Step in Time

This weekend was a very interesting one which started out by being invited to a prayer meeting with Pastors Kidd, Pennington & Wright at Rogers First Assembly.  They were gracious and allowed me to share my heart in length about Kidz Lithuania.   Afterwards, we prayed for one another; this was such a blessing to be included in such a time of fellowship and prayer.

Over the weekend, I was at Massilon First Assembly with Pastor McGraw and shared our stories about what God is doing in Lithuania.   Then I headed over to Minerva, OH to meet up with a young lady from Pastor David Kidds' church who believes the Lord is calling her to missions.  We had a wonderful time of fellowship before I returned to Rogers, which is where my weekend began.  One thing I learned:  this part of Ohio is like the West Virginian Mountains, curvey, swirvey and very few road signs.  Though I was lost for a brief moment in time even though we were pinning, our pins sent me in weird directions.   I learned something about "pinning".

Pastors Paul & Matt were hosting a hot dog roast for their church family and Pastor Paul was gracious to invite me to meet his children: Elisha, Silas, Halibah (I hope I remembered well).   This was a creative and great way to get to know the entire Wright family a little more, including their church family.  I'm going to have to visit again just for fun!

This is how we rolled when it was cold outside, actually Pastor Matt was just being kind to not leave me in the garage alone.  It is so nice to get to know these folks more.  I wish I had taken a photo of the entire gang, but that is where my introvert self chimes in.  What a blessing to be included  and to get to know a few more of our Ohio's best.

Missionary Intervention Support Group?

This month is our Ohio Ministry Network Celebration tour and a part of that tour is that we missionaries show up and participate as a team to say Thank you to all the churches of our network. Last night I have to say was my favorite night of them all.

You see, one of our veteran missionaries Bill Shrader suggested in a humorous way that we needed to have our own "support group", during the break out sessions last night.  So, Tim & Nicole Strange, Bill Shrader and myself gathered and I would agree with them; what was meant for fun became meaningful to each one of us.  Just to share openly with one another our war stories, lessons learned from re-engaging into American Culture and knowing how to pray for one another.   Honestly this was such a treasured moment for each one of us and now I have the nuts and bolts of getting to know a few more of our Buckeyes best!

In the Backyard of an Enemy

When I pray for the beautiful country of Lithuania, the place where I honestly call home.  My heart is filled with so many emotions.  First and mostly my heart sings with JOY when I hear how active our ministry team is; serving their local church.  Several are serving as leaders at missional points, feeding stations, and their local churches.  I can't believe that Indre & Mindaugas are adults now; and then we have Sima, Aukse & Milda who are in their last year of high school.  Though Agne, is no longer a part of our ministry team she will always have a special part in our hearts.  Each one so talented and faithful.   I have shared their stories.  What's exciting is that I have several more stories to share more children who are growing up.  They have been so faithful in serving since they were 12years old, I've been out of country now for quite some time but each week when I catch one or more online my heart is overjoyed in knowing the Lord is raising up an army of leaders humbling serving and he blessed me by allowing me to be a part of their lives.

As much as I'm overjoyed with what God is doing in their lives.  I'm also weighed down with the possibilities of another kind of Army invading this beautiful country.  Lithuania sits in the back yard of Russia.  Please know, I don't fear nations or even forms of government because I truly believe The Lord reigns and flourishes wherever there is someone who believes in Jesus.  My heart is heavy that there is a possibility that their nation could be occupied again.  Our sister church, Union of Pentecostal Church leaders have been faithful and strategic in evangelizing & church planting.  They along with these young people will face challenges that many of us know nothing about; for we have never faced personally such a battle.  Would you keep us all in your prayers?  Would you help me help them to face their giants? Support Sharon McCammon (on the bottom of the form is a link to support monthly if you would like)

Detours, Distractions & Determination

What a whirlwind of a year where there were moments I was constantly asking God, "why"?  Many of you know I returned home stateside with a broken left knee but I was determined to keep my commitments since I had booked almost the entire year of services.  Through the grace of God and ten months later I was ready for surgery.

Detour #1, when you go one year and eight months walking on one leg the compensation kind of wears down the joint of the other knee.  This was an unplanned detour; but I'm one of those folks that say, well if most people are moving on their own in 12weeks; I can do it in three.  Pure determination my goal was achieved and I was back on the itineration trail.  Eight weeks later, while driving back from Kentucky, I felt like had torn something in my knee so I called my doctor to find out I had been exposed to (MRSA), a flesh eating bacteria.  "Detour, Detour", which involved two back to back emergency surgeries and 8 weeks of pharmaceutical therapy. After that enormous distraction I was ready for my second knee replacement.

Detour #3, I woke up in ICU, due to complications with breathing.  Determined to get home soon and finish up with Rehab.  One can not believe what a distraction it is to be tied down to therapy and rehab can be, for someone like me.  I'm a multi tasking person and now I have one focus.

At this point I was determined, Lord, You called me to Lithuania, and God you know the work is not complete.  Why am I constantly being distracted?.....Trust me, missionaries don't get special treatment with the Lord when it comes to answers to prayer....He loves us all the same and grows us as He sees fit.

Finally, Spring was on the horizon and I'm headed out for my first big trip on my own, to a town I will never forget, "Wapakonetta, OH".  I was determined, two days before, I started feeling ill.   "Are you kidding me?"  I'm ignoring this distraction, packed my bags.   I can't go back on my word--this is a commitment that a dear missionary friend opened the door for me.  I'm determined to head out on this three plus hour drive.

Upon arrival I met up with such lovely people.  One couple whom had served in missions prayed with me after I mentioned I wasn't feeling so well.  Aren't you amazed that God shows up even when you are weak in wonderful ways.   After service, I went back to the hotel and began to get chills.

While talking to my spiritual dad about how I was feeling; the chills began again to find out that these weren't chills but I was experiencing  seizures due to "Sepsis", are you kidding me?

I can continue my story of this whirlwind of a year but at this point I"m sure you all get the picture.

I'm grateful for all those who prayed me through each detour, distraction and strengthened me in my determination to press onward towards the goal.   Thank the Lord that I'm focused on filling out the papers to return to Lithuania soon.

It's never good to forget your path traveled!

Just got home this week from a whirlwind of reconnections and fellowship.  Last week I was so blessed to fly out to my alma mater, formerly known as Zion--now it is relocated to a new campus with a new name; Northpoint Bible College.  http://northpoint.edu/

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a brief time of fellowship with Dean Pat Gallagher;  he called a recent graduate Ian McCain to take me on a tour of the new campus.  It was impressive to see the new campus, their new location and yet still sense the same Spirit that I encountered while I was a student. After my tour, I was off to lunch with Assistant Academic Dean Helen Brouillette, and former classmate.  What an amazing woman she is and the students are definitely blessed to have Dean Gallagher and herself guiding and directing them with with Godly wisdom.

After lunch, Helen took me on a brief tour of the area and shared some American Mission History, which took place within a few blocks of the new campus--the connection to the vision and core values of the school was absolutely amazing. Sister Gibson, the founder of Zion, had such a powerful presence of God in her; it was evident she functioned with discernment & listened to the voice of God.  I do not believe that our new location is by chance; when you read about the history and have learned her heart for the school's future.  To know that this school was birthed with a vision of being, "the joy of the whole earth" is now nestled in the very town, where our nation's history of missions began is  NOT by chance--it holds significance!

Our nation's first missionaries were sent from this place,   Adoniram Judson, was one of the first missionaries sent from the U.S.A.  Northpoint's campus use to be known as Bradford College, where Ann Hasseltine Judson, graduated!!  Two weeks after her wedding she and Adoniram embarked on their first missonary trip to India and the following year they moved to Burma.

Also on my amazing journey back,  I was able to meet up with fellow students from my time:  Randy & Raelene Shibilo, Robert & Tammy Whitecotton along with a great evening spent with Jennifer Queen.

Then I was off  to reconnect with my home network, Ohio Ministry Network.  OMN 2014 was filled with some enthusiastic encouragement of conversations, and fellowships.  Celebrating one of  my colleagues Jan (Eric) Muzart was ordained this year. (Go Eurasia NW Ladies!) It was a blessing to fellowship with some wonderful missionaries Paul & Crystal Burkhart, Paul & Sharon Ellis, Bevan & Tia Haynes and so many others.

This was probably one of my most favorite OMN meetings, mostly because of the people who have impacted my life through the years, were there.  Thank you, Pastor John Wootton, Pastor Jim Palmer (who has been there every turn of the tide) they have been such an encouragement which has deeply touched my heart, faith & service.  It was wonderful to see Bro. Crabtree, who believed in my calling and gave the approval for my missionary journey.    I'm grateful for every department, for our leadership and most important for the genuine relationships that we are blessed to have in our network.  Jeffery & Heather Streets are my most amazing buddies!  I so appreciate Becky Garrett who always takes the time to meet up and chat--and for all she has pioneered into our children's ministries across our state--another amazing lady!  How can one express such gratitude with words that merely touch the surface and lack the depthness of matching emotion and truth.  Thank you OMN!  BTW I won the mini-ipad for Kidz Lithuania! (THANK YOU JEFFERY STREETS for registering me--I would have shared but this was a direct answer to Indre's prayers, in God meeting our technology needs)

ITINERATION--"A planned route or journey"

I cannot believe it has been eight months since I've returned to the states from Lithuania.  The process of Itineration this time has been with much more peace, as the planned route was by the most part completed in Lithuania, prior to arriving.  In the process of planning a route you truly never will comprehend or understand the journey that the Lord will have for you.  It is always about what He wants to grow in us.

Above is a song, the words and music written by Milda Volskaite, she is a sixteen year old lady who serves as a leader on our Kidz Lithuania team.  She has had an interesting journey, one thing I can definitely share about Milda--she is faithful.  I met Milda when she was about five years old, while visiting her family for dinner one afternoon after church in the small city of "Pabrade".  She was singing in her living room, and played her fiddle.

Everyone who knows Milda knows how amazingly talented she is.  I would say in all humbleness, that our group, Kidz Lithuania has been blessed to experience having the "Lazarus Generation of Youth".  This is what I believe: God is raising up a generation of young people that are "Tremendously Gifted & Talented, Tremendously Powerful, and in tune with the Holy Spirit"  This is the GENERATION of amazing triumphs!

In her own words she expresses in song about her own journey:  "Jesus will never leave you even if you will leave him. He will show you the way how to go to the truth where his love is very big"

I can personally say that Milda has shown great courage, strength and honesty as we have worked through many bumps in the road--she is amazingly faithful and has shown great inner strength--more than she knows.  I am confident that she will continue to grow stronger in her faith.  She struggles with the "what ifs" in life; her greatest enemy at times being herself.  I think many wrestle with the Lord in this way--what I love about Milda is that she continues to "press on" wanting to figure out how to keep moving forward even when she doesn't feel like it, or the enemy attacks.  Please pray for this amazing young lady, there are many battles she has won with the help of the Lord--but we all know the enemy will continue to attack.  He does not enjoy and he fears when Milda matures even more in the Lord--She will be a Super Young Lady, "A LAZARUS GENERATION", walking in "Strength in the Lord" with undeniable testimony!!!!  (I Love  &  Miss you Milda)

In June, my plans will have a little bend in the road--As I have mentioned, we have plans but Jesus is more into the complete Journey.  I will have knee surgery and be out of commission for about 10-12 weeks--please know I will be on the phone after the medications wear off and continue to book services.  We need your help to get back to Lithuania soon, with a full budget so that we can continue our Journey! 

God is gracious and good and we are blessed that even when our plans get disrupted we know Jesus is right there..with His VERY BIG LOVE!

I'm Coming Home, I'm Coming Home!

After serving ten years in Lithuania and being home for six months I can say that home is where your heart is and as much as I love being here in the USA visiting family, friends, partners and being inspired in every gathering; whether it is just a group of friends, a time of worship with all the churches. My heart still yearns to be in Lithuania.

There is a song i hear on T.V. that goes like this:  "I'm coming home, I"m coming home, Let the whole world know I"m coming home."  It just sparks greater faith and desire to return to Lithuania.

Kidz Lithuania ministries have continued to move forward while i"m here in the states.  I'm so proud of Indre Malacekaite and Mindaugas Volskas who are leading the team. We just added another young man to our team from our Jonava center.  It is exciting to hear my young leaders say, "it is really cool to see where we came from; because when we add a new person it encourages us to see where we were at one time in our lives and where the new members will go."  What a privilege, growth and fruit are undeniably exciting.

In the past few months they have continued with outreaches, and filming, while weekly inquiring about when they can begin to prepare for my return.

Be a part of my return and step out in Faith and allow me to return this summer!  God is amazing and I've been blessed and hold onto great hope that after only 9 months of itineration I will have to have surgery with a three month recovery.  I'm praying that God will open hearts during that time and understand I need to be "Home".

Continue to pray for one of our area countries, the nation of Ukraine that is going thru difficult time.  Pray for stamina, peace, and safety for all there.