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!