Letter - August 17, 2010

Because He Loved Us First

Dear Friends and Family,

This week has been a time of searching and recommitment, as I've tasted a little disappointment. My first time extending the baptismal commitment was the week previous. The spirit was present, and Regina, the grandmother of one of our investigators, accepted to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. However, since then, she had a misunderstanding with her family (possibly about the fact that she was meeting with us) and has ceased all contact with us.

This Monday, we had a special zone conference in Vilnius. I know that our mission leaders are inspired. I'm grateful for the people the Lord has placed in my path, knowing that that is just what I will need. I read a verse in John the other day which was really meaningful. "We love him, because he loved us first." I want to serve, always, because he loved me first, not because of any rewards I may earn.I'm out of time to write. I attached a picture of us at Kaunas Castle. We held a car-naming ceremony at this historical site. We named the car "The Travolta."We also had a very large storm here in Kaunas. We are spanning our arms across the base of a fallen tree in the park near our house.Love you all,

Sesuo Paul

Letter - August 2, 2010

Bison statue at Kauno ąžuolynas Park in Kaunas, Lithuania

When it Rains, it Pours

Dear Family,

This week we had quite the cloud-burst as we were walking home from the Church toward our house. It was so dark outside, it looked like the Baltic version of 10:00 at night. We were dashing for cover as the lightning and thunder started to crash progressively nearer. We stopped under an over-hang, and I looked to my right and recognized a wizened elderly face we'd seen somewhere before. We didn't have much time, but I wished him a good day and we hurried on. I prayed that we'd run into him again, since it wouldn't have been safe or pleasant to start small talk at that moment. We made it home scared out of our minds, tired, and smelling like sewer run-off. During our lunch break, the rain took a break. The second we stepped outside, the onslaught resumed. The following morning we went to a park to do some contacting, and who should walk right in front of us but the man we had seen the day earlier. Although he was not terribly receptive of our message the first time we talked, this time he gladly accepted a pamphlet, said he would read it, and was excited to talk with us again. I know that there are truly people the Lord wants in our path.

We also spent a good part of our Saturday at Rumšiškės. Each of the branches in Lithuania prepared skits and picnic lunches. There was dancing and sporting and all sorts of merry-making. We also had the opportunity to see the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania, a gigantic museum chronicling the ethnic background of the four regions of Lithuania. I stood in front of a Jurtas and walked inside a railway car used to haul the intellectuals of Lithuania to their new life. I couldn't help but pause a bit to reflect on a few of my own blessings.

Jurta (a type of dwelling from Soviet GULAGS in Siberia)
Railway car dedicated to the Lithuanians deported to Siberia.
This train car was used to transport people 10,000 km to the remote region of Russia.

The following night, I felt the spirit especially strong as we were knocking doors. We returned to one stairwell that we couldn't break into the week before. Surprisingly, we were able to get in without a hitch. We were let in by a woman named Stasa. She told us that tomorrow would be the day her sister died 6 years ago, and she told us her life had been hard. She had such a good, tender, and wonderful spirit about her. She said, honestly, she wouldn't repeat her life again if she could. It had been too hard. She had seen to much heart-ache. She said she believes we are called of God. I don't know what will happen to her, but I know the Lord is mindful of the smallest sparrow, and that he knew Stasa needed a hello.

Much Love,

Sister Paul

Windmill at Rumšiškės, Lithuania

Display for the Open House that happened last week. We spent close to 20 hours trying to write that thing. A pottery craftsman in the Rumšiškės museum.
We've named him Japetto.

Letter - July 25, 2010

Miracles

Hello Family!

Sister Alldredge and I have officially walked on water. The attached pictures are of our recent adventure outside the mall. We spent 10 min. inside giant hamster balls, just to let off a little steam. The following is the account in her words:

" I have never understood Newton's, 'for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction' law as well as when I got in that ball. It was literally impossible to move anywhere! You'd try and run in it and you would just end up looking like a hamster, cuz your ball wouldn't actually move anywhere. Anyways, Sister Paul and I both got in these balls and tried to "duke it out" but we only ended up by each other for like 30 seconds and then we drifted out of range."

As our ten minutes ticked away, we realized how fortunate this time-limit really is, for preventing serious oxygen deprivation. Our lungs are bigger than most 10-year old boys'. Oh what a great time.

Now on to a few real miracles: we've been blessed lately with people who are interested to meet regularly. On inventory, none of them were found through our own rigorous finding efforts. I know that the Lord has heard our prayers of faith and has blessed us according to our obedience. One woman brought herself to Church having already heard the discussions from the missionaries, and telling them that she no longer wanted to investigate. She had been meeting with us for quite awhile, without much foreseeable progress. Our lesson with her last Monday was for me, a very special one. We were trying to answer a question that she had on the Word of Wisdom, and she brought up her dependence on coffee herself, and then proceeded to ask us how she could quit. She committed herself! She is a very hard person to read, but the commitment shows that she is ready to make some big steps.

We spent a good portion of our week assembling a display for an open house that was held last Friday. We lamented over the hours that we couldn't be out finding, but again the Lord blessed us for doing our best. A member, Kazimerius, came up and told us that there will be a girl here tonight that will ask to be baptized, and I had a hard time believing his words, since he's in his 80's and fairly senile. (My previous memory of him was the prior week, when he was posting the Lithuanian flag in honor of a holiday. He ardently forbade me to stabilize his tipping ladder, because he would rather go to God.) A few minutes later, his friend and granddaughter walked in, and asked how she could be baptized. She is 11, and had seen something about our faith on television, and decided that since it was time for her to be baptized, she would choose this faith. She was excited and touched by the message of temples. Seeing youth like herself makes Joseph Smith's life much more believable.

The time has run short again. Thanks for all your prayers.

Sesuo Paul

Harris Family Reunion

Hayley's extended family got together this past week for a family reunion in Durango, CO. Fun was had by all, but we sure missed Hayley's smiling face. :) Love ya Sister Paul, we'll look forward to having you at the next reunion.

Grandchildren (minus Hayley and Bryce)

Letter - July 12, 2010

The Wilderness of Lithuania

I was told I was being sent to the Arctic, but I think I must have jumped on the wrong flight. Lithuania hosts a mean, hot summer. It's short, but it's definitely a summer season. I am standing next to a weed growing by the side of the road. I think everything here has little-man syndrome. It grows quickly. The mosquito bites come in waves. I went half a week itch free, only to score another handful all in one afternoon. We were on sidewalks all day, so I'm still amazed that mosquitoes found my ankles.

Contacting on the main thoroughfare the other day, we found ourselves walking in the view of a camera crew filming a beer commercial. Don't be too surprised to see us walking right through a short on European Beer. In case you won't be able to recognize me, I'm the one with a small run in my tights. Just before leaving the house I said to my companions, "Good thing no one's going to be taking pictures of us, because I have that stupid run." About a half-hour later, we began contacting a woman and her husband who were apparently very involved with the theatre community of Lithuania. Her husband, an ardent photographer, began taking candids of us while walking and talking to his wife.( Luckily, this 5 minute photo shoot was from the front, so there's less of a chance he'll catch an awesome shot of my run.) She was headed to a memorial service, and was really excited to show us the front of the theatre. We walked in only to realize the viewing was smack dab in the front of the theatre. The corpse was beautifully lit with bright blue and silver lighting. We were suddenly very creeped out, and decided to thank her and leave. I can't wait to have a few more months of language under my belt. We'll avoid most of our awkward situations.I'm including a picture of this hill, that's actually a garage. It has such excellent ambiance. I think I want to build something right into a hillside someday, just to say I've done it.

Must be off,
Sesuo Paul

Letter - July 5, 2010

Lordai! Lorday! Down Lordai!

We, Sister Jansen, Sister Aldredge, and I are very happy and very busy here in Kaunas, Lithuania. We are seeing immediate results from our mission fast, in people's receptiveness, and in personal progress. We are working hard to make more effective the planning/preparing phase of missionary work with the work itself. We're putting in lots of dedicated hours, and the Lord has truly helped people open their hearts and doors to us. This week, I really want to help my sisters teach better by letting them work through some new principles to teach. The Lord has helped us to become bountiful finders, but the real test now, is whether we found those who have true interest and can adequately teach and invite them to make progress. It's crazy being the oldest out here. I know that we are finding, and now the work is ours to teach in order to baptize. We're going to need to build our courage and our confidence, and I'm sure the Lord will qualify us. It's relieving, when we allow the spirit to testify to us that our best is enough, and then we can do as is written: "Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Truly, we've been given wings .

Things have been a little topsy turvy. I feel like we've had a lot thrown on us all at once, and yet it's all turning out to be a fun adventure. The experience that typifies this last few weeks, would be the one that my companion, Sister Aldredge wrote home about me. "We went to this member's house... and they have this dog named Lordas (Lorde when you address him... anyways) I kid you not, they opened the door, the three of us walked in, and it was literally the scene from Without a Clue where Sherlock gets taken out by that dog, ya know? I just see one of my companions get taken out by this huge beast of a dog, who pins her and starts licking her face :). I was laughing SO hard! Then we sat down and he jumped up and sat in her lap like he was a little mini poodle or something! Oh man, it was so great! I don't think I've ever had such a hard time keeping in the laughter (because this isn't unacceptable behavior for dogs here... their dogs are like a child)." In a word, we're laughing all the time, while I'm getting my face mercilessly licked.

The weather has been a little unpredictable. The rain was half-frozen for a day last week, it was so cold. I couldn't believe that the end of June could be so wet! We're a pretty small district here in Kaunas. We've got one pair of Elders and ourselves to proselyte through the whole city. We've got a wonderful support system from the members. The branch is much smaller here in Kaunas. The primary is much smaller, but we're hoping to find and teach more families with young children. I wish I could describe the life we've got here. We wear skirts, we talk to all sorts of people in the town centers. We're surrounded by centuries of Catholic tradition. The people here are very believing, almost to the point of mysticism. It's a refreshing change from the choking materialism of the "modern" world. Though Lithuanians now mostly live in flats, their blood is in the Kaimes, or country. The still very much cling to the village mind-set, being very hard-working, self-sufficient, with plenty of village-gossip to keep things interesting.

Ata,

Sister Paul

Letter June 21, 2010

New Home Sweet Home

So, I've spent the last week seeing sister Hall off to America. She wasn't the only one packing her bags, since I've also been transferred to Kaunas. Sister Janson, my MTC companion, and I are both training Sister Aldredge, who is an angel in every respect. There is one other pair of Elders in the city, one Senior Couple, and plenty of ward support helping the work run here.Kaunas is West of Vilnius, is the second largest city in Lithuania. (For a short time, it served as the capital of Lithuania, while Vilnius was annexed into Poland. ) Kaunas, I hear, is the heart of Lithuanian Nationalism. I don't know if I've seen much so far, except that there are very few Russian-speakers, and hardly any immigrants or foreign students or tourists. This place definitely has more of a small-town feel. People are more apt to smile and say hello to strangers.

With a new missionary from the MTC has come a shower of blessings. We have been allowed into many doors. The first building we ever harvested together was chosen by our wonderful Sister Aldredge. As we knocked, a few people even recognized us, and said, "Hey, I know you guys. Our neighbor, Lolite, goes to your church!" It was so wonderful, that the spirit led us to people who already had favorable contact with the church, without our even knowing it. We were able to teach lessons because Lolite's great example.

We can be certain that the Lord takes into account our weaknesses as well as our strengths. The other day, after being lost for a few minutes, we walked around a corner, and spoke to a man just walking from his driveway into the house. He invited us in, and we had a wonderful lesson. We still don't know what will become of this man, but the spirit was definitely there. The Lord knew we would be lost for a minute, and yet his timing is perfect.

The sisters and I share a love of exercise and a healthy amount of spontaneity. While jogging the other morning, we decided to take a short cut home through a gully and across a creek. We soon found ourselves in waist-deep foliage, and then running through a patch of thistles. The short-cut didn't actually lead home, but the experience led me to much reflection on the importance of staying on the Lord's straight and narrow. That night, we were attacked by mosquitoes in the park. I don't think they've taught me anything, but they added nicely to the thistle-scratches.

Our Kaunas apartment is very nice compared to the one in Vilnius. To light our old oven, we would strike a match, and drop it in the bottom like a barbecue. The Kaunas' oven is a nice convection. The only problem was that Sister Jansen had never used the oven until last week. Sunday dinner sat in the cold oven for about an hour, until we went to pull it out. I'm sure grateful for canned food.

I couldn't help but be grateful once again that I'm in this different apartment, especially when the Elders now living in my Vilnius apartment called to ask whether the bathroom had ever locked us out before. They couldn't hack it. They're shopping for a new place to live.

Well, it's not much, but my time is up.

Love,
Sister Paul