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Website link: http://www.christ-the-king.net/ctk/indexes/worship_darmstadt.htm

Website link:http://www.staugustines-wiesbaden.de/karlsruhe.htm

Website link: http://www.ascension-munich.de/html/nuremberg.html

Wiesbaden, St Augustine of Canterbury

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Goings on in Our Italian Parishes & Missions

Florence, St James

Rome, St Paul-within-the-Walls

Youth leader (English group): momentary vacancy

Youth leader (Spanish group): Vacant
2005-6 Youth Delegate: Lois

Website link: http://www.stpaulsrome.it/

 

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Goings on in Our Swiss Parishes & Missions

Geneve, Emmauel Church

Youth Leader: Phil

Website link to youth programs: http://www.emmanuelchurch.ch/emmanuel_youth.htm

 

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Recent Event Report(s)

Serve the City:

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Service Project

(Lithuania)

Background information

(this report is a reprint from the YAE column included in the May (issue#23) Convocation Newsletter)

A YAE event pre-view trip to Lithuania took place back in April of 2005 after the invitation of our Episcopal missionaries Rev. and Dr. Wilson (To view trip photos, visit our Convocation website YAE photo gallery: http://tec-europe.org/yae-photos/).

Lithuania Christian College (LCC): Dr. and Rev. Wilson are our Episcopal missionaries to the Lithuania Christian College (LCC) in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The LCC boasts modern campus facilities, that house about 550 young people from at least 17 different countries( Albania, Belarus, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the USA, Uzbekistan and, of course, Lithuania). Dr Wilson explained that LCC is a nationally and internationally recognised liberal arts university. Established in 1991, LCC has distinguished itself in the region by offering a unique, future-oriented style of education and an interactive academic environment. The LCC bachelor’s degree places broad-based education within the context of a Christian academic community in order to extend education beyond the classroom (from website: http://www.lcc.lt/aboutlcc/index.html).

While in Klaipeda, we also took the opportunity to visit two of the local orphanages. The Baby’s Home and the Children’s House. Though conditions have improved in Lithuania since its independence from the Soviets, there is still a great need among its simple people.

The Children’s Home (Visos Lietuvos Vaikai Agency): The proprietor, Virginija, showed us around the facility and talked about her program, support and the community she serves. Virginija operates her Children’s Home, as much like a natural family as she can, given the circumstances. She provides a loving and caring environment for her ‘children’ as well as, modest sleep accommodations, meals, clothing, and support with their school work. The children have chores, such as; collecting firewood to keep their common room warm, tending the guard dogs (nearly all Lithuanian houses have guard dogs) or pet goose, cleaning-up the grounds, helping sort through clothing donations, or tending the vegetable plants in the green house. If there is time after homework and chores, the children may have permission to play games on the computer, watch TV, play basketball (a favourite sport in Lithuania), play soccer/football, or swing on the tire sings in the garden.
The seven children currently in Virginija’s care have been with her for several years. One child, who is now 16, has been a resident since he was 6 years old. These children, as well as others who have come and gone, are generally brought to Virginija by the police or social service officials because of difficult and dangerous family conditions or because the children are run-aways. Children remain in the Home until their biological family conditions improve or they are released for adoption, or they reach legal age.
On weekends and during the summer the Children’s home provides a place ‘Off-the-streets’ for neighbourhood children (200+) to spend time in sports and other activities. Every day, Virginija will distribute loaves of bread from her meagre stores (they have only about 500 Lithuanian Lits per child (assigned directly to her care) per month; which is about 200 euro- so that is 7 x 200=1400 euro a month total. These funds are used to provide school supplies, food, clothing, shoes, and accommodations) to hungry neighbouring families, and on Saturday afternoons she and the resident children sponsor a meal for several community families in the most need. At that time, the families may also take a warm shower (most of the homes in the area do not have access to heat or warm running water if they even have plumbing) or select shoes and clothing from the donations stored in the supply room. Last year the Children’s home supported 514 needy families- including some 94 unemployed households, 37 struggling single parent homes, 74 un-wed mothers, 24 widowed parents, 43 families of the disabled, and 4 families after the ravages of fire. At Christmas time they attempt to provide a gift for each of the under 7 year old children in their surrounding needy community with a small Christmas gift.
Virginija’s efforts provide hope and alternatives to many children who would otherwise be lured by drugs and other illegal activities offered on the streets. She and the other 4 people in the agency work with the government and other social agencies to try to reach the families as well; through encouragement and education, while at the same time allowing the families to preserve their self-respect.

Klaipeda’s Baby Home: Dr. Irena Genyte, manager. Rev. Stephanie Wilson had visited the facility prior to our meeting a few months earlier. Since then, a sponsor had started work on renovating the facility. Stephanie said that the rooms are greatly improved from the once dingy, dark appearance. Dr. Genyte said that since Lithuania’s independence there have also been increases in government funding so that they have been able to hire more help; however, the funds are still not nearly enough to keep the facility running optimally. They are in need of supplies like vitamins, disposable diapers, wipes, rash creams, baby bathing supplies, cold medicines, and clothes detergents to name a few. The condition of the playground reflected this funds short-coming also. Many of the play structures were old and in disrepair, and needed a fresh coat of paint at the very least.
We were only able to see the infants (up to 3 years old) when we visited because the older children (3 up to 5 years old) were napping. Stephanie noted that during her last visit the older children, though clean and fed were obviously starving for affection. She said they clamoured for attention and to sit on her lap. Apparently, there is only one adult supervisor per 17-20 children versus the 3 attendants for 17 babies. In total at the moment there are 80 children housed at the Baby home.

For a glimpse of pictures and brief commentary of this and other YAE trips over the past few months; see the YAE web photo gallery: http://tec-europe.org/yae-photos/

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Service Project Support

How you can help/serve

-If you wish to join the Project: Please see our trip details flyer and registration information

-Even if you can’t go to Lithuania this time: If you or anyone at your parish would like to help with our outreach to the orphans and refugees in Lithuania but cannot go at this time- you can collect much needed and desired items such as: vitamins, disposable diapers, wipes, rash creams, baby bathing supplies, cold medicines, and clothes detergents, new/gently used basket/soccer/foot-balls and boots, and school supplies. Contact Dale for mailing instructions if necessary: youth@tec.europe.org

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