Mennonite Mission Network workers gathering

Sorry that it has been awhile since I have entered anything on the blog. There hadn't been a lot happening at the Centre as it slows down somewhat during the middle of July through August. We went to a seminar/retreat for MMN workers of Europe which this year was held in Lithuania. It has been about 15 years since the dissolution of the USSR and Lithuania is still in transition in many ways. Much rebuilding is going on with the infrastructure yet there are reminders of the old Soviet Union. We flew into Vilnius, the capital city, took a 3 1/2 hr bus ride to Klaipeda. We stayed in the student dorms of the LCC International University. (Formerly known as the Lithuania Christian College). There are a lot of North Americans teaching and working there on staff. The University has been in existance since 1992 as an invitation from the Lithuanian Government shortly after they received independence. It is an amazing thing to see how they have grown and what is happening there. Too much info to put into this blog. In a nutshell, we had a great time. Visiting with other missionaries in Europe, eating the local ethnic food, and doing a lot of shopping and touring in the city. We spent a couple afternoons on the beach but the water was very cold. Klaipeda is at the same latitude as Anchorage, Alaska but isn't quite as cold. However they say Lithuania has two seasons: July and Winter. It was quite cold when we arrived and I wasn't sure I had enough to keep me warm. We had warmer temps as the days went on with upper 70's or more by the end. It was really humid so I'm glad it didn't get too much hotter. I will not insert all 500 plus pictures we took (thank goodness for digital photography) but will put in a few and maybe throughout the next couple of weeks as well.