financial security since you will need them in Italy; see example below)
5. proof of health insurance
6. copy of document in which the Italian government recognizes the Florence Bible School (obtainable through Howard Bybee)
7. copy of your official letter of acceptance from La Scuola Biblica
8. copy of your airline ticket/itinerary
9. It is a good idea to also have on hand your birth certificate, college transcript, etc.
10. driver’s license

For the ME, MA, NH, RI, VT area: Italian Consulate General Boston, MA 02116 100 Boylston St. Ste. 900 Tel. (617) 542-0483

For the CO, IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI, WY area: Italian Consulate General Chicago, IL 60611 500 N. Michigan Ave. Ste. 1850 Tel. (312) 467-1550

For the IN, MI, OH, KY, TN area: Italian Consulate Detroit, MI 48226 535 Griswold Tel. (313) 963-8560 1840 Buhl Bldg.

For the OK, TX, AR, LA area: Italian Consulate General Houston, TX 77056 1300 Post Oak Blvd. Ste. 660 Tel. (713) 850-7520

For the AZ, southern CA, NM, NV area: Italian Consulate General Los Angeles, CA 90025 12400 WilshireBlvd. Ste. 300 Tel. (310) 820-0622

For the FL, GA, SC, AL, MS area and various islands: Italian Consulate General Miami, FL 33131 1200 Brickell Ave., 7th Floor Tel. (305) 374-6322

For the CT, NJ, NY area: Italian Consulate General New York, NY 10021 6900 Park Ave. Tel. (212) 737-9100

Responsible for several counties in NJ: Italian Consulate Newark, NJ 07102 744 Broad St. Ste. 2800 Tel. (201) 643-1448 Italian Consulate General Philadelphia, PA 19106 1026 Public Ledger Bldg. Tel. (215) 592-7329 100 S. 6th St.

Responsible for the DE, MD, PA, NC, VA, WV area and several counties in NJ: Italian Honorary Consulate Baltimore, MD 21201 5 Light St. Ste. 600 Tel. (410) 727-6550

For the AK, northern CA, ID, MT, NV, OR UT, WA area and the American Samoan Islands: Italian Consulate General San Francisco, CA 94115 2590 Webster St. Tel. (415) 931-4924

For the District of Columbia and two adjacent counties: Italian Embassy - Consular Office Washington D.C. 20009 1601 Fuller St. NW Tel. (202) 328-5553

LETTER OF FINANCIAL SECURITY
[Church letterhead]
[Date]
[Address of Consulate]

To the Italian Consul,

This letter is to advise you that [name] is an American citizen and that we are sending him/her to Florence, Italy as a student apprentice for two years. He/she will have our complete financial support including room and board for a period of two years beginning [date] and ending [date], after which he/she will return to the United States. We will provide for every eventual need, financial or otherwise, including the cost of repatriation, and we guarantee that [name] will work exclusively as our missionary and will not seek any gainful employment while under our sponsorship.

Faithfully yours,

[Signed by your sponsoring church's elders]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

Subscribed and sworn to or affirmed before me, a notary
public in and for the county of ______________________, in
the state of _____________________, United States of America,
on this the _______ day of ______________ , 20____.

Signed _________________________________Notary Public

My commission expires: _______________

We suggest that you bring a valid driver's license with you since it is sometimes useful as additional identification. There are times when a driver is needed. If you would be willing to serve in this capacity, you should either obtain an international driver's license from AAA or get a declaration from the Italian Automobile Club after you arrive in Florence stating that your license is valid. The cost is about the same for both, but the Italian declaration is valid until the expiration date on your license, whereas the international driver's license must be renewed yearly.

As with any major move, "What do I bring?" is always the big question. You can find almost everything here in Florence, but things are often more expensive than in the United States. Since packing for your Italian sojourn can be a bewildering task, we have included the following suggestions to help you to know how to fill your suitcases.
Keep in mind that it is often cheaper to pay for an extra bag on the airplane than to ship things air mail.
If you can't bring everything with you when you come, there are several ways of mailing your things with the United States Postal Service (USPS), UPS, or Federal Express. Sending things USPS or by any private courier can be costly.

Passport, proof of support letter (at least two), and any other documents you think might be needed - originals (if at all possible)

Copies of : your birth certificate, diploma(s), marriage certificate (if applicable), passport, visa, social security card, proof of support letter (at least 5 copies), and all other documents that were needed for your visa

laptop - The school computer is a PC if you are concerned about compatibility.

books - inspirational, travel, etc.

photos - family, friends, home town, state, etc. Students enjoy seeing "America."

anti-perspirant - not easy to find in Florence, but deodorant is readily available, as are other personal hygiene items

medicines - for pain relief or stomach upset, allergies, vitamins (if you use them), and any personal prescriptions - A prescription from an Italian doctor is required to buy antihistamines in Italy.

materials for teaching -  children’s materials, English grammar, comic books, Children's Beginner Bible, NRSV Bible, etc.

Even though the outdoor winter temperatures are not too extreme, the Bible School is cold in the winter due to the high cost of heating oil. You will want to be prepared for only about 12 hours of heat per day. We pile on the layers in the winter. In the summer, it can be very hot and humid outside. The marble floors and thick walls help to keep the building cool, but the lack of air conditioning is sometimes a drag.
Below are some general guidelines for appropriate dress:

Basics
sandals
comfortable walking shoes
house shoes
robe
socks
jeans
casual shirts
a few dress items
other basic necessities
tennis shoes

Winter
long johns
sweatshirts
sweaters
rain resistant shoes
T-shirts (undershirt type)
coat
gloves and scarf
hat

Summer
cool clothing
shorts
skirts

Just a few words about cultural adaptation: AnAvanti Italia member must be willing to relearn ways of doing things he/she has been taught from birth. For example, Italians, in general, tend to be event-oriented; therefore, Italian life necessitates a great deal of patience for time-oriented Americans. The diversity affects everyone, but it has at times been overwhelming to some. When in a new country, it is natural to make hasty and ethnocentric judgments; however, a mature person recognizes and fights this tendency. You will hear much more about this during the orientations, but in the meantime, we suggest that you read the following or find other such publications: The Ugly American, Culture Shock – Italy, Italy Today (by Mario B. Mignone).

Language learning is a never-ending process and will be very discouraging at times for most people, but we have seen that all of our members, when perseverant, have achieved a very high proficiency level. Anyinvestment in learning the language, such as Italian classes, Rosetta Stone, etc., while in the United States will be a great benefit to you and your work in Italy. The more you study before you come, the faster you will be able to communicate. The Woodroofs and the other A.I. team members will help you through the process, but expect it to be tough. As a wise man once said, learning a language is like climbing a mountain; there are many peaks and valleys before arriving at the summit. (and yes, Gary, that man is you.)

We want to emphasize that the more self-study or course work you do before you come, the better. In preparing for your evangelistic work with the A.I. Team, we recommend the following goals:

1) Pray diligently that God would use you to further His kingdom.
2) Read several books on the topics of personal and world evangelism, world religions (especially Catholicism), philosophy, Christian evidences, time management, etc.

We especially recommend:
Once A Catholic, by Tony Coffey, Harvest House Publishers
Ordering Your Private World, by George MacDonald

3) Be active in evangelism with your home or university congregation. Make contact with missionaries on the field, especially those already working with A.I. Ask about experiences, feelings, reactions, advice, etc.