These are pictures of us cleaning up trash in the communityand having a Lithuanian lunch.
Good News!!This last Saturday I finished the Book of Mormon in Lithuanian my first time through. I also had my first ice cream cone last Tuesday. I was just unwrapping it and taking my first bite, when the wind started blowing freezing sleet into my eyes. The weather can sure change quickly here.
I don't seem to be getting the language quite as nicely as I'd like. My trainer took the time to write down what my door contact often sounds like to Lithuanian ears. " Good evening. My name is Sister Paul, and this is Sister Hall. We are missionaries. To me...my friend, we have a yesterday message." About this time, they're a little confused and begin to close the door. My language abilities might be contributing to our current lessons gained from knocking doors my entire mission- 2.
Speaking of doors, I'm including a picture of our front door for the sake of all you Tolkien Fans out there. I live in the shire, with a wonderful doorknob in the middle of the door. The doorknob on the left has no lock, so we turn the center one to secure a bolt, and twist a key around a couple times to screw it in place.
Last Saturday evening, we had quite the adventure. We are in the process of remodeling our teaching center in Vilnius. It received a lot of love and dirt this past Winter, and some things needed replacing. Sister Hall and I came across a junk pile with a ton of old furniture. We decided to adopt a 6 foot cabinet, drag it across a parking lot, five-lane street, onto a trolley-bus, across another parking-lot, a court-yard, and to our apartment, which was on the first floor. My arms are sore. Luckily, we were helped by a gigantic guy while standing on the trolley bus, and then the priest who lives above us, took pity on us between the second bus-stop and our house. We didn't have a measuring tape, so we took a companion picture to show the actual size.
Everything goes well here in Vilnius. I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch a baptism this weekend. I especially felt overwhelmed with the joy of missionary work when the new convert was confirmed in sacrament, a miracle that he was able to get work off. It's a great thing that missionary work happens in groups. "The basic unit of the mission is the companionship." The basic unit of God's kingdom is the family. Of ourselves, we can do nothing. It seems to be the Lord's will that His work be fulfilled in groups. I think there is an aspect of charity, of Christ's love that enters into the work when we celebrate with others' success as if it had been our own. I felt comforted by the Lord. I know that we're serving with all of our hearts, and He is pleased.
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