by Violetta Talandis

Jurgis (George) of Pilviskiai, Lithuania. Image by: Violetta Talondis Source: Mission Personnel

Violetta Talandis, who serves as a missionary in Lithuania, offers reflection on “being in mission together” where she is assigned by the General Board of Global Ministries.

Having received a gift of a digital movie camera, I was excited to begin filming projects of the United Methodist Church in Lithuania for promotional purposes of mission work of the denomination. I’ve traveled around carrying it everywhere I go, too busy to even purchase a camera bag.

One of my filming trips was to a new project in the small town of Pilviskiai, where church volunteers visit local elderly people who have small pensions, live alone, or are ill and in need of medical attention. As I accompanied the volunteers, I was buy trying to get the right angle and lighting so that the final product would inspire the hearts and minds of brothers and sisters in the U.S, who support such projects through gifts to the Advance.

We went to visit an elderly man named Jurgis (George). He lives in what many might called a tool shed–except that he has made it into his home. It has a bed and a wood stove, and that’s all. Jurgis wasn’t home just then, but we soon saw him walking down the street toward us. His gait was slow and steady; he wasn’t in a rush. The sun was shining for one of first times this Spring–and Jurgis made me stop from my busy-ness for a moment as I looked at him. Looking at his face I immediately saw there was much he had experienced that I could never know.

What happened next struck me even more. I asked him if we could talk, and thought he would lead me to his home. I started to walk that way until I realized that he was standing there, with his hand in back of himself to lean against the wooden post that was in the ground. He was willing to talk WHERE HE WAS, without any special scene or backdrop that was good for filming.

Like all good missionaries, I am committed to show the life as it is for the regular people of the country I serve. But is also important not to forget that I am committed to be IN their lives WITH them–and not just an outsider. Jurgis reminded me of that.

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  GBGM programs |  Music |  Geographic Region: Lithuania |  Source: Missionary stories
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Date posted: May 13, 2003