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[During June and July, 1998, the General Board of Global Ministries led a group of 21 students from United Methodist-related colleges and universities in singing global choral music in the Baltic States and Russia. The participants wrote statements commenting on their experiences. Following is one such statement.]
The church in Kaunas was the biggest eye-opener. Not only was it the first church we sang in, it was one of the churches more run-down in appearance. The people of that church amazed me. To witness what all these struggling churches face is overwhelming! I think our group was ministered to more than we ministered to the people. . . .We felt the presence of God. To look out and see women and men of all ages crying--to see them clapping--filling the room with flowers from their yards--and to receive hug upon hug from elderly ladies was reason enough for our mission. The joy, the tears, the understanding that the songs brought to us and the congregations are memories that time cannot erase. |
See also: Other Youth Witnesses
| Europe | Mission News | GBGM |
Photo by Archie Hamilton. All photographs are copyright © The General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. GBGM is the official mission agency of The United Methodist Church.
This trip has made my love of God stronger and broadened my
thinking. I am less focused on myself and more on the people
around me. . . . We experienced our best moments in the churches.
The smaller the church, the more alive His presence was.