Ever since arriving to Pastor Steponas and Marija’s home, we have been so blessed. We spent our first night next to a fireplace and were given the opportunity to help paint the church the next morning. Pastor Steponas had am ambitious dream of painting the whole sanctuary in 3 days with only a few helpers. We were able to answer his dream and paint it all in 7 hours!
One of my favorite days of ministry was within the first week of being in Vilnius. Pastor asked if a few of us could help with yard work. The rest of the team went into the city to do prayer walking. Chip, Tyler and I got to help with the yard work. We scraped rust off of pipes and the railing, repainted it and did some gardening. It was not just any normal gardening. Tyler was handed a shovel and some gloves when Pastor demonstrated that he wanted the soil to be toiled, but after a few scoops, he bent over and picked something up and stuck it into the nearby bucket. Tyler peered in to see that it was a worm. Pastor wanted Tyler to dig out all the worms.
Why you ask? That is a very great question. Supposedly the worms eat the roots of the plants.
So I joined Tyler in this crazy fun opportunity to serve. Over the course of 4 hours, a little friendly competition was created and over 1,000 worms were dug up between Tyler, Chip and I.
Other days of ministry have included going to Old Town and interviewing some of the locals. Some of the questions we asked were:
- What is your family’s religious background?
- What do you think the majority of Lithuanians believe about God?
- Do you personally believe in a God?
- If yes, what are His attributes?
- If no, if there was a God, what would you want Him to be like?
- If you could ask God any question what would it be?
- What do you know and or believe about Jesus?
- Do you believe He was higher, lower or equal to the saints?
- What do you think about someone when you find out they are a Christian?
It has been really interesting to hear the answers, but more so specifically it has been really encouraging because it gets the people thinking. We have ran into a lot of people that are feeling lost, not sure of who God is, open and honest in their conversations, and are all left thinking.
We have visited the Three Crosses and prayed over the whole city of Vilnius.
We visited a small Christian school and taught about American culture and some of the other cultures we visited throughout the year. It was a great experience visiting the small 39 students and 20 staff population. The classes were so small and so well loved by their teachers.
Our days are filled with a lot of small and various ministries that are filled with visiting people, cleaning homes, encouraging the Body, visiting other churches and making new contacts for future Racers, and praying for the city and the country.
I am so thankful to be in Vilnius for the month and for this time to be walking in faith.
