AROUND THE CITY

Our city of Vilnius continues to grow. Akropolis was our first mall in the city. It is complete with bowling alley, ice skating rink, movie theater and much more. Now we have at least three other malls with two new ones being built! It is amazing at the growth around us. New highrises are going up everywhere while old highrises are still in sight. It seems like all the open areas are being filled and the city is expanding out farther as well. Yet, people are leaving to work in other European countries. We sure have a lot going on here.

Change! Isn't it great that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!!!!!!!!!

LAST TOUCHES ON OUR HOME

We are finally coming to the end of "settling in" and it feels good! Here are a few shots of what our home looks like on the inside now that we have gotten our things here. Each day we thank the Lord for His wonderful and faithful provision.

Now you can see where I work on the computer and type up the blog!

Also, our Lithuanian friends are always interested in seeing our big, soft American bed.

We are blessed! To top it off...it is very quiet and gives us a great place to rest and work.

VISITING FRIENDS

Recently we have been in the homes of two dear friends. First we were with our Bishop (Superintendent) of the Pentecostal Union and his family (Rimas and Emilija) and then with the pastor (Ramunas and Ingrida) and his family in Panevezys. It is so good to be back in Lithuania and to have time to be with our friends again.

As we think back upon our arrival for our first term in 1997, we didn't know anyone and had to learn about everything around us. Our second term we returned to friends. This time for our third term we feel that we have come home to family. It is a great feeling!

We were in Panevezys last weekend and Bob preached in church on Sunday. This church was one of the first ones we visited in our early days here. This has become a special place for us to visit. Our son was good friends with the youth that are leading worship in the service. Seeing them reminded us of Matt and how much he is missed here by so many everywhere we go.

The eight-year old boy playing the bongo drums is the pastor's son, Paulius. He is a talented player already.

SHIPMENT ARRIVED

We finally received our shipment that was packed in the states in September. After our delay to be home for Bob's surgery, we sent our items on January 2nd. The whole shipment arrived at our new home in Lithuania on March 4th with no damage. We are so thankful for God's protection on the shipment. The Millsaps and Silvija helped us unload the truck. Thankfully we had an inventory list since we couldn't even remember all the things we had packed :) (We didn't find the chocolate chips until one of the last bins that was opened!) It is so nice to now have everything unpacked and almost in its place. We hope to be fully settled in a week or so. PTL! After we are done "settling in" we will be able to focus on other things that we long to participate in again.

Thursday brought snow and this is how it looked from our windows toward our neighborhood. God has placed us in a beautiful location. It is so quiet and we are really enjoying our new home.


As of today, Friday, the snow is almost gone and spring keeps trying to arrive. Just as the seasons are changing outside so are the seasons of our lives changing too. We are in our home here for the first time without Matt and our lives will be different. Everyone asks about him everywhere we go here. He left his "mark" on Lithuania too. He will be graduating from his second year in May at Everfree Masters Commission in Bedford, Michigan and is anticipating his next season as a student at Evangel University in Springfield, MO.