We pray that you would have a year full of God’s love, grace and blessings!
European Consultation
The new year began with European Consultation conference at Redcliffe College. The discussion was about the faith of Generation Y and its approach to religion. It was interesting to hear that some young people practice so called Bedroom Spirituality, which is about saying a prayer before you fall asleep. It seems that only at this time of the day God is allowed into a young persons life. According to this, you do not need to be a believer to say a prayer. Also, Secular Trinity: self, family and friends. It seems to me that the best way of reaching out to young people in Britain is making friends with them, inviting them to be part of your family. I think here is a question to us all: how can church be a part of young peoples lives and make them feel at home? What are the youth clubs for?
The Polish Beginners Course.
I am rushing to explain what has happened with this course. Most of you have heard that the course was cancelled. It put us a bit down as we both were looking forward to it. However, there is a possibility for Rita to go to Poland for a few weeks. Since Vidas is working full time and he used most of his holidays for various meetings concerning the ministry. We spoke with Lukas Bejienski, an editor of a journal Realna Nadzieja, who is also passionate about reaching out to Poles in the UK. The trip to Poland will also help us deepenour knowledge in Polish culture and traditions and meeting with local Christians might open up doors for partnership in mission.
Meeting with Nina’s family
Few years ago I worked at the cafe Oliver Twist. The cafe is interesting as the owner seems to like Polish people so much that he does not employ anybody else. There I got to know Nina.
Our friendship with Nina got deeper in the past few month. She attends Ukrainian Catholic Church in Gloucester.
Recently, her father rejoined the family and we are planning to have them for dinner. Her father is eager to learn English and teach us Polish. According to Nina he can talk non-stop and he is open about his faith.
Here is another opportunity to share our faith. Please, keep this family in your prayers!
Support
Here suppose to be a chart, but for some reason I am enable to copy. Here is a very simple explanation:
We have: 14%
Vidas Salary: 47%
We need: 37%
We have been praying and working on the support raising strategy. We must tell you that this is not very easy task. The Lord has been good to us and he brought forward people that we have never expected to be part of our journey.
However, the chart on the left shows the reality we live in. We still need to raise the other half in order to move forward in the ministry. Please, continue praying for God to work in peoples hearts and join us on this wonderful journey.
Praise the Lord for:
We had a wonderful Christmas! The Lord blessed us with an extended family and friends!
We thank Lord for taking care of us this year! We have been up and down, but He has been so faithful! We thank Him for inviting us to join His mission in Gloucester.
We thank Lord for providing money for the Polish Beginners Course. Since the course has been cancelled the money will be used for the trip to Poland. We will need to raise a bit more, but not a very big amount.
Pray for:
We are thinking that the best time of Rita going to Poland is after Easter holidays, but it depends on Lukas being abel to find a place to stay with a Polish family or a single lady. Basically, Rita hopes to be thrown into a flat that people do not speak English.
Pray for Rugile as she is turning 9 years old on the 1st of February: friendships, school, learning and making right decisions as she grows older.
Continue teaching English, meeting for prayer and support with Eugene and Anneta.
Pray for developing friendship with Nina’s family.
On the 23rd of January we are giving a presentation at Brunswick Baptist Church. Please, pray for wisdom and
openness of people.
Thank you for your support and prayers!
Rimkai
