Living Lithuania : January 2015

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Six Months of Learning.

I have lived in this new place for over 6 months now, I have learned an incredible amount and wanted to share the good, and the hard, the silly, and the deep moments with you all. Reflection is a beautiful thing that we don't always take the time for. I am grateful for everything on this list, I have grown from each new experience. Let's take more time to be grateful.

I hang dry all my clothes.
I live in a country and don’t speak their language (well).
I started learning a new language this year.
I live on 1/5^th of my last jobs monthly income…and life is better, I am happier.
I’ve learned how to cook…for others and myself.
I have made new friends.
I have been to 6 new countries in 6 months.
I have learned to defend my faith and teach others gently.
I have learned to show Christ’s love through actions and not words.
I have discovered my love for the forest, and bike riding.
I am healthier.
I spend more time on Skype than I thought I ever would.
I have missed two, soon to be three weddings of my closest friends.
I will miss my sister’s college graduation.
I lead a women’s bible study weekly and just started a house church with the same women.
I have discovered my love of hosting people and making them feel at home.
I have discovered how to make myself feel at home no matter how far from "home" I really am.
I have figured out how to use TWO new currencies (Litas, Euros).
I haven’t driven a car in six months… don’t miss it.
I have learned how to take the bus (and have only gotten lost twice).
I have learned to say, “As nekalbu Lietuviskai” or I don’t speak Lithuanian.
I have found a new mentor.
I have applied for grad school.
I have been happy, sad, proud, lonely, excited, confused, etc.
I swam in the Baltic sea.
I am living closer to war and pain than ever before.
I have seen the pain in peoples past and present.
I have had beautiful conversations about Heaven, and hard conversations about hell.
I have learned so much about the recently tragic history of Eastern Europe, that was only ever a story in my history textbooks until now.
I have seen poverty and wealth in the same residence hall.
I have fed the hungry.
I have been exposed to so many new languages.
I have eaten protein bars with blood in them for iron.
I have been encouraged, and affirmed in my job.
I have been financially supported by other missionaries I have met here…mind blown.
I have done a fair share of babysitting.
I have spoken on Sabbath at a Spiritual Life retreat.
I have planned and lead an on campus women’s event.
I have done a lot of baking.
I have battled my own demons.
I have cried over Facetime with friends and family.
I am always discovering God’s purpose for me here at LCC.
I have learned how to convert Farenheit to Celius.
I have learned how to read a 24 hour clock without hesitating.
I have learned more about gardening, and ate things I have grown.
I have survived living in a snowy climate.
I bought my first winter coat.
I live a wonderfully slower pace of life.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

World Changers.

This is a blog post from my great friend Krysti who just finished a six month mission in Malawi Africa (a place we have both called home), and is now off to accept her first post-grad job in Uganda! Her words on changing the world couldn't have been said any better, so I won't try...I'll just let her do her thing :) You can follow her blog at https://krystiwilkinson.wordpress.com

Changing the World

by krystiwilkinson

It’s no secret that I want to change the world – I talk about it my blog bio, it was written on my college graduation hat, and ‘change’ comes up quite easily in conversations with me. This has always been a dream of mine since before I can remember; the only thing that has changed over the years is how I plan on doing so.

Since I’ve moved to Malawi, that’s all I hear from my friends. I get emails with “So when you’re done changing the world….” and texts from my girls asking for advice with “I know you’re busy changing the world, but…”, and countless “I miss you, but I’m glad you’re changing the world!” messages. I’m really glad, and really touched, people think I’m so powerful (Secret: I’m not). But my time in Malawi has made me realize a lot about the reality of changing the world.
The question isn’t IF you will change the world, the question is what will the world look like once you have. Because we are all world-changers. We all shape the world around us. Yet no one sees this. We all think you have to move to Africa or give away all your money or house a homeless person. We read Bob Goff’s book or watch Nate Garvis’ TED talk and think we’ll never be them, and we’ll never do anything of significance. We think the only way to change the world is to do some crazy, unheard of, mind-blowing act that will get an article written about us in TIME. The truth is a lot less glamorous: the world is changed everyday, by everyone - for better, or for worse.

You change the world every morning when you decide if you are going to be nice to your Starbucks barista or not. You change the world when you decide between shopping at the name-brand store or at a local shop. You change the world when you decide whether or not to reach out to that friend who you know really needs you, even though you would rather let someone else handle it. You change the world, every day, with your choices - no matter how small they might seem.
If you want the world to be more just, follow the traffic laws next time you drive. If you want the world to be more generous, buy a friend lunch for no reason. If you want the world to be a happier place, give a stranger a compliment. If you want to see less poverty in the world, donate part of your paycheck to a charity. Seemingly insignificant changes can go a long way. Seemingly small actions on your part can have a large impact. You have a change you want to see in the world? Be that change.
How you treat people matters. How you spend your money matters. How you view those around you matters. And all these decisions – and more – shape the world you live in. Which then molds the world of everyone who interacts with you. Which, in turn, changes the world.

The most frustrating thing for me as I was preparing to move to Malawi was when people responded with either “How cool! You’ll be changing girls’ lives over there!” or “Wow! I wish I could make the world a better place like you will”. Although I know both reactions came from pure intentions, and I politely smiled with gratitude, I really wanted to give them a sarcastic reply and a dose of reality. Because I wanted them to see that I was already doing good work – why does my heart and passion for teenage girls get glorified when it's in Malawi yet looked over when it’s in San Diego? I also wanted them to see that they can make the world a better place, without having to move to Africa. They can choose to live intentionally and work towards a bigger purpose, while working 9 to 5 in a cubicle.
You don’t have to live in a third world country. You don’t have to feed orphans. You don’t even have to give away half your income. (Although those are all really cool ways to change the world!) You just have to be committed to being a better person than you were yesterday and to making a better tomorrow for everyone you will encounter.

(...that's all us so-called "world changers" living in Africa with the orphans are hoping to do...)

Friday, January 23, 2015

Follow by Email.

Hello Readers!

I just added a helpful tool to my blog homepage. In the top righthand corner of my blog you will see a section titled "Follow by Email" if you type your email into that box, and then follow the confirmation steps, you will get my blog updates sent straight to your inbox! That way you will always know when I post an update.

Thank you all so much for supporting my mission and reading my updates. It really encourages me to know that friends on the other side of the world are interested in what God is doing over here in Lithuania!

Blessings, Kelsey

Sunday, January 18, 2015

BIG NEWS.

Since coming to LCC so much change has occurred in my life. I arrived here on August 1st 2014 and I am now approaching my six month mark. God can do amazing work in a minute, in a year, and in a lifetime. I can confidently say that I have seen the movements of the Holy Spirit in these past months at LCC and I am so honored to be apart of it.

So telling by the title of this post, you must be expecting some big news. I have been praying about this one for a long time, almost since I got here, and the answer didn't come right away, but now that it has I am completely solid in this decision. My year at LCC is not over, far from it, but these next few months will come quickly, and I have been thinking and preparing for the future. Just a few weeks into my role as Resident Director here I knew that I had found my career, my calling, the work that gave me purpose, and I discovered I had a talent for it. I shared this exciting discovery with my two superiors and they offered me some advice/options for my future in Student Development. I took this sound advice and that is my big announcement....

I will be staying for two more years here at LCC, AND will start my Graduate Degree in Higher Education this Fall 2015!

I am so excited to share this good news with you all! I can clearly feel the Lord's call to be here, stay here, and grow here. Starting my masters degree is such an exciting new challenge for me. I have discovered my love of Student Development in Higher Education and hope to keep growing in this field.

So with that said I will be coming home for a VISIT this JULY! I arrive on July 1st and return to Lithuania on August 1st. This was an unforeseen expense when I moved here, since I didn't know I would be coming back so I have been in prayer for support to cover this expense. If you feel led to give to help me get home please click here and use my PayPal account to do so. (Kelseybergstrom524@pointloma.edu) username

I am focusing on the trust that I will need to practice in these coming months. This decision comes with a lot of responsibility. I will need to re-fundraise this semester and summer. I will use most of my time in the States this summer to meet with people and tell them about the work I am doing here.

Overall I am so excited that God is calling me back to LCC and I know that He will always provide for those who do His work. Thank you to all who read this blog, who keep in contact with me, and who offer up prayers, and encouragements. Community is a beautiful thing.

Some on my favorite moments from this past semester...

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Love Jesus Deeply.

This Christmas season I couldn't shower everyone with gifts the way I would have liked to. This was a year of less, something that I hope I will continually get better at in 2015. Simplicity. Enough. This year my gifts came handmade, in the form of service, and even just some quality time. Looking back it wasn't worse than a usual Christmas, it wasn't bad at all. It was intentional. This Christmas wasn't about how much I spent on each person but how present I could be with them, whether that be in person or on FaceTime. I would be SO interested to see how many hours I have logged on FaceTime in the last 6 months!

Most people who follow this blog have given to my time here in Lithuania. You have supported me financially, spiritually, and emotionally. I have leaned heavily on many friends, and family members since moving to Lithuania, and I am so grateful for the support I have received.

The Student Life team here at LCC read through Henri Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus" together this past semester, and the last section really struck me. I even made a note to include this quote in my blog, so that says something.

"It is a true spiritual leadership. Powerlessness and humility in the spiritual life do not refer to people who have no spine and who let everyone else make decisions for them. They refer to people who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they are ready to follow him wherever he guides them, always trusting that, with him, they will find love and find it abundantly."

I strive to be the Christian leader who exemplifies this passage. Being a leader is not about power but about humility. Here at LCC I have the opportunity to practice this discipline daily. I want that deep love for Jesus, I want the love I already have for him to grow, and expand. I want to believe and know that he will provide for me before he even does, not only after I've seen his faithfulness.

These are the people that made this year at LCC possible. These are some of my faithful supporters showing off their Lithuanian crosses that I sent them for Christmas this year. This is the biggest token I was able to give this season, and these people deserve it! I am immensely grateful for their generosity and love. Here's to you.

Wyatt and Kristi Ehrlich Bob and JoAnne Bonkowski

Robert Hetzel Earl and Caroline Trinidad

The Wilkinson Family (Kim, Jim, and Krysti & Kevin)

Saturday, January 3, 2015

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Happy 2015!

This holiday season was just as crazy, exciting, and celebratory as any other. Now that I am back from my Christmas, and New Years travels, things are finally starting to slow down, just in time to start up again. But unlike in the past I have approach this last month with a method of Sabbath, of slowing down even in the busiest moments of life. I have found time to spend with God, by myself, and with good friends. I have made time for the things, and people the give me life, and joy. I have thanked God for another year of life and spent time praying and dreaming of the year to come.

There are so many pictures and moments to share from the last month. Here at LCC we finished up finals week, threw several Christmas parties, closed down the residence halls, and then reopened them for Christmas housing, and managed student storage. I gave and received end of the semester work evaluations, had my final student meetings of the year, finished up some office work, and then was officially on Christmas break, starting Christmas Eve! One of my best friends from college who is now living in England came to visit me for a few days and together we traveled to Dortmund, Germany for Christmas, and Amsterdam for New Years where we met two other friends from California!

The trip was a beautiful mix of rest, discovery, growth, and reunion. It was an amazing privilege to see good friends, to catch up, and observe how we have all grown in these six short months apart. Dortmund had an incredible Christmas Market, and the "Largest Christmas Tree in the World." Amsterdam was the best place to be for New Years, I have never experienced such an intense celebration.

The past few months God has been revealing His power to me in different ways. I started reading a book called "Ex-Muslim" during my travels and stumbled upon a section that perfectly phrased what I have been learning.

"God's heart is set on pursing us- people from every nation on earth. It always has been and always will be. And He will use whatever is necessary to seek and find us. "

There are people, and circumstances in my life that worry me because they are not in line with the will of Jesus. My own actions and decisions fall into this category as well, more than I would like to admit. When I find myself troubled or unsure I am reminded by God's gentle voice that He is COMPLETELY POWERFUL. When He wants us to follow Him, do His work, step out in faith for Him, run back to Him, He will make it happen. I am learning to give all the responsibility to Him and take it off of my shoulders. He has a plan that I do not need to see right now. I just need to increase my trust and remember that He is in control, He is our SOVEREIGN GOD.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, and that we can enter this new year even more in tune with the calls the Lord has on our lives.

The RA Christmas party was at my house this year, we decorated cookies and reminisced about our favorite Christmas memories.