Hi Everyone,
We are having a great week hosting Hannah and Eva! We both started out with a busy week, but I (Laura) have been able to take some time to show them around Klaipeda a bit yesterday. We have been playing lots of Rook, and just plain enjoy having them here.
The early morning post is because we are currently on a bus to Riga for the day (the same bus driver, I believe, that drove us that memorable time when the bus got stuck in the snow...I think we will be ok though). The bus has wireless internet, so I brought the computer along to try to get some work done from the bus (Steve, unfortunately, can't join us for this little excursion, he has too many tasks at school that he needs to get done by the end of the week...we hope to take the girls to Vilnius for the weekend before we send them home on Monday, so Steve will join us then).
Anyway, I am happy to report that when we got on the bus at 7am, the sky was a dark navy blue, and by about quarter after/twenty after, the sun was out. Yay for daylight! The sun will set a little after 6pm today -- wonderful!
I am hoping to sleep for the rest of the bus ride, but thought I would do a little post while I was still awake. Hopefully I will remember to take some pictures today while we are in Riga :)
Blessings,
Laura
PS....as I write this, it is still Wednesday in MN...but Thursday morning and the sun is risen here already.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The holiday season is upon us.
Today is Shrove Tuesday (also known by many other names all over the world. In Lithuania, you could say Pancake Day or Užgavėnės), the day before Lent begins. There are many interesting traditions that surround this time here in Lithuania. Today also happens to be one of Lithuania's Independence Days (merely a coincidence that it lands on mardi gras this year). Today is a day off to celebrate independence, and on Sunday (also Valentine's day...also just a coincidence that that holiday was on Sunday) we celebrated Užgavėnės down town in the Old Town of Klaipeda. This celebration kicks off Lent, but also is a celebration of the coming Spring and saying goodbye to Winter. It was a fun and interesting time, and we ran into a lot of people we knew there (on Sunday). I posted an album on facebook, which you can see here.
Artsiom, Steve, and Sasha at Užgavėnės and sporting their Valentine's heart stickers.
Artsiom, Steve, and Sasha at Užgavėnės and sporting their Valentine's heart stickers.
Coffeehouse
A couple of weeks ago (already!) Steve's RAs hosted a coffeehouse in the dorm. They estimated that about a hundred students showed up to drink coffee and tea, and to listen to their fellow students perform a song or two. It was a great event!
RAs Vali, Ruxanda, and Olena by the big coffee pot (that makes over 60 cups, and they had to rebrew more!).
Ana poses by some tea. (Ana was one of my leaders last fall).
Students were invited to bring their own mug and the West side team would provide the hot drink.
The RAs made these witty coasters with a bunch of coffee quotes on them. Erik, Becky, and Artsiom hold up the ones that best describe them?
Conversations at the coffee bar.
Student life as a department just got this coffeepot for various events. We've already used it so much that we can't remember how we got by without it!
RAs Vali and Katia
Me and a random group of students.
Some of the performers, and the audience.
Erik singing his original songs.
RAs Vali, Ruxanda, and Olena by the big coffee pot (that makes over 60 cups, and they had to rebrew more!).
Ana poses by some tea. (Ana was one of my leaders last fall).
Students were invited to bring their own mug and the West side team would provide the hot drink.
The RAs made these witty coasters with a bunch of coffee quotes on them. Erik, Becky, and Artsiom hold up the ones that best describe them?
Conversations at the coffee bar.
Student life as a department just got this coffeepot for various events. We've already used it so much that we can't remember how we got by without it!
RAs Vali and Katia
Me and a random group of students.
Some of the performers, and the audience.
Erik singing his original songs.
Albanian Blessings
Last Friday evening we had some students over for dinner (we provided the ingredients, they provided the Albanian cooking expertise). Making and eating food together is such a great community-builder.
Juli making the delicious spinach/cheese mixture for the filling.
A look inside the goodness. A tasty peach dessert looks on.
I tried to introduce a bit of our culture, Monster Cookies.
Eri, making sure everything runs smoothly.
Steve getting 2 lessons at a time from Melisa and Aina on the best way to role out burek dough.
Juli making the delicious spinach/cheese mixture for the filling.
A look inside the goodness. A tasty peach dessert looks on.
I tried to introduce a bit of our culture, Monster Cookies.
Eri, making sure everything runs smoothly.
Steve getting 2 lessons at a time from Melisa and Aina on the best way to role out burek dough.
Happy Independence Day!
As I sit here, thankful for Lithuania's independence (for many reasons, ranging from patriotic to selfish), I am inspired to catch up on some blog posts. However, I don't want to overwhelm you, so I will do them one at a time (instead of one massive one). This will also allow me to catch up on some housekeeping (write a blog, wash a dish, post a picture, clean the bathroom, etc). The whole time, there will be a mixture of Lithuanian Independence Day festivities and Olympics on the TV, so hopefully I will subconsciously pick up on some more of the Lithuanian language. All in all, a very productive day.
For the first post, before I go start some laundry, I will start with a picture of the ever-shortening paper chain.
For the first post, before I go start some laundry, I will start with a picture of the ever-shortening paper chain.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
3 Pictures from the weekend
Making tasty burek with the Albanian ladies.
Standing next to Old Lady Winter (before we burned her and welcomed spring....more pictures to come...or at least a link to more pictures)
On our Valentine's date at Fredricho Pasazhas
Was a great weekend, and much needed after our busy week. Hopefully more posts and pictures this week.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Standing next to Old Lady Winter (before we burned her and welcomed spring....more pictures to come...or at least a link to more pictures)
On our Valentine's date at Fredricho Pasazhas
Was a great weekend, and much needed after our busy week. Hopefully more posts and pictures this week.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Busy busy
Hi everyone,
It's been super busy, and I feel like there are so many things we would like to blog about! However, you will have to wait a little longer -- sorry! Until then, you can read along the right side of the blog (I finally updated our praises and prayer requests section, and I put a new link of interest...in case you want to know the time and temperature in Klaipeda).
One prayer request that I did not put on there, but that I will just put here is:
We have been waiting a long time for a package of books to get here (my textbooks, and a whole bunch of Narnia books). The package is sitting in Vilnius, waiting for us to send a document that confirms what is in the package. Our colleague talked with them on the phone and then crafted a letter (a letter from me, all in Lithuanian) stating the contents of the package and that it is for personal use, a gift from the states. I have tried a few times to fax the letter to the Vilinius post office, but am having a hard time knowing if it went through (called the post office and they said they would check and then let us know).
Anyway, long story short....our package of books is in the country, but too far away, and we don't know when we'll get it. Hopefully soon. Pray for this situation. It is difficult to communicate, and we are fortunate that our colleague is so willing to help us out (language barrier, as well as even having a bit of an understanding of what kind of documents are needed).
Anyway, I have a Bible study this evening to get ready for, and Steve is busy getting ready for RA interviews that will start tomorrow (the large group interview was last night and went very well).
Hope everyone is well!
It's been super busy, and I feel like there are so many things we would like to blog about! However, you will have to wait a little longer -- sorry! Until then, you can read along the right side of the blog (I finally updated our praises and prayer requests section, and I put a new link of interest...in case you want to know the time and temperature in Klaipeda).
One prayer request that I did not put on there, but that I will just put here is:
We have been waiting a long time for a package of books to get here (my textbooks, and a whole bunch of Narnia books). The package is sitting in Vilnius, waiting for us to send a document that confirms what is in the package. Our colleague talked with them on the phone and then crafted a letter (a letter from me, all in Lithuanian) stating the contents of the package and that it is for personal use, a gift from the states. I have tried a few times to fax the letter to the Vilinius post office, but am having a hard time knowing if it went through (called the post office and they said they would check and then let us know).
Anyway, long story short....our package of books is in the country, but too far away, and we don't know when we'll get it. Hopefully soon. Pray for this situation. It is difficult to communicate, and we are fortunate that our colleague is so willing to help us out (language barrier, as well as even having a bit of an understanding of what kind of documents are needed).
Anyway, I have a Bible study this evening to get ready for, and Steve is busy getting ready for RA interviews that will start tomorrow (the large group interview was last night and went very well).
Hope everyone is well!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Fun
Purchased in Lithuania....but reminds us of America for some reason...can't quite put my finger on it. :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
And away we go!
It's already February, and sometimes it seems like life is moving so fast. My seminary classes started yesterday (textbooks aren't here yet, but for one of the classes, I don't need them just yet, and for the other, the professor emailed me the first couple of chapters -- so I'm getting by!)....I'm crazy enough to think that I can take two classes this semester on top of it all. The first class is Intro to New Testament 1 (we will cover the Gospels). This, I think, will be a very good but busy class. Lots of reading. The second class is Journaling as a Spiritual Practice. It is a pass/fail class...but I still think it will be quite busy (lots of reflecting).
This week, I will also start helping out with our Community Bible Study group. It is the same group that I was a part of last year and last semester. Last semester I only had time to participate, not to do anything extra. This semester, I've volunteered to lead a discussion group, and maybe do a couple of wrap-up talks. Should be good, hopefully I can manage my time well enough for this!
For LCC, we're quite busy with student leadership hiring. This week all of the applications are coming in, and next week will be the start of all of the interviews. It is a good but busy time. It is encouraging to see so many students interested in being a leader on campus.
And for some reason, all of my weekends in February are booked, and have been for a while...all good things. This weekend, I was supposed to go on a retreat with my student leaders (to the same place that Steve went to with his leaders -- to a colleague's house outside of town that has a sauna). We had planned to go last semester, but about half of us had the flu that was going around when the time came to go, so we postponed it to this semester. This weekend was supposed to be it, but we've been having one of the worst winters Klaipeda has seen in 30 years (there has been snow on the ground since Christmas time, and last year it never stuck around for more than a couple of days. Lots of snow....and colder than normal temperatures). Anyway, we had to postpone our retreat one more time because of frozen pipes at the house. Sooooo....hopefully the weather will change soon, and we can go on our retreat (probably won't happen until after Spring break). I'm still going to make dinner for my group and have an evening with games or a movie or something this Saturday.
The next weekend, we are planning on eating/cooking with our Albanian friends. We cannot get enough Albanian food and company! That same weekend, a colleague of ours is giving Felting lessons for an afternoon...and I signed up. I've never felted before, but seems really interesting. Maybe I will gain enough skills to make my own sauna hat? (probably not in one afternoon, but I can dream big :)
The next weekend after that, we are planning on having a Ladies Tea, hosted by a few of us women on the community life team. We are planning on inviting all of the girls at LCC for muffins and tea, and will have 4 speakers that will talk about topics that apply to women (this particular one is about the paths that women take...career, motherhood, both, etc). The speakers are various faculty/staff/wives from LCC. This is the first event of its kind, and I think it will be a success! Hopefully we will be able to do more of these in the future for the women here.
And, if you've been keeping track, you will also know that this is the weekend that our visitors will arrive! The chain is halfway between the doorknob and the floor. Yay! Hopefully it is not too wintery when they get here....one thing I can guarantee is that there will be significantly more sunlight then than there is now. It is amazing how a few more minutes of sunlight each day (each. day.) can lift one's mood! And visitors! Hannah, Eva, pack your swimsuits. We want to take you to the sauna and go for a swim in the sea.
Anyway, that's February in a nutshell. It has fewer days than a normal month, but yet we still manage to fill it with just as many things.
Oh yeah, and my favorite sport is about to start soon....the Olympics! I still have yet to decide who I will cheer for.
Hope everyone is doing well. Our computer is managing to hold on these days, and the power has stopped going out....so give us a call on Skype, we'd love to chat!
This week, I will also start helping out with our Community Bible Study group. It is the same group that I was a part of last year and last semester. Last semester I only had time to participate, not to do anything extra. This semester, I've volunteered to lead a discussion group, and maybe do a couple of wrap-up talks. Should be good, hopefully I can manage my time well enough for this!
For LCC, we're quite busy with student leadership hiring. This week all of the applications are coming in, and next week will be the start of all of the interviews. It is a good but busy time. It is encouraging to see so many students interested in being a leader on campus.
And for some reason, all of my weekends in February are booked, and have been for a while...all good things. This weekend, I was supposed to go on a retreat with my student leaders (to the same place that Steve went to with his leaders -- to a colleague's house outside of town that has a sauna). We had planned to go last semester, but about half of us had the flu that was going around when the time came to go, so we postponed it to this semester. This weekend was supposed to be it, but we've been having one of the worst winters Klaipeda has seen in 30 years (there has been snow on the ground since Christmas time, and last year it never stuck around for more than a couple of days. Lots of snow....and colder than normal temperatures). Anyway, we had to postpone our retreat one more time because of frozen pipes at the house. Sooooo....hopefully the weather will change soon, and we can go on our retreat (probably won't happen until after Spring break). I'm still going to make dinner for my group and have an evening with games or a movie or something this Saturday.
The next weekend, we are planning on eating/cooking with our Albanian friends. We cannot get enough Albanian food and company! That same weekend, a colleague of ours is giving Felting lessons for an afternoon...and I signed up. I've never felted before, but seems really interesting. Maybe I will gain enough skills to make my own sauna hat? (probably not in one afternoon, but I can dream big :)
The next weekend after that, we are planning on having a Ladies Tea, hosted by a few of us women on the community life team. We are planning on inviting all of the girls at LCC for muffins and tea, and will have 4 speakers that will talk about topics that apply to women (this particular one is about the paths that women take...career, motherhood, both, etc). The speakers are various faculty/staff/wives from LCC. This is the first event of its kind, and I think it will be a success! Hopefully we will be able to do more of these in the future for the women here.
And, if you've been keeping track, you will also know that this is the weekend that our visitors will arrive! The chain is halfway between the doorknob and the floor. Yay! Hopefully it is not too wintery when they get here....one thing I can guarantee is that there will be significantly more sunlight then than there is now. It is amazing how a few more minutes of sunlight each day (each. day.) can lift one's mood! And visitors! Hannah, Eva, pack your swimsuits. We want to take you to the sauna and go for a swim in the sea.
Anyway, that's February in a nutshell. It has fewer days than a normal month, but yet we still manage to fill it with just as many things.
Oh yeah, and my favorite sport is about to start soon....the Olympics! I still have yet to decide who I will cheer for.
Hope everyone is doing well. Our computer is managing to hold on these days, and the power has stopped going out....so give us a call on Skype, we'd love to chat!
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