Generosity.

Hi Friends, 

 It's been SO long since I last posted. There is a ton going on in this last month of school here at LCC. Finals are next week, and tension and excitement are in the air! Also, I think its safe to say we are officially experiencing spring weather, although it is still pretty brisk out there. My RA's are all hosting their last hall events, this week we have the Student Leader Appreciation Awards, and an End of the Year Celebration! There are many BBQ's and celebrations in the near future. My RA's and I took a day trip to Latvia for a retreat which is pictured below, and I was also able to co-host the annual Parade of Stars competition on campus this month. 

Right now I am starting to plan my summer, in May my sister Jenna will fly to Europe to travel around with me a bit, I work at LCC in June, and I'm home for July to fundraise for the next year, and most importantly visit friends and family. Currently I am trying to figure out how I'm going to tell people about my entire year in a few minutes. I'm choosing my stories and pictures very carefully :) I can't believe a year has already passed. So much has changed in my life and in the lives of those back home. In this time of preparation for summer I am praying for the Lord to prepare me for all of the travel, culture shock, and reunions I will experience. 

Lately God has been showing me where I can grow, always a humbling experience. In the midsts of seeing some of the less desirable parts of my personality I was encouraged with his passage. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-13New International Version (NIV)

Generosity Encouraged

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a]

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

        Being a missionary is a constant state of giving from what you have been blessed with, and trusting that God will continue to provide. I have been strengthened this year, I have learned through trials how to trust God even more that I thought I ever could, or would have to. This scripture reminds me that we are called to provide for others, and to do it with a happy heart. Many people have provided me with the means to be here serving in Lithuania this year, and I am called to give from whatever I have to the students and friends I have here, to serve them and provide for them. Sometimes I find myself being selfish with my blessings and in those times I am called back to the heart of God and He whispers these words to me, these promises. 

As I prepare for July, (a time of fundraising for another year of service) I pray that I will continue to focus on this passage of generosity, so that my friends and family will see my work, and passion, and be encouraged to give as well. I do not want to force or guilt anyone to support me, I treasure every donation no matter the size, because it was given out of love. Firstly I depend on God to put this mission, this part of the world, this University on people's hearts, and through their generosity I then depend on them to supply me with groceries, clothing, and health care. He is in control of our lives, all we need to do is relax, let Him guide us, and then find the courage to follow His calls. This is my prayer for you and for me. 

My RA's and I posing for the yearbook

The Student Leader Awards Invitations

Here are a BUNCH of pictures from our time in Latvia last month!

We enjoyed a tour around town by our two Latvian RA's, then some lunch together, and a few hours at an indoor spa!

Summer in Europe?

     Would you like to spend your Summer in Europe? Do you enjoy college students, fun events, and meeting new people? If you follow my blog then it's likely that you have seen pictures of LCC's student life, my wonderful RA's and students, different places in Klaipeda, as well as some of the traveling I have gotten to do since moving here. Here at LCC we are preparing for summer and that means SUMMER RD HIRING! Every summer we have people with servants hearts come to Lithuania to work as an Resident Director for the month of July. LCC hosts students every July for the Summer Language Institute (SLI) and we need RD's in the residence halls at this time. I will be visiting home the month of July and if you were interested in this position you could potentially be occupying my wonderful apartment for the month. In the past many people have made a summer trip out of this experience coming to Europe early (before July) or staying late (after SLI) and traveling around! It's all what you make it! Of course just like my job this is a self-funded position but you do get a free place to stay, and a guaranteed amazing experience!

If you or someone you know is interested in being a summer RD here at LCC International University please feel free to contact me! I would love to share my experiences with you and what you can expect from a summer in Lithuania.

Please send CV to agarber@lcc.lt to apply

Here is the official job posting link:
http://www.acsd.org/job-detail/lcc-international-university/2015-02-24-july-resident-director-summer-language-institute/

Event Planning

    The most visible part of my role as a Resident Director are the campus events I get to plan with my team. Last week was a full one, an eventful one, full of EVENTS. The LCC Board members were on campus and we had a special board presentation representing the Student Life department. My residence hall had an All-Hall Italian Trivia night which included homemade pizzas, a mustache face painting station, and a big game of live trivia!

TRIVIA NIGHT

MUG & MUFFIN

On Saturday I got to host my second Mug and Muffin event. This is an all women's morning event that takes place once a semester. This semester the women of LCC gathered to learn about Peacemaking. We had two wonderful speakers from our staff and faculty here at LCC, many muffins, a coffee station, a guided mediation, and some good discussion topics. I am always excited and honored to plan this event. Caring for God's daughters is something I am very passionate about. We all need times like these to come together, and remember that we are not alone in our struggles. 

A few weeks ago we had an all campus Wellness Week which was later featured in our school newsletter Transformations. I led an event called Stand Up for Your Sister and it was included in the article! Here is the link:

http://www.lcc.lt/the-wellness-week-promoting-health-lifestyle-at-lcc/

     April is almost here and the rest of the school year is going to fly by! I am eagerly anticipating a visit from my sister this May, and my trip back to California in July. I will be hosting gatherings in LA County, Orange County, San Diego County, and speaking at three churches in the month I am home. It will be busy, but so fulfilling. Please keep me in your prayers as I aim to finish off the year strong. I have much preparation to do for the end of the year and this summer and I am continually keeping God's will at the forefront of all my decisions. Thank you for your support!

Vilnius.

I've finally been to Vilnius!

    I wouldn't be surprised if I set some kind of a record for how long I could live in Lithuania without actually visiting it's capital city. Now that I have been I feel even more connected to this country I call home. I finally know what everyone is talking about! 

It was a wonderful spring break trip that was just close enough to home to still schedule in some days of relaxation. My friend Ella and I took a 4 hour train to Vilnius and spend a few days in the city. It was much bigger that I expected, after 2 full days there was still so much to see. Luckily we happened to be there for Lithuania's Independence day and got to see some of the celebrations!

I got to fulfill a dream of mine when we visited the Cat Cafe, there were so many cats just wondering around while we drank our tea but unfortunately I think these cats are use to attention and love because they were not as needy as I was for their time. 

We hiked to the top of Gediminas Tower and took a tour of whats left of the castle after the war.

Here are some views of Vilnius from the top of the tower!

There are SO many churches in Vilnius and each one we walked into instantly filled me with awe. I also discovered that churches were build so tall and high above everything else to symbolize reaching to God in the heavens. Such cool perspective to have when admiring church architecture. 

Art is a major theme all over Vilnius but there is actually a separate Republic within Vilnius called Uzupis which is especially dedicated to art as a lifestyle!

I was told that this meant miracles and the tradition is to stand on it and spin three times while you make a wish....so I did. Its located in the middle of the busy square too so I really hope that was what you were supposed to do!

We stopped to watch a commercial being filmed near where we were staying!

    These are pictures from the KGB museum, I have never been to a museum that had so many photos, and artifacts from the time period. This is the actually building where many Lithuanian's were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. All of this happen less than 70 years ago. The book I recently posted about titled "Between Shades of Gray" perfectly told the story of this dark time in Lithuania's history. 

These are the doors to the jail cells

This padded door was part of a entirely padded room for torturing. 

I learned that the inside of the prison had to be repainted all the time to cover up the messages prisoners would scratch into the paint. 

 It was moving to experience this awful truth at the KGB museum and then walk outside and see the whole city celebrating Lithuania's freedom and independence! There is always hope!

God's beauty on my train ride home.