Hi, my name is Anne. I’m Irish but currently living in Rome. I spent 12 years working in Lingen, which is how I came to know Start 5 and 5. I speak German, English (of course), and Spanish.

My journey with the Bible began many years ago. My first experiences of God were through people who, in moments that felt almost miraculous, spoke words that seemed to come directly from God - answers to prayers I had sent out into the universe, unsure if anyone was truly listening.

As a teenager, I had read the New Testament. I was captivated by the Gospels, especially the figure of Jesus, though the letters felt a bit beyond my understanding at the time. Back then, I read the Gospels as something between a story and a historical account. But later, after experiencing God as someone who speaks into my life here and now, I began to approach Scripture differently.

I learned to read passages slowly and repeatedly, allowing the Spirit to speak to me. Even when I don’t “feel” anything, I trust that God is shaping me through the process. There are moments when I feel deeply “touched” by God as I read or pray - moments when I sense an invitation to pause and simply be in God’s presence. These moments are not guaranteed every time I open the Bible, but they are profound gifts that God gives in God's own time, when I make the time and space.

It’s not always easy to prioritize this practice amid the busyness of life. That’s why I try to spend time with God in the morning - because if I tell myself I’ll do it later in the day, it often doesn’t happen.

Over the years, this practice has transformed me little by little, drop by drop, often without my noticing. It has brought me a deep peace and an enduring sense of hope that sustains me in my daily life.