My "Lonely" Weekend

Lonely isn't exactly the word I would use to describe my weekend, but knowing that the other students were away, a friend of mine back home asked how my "lonely weekend" went. In truth, it was just peaceful.

The past weekend, ISM was taking the students to Palanga, a coastal city along the Baltic Sea. Knowing that this trip wasn't really school related, knowing it would mean missing church again, and also hearing that Palanga was more of a city for partying than anything, I didn't really want to go. I imagined a weekend feeling out of place, and although I thought it might be nice to go to the beach, weighing my options, I decided to stay in Vilnius.

It was a great decision. I started out my weekend by sleeping in, and then Friday I blogged and had a long walk all over town. I went to the oldest church in Vilnius, to the Museum of Contemporary Art, to the streets where the Jewish ghetto used to be, into several little shops, to several churches, to Gediminas Tower, and to the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. I have a couple more things on my "sight-seeing to-do" list, but all in all, it was a great day, and I was very tired at the end.

Friday night brought another long night of sleep, which I was thankful for, and Saturday I went with the Millers. The day involved thrift store shopping, doing laundry, and cleaning the church, which had partially flooded with the heavy rain last week.

Of course Sunday was church, and I was more than ready. Pastor Tony Miller preached a great message that definitely reminded me about some things. Of course the church services also led to me meeting even more people. Church in Vilnius is just wonderful. It's great to see how excited the people can be about the things of God. I feel so blessed to be here to see it and take part in it.

Lietuva: Arrival and the First Few Days

When I arrived in Vilnius, it was after nine o' clock at night, and I was surprised that it was still completely light outside. Getting off the plane and through the passport check was far simpler than in London. I got my bags together and proceeded to the exit with ease. When I went through the door from baggage claim, Shasta Miller was waiting for me.
I rode with Tony and Shasta Miller to their house where several young people from their church were still gathered. They soon left with a van-full of them, off to take them home. That night it didn't get dark until after eleven o' clock, and even then, the sky to the north had a highlight as if the sun refused to vanish completely.
Saturday there was a wedding at the church that had been thrown together in a matter of a few days. It was very simple, but very nice. Shasta told me about a tradition here where after the wedding, the groom carries the bride over a bridge, symbolizing that he'll carry her over things for the rest of their lives. They then put a lock, usually with their names engraved on it, on the bridge and throw the keys into the water.

Later that day, we went to a small Mexican restaurant, yes, Mexican. The Millers know the owner. He told me that there are only a handful of Hispanics in all of Lithuania. When we were finished, I met Giedre, a girl from their church. Giedre and I started at the cathedral and walked all over town. It was quite a day.

(This was one particular church we passed; there are many! Apparently Napoleon parked his horses here when he passed through Lithuania.)







Sunday we had church service, and although it had only been a week since I was in a Sunday service, it felt like a lifetime. It was great. Shasta sang songs in Lithuanian, and Pastor Miller preached a wonderful message. I also got to meet a lot more of the people from their church.