Letter - June 7, 2010

Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Vladislav in Vilnius

Church of St. Anne's, next to (the orange) Church of St. Francis and St. Bernardine

Church of St. Anne's

Petro and Povilo Church (St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church)

Churches! Bažnycios!

Here is a little trivia on some of Vilnius' Churches:

Vilnius has tons of historic Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches. It used to have more Synagogues, but many of those were destroyed around the time of the Second World War. We spent some time last Monday visiting around. The first church we visited was the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Vladislav. Buried underneath the Cathedral are Vytautas the Great, Lithuania's most famous ruler, and wife of Zygimantas Augustas, Queen Elisabeth of Austria (The Hapsburg.) Lithuania's history is very tied to the history of Poland, having shared a monarchy and their love of the Catholic religion for some time. There are statues of the Evangelists at the very front of the building. They're very Greek, and very macho. I like it when righteous men are portrayed as having rippling muscles, hair waving in the wind, with a drawn sword and a facial expression that could cause any evil-doer to shiver.

Secondly, we stopped by the Church of St. Anne's. This church is in a Gothic-style, with twisting and turning spires of brick. Legend has it, that Napoleon so loved this Church that he wanted to take it home to France in the palm of his hand, or so I've been told by at least three Lithuanians. The reality, I learned, was that when the Napoleonic army came through Lithuania, that this church was consigned to the French Cavalry forces. This church has been exactly as it stands for 500 years. That's a long time.

Joined to the Church of St. Anne's is the church of St. Francis and St. Bernardine. This church was built a bit later, the interior being finished in the 17th century. It's interior was gorgeous. It's a pity though, that the organ is always in the back of the church, where the congregation can't see during the services. I often think that is the best view.

We also visited the Churches of St. Nicholas, and also a Russian Orthodox Church by the name of The Assumption Virgin Cathedral. It's very interesting to me to note the style differences between Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox. There are no pews, the art is very different. Everything was focused on the Virgin Mary, fitting with the name.

I would have to say that my favorite church, however, was one recommended to me by an Elder Havens. Petro and Povilo Church is a Baroque chapel with the most expressive sculptured interior I've ever seen. Every inch of this church is packed with original art. It seems that none of the art was cast from a mold. Every face has a different expression. There are tons of flowers, animals, and bible characters hiding in the walls of this church. It's like a huge Bacchanalian garden party. On one side of the door is a fleshy duke, bidding adieu to the patrons. Directly opposite is a standing skeleton wearing similar garb. I didn't take pictures out of respect for the worshippers, but I definitely want to go back sometime.

Letter - May 31, 2010

I'm over my cold. Two weeks ago, I was quite ill. It's always harder to concentrate when one feels under the weather. One tricky thing about the Lithuanian language, is that "noaw" means "yes." I really confused someone last week then I called, and asked, " Is __ home?" The reply came back "Naow" and I promptly said, " Sorry, wrong number!" and hung up. It took a good 10 seconds for me to realize why I had this lingering itch in the back of my brain that I had done something wrong. That was an awkward situation to iron-out.

I run into lots of wonderful new-age people here. I ask them what's most important in life, and they say " To live in the moment. To stay in between the future and the past." I often feel a twinge of humor at this point, because in a very literal way I'm always traveling between the past and the future. You see, our apartment is on Minties Gatve, meaning memory street, and the church is on Ateties Gatve, meaning future street. So, I feel like I'm living wisely.

There's so much miscommunication all the time. Our neighbors aren't very fond of us. We've tried to take them cookies and wish them a good day, but they didn't take them. So, we thought that maybe they felt over-loved. My favorite instance happened last week, when I was standing on the landing as they cracked open their door to leave. She, the grandmother, took one look at me, uttered a despairing "OY Ne!" and shut the door. I think she's been contacted one-too-many times.

On the other hand, some people are really friendly. After the above experience, I had a dream that Sister Hall and I showed up to a neighborhood block party, and everyone left. The next day I had quite the opposite experience, when we came across an older lady in a bright orange sweater and matching beret. We told her we were going to wish someone a Happy Birthday, and she said, " Great! We love to sing and dance!" She proceeded to hug me around the wist, bounce up and down while swaying, and sing a song of unfamiliar tune and make. I was thoroughly confused, and tickled-pink. I felt like I was living in a musical. Then she stopped, while still holding on to me, looked at me again, and said, "How about another!" and then began again to make up her own song, and dance with me some more. We finally parted ways, with some smiles and some well-wishing. Lithuanians, even if they don't know you, or are telling you that they're not going to let you in teach them, are still nice enough to well-wish you happiness, success, luck, and health before they close the door.

The Lithuanian language is just whimsical. They have verb-roots with tons of constructions and variations. There are prefixes that add slight variance to the use of the verb. Their are at least nine ways to say "I Run." I had to laugh when I learned the noun for absence, "nebuvimas." It literally means, a not-being-ness. Their spelling is also completely phonetic, which means that it's really hard for me to spell in English after studying Lithuanian.

Last Saturday, we visited a member who lives in the forest. It was magical to walk among the incredibly tall trees with rain sprinkling all Lithuania, it rains a lofairy-tale land, with really tall trees. We had a lesson with her, and weeded her garden. Then, while my companion was using the outhouse (she decided she didn't like indoor plumbing, so she moved her toilet back outside) she showed me this bar, and she had me hang upside-down by my knees to help my lymph system, and then, we walked around, and she showed us herbs that grow around her that we can just eat. Her life is so simple. I want to live like her in many ways.

I can't report anything outwardly miraculous this week, but I can say that I'm very grateful for the way this week has gone. I've been touched by the words of Dorine and Covenants 6. I know that God knows the thoughts and intents of me and my companion. I've never been so happy with so little outward "success." I think this is all part of the process though, that the Lord will first try our hearts, and then prepare us for the miracles ahead. I have an assurance of the miracles to come stronger than any physical evidence. I know that when we feast upon the word, when we drink of living waters, we are never left wanting.

Have a good week!

Sister Paul

Letter - May 17, 2010

Hello All!

We've had an interesting couple weeks. Last week we had a conference with all of the missionaries in Lithuania, and then yesterday, we traveled again for a district conference (equivalent of a stake conference) in Kaunas.

A note on Lithuanian food: mayonnaise and garlic are a must on everything. In fact, if you can have both together, that's even better. This flavor is so popular that they sell bottles of garlic-mayonnaise in a two-pack with another 28 oz bottle of ketchup. We had a Lithuanian teacher from the MTC passing through Vilnius, and a group of us went to have lunch together. I ordered a traditional "Chicken Pudding." I was just excited to eat chicken and rice. However, when the entree came out, half of it's contents, to my dismay, was a layer of baked mayonnaise over the whole thing. I distinctly remember the feelings of the "Undercover Brother," his aversion to mayonnaise. I feel that I have gained a new empathy for his lamentations.

It was wonderful to see the Lithuanian saints all in one place, to meet some of my trainers' converts, and see how happy they are to have the gospel. We heard a talk from Elder Paul, and others. The day before was special for our branch, because we had a 14-year old girl baptized, making her family a full-member family. They also called and asked if I would talk at her baptism. Knowing Austea, the Baptismee, was really shy, I said I would only talk if she would talk with me. To my surprise, she said yes. I was really touched by the spirit, as we stood together and spoke. I was very touched to think of my own baptismal day, and how much more that covenant has come to mean to me. I stuttered with my baby-Lithuanian, and she bore her sweet, young testimony. No matter how limited our ability to express ourselves, it is always the right time to share what we know. It's always the right time to lift those that hang low.

Myliu Jus,

Sesuo Paul

Letter - April 26, 2010

These are pictures of us cleaning up trash in the community
and 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.

Letter - April 19, 2010

So, this week, I was extremely loved, Lithuanian-style. I'm e-mailing at the embassy right now, and therefore have no camera to email pictures. On Friday, we did weekly planning, and I had the bright idea to plan on a picnic blanket outside. We were repeatedly stopped by concerned older-people, convinced that we would be infertile for sitting on the ground. We eventually moved, to soothe their consciences. On P-day, we tried our first Cepilinai, which are sticky-potato Zepplins, boiled with sausage in the middle, and sour-cream sauce. Yummy! Definitely man-food.

{Cepelinai: Lithuanian national dish -
potatoes dough filled with meat}

We also met Grazina and her family this week. She was the antsiest hostess I have ever met, setting to washing, cleaning, chopping, because we came by spur of the moment. She had stopped at the store, and wouldn't even sit with us at the table until after some coaxing. Then we had a grand time, family photo-albums and all. We were sent home with compote berries from the Kaime, (country). By the end of this, our second meeting, she walked us to the bus stop, graciously hugged me to her bosom repeatedly, I think it was to keep me warm, and then braided my hair while we talked and waited. What a great gal! I really hope we can help her and her family.

We also attended the Relief Society birthday party. I tried a lot of new Lithuanian foods. The yellow-plum compote beverage and apple-cheese were great. However, I was surprised at the fish-quiche, and raw-salmon wraps. We finished off the week with Koldune in sour cream, which are like pot-stickers. I tried a new brand of Lithuanian milk today. It tasted like their sour-cream sauce, but watery.

Any who, sterility and all, I had a wonderful Sunday. We watched the General Young Women's broadcast, and I caught a glimpse, or so I thought, of beautiful Morgan Weight. Oh, and I can't forget our last meeting of the week. We visited Veronica. She's very catholic. She still would repeat our prayers with us line-by line, and then we had pepper-mint tea in her room, and ate aged cookies. Sister Hall hands me a huge, pale-yellow seashell looking thing. I bite, and it's a lemon-flavored marshmallow. For every one's information, Lemon's my least favorite flavor, not to mention that the texture of marshmallows makes me gag. I think I should stop trying to guess the ages of stuff that people feed me. I wonder if baked goods get better with time, like in that Seinfeld episode where Elaine eats a piece of Princess Diana's wedding cake.Ignorance is bliss.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Sese Paul

Letter - April 12, 2010

This week, I've had double doses of Conference: two sessions in English and two sessions in Lithuanian. We just finished the second Saturday session. It was marvelous. During L. Tom Perry's talk, I thought about my teaching preparations here. Yesterday morning, I spent a lot of time preparing to teach a family that evening. It was a great experience. I felt so happy just testifying of those truths in thoughts of my own making. We didn't give all the material we prepared, but those new ideas definitely affected the WAY we taught that lesson.

Of course I loved Elder Christofferson's talk about William Tynedale. (sp?) I love the quote, which I will paraphrase, " If God will spare my life, I will make it so the boy who drives the plow will know more of the scriptures than the pope." This statement certainly was personified in the boy Joseph Smith. Just as Tynedale's copies of the bible were smuggled in barrels, so were the ancient records translated into the Book of Mormon. All great things begin in obscurity.

It was no coincidence, that I read Korihor's words in Lithuanian yesterday, and his falsehoods were the very ones addressed in his talk today. I have talked to SO many people already who "prosper according to their own strength, who need no savior, who find there is no wrong and is no right." The only thing I can do, of course, is live righteously, exhort, invite, and expound (this will come in about six months, when I can understand Lithuanian.) I must be careful not to imagine unto myself "a Christ that stands for social justice but makes no claims on my personal life." Is there a more prevalent mockery than this in our day?

D. Todd Christofferson is quickly becoming one of my favorite apostles. I especially have loved his past conference address on Zion.

Many of the talks this session seemed to have a theme on the importance of teaching in the home. A wonderful example of this I already have in my own parents. I can't count the times in my younger years I remember my parents teaching me. Of course Mom and Dad continue to inspire me by the way they are such an active part in my and my siblings' lives.

I really loved Elder Hollands quote, "True love must include the idea of permanence." I just don't know it's source. So, if anyone knows, drop me a line.

Thanks so much for letting me vent. I don't write in my journal like I should, so emailing makes for a nice place to vent. The work moves steadily forward. I'm developing a lot of patience, and trying to be good out here.

Myliu Jusu,

Sesuo Paul

Letter - April 5, 2010

Dear Family,

This week, we had zone conference and Easter, and taught several new lessons. (It feels like lots of our seeds are blown about by the wind, because we haven't had any progressing investigators from our finding efforts.) But, Zone Conference was a wonderful energizer, as will be General Conference, I hope. A member, while visiting, had us try the Lithuanian method of decorating eggs, which is to intermittently drip wax and dye the egg different colors, and then scratching it all off. Of course, ours paled in comparison to hers. It was a wonderful week to reflect on the Savior and His atonement. Several Lithuanians told me this week, "The egg is a symbol of new life, of fresh beginnings, of potential." I thought about the Savior's gift to each of us, at a new life each week as we partake of the sacrament. I know that your member efforts as well as my efforts in the field, will be blessed to the degree that we are utilizing the atonement in our lives (maybe that's why these weeks have been so humbling.) One cannot share what they do not have.

Attached is a picture of all the Lithuanian Sisters at Zone Conference. Sister Hall is the tall one with brown long hair. She also happens to be my companion. I think I have really confused people at doors when I stutter on our names, and call us the same thing. Her first name happens to be Lee, which makes our full names rhyme nicely. This picture is a picture of my District in the MTC. I couldn't remember if I've sent one of those yet. Also, we had a picture of the Armenians next door with their flag. It was cool because I ate every meal, slept next door, and attended meetings with Sister Hallewell, my coordinating Sister. I will always look back at my MTC experience with fondness.All the same, being here and engaged in the real work has been far more rewarding than the MTC. I must run, but thanks to all for the love and support. I can't remember if I shared my mailing address, so I'll post it one more time, and then I promise I'll stop:
S. Paul
Cesu iela 31-2k2
Lv-1012 Riga
Latvia.

Su Valykomis (with Easter)!

S. Paul