My team has been doing Unsung Heroes in Lithuania for a week now. When we first arrived we had basically no plans and no direction other than 2 contacts given to us by Team Meno who was here last month. Since then we’ve completely filled up our schedule for the month and have already met several great ministries.
Daycare Centers:
Our main focus this month is a couple that run both a church and a free daycare center inside their home. The daycare center is mostly for children from social risk families. This couple and volunteers from their church also reach out to 5 other daycare centers in Vilnius and try to visit each once a month. Our team will be running an Easter program in each daycare center next week.
We also got to craft for them! I LOVE crafting! Us girls hand made felt from wool fiber and created little heart pins and our guys made pinwheels. They were sold at a market yesterday and today as a fundraiser for the daycare center.
We’ve visited multiple churches, youth groups and a radio station. We’ve emailed countless ministries and missionaries in Vilnius. We’ve met with a few of them in person.
Prayer:
Every morning our team prays together for the day, our ministry, direction, whatever we feel led to pray for. The other day most of our team hiked up the Hill of Three Crosses which overlooks Vilnius. The crosses mark the beginning of Christianity in Lithuania. We sat for a while and prayed over the city.
Food Bank and Homeless Outreach:
Today half of our team is at a grocery store handing out flyers and collecting food donations for the local food bank. The other half of us went out to town with our friend and contact, Almantas, to spend time with the homeless and beggars. We prayed for them and gave them pastries. Danielle and I met a woman who was begging for money because her grandson needed surgery to repair a nerve that was damaged in a previous surgery and left him paralyzed. His name is David. Please pray for them! Another woman we talked to seemed to not have much joy in life, but her face lit up when we gave her a pastry.
These people sit there all day with countless people walking past them and not looking at them as if they don’t exist. Or worse, people judge them without knowing their story. Neither woman were on the streets because of something they did wrong. It’s amazing how simply acknowledging them, smiling at them or talking to them can completely change their day.
For Jesus said “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
And there is your weekly update on how Unsung Heroes is going for Team Zoa in Lithuania!
Fundraising Update:
In other news I’m only a little over $4000 away from being fully funded. I know what you’re thinking “only?!,” but God has provided $12,000 in the span of 7 months! CRAZY! My next and final deadline is July 1st. I can’t do this without the support of incredible people like you. Please prayerfully consider partnering with me in the amazing things God is doing around the world! If you’d like to donate, there is a “Support Me!” button at the top and side of this blog.
