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| The hills on the other side of the Beaver River |
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| On Geneva's Campus |
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| The best view on campus? |
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
First day of school, for Laura
Hi everyone,
Happy September! We are doing well. Steve is done with his busy month of August (still busy, but now with things that will be more regular with the school year). School at Geneva has started, students are all moved in...the campus is alive with students. The first week of school is over, and the school year is rolling. We are getting used to eating in the cafeteria...a big change from the past few years of cooking for ourselves everything from scratch. I can tell you that both have their pros and cons, and we are glad for the ways that the Lord provides for us. We're still figuring out how to best go grocery shopping, so that we don't waste too much food (now that we eat a lot of our meals at school, we don't need to buy as much...but we still need to buy some (for those times we would like to cook for ourselves :)
Anyway. No complaints here.
In other news, I had my first day of classes today! My class days will be really long, but I scheduled them that way so that I wouldn't have to drive to school too many days a week. So on Monday and Tuesdays, I will be there from 8:30 in the morning until 5pm. It takes a solid half hour to drive there, so that makes for a long day! Two classes each day. Today I had Early Church, which I think will be interesting and challenging. I'm not much of a historian, but I see the necessity of it. And it's interesting. I just have a hard enough time with the names of the last 100 people I just met, much less the names of all the church fathers and which centuries they lived in. Time to make some flash cards!! :)
In the afternoon I am in part one of three of a systematic theology course. This semester we are studying God the Father (the next two classes are about Jesus and the Holy Spirit). I think this class will tie together what I'm studying in the other classes. I enjoyed it today. Plus the instructor has a British accent, so he's really easy to listen to!
One thing that is taking some getting used to for me is the chapel times (called morning and evening prayers). They are every day, in the morning before classes start, and then after the afternoon classes are over. We are strongly encouraged to go. The school comes from the Anglican tradition, which I am still very awkward at. I have not quite gotten the hang of the prayer book, and knowing where we are in it. But I'm slowly catching on. It is very liturgical, which is sort of new for me. I like that a lot of what we are reading together is Scripture or based in Scripture. We read a lot of Scripture together! I still haven't caught on to the order of the service, but I'll get there eventually. Who would've thought that the most difficult part of seminary so far has been chapel?! My heart is very full. I have a week until my next classes, which will be a good way to ease into it, I think.
Not much else is new. I'm enjoying the job at the coffee shop. Catching on a little faster there than I am to Anglicanism, but still lots to learn and practice. I will be there just a tad over 20 hours a week. It is estimated that we should study 6 hours a week for each class. So I will apparently be studying about 24 hours a week outside the classroom. Busy busy!
Hope you are well!
Blessings,
Laura and Steve
Happy September! We are doing well. Steve is done with his busy month of August (still busy, but now with things that will be more regular with the school year). School at Geneva has started, students are all moved in...the campus is alive with students. The first week of school is over, and the school year is rolling. We are getting used to eating in the cafeteria...a big change from the past few years of cooking for ourselves everything from scratch. I can tell you that both have their pros and cons, and we are glad for the ways that the Lord provides for us. We're still figuring out how to best go grocery shopping, so that we don't waste too much food (now that we eat a lot of our meals at school, we don't need to buy as much...but we still need to buy some (for those times we would like to cook for ourselves :)
Anyway. No complaints here.
In other news, I had my first day of classes today! My class days will be really long, but I scheduled them that way so that I wouldn't have to drive to school too many days a week. So on Monday and Tuesdays, I will be there from 8:30 in the morning until 5pm. It takes a solid half hour to drive there, so that makes for a long day! Two classes each day. Today I had Early Church, which I think will be interesting and challenging. I'm not much of a historian, but I see the necessity of it. And it's interesting. I just have a hard enough time with the names of the last 100 people I just met, much less the names of all the church fathers and which centuries they lived in. Time to make some flash cards!! :)
In the afternoon I am in part one of three of a systematic theology course. This semester we are studying God the Father (the next two classes are about Jesus and the Holy Spirit). I think this class will tie together what I'm studying in the other classes. I enjoyed it today. Plus the instructor has a British accent, so he's really easy to listen to!
One thing that is taking some getting used to for me is the chapel times (called morning and evening prayers). They are every day, in the morning before classes start, and then after the afternoon classes are over. We are strongly encouraged to go. The school comes from the Anglican tradition, which I am still very awkward at. I have not quite gotten the hang of the prayer book, and knowing where we are in it. But I'm slowly catching on. It is very liturgical, which is sort of new for me. I like that a lot of what we are reading together is Scripture or based in Scripture. We read a lot of Scripture together! I still haven't caught on to the order of the service, but I'll get there eventually. Who would've thought that the most difficult part of seminary so far has been chapel?! My heart is very full. I have a week until my next classes, which will be a good way to ease into it, I think.
Not much else is new. I'm enjoying the job at the coffee shop. Catching on a little faster there than I am to Anglicanism, but still lots to learn and practice. I will be there just a tad over 20 hours a week. It is estimated that we should study 6 hours a week for each class. So I will apparently be studying about 24 hours a week outside the classroom. Busy busy!
Hope you are well!
Blessings,
Laura and Steve
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
News from both our worlds
Here is an article from our local paper that talks about both the college and the coffee shop.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Praises and Pictures
Hi Everyone,
Today I got a letter in the mail that said I would receive a scholarship that will cover my tuition for this school year! Wow! That is a total praise. God must have some good things in store, for opening all the doors to this school!
And, as promised:
Here are some pictures of our apartment.
Hope everyone is well,
Laura
PS....Steve just got done with 2 weeks of RD training, and this weekend, all the RAs come back and will start training on Monday. The month of August is/will be so busy! But filled with all good things.
Today I got a letter in the mail that said I would receive a scholarship that will cover my tuition for this school year! Wow! That is a total praise. God must have some good things in store, for opening all the doors to this school!
And, as promised:
Here are some pictures of our apartment.
Hope everyone is well,
Laura
PS....Steve just got done with 2 weeks of RD training, and this weekend, all the RAs come back and will start training on Monday. The month of August is/will be so busy! But filled with all good things.
Friday, August 6, 2010
A brief update
Hi everyone!
We have been in Beaver Falls now for a little over a month, and we have been keeping quite busy! Steve is currently at a conference (has been since yesterday, and will be until tomorrow), and I am home trying to motivate myself to clean up the place a little bit, so I can take pictures of it for you to see. Since the beginning of August (which seems like ages ago already), Steve and all of the RDs (9 of them total) have been going through RD training (a time of getting ready and team building). Already we've felt very welcomed here and have been able to find many opportunities for community (praise!). I have been keeping plenty busy trying to solidify my plans for the fall, which are starting to really come together!
1. I accepted a job at the local coffee shop, and will start on the 18th. I am super excited to get to work here! It is a great coffee shop, I like the people there, and it is within walking/biking distance from our apt. Win-win-win! Plus, it will be a great way to feel connected to the Geneva/Beaver Falls community.
2. As of this week, I am officially accepted to the local seminary...orientation starts on September 1st, and classes on the 7th. I am super excited about this too! It is not as local as the coffee shop, as I will have to drive or ride the bus there, but it is still in Beaver County (where we also are). This afternoon, I worked on figuring out which classes to take and registering for them. I am a little nervous because I will be having some early mornings in there, but I will hopefully survive. We might need to get another bookshelf for all the textbooks I will need! ;) No, I'm excited and thrilled for this opportunity (I withdrew from North Park as a result, not because I don't like North Park, but because I found out that I prefer classroom learning to online learning). It is my goal to earn a MA in Mission by the end of 2 years.
Here are the classes that I signed up for, in case you're interested. Should be a busy semester!
1. Intro to Biblical Languages & Interpretation
2. Early Church
3. God the Father, The Creator
4. Intro to World Mission
That's all for now. I have been privileged to be getting to know some of the other RD wives who are also doing a lot of hanging out this week while their husbands are at training. It is good that we can keep each other company.
Hope you are well!
Laura
PS....I will try try try to get some pictures up soon. Now that I am registered for classes and have my scholarship/financial aid applications filled out and sent, I can feel more free to focus on posting pictures.
We have been in Beaver Falls now for a little over a month, and we have been keeping quite busy! Steve is currently at a conference (has been since yesterday, and will be until tomorrow), and I am home trying to motivate myself to clean up the place a little bit, so I can take pictures of it for you to see. Since the beginning of August (which seems like ages ago already), Steve and all of the RDs (9 of them total) have been going through RD training (a time of getting ready and team building). Already we've felt very welcomed here and have been able to find many opportunities for community (praise!). I have been keeping plenty busy trying to solidify my plans for the fall, which are starting to really come together!
1. I accepted a job at the local coffee shop, and will start on the 18th. I am super excited to get to work here! It is a great coffee shop, I like the people there, and it is within walking/biking distance from our apt. Win-win-win! Plus, it will be a great way to feel connected to the Geneva/Beaver Falls community.
2. As of this week, I am officially accepted to the local seminary...orientation starts on September 1st, and classes on the 7th. I am super excited about this too! It is not as local as the coffee shop, as I will have to drive or ride the bus there, but it is still in Beaver County (where we also are). This afternoon, I worked on figuring out which classes to take and registering for them. I am a little nervous because I will be having some early mornings in there, but I will hopefully survive. We might need to get another bookshelf for all the textbooks I will need! ;) No, I'm excited and thrilled for this opportunity (I withdrew from North Park as a result, not because I don't like North Park, but because I found out that I prefer classroom learning to online learning). It is my goal to earn a MA in Mission by the end of 2 years.
Here are the classes that I signed up for, in case you're interested. Should be a busy semester!
1. Intro to Biblical Languages & Interpretation
2. Early Church
3. God the Father, The Creator
4. Intro to World Mission
That's all for now. I have been privileged to be getting to know some of the other RD wives who are also doing a lot of hanging out this week while their husbands are at training. It is good that we can keep each other company.
Hope you are well!
Laura
PS....I will try try try to get some pictures up soon. Now that I am registered for classes and have my scholarship/financial aid applications filled out and sent, I can feel more free to focus on posting pictures.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Running for the Johnsons...A Photo Story
In honor of our good friends, Erik and Becky Johnson, who we served with this past year at LCC and who are returning to Klaipeda in a few days for another year, we dedicate this blog post.
As part of their support raising Erik and Becky are hosting the "Farmer Boy 5K" run at Becky's parents' farm on Saturday, July 24th. Laura and I would love to be there to support them, but we are in PA and it is a long drive back to MN. So, instead, we held our own version of the "Farmer Boy 5K" and captured our experience in a photo story. Enjoy.
The run begins.
The moment of truth. Who will be the victor? It looks as though Laura already has a slight lead and we haven't even started.
Stretching before the big race. It is hot out. We don't want to strain anything.
Getting all limbered up. We haven't run this far, this fast since we were trying to catch the train to Warsaw at Easter break.
The moment of truth. Who will be the victor? It looks as though Laura already has a slight lead and we haven't even started.
And then it happened...I...got...tired...where...is...Laura...?
She's going the distance. She's going for speed.
Chinese food before the race was a bad choice. Let's just skip to the rest of the race. (Please recycle.)
What up? Look who's faster now!
A not so photo finish!
The "official" first place finisher of the Farmer Boy 5k - 2010!
We love you Erik and Becky. We are praying for you as you return to LCC and serve some amazing students. You are a blessing to us and we pray that we can return the blessing to you. Safe travels.
If any of our family and friends would like to support Erik and Becky this year you can donate to them as you did for us by visiting www.lcc.lt.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Busy Summer!
Hi Everyone,
It has been a wonderful whirlwind of seeing many wonderful, familiar faces since we've been back in the states! Time is moving quickly, and we have less than a week before we pack up and move to Pennsylvania (again!). We plan to load up the moving truck on Sunday, and then head out early Monday morning. Steve starts on July first!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far!
Laura
It has been a wonderful whirlwind of seeing many wonderful, familiar faces since we've been back in the states! Time is moving quickly, and we have less than a week before we pack up and move to Pennsylvania (again!). We plan to load up the moving truck on Sunday, and then head out early Monday morning. Steve starts on July first!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far!
Laura
Monday, May 31, 2010
The blog continues...
Hi everyone,
We've decided that even though we will not be half a world away, it would still be good to keep a blog of things that we are up to in all of our other adventures.
Our next adventure will start either tomorrow or the next day, when we road-trip out to Pennsylvania so that Steve can attend a conference and I can start unpacking some things in our apartment.
We will then come back to MN (maybe fly, and then leave our car behind to make driving the moving truck later on this month more easy?) for a couple of weeks, and then officially move out to Beaver Falls at the end of the month.
Exciting times ahead!
Blessings, and Happy Memorial Day,
Laura
We've decided that even though we will not be half a world away, it would still be good to keep a blog of things that we are up to in all of our other adventures.
Our next adventure will start either tomorrow or the next day, when we road-trip out to Pennsylvania so that Steve can attend a conference and I can start unpacking some things in our apartment.
We will then come back to MN (maybe fly, and then leave our car behind to make driving the moving truck later on this month more easy?) for a couple of weeks, and then officially move out to Beaver Falls at the end of the month.
Exciting times ahead!
Blessings, and Happy Memorial Day,
Laura
Saturday, May 15, 2010
home!
Just wanted to let you know that we made it back safely and smoothly! Thank you for your prayers.
We are enjoying spending time with our family and eating american food and having a different schedule and driving a car...etc
We have experienced a little culture shock at the grocery store, but overall have not been back long enough yet to have really experienced reverse culture shock, but I'm sure there will be some!
Hope to see a lot of you this summer or soon!
We are enjoying spending time with our family and eating american food and having a different schedule and driving a car...etc
We have experienced a little culture shock at the grocery store, but overall have not been back long enough yet to have really experienced reverse culture shock, but I'm sure there will be some!
Hope to see a lot of you this summer or soon!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
as days go by
We're coming home soon!
Pray for us as we pack up and say our goodbyes (or, as I like to say, "see you agains").
Pray for safe and smooth travels:
We leave here on Wednesday at 8am, and will arrive in MSP airport at around 11/11:3pm-ish. A long day, considering it will last about 24 solid hours. Oh well, we've been staying up plenty late, and it should help us to quickly recover from jetlag (although plan to use jetlag as an excuse for everything during our first week back).
See you soon! Thank you for your prayers and support these past two years. The adventure would not have been so great without you.
Pray for us as we pack up and say our goodbyes (or, as I like to say, "see you agains").
Pray for safe and smooth travels:
We leave here on Wednesday at 8am, and will arrive in MSP airport at around 11/11:3pm-ish. A long day, considering it will last about 24 solid hours. Oh well, we've been staying up plenty late, and it should help us to quickly recover from jetlag (although plan to use jetlag as an excuse for everything during our first week back).
See you soon! Thank you for your prayers and support these past two years. The adventure would not have been so great without you.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Congratulations LCC class of 2010!
Saturday (the 1st) was graduation. It was a great day. One highlight was the speaker at graduation: The former president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Our student life staff retreat at the sea
Last Monday we had a retreat with the student life staff (and spouses/kids). We just went to the sea, grilled food, and hung out. It was a very relaxing way to start a hectic week.
Here is a link to some of those pictures.
The sun has been staying out until almost 10pm. One of the perks of enduring through a dark winter is the equally massive amount of daylight you get in the spring/summer!
Here is a link to some of those pictures.
The sun has been staying out until almost 10pm. One of the perks of enduring through a dark winter is the equally massive amount of daylight you get in the spring/summer!
Friday, April 30, 2010
12 more days
Hi Everyone,
We are in the midst of a busy time here, and I have found a moment to blog about it.
This week has been pretty insane. In addition to working all day, we've had full evenings every night this week (tonight will be full as well). We've been getting in a lot of visiting with people/eating one last meal together time in. It has been a good week for eating food with people, and receiving flowers!
Tomorrow morning is Baccalaureate, and the tomorrow afternoon is Graduation.
On Sunday, students will be checking out of the dorms, and then in the afternoon, both dorms will be locked down for about 4 hours, so that the RDs and RAs can inspect each room.
THEN, you'd think that we could all relax, but that is not how it works here! Sunday evening is when students who are staying for a whole variety of different reasons get to check back into the residence halls. (some are staying for classes, others are staying to reapply for their temporary residency permits, and others are staying to wait for their diploma...which is something that if I were to try to explain why they have to stay here to wait for a diploma, it would take another separate post...and there are a couple of groups of study abroad students that are coming in to study for the month of May) Busy busy.
Steve and the rest of the Res Life staff have also been working on something called "Phase 2" which is basically something that allows people to donate all the things that they don't want to pack and take with them...but are still too nice to throw away. Anyone (including myself) has been welcome to donate their things up until Monday or Tuesday of next week. Then the RDs and RAs will sort through it all and donate it to a women's shelter or Salvation Army or somewhere else that needs it.
Sometime in here we will try to pack everything up and head home! We are still wondering how we are going to select what comes home with us, and what stays behind. I'm thinking it will be a lot of mugs and magnets that we've picked up along the way as souvenirs...and leave a bunch of replaceable clothing behind (besides...someone could use the clothing!). Also next week, we will be working on manuals to leave behind for the people that have to do our jobs next year....and then we will be done!
Ok. Back to work. See you soon!
We are in the midst of a busy time here, and I have found a moment to blog about it.
This week has been pretty insane. In addition to working all day, we've had full evenings every night this week (tonight will be full as well). We've been getting in a lot of visiting with people/eating one last meal together time in. It has been a good week for eating food with people, and receiving flowers!
Tomorrow morning is Baccalaureate, and the tomorrow afternoon is Graduation.
On Sunday, students will be checking out of the dorms, and then in the afternoon, both dorms will be locked down for about 4 hours, so that the RDs and RAs can inspect each room.
THEN, you'd think that we could all relax, but that is not how it works here! Sunday evening is when students who are staying for a whole variety of different reasons get to check back into the residence halls. (some are staying for classes, others are staying to reapply for their temporary residency permits, and others are staying to wait for their diploma...which is something that if I were to try to explain why they have to stay here to wait for a diploma, it would take another separate post...and there are a couple of groups of study abroad students that are coming in to study for the month of May) Busy busy.
Steve and the rest of the Res Life staff have also been working on something called "Phase 2" which is basically something that allows people to donate all the things that they don't want to pack and take with them...but are still too nice to throw away. Anyone (including myself) has been welcome to donate their things up until Monday or Tuesday of next week. Then the RDs and RAs will sort through it all and donate it to a women's shelter or Salvation Army or somewhere else that needs it.
Sometime in here we will try to pack everything up and head home! We are still wondering how we are going to select what comes home with us, and what stays behind. I'm thinking it will be a lot of mugs and magnets that we've picked up along the way as souvenirs...and leave a bunch of replaceable clothing behind (besides...someone could use the clothing!). Also next week, we will be working on manuals to leave behind for the people that have to do our jobs next year....and then we will be done!
Ok. Back to work. See you soon!
Friday, April 23, 2010
News News News!
Where to start? Well it is the end of the year. Today was the last full day of classes, and next week students will take their final exams. We had our end of the year assembly and BBQ. Things are busy as we're trying to finish well, and get everything done before we go. Sometimes I wonder how it will all get done. But it will, miraculously!
Ok, on to the news!
We are excited to announce that Steve has accepted a position as a full-time RD (resident director) at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA! We are very excited about it, and think it will be great to be back in Pennsylvania. Steve applied to a few different schools, and through prayer, and thought, and other doors being closed...we feel a peace about moving back to BF. And it is also so nice to know where we will be next year! We requested a July 1st start date, so that we will have a chance to re-acclimate ourselves to the United States and spend time with people before we move again.
Our time is winding down here in Lithuania. We will fly out on the afternoon of May 12th, and arrive in MN on the evening of the 12th (total travel time will be about 24-25 hours though!)...and after a day of sleeping on the 13th, there are so many people to see, and so many things to do!
Once we get to Pennsylvania, I will hopefully take a full load of classes....I'm thinking I might apply to a seminary that is pretty close (about 20 minutes I think) to BF. I'm not against North Park, and I will continue to take some courses online if the other seminary doesn't work out, but I think it will be so nice to take classes in person versus online. So that is what I will be working on...that and get a part-time job somewhere.
So, we will share more details hopefully in person, but for now know that the apartment we will be in in BF will have a spare bedroom....so please please please consider yourself invited to come visit us!
Blessings!
PS....we found out some information about our fund-raising. We are doing really well, and only need a little more to go. If you feel so led to help us out on the home stretch, please scroll down to the bottom for more information on how to give financially. We have been so blessed and thankful for all the support these past two years. It is overwhelming (in a good way) to know that so many people are invested into this ministry in Lithuania.
Ok, on to the news!
We are excited to announce that Steve has accepted a position as a full-time RD (resident director) at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA! We are very excited about it, and think it will be great to be back in Pennsylvania. Steve applied to a few different schools, and through prayer, and thought, and other doors being closed...we feel a peace about moving back to BF. And it is also so nice to know where we will be next year! We requested a July 1st start date, so that we will have a chance to re-acclimate ourselves to the United States and spend time with people before we move again.
Our time is winding down here in Lithuania. We will fly out on the afternoon of May 12th, and arrive in MN on the evening of the 12th (total travel time will be about 24-25 hours though!)...and after a day of sleeping on the 13th, there are so many people to see, and so many things to do!
Once we get to Pennsylvania, I will hopefully take a full load of classes....I'm thinking I might apply to a seminary that is pretty close (about 20 minutes I think) to BF. I'm not against North Park, and I will continue to take some courses online if the other seminary doesn't work out, but I think it will be so nice to take classes in person versus online. So that is what I will be working on...that and get a part-time job somewhere.
So, we will share more details hopefully in person, but for now know that the apartment we will be in in BF will have a spare bedroom....so please please please consider yourself invited to come visit us!
Blessings!
PS....we found out some information about our fund-raising. We are doing really well, and only need a little more to go. If you feel so led to help us out on the home stretch, please scroll down to the bottom for more information on how to give financially. We have been so blessed and thankful for all the support these past two years. It is overwhelming (in a good way) to know that so many people are invested into this ministry in Lithuania.
Work in progress
WOW! Sorry, it has been longer than I would like since we've blogged. It has been a busy busy last couple of weeks....the time is moving fast and the days are very full. I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and blame it on the volcano in Iceland ;)
I am working on a blog post right now, but while you wait, why don't you enjoy some pictures from Poland.
Here.
and
Here.
I am working on a blog post right now, but while you wait, why don't you enjoy some pictures from Poland.
Here.
and
Here.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The first photo album
Hi Everyone,
I made a photo album for the Inauguration events...there are more pictures from that, but I only had time to make the one album. More to come! Until then, enjoy these 200 pictures :)
Laura
I made a photo album for the Inauguration events...there are more pictures from that, but I only had time to make the one album. More to come! Until then, enjoy these 200 pictures :)
Laura
Monday, April 5, 2010
a taste of warsaw.
We were fortunate to be able to sneak away this weekend to Warsaw, Poland! We took a ton of pictures and had a wonderful time (very cool to celebrate Easter there....Poles take it very seriously!).
Here is a snippet of the pictures....like the inauguration pictures....I hope to find some time to make some photo albums with all the pictures. Time is moving by so quickly...I hope to find some time to do it this week (or weekend).
Love to all.
Our Easter lunch, crepes in Old Town Warsaw (Steve drinking Coke, and Laura drinking Coffee, now that Lent is over). There was not one cloud in the sky in Warsaw on Easter Sunday!
The city of Warsaw was completely destroyed in the 40s. When they rebuilt it, they took great care to make it how it was before being destroyed...very, very charming (this was taken Easter Saturday).
A trip to Poland would not be complete without some pierogies...very tasty, and very filling.
Steve, Warsaw, Easter Sunday, Beautiful
I was having a bad hair weekend, so when we saw a street vendor selling hats, I snatched this one up.
Here is a snippet of the pictures....like the inauguration pictures....I hope to find some time to make some photo albums with all the pictures. Time is moving by so quickly...I hope to find some time to do it this week (or weekend).
Love to all.
Our Easter lunch, crepes in Old Town Warsaw (Steve drinking Coke, and Laura drinking Coffee, now that Lent is over). There was not one cloud in the sky in Warsaw on Easter Sunday!
The city of Warsaw was completely destroyed in the 40s. When they rebuilt it, they took great care to make it how it was before being destroyed...very, very charming (this was taken Easter Saturday).
A trip to Poland would not be complete without some pierogies...very tasty, and very filling.
Steve, Warsaw, Easter Sunday, Beautiful
I was having a bad hair weekend, so when we saw a street vendor selling hats, I snatched this one up.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Inauguration events (pictures with people!) :)
Hi Everyone,
The past few days have been filled with inaugural events. I took some pictures so that you could see some of the action....but I uploaded them backwards. So your best bet will be to scroll all the way to the end, and work your way up. :)
Enjoy!
^After the inauguration ceremony, there was a big fancy dinner served to everyone. It was very tasty. Then there were some paintings auctioned off to raise money for LCC.
^Us
^The mayor of Klaipeda (among other distinguished guests) spoke. When the person up front was speaking Lithuanian, there were English words on the wall. When the person up front was speaking English, there were Lithaunian words on the wall. A much better way to do translation, in my opinion (rather than having one person speak, and then another person translate after. Every sentence takes twice as long that way). Anyway, I liked this sentence.
^Our new pres
^Processional at the inauguration
^2 sets of conversations.
^A good sized crowd.
^International gifts
^Kyle and Trisa say thank you.
^Ukrainian students sing a song.
^Love this one. On the table are all of the gifts from students. A student from Finland is giving the pres and wife a Finnish knife (and apparently saying something VERY funny!)
^Someone up front said something funny.
^Saturday morning was a student reception, which in my opinion was the best event. Students got to give their blessings to the president and his wife in their own language, and then presented them with a gift from their country. Pastries and coffee and mingling afterward.
^Steve
^Everyone got a chance to dig if they wanted to.
^Ilya, an RA, makes the first dig.
^The Mayor of Klaipeda and the President of LCC shake hands.
^Some student life staffers
^Reactions from the crowd
^Lots of people spoke...LCC's new President was one of them.
^On Friday, was the groundbreaking ceremony for the new residence hall that will hopefully be completed by Fall of 2011. Steve was the MC.
^Lithuanian Dancers.
^The Parade of Stars, where students from different countries represent their country through art, skits, music, etc. A great show this year! Belarus got first place, Ukraine second, and Moldova third.
I took over 400 pictures...so this is just a few to give you an idea :) If I feel motivated, I might make a couple of albums on facebook...if that happens I will let you know!
Blessings.
The past few days have been filled with inaugural events. I took some pictures so that you could see some of the action....but I uploaded them backwards. So your best bet will be to scroll all the way to the end, and work your way up. :)
Enjoy!
^After the inauguration ceremony, there was a big fancy dinner served to everyone. It was very tasty. Then there were some paintings auctioned off to raise money for LCC.
^Us
^The mayor of Klaipeda (among other distinguished guests) spoke. When the person up front was speaking Lithuanian, there were English words on the wall. When the person up front was speaking English, there were Lithaunian words on the wall. A much better way to do translation, in my opinion (rather than having one person speak, and then another person translate after. Every sentence takes twice as long that way). Anyway, I liked this sentence.
^Our new pres
^Processional at the inauguration
^2 sets of conversations.
^A good sized crowd.
^International gifts
^Kyle and Trisa say thank you.
^Ukrainian students sing a song.
^Love this one. On the table are all of the gifts from students. A student from Finland is giving the pres and wife a Finnish knife (and apparently saying something VERY funny!)
^Someone up front said something funny.
^Saturday morning was a student reception, which in my opinion was the best event. Students got to give their blessings to the president and his wife in their own language, and then presented them with a gift from their country. Pastries and coffee and mingling afterward.
^Steve
^Everyone got a chance to dig if they wanted to.
^Ilya, an RA, makes the first dig.
^The Mayor of Klaipeda and the President of LCC shake hands.
^Some student life staffers
^Reactions from the crowd
^Lots of people spoke...LCC's new President was one of them.
^On Friday, was the groundbreaking ceremony for the new residence hall that will hopefully be completed by Fall of 2011. Steve was the MC.
^Lithuanian Dancers.
^The Parade of Stars, where students from different countries represent their country through art, skits, music, etc. A great show this year! Belarus got first place, Ukraine second, and Moldova third.
I took over 400 pictures...so this is just a few to give you an idea :) If I feel motivated, I might make a couple of albums on facebook...if that happens I will let you know!
Blessings.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Sweet Conversations
It seems strange to me that I have found time in the midst of one of the busiest weeks of the semester (board meeting/Presidential inauguration/normal work) to share some updates. Yet I need to share being I have been "silent" and only have let Laura bring our news.
I titled this post "Sweet Conversations" for a number of reasons. First, it is conversations that I long to have with students and others in order to share our stories and to connect those stories to the Great Story which encompasses us all.
I have been encouraged this year to have had/am having the opportunity to have meaningful conversation with my RAs. I haven't talked enough about this amazing group of students with whom I have had the opportunity to work with this year. We have a fun time when we are together as a group, work well together, play well together, and engage in meaningful conversation in which we are growing together. The same way, my favorite part of my job (and a key reason I love being an RD) is getting to have one-on-one meetings with my RAs. This is a time in which we get to talk about work things, but more importantly about life things. I love seeing how the relationship with my students continues to grow throughout the year from introductory topics to matters of the heart.
On such conversation has been particularly uplifting and encouraging has been centered around the topic of wisdom development and worldview. I am constantly challenged by this conversation and yet it is the conversation that I love to have. On thing that I have really been challenged by and have shared with this particular RA is the idea presented in a book I recently read that talks about the not necessarily looking for clarity in all things, but being challenged with intrigue and the development and learning that takes place in a constant desire to learn, examine, and wonder. This is what I desire for our students, but also for myself...To be rooted in Truth and continue to develop from there.
The second, reason I called this post "sweet conversations" is because we have had some great times talking with family of late and hearing good news from back home. We got to sing "Su gimimo diena!" (Happy Birthday) to my Grandma Hanson on Sunday as she turned 91. We also got to talk with my cousin Nate and his wife Rebecca and congratulate them on the news of their baby due in September. It was a fun day to talk with a lot of family visiting for Grandma's birthday and to catch up and feel loved and supported.
The third reason for the title has to do with prayer. I desire for my prayer life to be a sweet conversation and not always be selfish in the way I pray. I feel like I ask for a lot when I pray and forget to seek God, not just what He is going to do for me or where He is going to provide. I need to trust God to provide according to His will, asking for what we need, but spending more time being intrigued by who God is, rather that what He can do.
That being said, We do need prayer as we look to what God has for us after LCC. I had two phone interviews last week with universities that I would really like to work at. I think they went ok. One of the universities just emailed me today to say that they were no longer considering me. It always hurts to hear that. Please pray that God would lead us to the right place and open the door to a place where we can serve and grow.
I am anxious to know what is next, so that I can stop having it consume my thoughts and so that I can give all that I have to finishing strong here at LCC, spending time with our students and friends, and leaving on a strong note.
Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support.
Go and be intrigued by God.
I titled this post "Sweet Conversations" for a number of reasons. First, it is conversations that I long to have with students and others in order to share our stories and to connect those stories to the Great Story which encompasses us all.
I have been encouraged this year to have had/am having the opportunity to have meaningful conversation with my RAs. I haven't talked enough about this amazing group of students with whom I have had the opportunity to work with this year. We have a fun time when we are together as a group, work well together, play well together, and engage in meaningful conversation in which we are growing together. The same way, my favorite part of my job (and a key reason I love being an RD) is getting to have one-on-one meetings with my RAs. This is a time in which we get to talk about work things, but more importantly about life things. I love seeing how the relationship with my students continues to grow throughout the year from introductory topics to matters of the heart.
On such conversation has been particularly uplifting and encouraging has been centered around the topic of wisdom development and worldview. I am constantly challenged by this conversation and yet it is the conversation that I love to have. On thing that I have really been challenged by and have shared with this particular RA is the idea presented in a book I recently read that talks about the not necessarily looking for clarity in all things, but being challenged with intrigue and the development and learning that takes place in a constant desire to learn, examine, and wonder. This is what I desire for our students, but also for myself...To be rooted in Truth and continue to develop from there.
The second, reason I called this post "sweet conversations" is because we have had some great times talking with family of late and hearing good news from back home. We got to sing "Su gimimo diena!" (Happy Birthday) to my Grandma Hanson on Sunday as she turned 91. We also got to talk with my cousin Nate and his wife Rebecca and congratulate them on the news of their baby due in September. It was a fun day to talk with a lot of family visiting for Grandma's birthday and to catch up and feel loved and supported.
The third reason for the title has to do with prayer. I desire for my prayer life to be a sweet conversation and not always be selfish in the way I pray. I feel like I ask for a lot when I pray and forget to seek God, not just what He is going to do for me or where He is going to provide. I need to trust God to provide according to His will, asking for what we need, but spending more time being intrigued by who God is, rather that what He can do.
That being said, We do need prayer as we look to what God has for us after LCC. I had two phone interviews last week with universities that I would really like to work at. I think they went ok. One of the universities just emailed me today to say that they were no longer considering me. It always hurts to hear that. Please pray that God would lead us to the right place and open the door to a place where we can serve and grow.
I am anxious to know what is next, so that I can stop having it consume my thoughts and so that I can give all that I have to finishing strong here at LCC, spending time with our students and friends, and leaving on a strong note.
Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support.
Go and be intrigued by God.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Update
Hi Family and Friends,
As promised, here is an update on how we are doing in Lithuania. On Monday we will start the last 6 weeks until graduation (graduation is on or around May 1st here this year). It will be an especially busy time, because LCC has a new president, and toward the end of March here we will have an inauguration. Should be a pretty big event in addition to the normal wrapping-up activities that happen in the last few weeks of school.
The biggest news that we have (NO we are not pregnant) is that this will be our last semester here. Going into it, we committed to be here for 2 school years (and then we'd evaluate whether or not we were coming back)...as I mentioned in the last post, time flies! It is already the end of the second year, and we are feeling that it is time to move on for now, and that we will not extend our commitment beyond what it already was.
There are a few reasons why we are coming back to the United States, and I won't get into all of them here, but mainly we want to develop and grow professionally. Steve wants to gain more RD experience at another school to compare, and he also wants to be able to continue to be mentored and to mentor others within the context of higher education. We have felt a lot of support from back home (in every way possible), so thank you for that.
I would like to develop professionally as well, but not quite so sure how that will look. I am sure that the jobs I was doing here (and am doing for another 6 weeks) are not the jobs I want to do for the rest of my life. Last semester I took one seminary class online, and this semester I am taking one more class (I had originally signed up for 2 classes, but had to drop one due to me being in over my head busy)...at this rate I will finish a master's degree in 200 years. So I would like to take more classes next fall if possible. I have really enjoyed the classes I've been taking, but would really like to do a program that is not online, and have more classroom time. So who knows where I will be next year? It all depends on where Steve gets a job, and if there is a seminary near by.
Which brings me to my first prayer request:
Job hunting.
Steve has been diligently sending out resumes and job applications to various schools all over the United States. We would like to settle in the Midwest hopefully, but we are open to living anywhere (anywhere is closer to home than Lithuania!). It has been slow going. I don't know if schools are hesitant to contact someone who is currently living in a country they probably can't find on a map. He is certainly qualified, but it is hard for a school to want to fund flying him in for an interview. So we would really appreciate prayers for the job hunt. Pray for encouragement and wisdom to know what to do. We have faith that God already knows where we will be next year, and what we will be doing....but a lot of schools have been silent, so it would be very encouraging to at least hear something from them!
With all of this thinking about the future, it is really going to be a struggle to live in the present. So that is another prayer request. That we would be able to finish strong here. We have a lot of great students that we've been privileged to get to know and mentor over the past couple of years, and it would be a disservice to them if we started coasting now. Pray that we would be able to be here while we are here, and not in our worries and excitement over the future (hopefully the last two prayer requests are not contradictory to each other).
I have also had the opportunity to be apart of a growing Bible study here in Klaipeda -- CBSI (Community Bible Study International). It is wonderful to study the Bible alongside a group of women from all over the globe. An experience that I will cherish for sure. Pray that the group would be able to reach more people in Klaipeda with each new year (and for translation! We are studying in English, and a couple of the studies have already been translated to Lithuanian...and a lot more in Russian...but it is so much more meaningful for people to study Scripture in their heart language).
Steve has been able to mentor students, a role he is really gifted in. Pray that the conversations that he has over the next couple of months will be fruitful, and that the relationships that he is building will last beyond the distance of living on the other side of the world next year.
Pray for me in my job. It has certainly been a stretching couple of years for me, in a role that is "filling in wherever needed." I have filled a lot of shoes and worn a lot of hats that don't fit me well (or are really not my style, etc). Pray that I would be able to finish well. It will be a huge relief to be done with my jobs...but difficult to leave behind students.
Our original flight home was going to be in the end of May (the 27th or so?), but we are working to change it so that we can come home sooner. We are missing you, friends and family, and would also like to be home sooner, in case Steve can still do some job interviews. So we are going to try to be home by May 12th (2 months from now). Or at least we will leave here on May 12th.
In the spirit of finishing strong, we will soon give an update on where we are financially. I still have a couple of questions that I would like answered (like, for how long do we raise support? Through May? June? and Can we re-evaluate our budget sooner than May, so we can give you a better idea of how much more, if any we need to raise? etc) before we can give an accurate update. But we do know that we are doing well, and headed in the right direction. Thank you so much for all the support over the years. Your prayers, letters, calls, visits, donations, etc have been very meaningful to us, and to the ministry that we are doing here in Lithuania.
Hope this update finds you well....and thank you for reading!
Laura
As promised, here is an update on how we are doing in Lithuania. On Monday we will start the last 6 weeks until graduation (graduation is on or around May 1st here this year). It will be an especially busy time, because LCC has a new president, and toward the end of March here we will have an inauguration. Should be a pretty big event in addition to the normal wrapping-up activities that happen in the last few weeks of school.
The biggest news that we have (NO we are not pregnant) is that this will be our last semester here. Going into it, we committed to be here for 2 school years (and then we'd evaluate whether or not we were coming back)...as I mentioned in the last post, time flies! It is already the end of the second year, and we are feeling that it is time to move on for now, and that we will not extend our commitment beyond what it already was.
There are a few reasons why we are coming back to the United States, and I won't get into all of them here, but mainly we want to develop and grow professionally. Steve wants to gain more RD experience at another school to compare, and he also wants to be able to continue to be mentored and to mentor others within the context of higher education. We have felt a lot of support from back home (in every way possible), so thank you for that.
I would like to develop professionally as well, but not quite so sure how that will look. I am sure that the jobs I was doing here (and am doing for another 6 weeks) are not the jobs I want to do for the rest of my life. Last semester I took one seminary class online, and this semester I am taking one more class (I had originally signed up for 2 classes, but had to drop one due to me being in over my head busy)...at this rate I will finish a master's degree in 200 years. So I would like to take more classes next fall if possible. I have really enjoyed the classes I've been taking, but would really like to do a program that is not online, and have more classroom time. So who knows where I will be next year? It all depends on where Steve gets a job, and if there is a seminary near by.
Which brings me to my first prayer request:
Job hunting.
Steve has been diligently sending out resumes and job applications to various schools all over the United States. We would like to settle in the Midwest hopefully, but we are open to living anywhere (anywhere is closer to home than Lithuania!). It has been slow going. I don't know if schools are hesitant to contact someone who is currently living in a country they probably can't find on a map. He is certainly qualified, but it is hard for a school to want to fund flying him in for an interview. So we would really appreciate prayers for the job hunt. Pray for encouragement and wisdom to know what to do. We have faith that God already knows where we will be next year, and what we will be doing....but a lot of schools have been silent, so it would be very encouraging to at least hear something from them!
With all of this thinking about the future, it is really going to be a struggle to live in the present. So that is another prayer request. That we would be able to finish strong here. We have a lot of great students that we've been privileged to get to know and mentor over the past couple of years, and it would be a disservice to them if we started coasting now. Pray that we would be able to be here while we are here, and not in our worries and excitement over the future (hopefully the last two prayer requests are not contradictory to each other).
I have also had the opportunity to be apart of a growing Bible study here in Klaipeda -- CBSI (Community Bible Study International). It is wonderful to study the Bible alongside a group of women from all over the globe. An experience that I will cherish for sure. Pray that the group would be able to reach more people in Klaipeda with each new year (and for translation! We are studying in English, and a couple of the studies have already been translated to Lithuanian...and a lot more in Russian...but it is so much more meaningful for people to study Scripture in their heart language).
Steve has been able to mentor students, a role he is really gifted in. Pray that the conversations that he has over the next couple of months will be fruitful, and that the relationships that he is building will last beyond the distance of living on the other side of the world next year.
Pray for me in my job. It has certainly been a stretching couple of years for me, in a role that is "filling in wherever needed." I have filled a lot of shoes and worn a lot of hats that don't fit me well (or are really not my style, etc). Pray that I would be able to finish well. It will be a huge relief to be done with my jobs...but difficult to leave behind students.
Our original flight home was going to be in the end of May (the 27th or so?), but we are working to change it so that we can come home sooner. We are missing you, friends and family, and would also like to be home sooner, in case Steve can still do some job interviews. So we are going to try to be home by May 12th (2 months from now). Or at least we will leave here on May 12th.
In the spirit of finishing strong, we will soon give an update on where we are financially. I still have a couple of questions that I would like answered (like, for how long do we raise support? Through May? June? and Can we re-evaluate our budget sooner than May, so we can give you a better idea of how much more, if any we need to raise? etc) before we can give an accurate update. But we do know that we are doing well, and headed in the right direction. Thank you so much for all the support over the years. Your prayers, letters, calls, visits, donations, etc have been very meaningful to us, and to the ministry that we are doing here in Lithuania.
Hope this update finds you well....and thank you for reading!
Laura
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Great ambitions
Hi Friends and Family,
I had grand ambitions of posting a true update with more than just a link to a photo album, but as it is, it is midnight, and our bus leaves Tartu tomorrow morning at 6:45. If any of our buses have wireless, I may post from there. We have had a very relaxing week in Tartu, and will return to a very busy last 6 weeks of school. I will let you know better how you can pray for us in the next post.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support (both moral and financial!) -- it is much appreciated!
More soon.
Laura
PS....here is a link to the last few photos of Tartu, and here is a link to reflections of Hannah and Eva's visit (which was not only over in a blink, but already seems so long ago! Time flies).
I had grand ambitions of posting a true update with more than just a link to a photo album, but as it is, it is midnight, and our bus leaves Tartu tomorrow morning at 6:45. If any of our buses have wireless, I may post from there. We have had a very relaxing week in Tartu, and will return to a very busy last 6 weeks of school. I will let you know better how you can pray for us in the next post.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support (both moral and financial!) -- it is much appreciated!
More soon.
Laura
PS....here is a link to the last few photos of Tartu, and here is a link to reflections of Hannah and Eva's visit (which was not only over in a blink, but already seems so long ago! Time flies).
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tartu, Estonia
Here is a link to the first of our pictures in Tartu.
And here are 5 of them, if you don't have time to go through the album (bonus: the one of Steve below).
A symbol of Tartu: A statue called the Kissing Students
Tartu University's main building, St John's Church, and a couple of backpackers.
The Town Hall, and to the left is where we are staying.
And, a couple of pictures with people in them:
And here are 5 of them, if you don't have time to go through the album (bonus: the one of Steve below).
A symbol of Tartu: A statue called the Kissing Students
Tartu University's main building, St John's Church, and a couple of backpackers.
The Town Hall, and to the left is where we are staying.
And, a couple of pictures with people in them:
Always fun to travel with Steve
Steve in between statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Wilde in Tartu, Estonia.
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