We began today! (In fact it is happening right now. I just slipped away to write a quick note because I won't be doing it later.) Romas said he thinks the camp is a little bigger this year than last year. I can't remember for sure how many we had last year. I think it was a little more than twenty regulars (ten or so of which were actual members of the church)throughout the week. This year, there are about twenty five. According to Romas, a good percentage are members, but many present "call themselves 'Lutheran' but are not members and do not come to church." Romas told me today at lunch that our gathering last year produced fruits. He explained to me that before our sessions, many of the kids he had interacted with were willing to come, but were unwilling to pray or be involved with Bible study. He said that now the kids pray regularly and attend studies. Romas is hoping that the new youth will learn as much as the youth did last year and that they will follow the same path, being encouraged by the present members. This is good news.
Last night we had dinner at Romas' home. He and his wife, Ingrita, prepared a cookout for us! Lamb, chicken, and an unnknown meat (which was very good). They also provided us with the usual snacks (pig ears, harsh cheeses, and other strange bits). It was really nice. Romas brought out some home-made whisky and shared it with me. It was good; very potent...but good.
After dinner, Romas invited us to go into an open field near his home to shoot bows. We played a mideieval style game in which a flagpost is taken out into the field (several hundreds of meters away). Each archer gets three colored arrows. The goal was to shoot the arrows one at a time and to try to get as close to the flag as possible. We shot four rounds.
The first round clearly went to Joe (who, by the way, is an "expert marksman" award recipient from his days in the Marines) who was within 10 meters of the flag, all in a perfect line with the pole. Nice shooting Joe. I didn't do so well the first round, but I was learnning. In fact, one excuse I can offer is that the arm guard Romas put on my arm had eyelets with sharp flared metal which sliced up my hand and arm as he put it on me. That started off badly. If you are bleeding before the first arrow is slung against the bowstring, you're not doing too well. Then, with my first shot, the string hit my forearm just before the guard and left a rather painful scrape/bruise. But I was determined to continue on, in defense of the Christian realm, of course.
Josh won the next round, putting his into the ground closer than even Joe's previous round. Nice shooting, Josh of Locksley! So now, the pressure was on...and not to mention that the whole group was now mocking my apparent inabilities. In fact, I admittedly confessed that if we were in a 14th century confrontation, I probably would have perished. Although, with the right training...hmmm. In addition, what the laughing gentry failed to realize about their pastor: 1) I learn quickly, 2) I'm very competitive, 3) I work well under pressure. The game was officially "on".
I won round three, but not by much. I beat Josh by only a foot. I was about fourteen paces away. He was barely at fifteen.
Round four was(as we Americans are fond of saying) for the Championship of the Universe. This round wins them all. Please enjoy the above photo of the victor. I believe the Lithuanian historians have already begun to scribe this epic duel of good rising in triumph above the cruel scowls and mockings of one's supposed fellow countrymen. Fortune, nay victory, my dear leotard-wearing merry men, fancies me this
day. Rest well this quiet eve, for perhaps it is that we shall meet again upon the field and you will have excelled in skill to a level as to that of this lowly clergyman. (Translation: Laugh it up, guys. I won.)
Blessings to all. Thanks again for the prayers of support. Believe it or not, even with this evening excursion, the group is working hard.
In Christ,
Pastor Thoma+
