Prayer Journey Across the Gothic Line: Day 1

In Sept 2008 the Lord revealed to us a particular mandate which was to pray along the Gothic Line ( Green Line).  Stretching like an armor-toothed belt across Italy's upper thigh, the Gothic Line was the most fortified position the German army had yet thrown into the Allied forces' path.

In 2009 before leaving for a break to California we Prayed at the coasts (Viareggio and Fano, where the first attack was launched) which encompasses the Gothic Line.  As we have been praying for the past several months about this walk and exactly what to do because it is an enormous undertaking, we began to get a sense that He wanted us to go to every important strategic place that was marked on the map but not to stray further than 10 km. from the actual trench lines.  This we felt was where they made their vow to resist the allies and retain control of the Mediterranean.  We were to now make a covenant with God upon those areas by taking Communion and praying, basically liberating them spiritually.  Yeah on a flat map who would have know that those would be some of the highest mountain ranges in Italy. 

May 1st 2013 We set off for the prayer journey which will take us across Italy from coast to coast.

Day one:  We started back in Viareggio (at the Monument of the Fallen Soldiers) to start the linkof the Gothic Line.  After we drove the stake in, Diogo let out a loud yell 'Liberta".

 From there to  Stiava, which is also right on the Gothic Line, a Monument in the Town Centre was dedicated to Beppino Cosci (antifascista/Anti Fascist) and the inscription read "Coraggioso Esempio di Lliberta (courageous example of freedom).  This was very encouraging knowing that our steps where guided by Heaven because that morning while in prayer the Lord had given me the word courage.

The next stop was Mount Prana. First we needed to get to  a town called Metata and from there hike 3 hours to the peak, Metata is at 408m (app 1224 feet) and the peak of Mount Prana where the Germans had set up canons to fire into the valley and the coast was at 1221m (app 3663 feet). And then down again.

Us being beach people and not mountain climbers (GOATS) we were at a bit of a disadvantage. Joyce was having some trouble with her calves, we were all beet red and hearts racing but by the grace of God and looking forward to the end goal we were energized.

 The first two days of the journey we were graced by the presence of a Brazilian brother (Diego) which was also a God send because the peak of Mt. Prana was liberated by the Brazilians and to have a descendant of the Brazilian nation, and and Italian one at that, present in the spiritual liberation was awesome. Only God could have orchestrated it in such a manner,  He is great.

After we staked, Communion and prayed, Joyce asked for a sign, and on what was a cloudy overcast sky when we arrived, there appeared a sun spot just above the cross.  Yes Lord, thank you that you hear our prayers.

Onward we went to find Mount Rondinaio, another  stronghold of the Germans. We went to a town that seemed to be the town where we could access  the mountain but we where informed that access was easier from another town from the other side. It was getting late so we pushed on to other spots on the Line and that we would return the next day to hit the mountain. We arrived at Valpromaio, drove a staked with some scriptures on it and the words "For the Kingdom of our Lord", took Communion and anointed the waterway.

We moved onto San Martino in Freddana. When researching San Martino I could not find any info except a great place for holiday rentals which was strange because our battle maps showed a German stronghold. We decided to go to the town border sign, drive a stake, take Communion and anoint the waterway and then we made our way home and fell into bed.