Racism is Anti-Gospel

“Racism is anti-gospel.” These words have settled into my mind and heart over the last two months since I first heard them. They’ve opened new avenues of faith and devotion and given me a clearer understanding of my vocation and participation in mission. 

You may say, “Well of course racism is anti-gospel!” I agree with you. What I’m shocked about is that I’ve never felt the need include this fact in the definition of what the gospel is. That is why these words are sitting with me and why they draw me to write.

It was January when I first heard this statement and the speaker was the inestimable John M. Perkins, participating in Calvin College’s January Series.* “Racism is anti-gospel,” he said. He waited a moment before bending, raising his arm in the air and going on – “The gospel is for people to be reconciled to God and to one another.”

What a familiar phrase! But how often have I interpreted the latter half in simple interpersonal terms or purely in the context of ancient Jews and Greeks?  Often. How often have I considered this phrase while thinking about present racial conflicts? Never.  

Theologically, I usually think about racism as an affront to God because it denies that God made us all and that each person bears the image of God - not to mention that it denies the beauty of diversity. But it is clear to me now that racism stabs even deeper, against a core piece of the gospel, because it divides people and impedes their reconciliation. Racism leads people commit murder in their hearts or in reality and conceals our common humanity. It obstructs relationships between individuals and groups who need to be reconciled.

As the Intercultural Education Coordinator of an international university, this has repercussions on the way I think about my job; it makes me consider why I do what I do. Why do I work with international students and strive to bring together our diverse (25 nationalities) community? Why do I run a program about multiculturalism and tolerance for high school students?

Previously, my primary motivation was that I believe the Bible celebrates diversity and culture making. I take great joy in envisioning people “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” and worshiping God (Revelation 7:9). I envision a throne room filled with color, rejoicing and with each person offering something beautiful to God. This passage and other passages lead me to believe that particularity is not wiped out! That is why in my job I ask “Can the LCC community live in a way that celebrates the God-honoring beauty found in each culture?” and “Can we learn from the experiences and perspectives of different cultures?”

Additionally, before hearing Perkins, I was motivated to do what I do because cross-cultural relationships are crucial to peace. Geert Hofstede, a renowned researcher of cultural value differences, was not simply being dramatic when he had the subtitle of his famous book Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind be Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival. Ignorance, misunderstandings and stereotypes can lead to big, sometimes bloody problems. So I came here to promote intercultural education because I want worldwide solutions and not worldwide conflicts, and I believe that LCC is an ideal setting to contribute to this. Students come from many places, and I strive to make sure that they do not return to their home countries with the same stereotypes and perceptions of the “Other” as when they came. God-willing, their experiences then have an impact on even more people in their home countries.

Perkins and his lecture deepen the above motivations and helped me to see a different emphasis in Revelation 7:9. All of the world’s diverse Christians will not simply worship before the throne of God but they will be there worshipping together. We people will not just live peacefully and without false perceptions about each other but we will live together, in the same city, the new Jerusalem, and we will love each other as ourselves. We will be reconciled.

There will no longer be hatred between some African Americans and Caucasian Americans, Indians and Pakistanis, Russians and Georgians, Koreans and Japanese, Lithuanians and Poles, or Jews, Roma and many other groups, and etc.** We will be healed, reconciled to God and to one another, and the gospel good news will be brought to completion!

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* LCC was an international, off site participant.

** I realize some of these might not be considered "racial conflicts," but they do have ties to culture and collectivities. And what exactly is race anyway? Isn't there just one human race? But this is a whole conversation of its own.

Klaipeda in a Timelapse

Hello Everyone! Labas visiems!

My work at LCC is taking up huge amounts of time and energy and I've had little time to sit down and write the blog-posts you deserve. Please know that even though I am slow in writing that I am grateful every day for you and your prayers.

I'm sitting at my work computer now and writing this spur of the moment blog post because I came across a really excellent video that should help you all to visualize more clearly where I am living. It shows Klaipeda through time-lapse videography. It does a fantastic job of showing you Klaipeda's beautiful Old Town (founded in 1252), some of its New Town and its harbor on the Baltic Sea. It also gives a good overall feel of the city.

The video does have a few shortcomings, however. Namely, it doesn't show you Klaipeda in any season except for summer. Trust me, the blue skies you see in the video are not here all year. Since the beginning of September, Klaipeda has taken on a distinctly gray color and it will only get more cloudy, wet and cold as October continues on. And then the snow will come!

The film also does not show you certain sections of the city. In particular, it makes it seem like Soviet architects never got this far west. That is decidedly not the case. There are huge sections of the city dominated by Soviet apartment buildings. It also doesn't show neat areas of the city designed in post-Soviet times. One of my favorite things to do is take an evening walk through the neighborhood right beside LCC. This neighborhood is full of houses designed and built by regular Lithuanian families after 1990. The creativity is astonishing and intriguing to me.

Overall, though, this video is excellent so enjoy your glimpse into Klaipeda, Lithuania's third largest city!

Walking Again

A few weeks ago my dad sent me a very poetic, subtle email that said:

"The trees that used to be walking around appear to be sitting on their rears and taking a nap."

He was absolutely right. This blog stopped walking a while ago as I've made the transition to Lithuanian life and life at a bustling university.

I'm rectifying the situation right now. Thanks to those of you who have stayed with me and prayed for me despite regular updates here. Enjoy the below pictures as I pen the first in a series of additional blog posts.

These photos illustrate some of what I have been up to and give a glimpse of what Lithuania is like. My hope, as always, is that my words would keep you involved in my life, guide you in your prayers for me and also give you a chance to learn about and from the people in Lithuania and LCC.

Photos from the journey so far:

My journey towards overseas ministry started years ago and my parents have always been supportive. There were teary goodbyes in the airport as I finally set off to serve and live in Lithuania. 

My immediate transition to Lithuania was greatly helped by my friend Ieva. She welcomed me to stay at her family's home for several weeks before my work started and was always attentive to how to help me settle in, get over jet-lag and enjoy Lithuania's long summer days while they still lasted.

I owe a big thanks to Nida, Ieva's mom, for her hospitality and all the delicious meals she prepared and shared with me. This picture shows my first taste of rabbit! Quite delicious, I must say.

Another fantastic meal prepared by Nida. The pink soup is very very popular in Lithuania and is delicious beyond belief. It is called šaltibarščiai and is a cold, summer soup made from beets, kefir, sour cream, chives and cucumbers. You should eat it with hot potatoes.

When I arrived to Lithuania, Klaipeda was having its annual Sea Festival. Street musicians and crowds filled the usually quieter streets with sound and life. These talented gentlemen were especially good at Coldplay and U2 covers.

I reunited with a number of friends at the Sea Festival. This picture shows me with Aurelija, who I met while studying abroad here Jan-May 2011. In addition to being a good friend, Aurelija is a creative and talented artist. I recommend enjoying some of her creations here: http://aure-lija.blogspot.com/

Basketball is popular in Lithuania = understatement of the century!

The Baltic Sea in summertime is truly wonderful. I thank God that the city I work in is on its coasts! I could spend hours sitting on its beaches, swimming in its calm waters, and watching usually reserved Lithuanians delighting in these same things. Unfortunately, the weather has been changing steadily away from the blue skies pictured here toward a determined overcast and rainy autumn. My days at the beach are numbered.

The Baltic Sea is not just for fun, however, it is a major source of industry. The cranes pictured here are a iconic part of Klaipeda's skyline and highlight the city as a major port. Massive cruise ships also pass through often.

And now for the first pictures of LCC International University- my workplace and home. I am living comfortably in a two room apartment on the top floor of Neumann Hall (left). My rooms would usually house 4-5 university students but LCC has set several of them aside for staff and faculty. I share a kitchen and lounge with the other LCC employees on my floor. The facilities are quite nice - they are among the best residence halls in Lithuania.

This view from my 6th floor window shows the main university buildings. Can you believe that students come from over 25 different countries to get an education here? In the background, this picture also shows a common feature of Lithuania's 20th/21st century landscape- the massive Soviet apartment block.  The Soviet influence is pretty unmistakable in these buildings. What you can't see from a mere picture, though, is how every apartment inside is unique and usually full of warmth, color and style.

My job title at LCC is "Intercultural Education Coordinator." One of the joys of my job is that I get to help create events around campus that give students a chance to express their cultural heritage, learn from each other and have a good time. This photo is from the Intercultural Olympics and shows three of the teams - Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. Moldova, the United States and a mixed international team also participated.

Even better than being a part cool events like the Intercultural Olympics is working closely with student leaders to make events like that happen. I am very proud of how the work and creativity of the Intercultural Team (pictured above) made the Olympics a success. My team is made up of members from Ukraine, Latvia and Moldova.

Stay tuned for more posts. The trees at this web address are mobile and walking once again!

Lietuva

Hello! Labas! 

It is great to be back in the blogging world. Although, in truth, the only reason I am happy to be back in this cyberspace is because in the morning I am returning to another, greater place -- Lithuania!

Those of you who used to follow this blog know that I previously spent four months in Lithuania as a student at an international university. Now, two years and three months later, I'm pleased to share that I am returning to Lithuania to work at the university where I previously studied. 

I had planned to make this first new entry a quick summary of what I've been up to and what I'll be doing in Lithuania but I decided against it. (Ok, I ran out of time.) I am postponing that post and instead will start the new series off on a more fun "note." 

Below, you will find my rendition of a song called "Lietuva" - meaning "Lithuania." This little song is upbeat, patriotic and also shares a bit about the country for those of us not from there. You can click the link for the Lithuanian lyrics or follow along with the English translation provided. Enjoy!

Oh and the instrument is an Octave Mandolin. I promise I don't intentionally try to be quirky.

"Lietuva" by Wika

Lithuania...is the land of basketball.
There is a huge castle in Trakai.
Palanga's seashores are spangled by amber.
I like to walk there in the evening.
There are a lot of hot guys in Vilnius.
But I like Kaunas most of all cities.
Nobody will ever change my Lithuania, nobody ever.

Lithuania. Our Lithuania!
I will never move abroad.
England and Spain won't attract me.
And I will never gather oranges there.

There are a lot of brooks, rivers and lakes.
A blue sky, it's a pleasant place for me.
Whether it is raining or sun is shining.
It's my dear beloved Lithuania.
We never won Eurovision, but that doesn't matter.
We can sing in spite of that.
And this is the real truth.

Lithuania. Our Lithuania!
I will never move abroad.
England and Spain won't attract me.
And I will never gather oranges there.

http://dainutekstai.lt/r2086/wika-lietuva.html

Ready for Round Two?

This blog-page will be resurrected soon... Look for new posts in the coming weeks and months.

Memories

I wrote this post for http://studyabroadlithuania.blogspot.com/. Hope you enjoy it too!
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Lithuania may remain an undiscovered land for many people in the United States, but it forever has a place in my heart.

Four months in Klaipeda – that city on the Sea – were incredible. What a fast semester! But, at the same time, it was a full semester with enough time to really immerse in the place and people. Looking back, from my home in central PA, I have nothing but the greatest joy that I went to a place that most Americans would at best deem really random.

It’s hard to choose one thing to write about in this blogpost because I am overflowing with memories of the richest kind. At first, when I came home, I spent a lot of time remembering the people I met and the things we did together. I missed (and still do) them very much. I thought of the sauna trips, the bicycle rides, the endless cups of tea and fount of conversation, the hugs, the ways they challenged me, the interesting and valued perspective I brought to them as well and the teary goodbyes.

Further, many silly interactions came to mind. For example, I remember when I had a “cultural exchange” with two of my roommates from Ukraine. They insisted I try salo (basically uncooked fat that is salted or smoked). To an American, this was a really gross suggestion. They were persuasive, though, and I was willing. In return, I insisted they experience American culture by having a PB&J. We made a pact to respect each other's culture and proceeded. The results were that salo isn't so bad and they enjoyed the PB&J! They weren’t thrilled about the PB at first but they came around. [On a side note, Lithuanians also enjoy salo. They call it lašiniai].

"This is what 'strong Ukrainian men have been taking
 with them to the fields for centuries?!'"

"What do you mean
'schoolchildren across US eat this every day?!'"

Now that more time has past, I also spend time remembering Lithuania as a whole (and my trips to Russia, Estonia and Latvia with the program). I think of the Sea, the cobbled streets, the really quirky statues etc throughout Klaipeda, the bus drivers,  the Soviet and pre-Soviet architecture, my LCC community and classes, Lithuania's fascinating history, the snow and mist,  and daily life there. There was so much to discover. Those who know me will attest that I'm a wanderer. Even so, I never ran out of interesting places and things to see.

I saw these "Happy Buttons" at the end of my trip. 

Lastly, I have thought and prayed about all that I learned there. This isn't the place for me to recount all the things that I learned, though. In fact, it's probably best if you go and learn for yourself. 

The last thing I will say, is that Lithuania wasn’t always an easy place to be. Perhaps that is why the place which LT has in my heart is so secure -- most things of real value I have always found to be challenging in some respect. Spending time in a foreign country certainly has its challenges. For instance, it's humbling to have to play by someone else's rules. 

Want to ask this particular blogger any questions? email studyabroad@lcc.lt and they'll hook you up with my info and I'll hook you up with the inside scoop.
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Actually you can just leave a comment here and I'll respond!

Transitions

The windows looking out of my little "seafoam-green" room are open and I can see and hear the fresh world outside that is my home in central PA. The birds are whistling nonsense and sometime soon I'll hear those grasshoppers proclaiming the delights of summer nights - loudly.

I am in a very different place. 

On May 2nd, I traveled home from Lietuva and by random chance went the whole way with Tyler. We stepped out of Karklų bendrabutis at 3:30am into a cool morning which smelt of change. After my last look back at my dear friends (an image which will stay with me for a long time I believe), I turned to follow my swift-footed partner. "Are you ready?" he asked. I breathed deeply and kept walking. Those were the words of our trip back. Again and again we returned to them. I didn't have an answer until standing in the US customs line where I told him, "Tyler, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Maybe it was just the effect of the propagandistic-like movies which welcomed us home on me or maybe I really was as ready as I'd ever be. 

Nevertheless, the transition have been difficult. Several times I've been tempted to call Tyler and tell him that I was wrong. But I never did. Instead, in those moments when I've felt the change the most, I've either A) turned to the same God who was with me from my first moment in Lietuva till my last and right up until now. Or instead I've B) lost myself in nostalgic remembrances of Klaipėda and those whom I dreaded to leave. Here are some of the images that come repeatedly to my mind:

Ieva and I -- on an incredible (rainy) cycling tour in Eastern Lietuva.

Lida, Alla and Tanya on Tanya's birthday

Aurelija, Iveta and I on a huge frozen lake in Finland

With Ieva and the Baltic Sea. Both dear to me.

Clearly, it's the people I miss the most. But it's not simply a transition of people. It's a transition of culture. Of language. Of food. Of location. Of ways of life. Of the little things. It still shocks me that I can eavesdrop on strangers again. That I can put the toilet paper in the toilet. That I can speak with clerks. That people talk so loudly. That strangers smile and greet me. That I can't find light-switches. That I actually like green tea. That I'm thousands of miles away from a beloved place and people that continue to exist each new day without me.

Perhaps I should make more of an effort to follow option A.

So yes, the transition has been difficult. It is worth it though. I love my home, my friends and most importantly my family. I have loved these places and people for a long long time and don't want to be alienated from them. I don't want to be the weird study-abroad kid that Rachel Mac so aptly caricatures in her sitcom. But I also don't want to be the same as I was before I left or as everyone else is just for the sake of having a place or fulfilling what is expected of me. 


May God help me to make the transition, therefore, and also to retain the memories and the newness of life which was added to my own in a beautiful, misty and seemingly far way land.