dvi silkes

Every chair in the room was filled, and more people were inching their way through the doorway. On Thursday’s food distribution at the Salvation Army, we handed out bags of food to a record 86 registered clients, many of whom were visiting for the first time. The total number of people the food will help is a staggering 217.

Though a small amount of food is donated each Thursday from local shops, the few wizened vegetables and at-expiry-date goods we receive are never enough to meet the need. This week, however, we were very grateful to have a freshly stocked pantry of dry goods to supplement the donation from the shops.

Earlier this week, three of us went on a fantastically huge shopping trip to the largest grocery store in town, and piled six carts to overflowing with food. From staples like rice, buckwheat, sugar, and oil, to goodies like tea, coffee, and cookies, we managed to buy enough food to keep the pantry going a little while longer. Also, a donation from family enabled us to buy enough milk and butter to give everyone one of each over the past two weeks.

We are extremely grateful for donations from our Canadian church, family, friends, and even strangers that helped make this possible! The need here is great, but your generosity, kindness, and your prayers are making a difference in people’s lives. Thank you!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend; peaceful, joyful, filled with friendship and laughter, full of remembrance and thankfulness.The day began next to the Baltic Sea, with our songs accompanied by the sound of softly rolling waves. Modestas spoke about the joy we have because of Christ’s resurrection, and we lingered in the sun as it broke through the morning fog.

Most of us gathered at Modestas and Ramune’s house for a lunch that included meat and cheese, fish, herring mayonnaise salad, and dark bread. The kids (big and little) enjoyed playing a traditional egg-cracking game, and the sun stayed out long enough for a few people to take a stroll in the village.

When we had just arrived home, our neighbour’s son, Richardas, came by and asked if we would come over for a late lunch! All of this, after Valerija had already had Richardas deliver an adorable little gift bag of goodies to us on Friday. It was a lovely surprise, and even though we were already full, we managed to squeeze in a few more Lithuanian specialties like hot cabbage, white bean and garlic bread salad, pea salad, pork sausage, and more hard-boiled eggs. Valerija had also invited another friend, and we had a fun afternoon talking about Easter traditions, church, the heating system, and probably a few complicated Lithuanian bits that slipped by us.

It was a fantastic weekend, and with all the sunshine, it looks like the start of spring has finally arrived. We have so many things to be thankful for: friends, sunshine, plenty of food, and the true joy of Easter. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

It’s no surprise that I am very fond of order. While being married to someone who manages to locate his socks whether they are lined up in a row or tossed in a drawer has considerably lessened my organizational cravings, “a place for everything and everything in its place” still fits me well.

Perhaps then, it is a bit incongruous that Christmas is my favourite time of year. After all, the mayhem of Christmas shopping, the dozens of last-minute gatherings and details that inevitably arise, and the absolute impossibility of fitting everything into a tidy schedule all create an avalanche that obliterates my attempts at maintaining calm order. Still, the wonder of Christmas, the smells, traditions, music, and of course, the story of a baby born in Bethlehem, all have very special meanings to me. And so, once a year, I take a step outside the cozy room of predictability, and jump onboard the hayride of Christmas (especially if there will be hot chocolate at the end!).

Here are a few highlights from this year’s busy (but fantastic) ride…

Snow – and lots of it!

Our little tree

Meals for the homeless on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Salvation Army. Also went to a local shelter to share a meal and fellowship with some men who live there.

Helping to sort food and raise funds to help the poor through the Salvation Army Food Bank.

Serving a meal to a group of homeless people who came to our church unexpectedly (fantastic!).

Dinner with friends on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, too (we were spoiled).

Opening gifts mailed by our crazy families and friends!

…which meant that our Christmas hayride really did end with hot chocolate ☺

So, the season may not have been particularly tidy, or tucked neatly into manageable time slots, but that’s OK. After all, the reason for Christmas didn’t come delivered on a convenient schedule and wrapped up in a perfectly tied bow. With straw for a bed and twinkling stars for nightlights, perhaps a little bit of mess at Christmas is just a good reminder of how it all began.