Busy summer!

Sorry we haven't posted a lot this summer...but we have been keeping quite busy trying to see as many people as possible! I have been encouraged to hear that people actually have been keeping up with us on this blog, so will try to keep a regular schedule of updating it once we get back to Lithuania.

Speaking of getting back to Lithuania, we're flying out on July 29th. This is soon! Pray for us in these next less-than-2-weeks as we get ready and head out!

Steve is the speaker at Camp Lebanon next week, so keep him in your prayers...and the kids too! He will be speaking to kids in 3-6 grade.

Hope all is going well!

Living out of a suit case

We're back in Minnesota after a road trip to Pennsylvania and everywhere in-between. It was great to see so many people, and we were so incredibly blessed by the generosity and hospitality of so many! We got to speak to our church in Pennsylvania and share a little bit about life in Lithuania; and, it was so great to be able to catch up with everyone. In a lot of ways the road trip was way too short, but on the other hand, it will be nice to not be living out of a suit case for a little while (a very little while, I have a feeling the suit cases will get a lot of use this summer).

I'm not on our computer, so no pictures to share. But know that we had a wonderful time, and made it back to MN safely.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer (so glad it is finally summer in MN, when we left on our road trip, it wasn't yet warm or humid or sunny).

Our phone is activated

Hi All,
Ok, sorry if you tried to call us on our track phone. We didn't realize that we had to activate it in order for people to call us. We activated it today, and it should work now.
Sorry for the inconvenience!
(The phone number should be a few posts down from this one.)

Happy June!

Good News!

Hey everyone,
I just found out yesterday that I have been accepted to North Park Theological Seminary!! This is really exciting news! Thanks to all who had prayed about it, and were references, and who generally gave moral support. Today I am working on the dreaded FAFSA, which is the most tedious part about higher education, I think (but totally necessary if you need financial aid).

The next school year will be so busy, and I will have a lot on my plate...but I am so thrilled for this opportunity. I will be a SemConnect student, so will be able to study while in Lithuania!

There is still lots to figure out (I just found out yesterday, after all), but wanted to share the good news!

Here is some information about the Master of Arts in Christian Formation (as copied from the website):

Master of Arts in Christian Formation

The Master of Arts in Christian Formation is designed to equip persons for effective leadership and engagement in Christian formation through a variety of ministries including education ministries, and youth ministry. Christian formation is facilitating the transformation of the Holy Spirit of groups and persons by the Holy Spirit into ones characterized by the values and virtues of Christ. Learning goals for the Master of Arts in Christian Formation include:

• Living and working under Scripture's authority by knowing the Bible in English and engaging responsibly in the interpretation and application of its teaching
• Having a survey knowledge of the Christian tradition and knowing one's own place within it
• Understanding the global character of the church
• Appreciating the values of the pietistic heritage with the conviction that the task of The Evangelical Covenant Church includes being good stewards of that heritage within the life of the church
• Becoming spiritually formed through growing faith, personal character, self-care, and the various competencies required for effective ministry in Christian formation
• Having a survey knowledge of Christian theology
• Understanding of cultures in order to live and present the Gospel effectively
• Having the ability to communicate effectively through spoken and written media
• Developing a clear ministerial identity as a member of a pastoral staff or church-related institution
• The ability to maintain appropriate relationships
• The ability to identify, recruit, and equip laity for the formational ministries of the church
• Understanding educational and organizational theories and means and models of formation
• Demonstrating particular expertise in one or more areas of specialized ministry
• Demonstration of skills in the ministry of Christian formation through field education

Doesn't it sound exciting? :)

Pictures part 2

Laura finished posting the second round of pictures from our time with Mom and Dad. Here there are, enjoy. Click here for the pictures part 2.