Never too old for friends

My ganndson Grayson would have a blast here with Eva and Lena, my two new friends in Lithuania.  Jude and I met their parents Tim and Heather for an Armenian shish kabob dinner on Wednesday evening.  At three and one half years of age, they kept me busy.  Before, during and after the meal, we were on the swings, doing "underdogs," climbing the ladders and kissing at the top and swinging on the glider.  We watched the cook make our kabobs.  Eva was particularly interesting to watch. She kept asking the waitress [who was a grandma herself] for candy in English ,of course.  And she kept getting candy.  There's no language barrier there...not when it comes to candy.  Heather and Tim are just some of the great people who draw us to this mission.  Together with their 10 year old daughter Emma, they have been here as many times as we have.  They hail from Indiana.  Both are teaching afternoons this year, which means that Emma and another 11 year old Ella from Poland are teaching the twins the alphabet--making lesson plans and the works.  Tomorrow, they're focusing on the letter ""A."

At 8 p.m. on Thursday, we met and worshipped on the Melnaragie Beach.  The service was great but some of the people got a bit chilled with the strong winds of the sea.  The temperature had also dropped into the low 60's. 

On Friday, most of the teachers went on a Lithuanian safari or bus trip around the northern part of the country.  Jude and I strolled through Old Town to see what changes had occurred during the year.  There were many new buildings constructed along the Danes River, mostly quaint cafes.  We amber shopped in Old Town and had a lovely lunch on Mantos Street.  Later, we met Kel and Sharon, our friends from New Zealand who pastor the Vineyard Church in Klaipeda and who help out at the orphanage for supper.  We sat just below this tree of birdhouses.  We had a lovely time revisiting the past year.  Tomorrow, the students arrive and take their tests.  This year, there are 300 students--220 females and 80 males.  70% fo the students will be 16-22.  There will be 22 adults over 40.