Lithuania 5-14: Pilviskiai

Today was a day of fellowship, crafts, prayer, storytelling and singing. We joined women from 5 churches in Pilviskiai. Many of us rode the bus together, and I had the chance to speak with Pastor Rosita, who serves two smaller churches: Kazlų Rúda and Eiguliai. She has an 8 year old daughter Victoria who is very brave and speaks excellent English. We also met Ona whose daughter lives in USA and Ramute, whose daughter lives in England.

A mother, Rasa, and her two daughters, Raminta, who is 17, and Gintarė, who is 13 years old, were particularly kind and welcoming.

Their friend Vaida helped with the candle making and wrapping. She communicated very well with her kindness.

Vaida

We actually started our day together with prayer, and moved to cake. This cake was called śakotis, or "many branches" cake. This cake was Special to all present.

We made bracelets with beads and wonderful beeswax candles. One to give and one to keep and light in remembrance of the day together.

We heard Elena, a 92 year old member of the church, tell the story of how she had come to care in 1989 for the cemetery in her town that had been so neglected. She cleared it, had it reconsecrated, and tended it for many years until she was no longer able, particularly honoring the graves of the family that founded the church. Her story is in many ways the story of the importance of faithful presence, for the church, and in caring for loved ones even in death. She told her story, and passed around well-loved photographs of her life, her husband, and the cemetery. The co-pastor of the church, Rev. Jolita Piečiate-Erbele translated for her. Rev. Jolita is a newly ordained Elder, and about to have her third child. Our thanks to both these remarkable women. (And to Deacon Jelena, who translated and played the organ and sang for us.)

Helen taught us all, after every story, that women together can make such a difference in each others' and their communities' lives. She reminded us that we have sisters everywhere there is a church, and that no matter our suffering or our mistakes, "whoever we are, we are welcome to Jesus."

Here is a picture of members and co-pastor (Andrew Erbele) of the Kibartai and Pilviskiai churches.

Kibartai Church has an after school program at their church that cares for many children, feeding them and helping them with homework.

Raminta spoke excellent English, and we shared stories on the bus all the way back to Kaunas. Wonderful that two women of such different ages and different countries could talk about things that mattered so much to both of them. We are Ubuntu sisters. "We are one. I am because you are."