Hi Friends and Family!

(I know this is a long update, if you do not have time to read the entire thing please don't miss the prayer requests at the bottom)!

Jet lag has taken its toll and I am left with great memories and experiences of the trip over the last week. The week went by so fast it seemed like dream. It was great to be back in Lithuania.

We arrived on Friday in Vilnius and were able to attend a professional ballet with Milton and Lara. It was a unique experience. We all tried Lithuanian Hot Chocolate, which is rich chocolate melted into a creamy dessert.

On Saturday Lara, Judy, my parents, and I made our way to Alytus. The city was barely moving until about 2 pm when people started appearing on the streets. We were able to go in several stores that the locals were. Lara was able to communicate with a couple of people about what we should see while we were there and where we should eat. We went and ate lunch and then made our way back towards Vilnius that night.

Milton, Judy, and I drove to Silute Sunday morning because Milton was filling in for Rimas who was away at a conference. The worship in Silute is always filled with joy and a pleasure to be able to attend. The wife of one man who accepted Christ at Easter was there and has been coming for the last several weeks. Please be praying for her salvation. After church we went to eat with Dangoulie, Laima, and Gintare. It was a special time for us to be able to share with those ladies.

After lunch, Milton, Judy, and I drove to Kaunas where we lead service that night. It was a great joy for me to be able to see old friends from the summer, and meet new friends who have started coming. We returned to Vilnius that late Sunday night.

Monday through Wednesday we spent our time in Alytus. We prayer walked and sometimes prayer drove the city. We were able to see many places where the locals spend there time (shopping venues, an outdoor market, and coffee shops), we were given a tour of an art technical college, and we were also able to look in two different museums which told us about the history of Alytus. In the museums we met 4 different individuals who Lara was able to talk with and explain why we were in Alytus. All seemed open to our mission.

On Tuesday on our way to the outdoor market we stopped in a building that looked like a shopping mall, and walked into a furniture store. We were looking around for a restroom when Lara saw nativity sets. Nativities are very difficult to find in Lithuania. Lara and Judy began asking about the nativity and had the opportunity to tell the store clerk that we were there be cause we are evangelical Baptists and want to start a church there. The girl very excitedly told Lara that she too is a Christian! We rejoiced in finding a sister in Christ already in the city. It is amazing how God works, we were looking for a restroom, and found a sister in Christ!

Throughout the week we were able to come in contact with and share our purpose for being in Alytus with 8-10 individuals. Alytus is a growing city. There was construction going on at every street corner. The city is largely an industrial area with many factories and businesses, and two technical colleges. The city has just completed a soccer (football) field which is an outdoor arena that seats about 5,000 people, and is currently working on expanding a state of the art sports complex which will be one of the venues for the 2011 Euro Sports Basketball Championship. We were given a tour of the complex by the vice director of sports for the area and this complex will be large enough to have two professional basketball games going on at the same time.

We left Alytus on Wednesday with an excitement about Alytus and how God will use Gloster Baptist to share His name in the city.

On Thursday Milton took my parents and me on a "tour" of Vilnius. It was my father's first time in Lithuania since 1999 so we were able to show him the great growth Lithuania has gone through over the last 11 years. Lara and Judy stayed at the house and cooked a traditional Thanksgiving meal for everyone. Milton and Lara had invited the members of the Kaunas and Vilnius church to Thanksgiving dinner. It was such a joy for me to be able to fellowship with the members of those two churches. They each have a special place in my heart.

After dinner one lady who had been in a depression all summer had come and she was so excited to see me. When she was about to leave she called me over to her and she took out her earrings and put them in my hands. Holding them in my hands she told me that she had nothing else to give me, but that she wanted to give her earrings to me so that I would never forget her. She told me that she loved me and was praying for me. It was a special moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Please be in prayer for each of the churches in Lithuania (Silute, Klapedia, Kaunas, Vilnius).

Pray for the cities that have recently been adopted and where Milton and Lara are working (Panevezys, Alytus, Siauliai, Saugos/Silute)

Pray for the cities that still need to be adopted (Mazeikiai, Marijampoles, Trakai, Druskininkai, Jurbarkas, Kretinga/Klaipeda

For each of the churches pray that:

Barriers (physical and spiritual will be defeated)

Persons of Peace- Pray that God would lead Milton, Lara, and Groups to people who are open to the gospel, or who are already saved who will help aid in starting a church in the cities

Places of Worship - Existing ones- that in Catholic churches that as scripture is read it will speak to the peoples hearts, that God will reveal himself to those caught in cults and other false religions and bring salvation to them

Pray for Milton, Lara, Preston, and Peyton- Pray that God would grant them favor as they go into these cities to speak God's name, pray that they will renewed, pray for Christian fellowship for them.

Thank you for your prayers. I pray that each of you have a Merry Christmas, as the season approaches and that God would grant you the boldness and willingness to share His name, his joy, and peace in this upcoming holiday season.

Many Blessings,

Elizabeth McLellan

New Trip!

Hi Everyone,

I know this blog was for this summer, but wanted to update everyone on my new trip! :)

After returning stateside I came back to Northwestern and continued my studies, but had certainly left a large piece of my heart in Lithuania. My home church of Gloster adopted the city of Alytus at the beginning of this year and was scheduled to return to Lithuania this past September. Due to scheduling conflicts the church was unable to go and had to push their trip to November. I was approached by my mother to pray about going with them. After much prayer, and consideration, and work to find out if I could miss the two days of school, I decided to go back.

To fast forward, we leave for Lithuania this coming Thursday. We will be there through the next week and will come back to the states Friday after Thanksgiving.

We will be working in the city of Alytus. We will be prayer walking, narrative mapping, and sharing Christ with people as the opportunities present themselves.

Please be in prayer for our traveling, for the work in Lithuania (not just in Alytus), and for our team that as God prepares the way for us we will be sensitive to His promptings.

Last Update

Hi guys!

I finished my last week in Lithuania with lots of good memories. During my last week we said goodbye to our last group, we had a time of fellowship at the lake with a couple from the Vilnius church. On Thursday I had the opportunity to tour the concentration camp in Kaunas. It was very sad to see the conditions that so many were subject to. I was able to see a newly opened part of the camp which was used as a barricade. To enter the area we walked through tunnels that were 140 meters long, had no lighting and were wet and creepy. We then went and had Bible study with the college students in Kaunas which was a lot of fun as always!

On Friday we had some water balloons so Preston, Peyton, and I filled them and launched them off our four story balcony! I enjoyed spending the summer with them and will miss them greatly.

On Saturday I got on the airplane after just a tad bit of trouble and was on my way. On my first flight I was able to share my story with one lady and her son when she asked what I was doing in Lithuania and if I thought their country had any hope. When she was a teenager she sought religion and her mother burned the Bible she had found and beat her for studying it. Pray for her that she would take her new freedom and seek God. It was a long trip but on Sunday afternoon I made it to New Mexico where I am attended collegiate week at Glorietta as a wrap up to my summer. I was able to fellowship with other students who have also served on mission this summer from across the nation.

This summer I have learned so much. From the flood, to meeting the president of Lithuania, to dealing with groups I have learned so much about ministry, my strengths (and weaknesses), and myself in general.

I covet your prayers as I return to life in the states. The transition so far has been difficult for me. Pray that as I get ready to begin school that I would be able to live with the passion I have developed for missions, and people, and especially Lithuania, but that I would be able to find focus and clarity.

Thank all of you for your prayers and messages of encouragement. It has been a huge encouragement for me to know that I have had people praying for and thinking about me. I pray that God has blessed you through these stories. If any of you would like to hear more about my experience please let me know! I love talking about my experiences and would enjoy sharing with you.

Much Love,

Elizabeth McLellan

Women's retreat

The Women’s retreat went really well this past weekend. We had 22 ladies that attended the whole weekend and an additional five that attended the sessions on Saturday. The theme of the weekend was that God makes everything beautiful in his time. On Friday evening we had a devotional time and then sang worship songs in both English and Lithuanian for over an hour.

On Saturday the Bible studies continued and that evening the men came out and we had baptism. We baptized one lady from Vilnius and five other believers from the church in Klaipeda. It was a great time of testimony and worship for everyone. After the men had left we were in small groups talking just having fellowship and three women shard the gospel with two sisters that attended the retreat, both accepted Christ as the personal Savior!

On Sunday morning we traveled to the church in Šilute for worship. Three women shared what the retreat meant to them and how they were encouraged over the weekend. One more woman that had not attended the retreat accepted Christ after the service. It was my last Sunday in Lithuania and qute emotional for me. I said goodbye to many good friends that I will not get to see over the next week.

It is hard to believe my time here is almost finished. Please pray for me in my last week here that I will make the most every opportunity presented to me.

Recap and Women's retreat

Hey everyone!

The last two weeks Milton and a group have been working in Siauliai (shaw-lay). They had great success. They prayer walked, and narrative mapped the city. They also were able to find a building to rent for a church when they are ready to begin having services.

Back in Vilnius Lara, the kids, I had the chance to meet a new family in Vilnius Steve, Rebecca, and their six year-old son Owen have come to Lithuania. Steve will be teaching Philosophy at Vilnius University. We have taken them shopping to help them get everything for their new home.

Lara, Preston, and I worked on making Bible Study booklets and a God's Promise booklet of scriptures for the ladies retreat which starts this Friday and will go through Sunday at noon. The group from Florida left today and a new group arrived today.

Please be in prayer for the Women's retreat (this Friday- Sunday). Many of the women that are attending have not accepted Christ. Pray that all of the women's hearts will be ready and attentive to the call of Christ on their lives.

Pray for our energy. This is our third group with no breaks in between.

Good News!!!!

This week we have a group from Daytona Beach Florida working in Ŝiauliai (Shaw-lay). Yesterday they were prayer walking and just discovering the city when they stopped for ice cream. At the booth were they stopped the lady working had two friends visiting her. Milton was able to share the plan of salvation and all three people accepted Christ right there. We are very excited about this God event. The group will be here until the 29th. They are working to discover the city of Ŝiauliai. Please pray that God will open more doors for them in the city.

Lara and the kids and I stayed here in Vilnius due to vehicle shortages. We are busy preparing for a women's retreat that will be held the first weekend in August. Please pray that everything will come together smoothly. The group is actually arriving a week earlier than expected so we are shuffling schedules and reservations to get everything in order. This week is another very hot week. The temperature is in the low to mid 90's, which is really hot with no air conditioning.

Youth camp, 21st b-day, and Prayer Requests

We just got back from youth camp yesterday afternoon. We had a great camp. We had 33 people attend. Two teenagers got saved and four others made other specific decisions. All week we were studying about relationships. We emphasized that the vertical relationship (between each person and God) is the most important, and that when our vertical relationship is in order our horizontal relationships (between each person and others) fall into place.

Each day we had morning worship and then the girls would have Bible study and the guys their separate Bible Study. The leaders from Sulfur each shared their testimonies during the Bible studies which really made an impression on the youth.

We also had a lot of fun at camp. I taught everyone how to do the cha cha slide and cupid shuffle. Preston and I also taught them how to do the “lawnmower dance”. The Lithuanians all really enjoyed dancing. On Wednesday night we had a Country band come to the camp and give a concert. We did the cha cha slide, the cupid shuffle, and footloose to many of the songs. We enjoyed the music and expressed our joy. We advertised all through the town about it and drew in many people from the community. In the middle of the concert we took a break from the country music and we led in several worship songs and Milton shared the gospel. After the concert finished we handed out tracts to everyone as they left the camp grounds and shared the reason for our joy.

Thursday was my 21^st Birthday. They helped me celebrate with the Lithuanian tradition. Instead of birthday spankings they seat the birthday person in a chair and raise them above their heads for each year plus one to grow on. After the age of fifteen they start cheating a little, which was okay with me since I get motion sickness. I also had a traditional Lithuanian birthday cake which was very good. That night we had a talent show which I performed a skit with Preston and Christina. We made fun of the differences between American and Lithuanian cultures. Everyone had a lot of fun and laughed the entire time! Later on we had a bonfire and sang songs. The stars were out and very magnificent I was caught in awe at the beauty of the sky.

On Friday we said goodbyes to everyone and packed up and drove to Ŝilute (sha-loo-tey). We went sight seeing Friday night. On Saturday we took a two hour boat ride to Nida which is an island. We hung out at the beach and had a sand castle building contest and just enjoyed the sun.

On Sunday we led the service in Ŝilute. One lady came forward and accepted Christ as her Savior (praise the Lord)! On Sunday we drove back to Vilnius and had worship here. After worship Milton and Peyton attempted to drive two of the ladies home because it was raining horribly, but the roads were all flooded, so they returned and the women walked home. The group from Sulfur also had to walk to their hotel. The group left today (Monday) and our next group from Florida also arrived today. We will be working in another city called Ŝiauliai (Shaw-lay). We will be prayer walking, doing narrative mapping and looking for possible places to rent.

Prayer requests

Pray for good weather as we work in Ŝiauliai over the next week.

Pray for the group – Their leader was unable to make the trip due to last minute circumstances, pray that the group will not be distracted from the work.

Pray that God would provide safety in traveling.

Pray for our energy that God would provide the strength to do our work and be focused.

July 4th Weekend and Prayer Request

At Wednesday night prayer meeting we were talking about what a great time of fellowship we had. Ausra mentioned that she had never been to Silute and then we discussed the fact that this weekend was a four day weekend, so we made plans to return with the church group to Silute and spend Sunday there.

On Sunday (July 4) we woke up bright and early to be in Silute for 11 am there were about 30 of us. We were saddened that Ausra got sick and was unable to make the trip. We had a great time of worship. Everyone sings with everything they have, the services are filled with such joy that is so uplifting to be around. Milton preached from Exodus about when Joshua and a few of the Israelites fought the Amalakites and Moses stood on the mountain holding his arms up to God. As long as his arms were up the Israelites were winning. Milton challenged all of us to hold our arms up to God.

After church we drove to have lunch Tomas and I didn’t see anything on the menu that looked appetizing so we walked and got kebabis (kebabs) which are like a Greek meal. They put lamb or pork inside with vegetables and sauce. They were really good, but most of mine ended up on the ground. Haha They are very hard to eat “neatly”, but very good.

We then went and relaxed and spent the day at the beach in Palanga. Monday was a national holiday for the coronation of Lithuania’s first king. So we spent all day Monday on the beach too, where we played badminton, looked for sea glass, and sun bathed. It was hotter so I forced myself to go all the way into the Sea. It was very cold and everyone made fun of me because I kept jumping around to keep warm!

We returned to Vilnius on Tuesday and immediately missed the beach. The temperature dropped from 26 degrees Celsius to 18! Preston and Peyton returned from Louisiana on Wednesday the 7^th. On Friday the group from Life Church in Sulfur arrived. They will be leading Youth camp for us all next week, July 12-16. We know of 10 youth coming that we have never met before. Please be praying that through all the activities, worship services, and Bible studies that God would reveal himself to them.

Birthday Party in Silute.

We had the opportunity to travel to Silute last weekend. We had a great time. We attended an 80^th birthday party for a lady on Saturday. When we arrived there was a long table set up for twenty people to sit at and was covered with food. We sat down at the table and then a hot plate full of food was brought to each of us. We didn’t even touch the food on the table! We ate our food, sang some traditional folk songs and then a couple of hours later we were told to snack on the food on the table. We played a couple of games and enjoyed time together. We then sang happy birthday as the cake was being brought out. We ate the cake and drank coffee and tea. Just as we were finishing our cake another cake was brought out. This cake was called the 100 leaves cake. Everyone then was given two marble stones and was asked to say two things, wishes for the birthday lady. A glass goblet was passed around and we dropped our stones in it after had spoken to the lady. The party lasted 6 hours! Lithuanians love their parties and their food. The preacher’s wife from Silute was running the party and said as she was bringing out the second birthday cake that I would send word how much Lithuanians eat. It was really nice to be surrounded with such a large family. Everyone spoke with everyone and enjoyed each other.

On Sunday we worshipped with the congregation in Silute. There were 27 people all together! We had a great time! Milton preached from Ezekiel 37 on the valley of dry bones and how Lithuania is like the valley. We ate lunch with a larger group. It was nice to have other people my age to talk with. Tomas is the preacher’s son in Silute and has decided to help me learn Lithuanian by speaking very little English to me. Well he dropped some ice and put it on my plate…so I decided in my wisdom to chunk it into the grass. Well what I didn’t see was that there was a man walking by who thought I was throwing the ice at him. Tomas then encouraged me by saying that now the man would beat me up! Luckily he did not beat me up but did give me the evil eye. We drove back to Vilnius and had service with the group there. It was a fun weekend.

Headdresses, Presidents and Prayer!

It was really great to have people from Louisiana here with us. They were great encouragement for us! We worked all week in a city called Panevezys (pawn-e-va-zes).

On Friday evening we were walking around and came to the town square where a festival was being held. Many nationals were there in costume doing dances. It was very exciting to see. I took many videos that I hope to find how to upload. After the dances were over our group asked to take a picture with one group. The lady I stood next to asked where we were from and I told her America. After the picture our group stood around trying to figure out where to eat. This lady came up to me and put her headdress on my head and her husband asked to dance with me. I was very honored and obliged. Milton told me after that he has never seen a woman take off her headdress much less put it on someone else. This to me was a great inspiration that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

June 23 is a special holiday in Lithuania called St. John’s Day. We were informed about a festival taking place in Panevezys and decided to attend. We Went and took a train ride on an old (100 years old) train which is the only narrow track train left in the country. It took us to a clearing in the woods where they had set up a wooden dance floor and picnic tables. We were standing watching the festivities when the president of the country grabbed my arm. Lara greeted her for me and explained that we were visitors from America. She then turned to us and welcomed us to her country in PERFECT English! We were very honored. When she was given the chance to address the whole festival she greeted her fellow Lithuanians and then said, “Please excuse me we have some guests I need to greet”, and once again greeted us in perfect English. We asked if we could take our picture with her and she agreed. Our picture was taken by all the paparazzi at the festival. We appeared in the newspaper and on the morning news! How exciting. We claim the verse from Matthew 10:18, “ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them…” Please pray for President Dalia’s salvation as right now she is an atheist.

language barriers, doctrinal studies, and fun!

Since the flood the vehicle never did start. The mechanics say the problem is with the engine. Milton and Lara’s contacts want them to sell the vehicle for scraps.

We had the doctrinal study on an island in Lithuania called Apple Island. We had a great time and got a lot accomplished. 15 people attended and they were all very open in discussion and asked lots of questions. Every person took notes! I planned games for the conference. Lithuanians LOVE to play crazy games. I created a picture scavenger hunt to be done. Everyone really enjoyed it, I was on a team with the college students from Kaunas who are all very competitive and athletic. We lost because of a technical difficulty. On our drive to the Island Lara showed me all these wild flowers and I thought she said they were called Blue pine, so I pointed out my idea of Blue pine and we gathered some and when we got to the finish line, it was wrong, the name of the flower was lupine, called lubine in Lithuania. It turns out that lupine is also a word in Lithuania which means like a piece of something that is picked, so the Lithuanians laughed at us and are very eager to point out every lubine or lupine flower they see.

At the conference I needed some tape was looking everywhere. Ausra asked what I was looking for while she was cutting vegetables for dinner. I said tape and she responded, no I’ll do it. A few minutes later the same thing happened. The third time she asked me what I was looking for it occurred to me that tape (taip) means yes in Lithuanian. She thought I was offering to cut the veggies, I used my handi dandy signing to show her tape, she said oh, and said she had some. She returned a few minutes later with a band aid. Needless to say there is definitely a language barrier which sometimes is frustrating but usually it just makes me laugh! I have learned about 10 words since arriving and try to use them, unfortunately natives then think I am fluent in their language, which I’m definitely not!

I have more stories and will try to send one or two every few days. I covet your prayers and miss all of you! I pray that God is working in your lives as He is mine, and that you are responsive to His promptings.

Much love, Elizabeth

Week 1...Flooding and all!

Sorry this update is so long. The week has been very eventful. If you don’t have time to read the entire thing please read the prayer requests. Love to all Elizabeth!

I arrived Tuesday afternoon in Vilnius. It was great to finally be here and see familiar faces after the long journey. Tuesday Evening we had dinner with some Missionaries from Belarus which was great fellowship.

On Wednesday we traveled to Ŝiauliai (Shaw-lay) in the northern part of the country. We were supposed to meet with the landlord or a building Milton and Lara have been looking at to rent for use as a meeting place for a new church there. After we got there (after traveling 2 hours) the landlord said he couldn’t meet with us and had rented the space already. He sent us to another building; it was a great space but the government controls the utilities which can be a bad deal in renting. We returned to Vilnius Wednesday Evening for Bible study. There were four people there; three of them were new faces since last year when I was here! The Bible study went well and we had good conversation over Ephesians 5.

Thursday we afternoon Milton, Peyton and I traveled to Kaunas for Bible study with the church group there. On the way there we hit a fierce storm we could barely see anything. The wind was blowing so strong we were fighting to stay on the road. We came through the storm. When we arrived in Kaunas we came back into the storm and it was obviously flash flood weather. The water was about halfway up the median. In the first intersection in town it was completely flooded one car was already stuck. We had no where to go but into the water…we got stuck! Milton and Peyton pushed the vehicle while I steered it for about a kilometer to dry land. Two men from the church (Marios and Montez) came and picked us up since the van wouldn’t start. They gave them dry clothes and we had Bible study. They have four active members right now. All are in their twenties which I having conversation with people my age. We had a great time talking about John 7. They all are very eager to study the Bible which was very refreshing. After 2 hours it was still raining very hard so we decided to let the van dry over night and stay with Marios and Evalina.

Friday the mechanics were all busy and the van still wouldn’t crank so Milton Peyton, and I rode the fast train back to Vilnius. The ride was very beautiful through the countryside! We then went to a garden party for Peyton’s Cello class! Parties in Lithuania during the summer are usually outside since the sun is out and it is “hot” (the high here most days is in the high 70’s with no humidity)! They grilled pork and chicken and we ate lots of fresh vegetables from the garden and I got to drink fresh apple juice squeezed from the apple orchard…it was very good!

Saturday I worked on helping organize information for a doctrine conference we will be holding in two weeks. I am responsible for finding team building activities as well as presenting information on how to find valid resources on the Internet. Lithuanians jumped almost twenty years of technological advances and often believe most of what they find on the Internet which can be misleading.

Sunday we had Sunday school and church. The group from Kaunas traveled to Vilnius this Sunday for the meeting so they could participate in a church picnic. Church was such a blessing to be apart of here today! This group has an eagerness to learn and is open to talking and sharing and they are very inviting. I was blessed to have the opportunity to share my testimony with the group during worship. After worship we traveled to a beach in Vilnius where we had a picnic. We played Frisbee, Football (soccer), and we taught them how to throw an American Football. We then went to the mall and watched a soccer tournament being held on the side parking lot. They said it was time for me to accept the “real” football because the World Cup is starting soon and they are fanatics!

I am enjoying my time here, serving with Milton, Lara and the kids, and meeting new people. I have begun to learn some of the basic words, the church members have fun listening to me try out their words and impersonating what the words would sound like all drawn out – when I draw a word out into as many syllables as possible! They are very patient in trying to teach me Lithuanian. I am also helping to teach them English!

Prayer Requests

Preston and Peyton will be leaving for the states on Friday – pray for safe traveling

The van- the mechanic says that the engine needs to be replaced…this is very expensive Milton and Lara are hoping to put the engine of their older vehicle in this van.

Weekly Meetings with the Vilnius and Kaunas churches (on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday nights respectively).

For the planning of the Doctrine conference; to be held for the three churches (Ŝilute, Vilnius, and Kaunas). Pray that God would start preparing their hearts now for what they will hear.

Pray that my ankle will continue to heal (I dislocated it 9 weeks ago). It is holding up very well but by the end of the day I am sore and ready for rest. Pray that it would not be a hindrance to my ministry here.

Getting Ready!

Hey guys the day is fast approaching. I begin my journey to Lithuania on Monday (Memorial Day). I ask you to pray for safe travel and the requests listed below. Pray that God would use me to reach out to the people of Lithuania that I may be able to begin relationships and communicate the love of Christ.

Pray For:

• All locations where meetings are already going on and will be started. Pray that funds would be available and that landlords would deal honestly.

• Workers for the harvest

• The preaching and proclamation of the Word to be understood by those who hear and that in turn they would place their faith in Christ.

• Sound doctrine and effective discipleship of believers.

• All existing churches to be able to secure permanent places for their worship.

Getting Ready

Hey guys,

I have created this blog to share my experiences this summer in Lithuania. If you would like to recieve updates please join the group on FB or on here.

I will be leaving for Lithuania on May 31!