This is a very informative website about Lithuania.
http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Lithuania.html

Here is a section about Etiquette and Religion:

Etiquette

Lithuanians are a reserved people with respect for tradition. They generally will not go out of their way to greet someone they do not know; people on public conveyances do not look directly at someone else unless they are friends and generally give up their seats to their elders.
People often bring a small gift of candy or flowers when they visit someone (always an odd number of flowers unless someone has passed away). Hosts are generous and do anything they can to make a guest comfortable.
Men always shake the hands of male friends when they meet in a café or on the street but never inside a door. This is one of many superstitions, which include not whistling indoors for fear of calling little devils and not sitting at the corner of a table if one wishes to marry soon.

Religion

Religious Beliefs. Lithuania is mainly Roman Catholic (90 percent), with some Lutherans and a few members of other churches. The Jewish population, was almost completely erased between 1941 and 1944.
Religious Practitioners. The Catholic Studies Academy has over eight hundred members in Lithuania, and there are several seminaries and monasteries. Klaipėda University has a Lutheran Evangelical Theology Center that hosts about thirty monks. The Lithuanian Lutheran Youth Center and various Bible studies organizations serve religious practitioners and their patrons.
Rituals and Holy Places. One of the most significant holy places is the Hill of Crosses just north of Šiauliai on the road to Rīga, Latvia. The hill has hundreds of thousands of crosses brought by believers from throughout the country and around the world. Although the Sovietsbulldozed the hill several times for its open violation of their anti-religious policy, the crosses always reappeared.

Read more: http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Lithuania.html#ixzz3039MX2Cq

Here are some tips for working with interpreters...

1)  Get to know your interpreters.  Spend time with them, learn about their education, family, interests.   Ask for their suggestions about how to facilitate communication.  Be open to their suggestions.

2)  Appreciate your interpreters' expertise.  They may help you to communicate with others, but they also have 'insiders knowledge' of local customs and can be wonderful help when you want to understand a situation.  They can put "an appropriate cultural filter" on your communication, and help avoid misunderstanding.  Remember to be respectful and appreciative.  After all, interpreters are substantially more skilled than we are if they can speak all the languages involved.

3)  There are a few different ways of interpreting.  There is Thought for Thought intepreting, in which you have a complete conversation with the interpreter and then s/he speaks on your behalf.  And there is Consecutive interpreting, which is usually the most effective mode of interpretation one on one.  Talk with your interpreter ahead of time and decide how to proceed.  You may like also to ask your interpreter to indicate when you should pause, when to listen longer, and help you understand if things are not going as well as possible.  An interpreter can be a diplomatic presence!

4)  Never assume the person with whom you would like to converse does NOT speak English.  Always inquire.  If people speak to you in English that you have difficulty understanding, always express appreciation for the effort.  Offer your own good wishes in the others' language, it is likely that others will also appreciate your efforts!

5)  Always face directly to the person with whom you are speaking, and watch and listen as s/he speaks, then listen to the interpreter, but respond back directly to the person.   It is tempting to speak directly to the person who understands you, but this will not build relationship necessarily.

6)  Speak slowly and clearly.  Pause after a thought or phrase, or after a major point has been made.  Don't ask your interpreter to remember long sentences.    Feel free also to pause for thought, and give listening space for your conversation partner also to pause, without feeling the need to fill the space.

7)  Be careful with humor.  Just as in the US, what one person thinks is funny may not be the case for another.

8)  Be curious, but listen and speak with kindness.  Compassion and connection can be communicated even without speech.  Don't let the language difference keep you from being yourself .  That is the gift you bring!

9)  Watch body language.  Some of it is universal!  Americans may touch more or less than the people we meet.  Observe local customs and practice them as much as you can.

Reading Map Link to Between Shades of Gray

This is a link to a Reading Map for the book Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys.  It contains many other links and references for those who want to increase their understanding of Lithuanian history, the impact of its geography, its experience of wars, and its current cultural challenges.

http://ppld.org/sites/default/files/readingmaps/BetweenShadesOfGray.pdf

Brief review of the documentary "Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness"

"The history of World War II tells many tales of extraordinary courage. One of the most compelling and inspirational is that of Chiune Sugihara. In the face of the Nazi onslaught, this modest diplomat saved thousands of lives, using his authority to rescue fleeing Jewish refugees. This remarkable documentary chronicles the life of Sugihara and the little-known relationship between the Japanese and Jews in the 1930s and 40s."

The courage, compassion and humanity of Chiune Sugihara is well documented in this work.  I especially appreciated the sense that he was a man who was interested in and accepted many different kinds of people, who found the call upon his compassion eventually exhausting, and whose life went on in unremarkable ways after the war.   

Beth Watson

Cultural Sensitivity (cont'd)

“Avoid making too many comparisons. Acknowledge and note new things in your cultural discovery process without going into the process of comparing them to what you already know, expect, and have experienced in your home [or other] countr[ies]..   It is much easier to observe and learn from a culture when you aren’t constantly making comparisons and judgments.”

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

 ~Marcel Proust (French Novelist and Author, 1871-1922)

From Judy Marnin (our thanks to you!)

Cultural Sensitivity

Here’s another little “culture” tidbit as we prepare for our trip.  These are from the Ubuntu Cultural Sensitivity Packet, and while I know you all are aware of these sensitivity issues, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded!

            GO, Observe, Dialogue, Learn, Yearn

                        Go into the situation and environment with no expectations.

                        Observation is a valuable key to understanding a culture.

                        Dialogue and personal interactions are crucial.

                        Learn about the culture before making judgments.

                        Yearn to break old habits.

I’ve attached the entire document if you want to know more.

And for those of you interested in the situation of the Roma in Lithuania, here’s a link: http://www.truelithuania.com/gypsies-124

Thanks, Judy Marnin!

Our Travellers:

United through faith, history and culture we come together to share our stories

Ellen Chaplin is a retired social worker. She has traveled to Haiti with a medical mission team and to El Paso, TX to do repair work at Lydia Patterson. Ellen lived in Japan for a year and Germany for three. Her hobbies are travel, reading and knitting. Ellen is Ann Newton’s sister in law.  She recently moved from Wichita, KS to Omaha, NE to be near her family.


   

Josephine Deere is an Administration for Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. Josephine has travelled to Brazil, South Africa, Cambodia and Vietnam to name a few. She enjoys singing and making crafts. Josephine taught the Roma study at Mission U last year. She is very active in UMW. This is her first international project with UMW. Josephine, her husband and son live in Norman, OK.

Annette Funk grew up in North Mississippi and West Tennessee, graduated from college in Missouri in 1962, and has since resided in western Washington and enjoyed three careers. She taught social studies and English in junior and senior high schools and developmental disability classes through a community college adult education program. As a registered nurse she worked in a variety of fields including patient education, clinical drug research, and operating room. In 1992 she joined the national staff of the Women's Division as executive secretary for financial interpretation. She has led studies in several regional and conference schools of Christian mission. In United Methodist Women, Annette has served as local, district, conference and jurisdiction officers, and she is currently vice president at Mason UMC in Tacoma.  Since retiring from the Women's Division staff as executive secretary for mission opportunities Dec. 31, 2002, Annette has enjoyed reading, traveling, gardening, and establishing new residences with husband Roland; becoming more active in local church and volunteer activities; and participating in special projects with the Women's Division.

Wanda Holcombe is a retired missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.  Wanda and husband George served in the Philippines from 1996-1999. Wanda was the Peace with Justice Coordinator for GBGM in the Southwest Texas Conference.  She has led many UMW programs and taught in many School of Mission Studies. She was also a Regional UMW leader for several years. Wanda is a voracious reader.  She enjoys, traveling, reading and gardening. Wanda and George live in Austin, TX.  George and Wanda have two adult children and five grans.

Helen Lovelace is one of our Lithuanian Hosts.  The Rev. Helen Byholt Lovelace is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church assigned as director of diaconal ministry in the Lithuania United Methodist Church. She also mentors and assists church-related children's and family centers in Lithuania. A native of Norway, and an ordained deacon of the Norway United Methodist Church, Rev. Lovelace previously served with her husband, the Rev. William (Bill) Lovelace in Ukraine, first in the city of Kerch, and then in Kiev. In the latter she developed ministries related to women's issues, social outreach, and programs with families affected by drug and alcohol abuse.  She and Bill were on a Drug and Alcohol committee together. She says drugs and alcohol brought them together!! :)

Judy Marnin is a retired educator.  She taught English and Speech in junior high, high school, college and overseas for 45 years.  She has been to 47 countries. Her mission outlook took root when she and her husband, Joe served in the Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa in the 1970’s. She managed a travel agency, and was an administrator of a community college before retiring in 2011. She has traveled to Sudan with the GBGM Mission Travel Seminar. This past spring she traveled to Serbia, Slovakia and Bulgaria to learn more about the United Methodist connection with Roma congregations in preparation for teaching the Roma study in Iowa.  That mission increased her interest in countries who overthrew Communist rule. Judy is Vice-President of the Anita, Iowa, UMW and Southwest Iowa District Communications Coordinator. She is a 10 year cancer survivor. Judy and Joe live in Anita, Iowa.

Sue Murray is a retired. Her hobbies are crafts and reading. She and Wanda Holcombe are long time friends. Their husbands were in the ministry together. Sue has traveled to the Philippines, Turkey, Cameroon, Norway Russia and China to name a few. Locally, she delivers meals on wheels and works with a local outreach organization. UMW Conference officer, District President and local president are part of her UMW experiences.  Sue is a reader and loves to do crafts and of course travel! Sue lives in Henrietta, TX. Sue and her husband were seminary friends of George and Wanda’s. Sue has two adult daughters and four grans.

Ann Newton is a retired social worker. She has great deal of experience in teaching subjects about women’s issues, child abuse and neglect, HIVAIDS, domestic violence, post traumatic stress. She has been to Liberia 6 times, India and Australia as well as living abroad. If asked is she was flexible in dealing with the differences you come across while traveling she replied, “YES!-very!”  Ann’s hobbies are reading, hiking and bike riding. Ann and her husband have lived in Greencastle, IN for 56 years. She is very excited to be going to the Baltic. Note:  Ann and Ellen Chaplin are sisters in law.

Beth Newton Watson is Ann Newton's daughter and Ellen Chaplin's niece.  She is a United Methodist minister serving as Director of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, IN.  She lives in Greencastle, Indiana with her husband, Ross, and misses her children:  Robert, studying International Relations at University of Denver and Harriet, studying Art at Ohio Wesleyan University.   She has spent most of her 34 years in ministry in hospital chaplaincy and as a Clinical Pastoral Educator in ACPE, but has served several different churches through the years as well.  She loves reading, travel with family and walking her three dogs with her husband.  She  relies on substantial amounts of daily prayer for the energy required to keep up with her mother.  (I want to thank my brother, Chris Newton, for taking all phone calls about this blog, and helping me turn Wanda's photo right side up.)

Kevin Schaner is active in UMW and was a speaker at the Assembly in St. Louis.  Kevin has led many Ubuntu Journeys as well as UMVIM teams.  She is a published author.  Her hobbies are leading UMVIM, writing, sewing, public speaking and reading. Kevin lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Debbie Vest has been involved in UMC mission work most of her adult life. Her mission experience began in her local Methodist churches. She has been on numerous mission trips to Poland, Macedonia, Hungary, Nicaragua and Mexico. She has led seminars at Eastern Europe and the Balkans Consultations. She was an instructor of Roma Studies for the United Methodist Women’s Mission U. program-Kansas East Conference. Debbie has been Director of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for the South Central Jurisdiction since March, 2008. She enjoys the challenges of the position, and finds the work extremely rewarding. Her hobbies are cooking, reading, travel, hugging gran- Jackson Vest . She and husband Bill live in Lee’s Summit, MO.