I'm GRATEFUL, I'm a BUCKEYE and I'm EXCITED FOR JONAVA!!!

Words cannot describe how grateful I'm for the means to be able to stand on this soil in Lithuania.  When I speak into lives of children and youth, there is a constant reminder that I do not stand on my own strength or ability and I do not take it for granted.  You are here with me, so many times I sense your prayers and strengths.  For some of you a brief note on FB, or an email has made my greatest challenges appear upward opportunities.

This Thanksgiving I did something different, I invited national friends and supporters of Kidz Lithuania.  It was a huge task but proved itself amazing.  Close friends came a few days early and helped prepare the many desserts: pies, cheesecakes; and the many side dishes.  We roasted 16kg(35lbs) of Turkey--1 Full turkey, and several Turkey breasts.  We made so many side dishes, but it was an amazing statement of  genuine friendship and family working together.  It has been over 9 years that I have been able to have thanksgiving with my own family.  Since we all live in different parts of the world and the process of aging parents.

Our dinner party consisted of believers and non-believers because I am a strong believer that how we choose to express love holds greater value than our words.   Yet, when we open our hearts and truly welcome people by spending quality time with them it sends a message.

Now don't be fooled Thanksgiving celebration did not hinder ministry in fact we still went out served in Alytus, Friday & Saturday,  it's about 1 1/2 hours away from Vilnius. Kidz Lithuania is partnering with Paula Stephens, & Gary & Carol Zupkas missionary friends from other sending organizations.  Our goal is to establish a youth group with a partnering church, so that the church could continue the Bible Club at the orphanage.  While Kidz Lithuania is doing the Bible Club; I've been training the adult  Christian leaders on how to effectively train youth with a personal intimacy with Jesus, a passion to serve & a commitment for Gods' ministry.     Our initial commitment to this project is one year.  If we can duplicate our ministry locally in Alytus that would be amazing.  THIS IS OUR PRAYER

Here are a few photos from our ministry in Alytus, lead by our Leadership Team:

Nerijus Teaching:Alytus Youth Group

Alytus Scripture Game

Alytus Bible Club

Erika & PreK 

Aldo with his small group

What else can we be Thankful for?   Ohio State Buckeyes!!!! Thanksgiving Win  Just checking to see if you are still with me.   

Jonava Christian Church Update

End of Year Christmas Project253425.48Please Send a Move In Christmas Gift!  25,000.00Euros

Give Today to Jonava Christian Church

If you prefer to give by check: 

Assemblies of God World Missions,

1445 Boonville Ave

Springfield, MO 65802 USA

Acct#253425.48 In the memo

For over Seven years many of you heard me speak and share my heart about Jonava, Jonava, Jonava.  In fact, if you are a supporter and prayer partner you all know how much it means that we are moving in.  Jonava Christian Church Sacrificed greatly, the Lithuanian Pentecostal Union Churches gave liberally, Ohio Ministry Network, Womens Ministry & Many other Churches, along with Pinnellas Community Church in St. Petersburg Florida; and our brothers and sisters from Sweeden.   For the past seven years, several of you who have been praying faithfully.  I've shared my heart over Jonava needing a home base.  Well MOVING DAY IS HERE!!!!  We bought building, we are moving in!!!! WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL WHO HAVE SACRIFICED.

JONAVA CHRISTIAN CENTER 

NEW FACILITIES

(the current owners are still packing) 

Pastors Arvydas & Reda Slepikas

Possible Classroom

When they move this will be the large room

Training Room.

December 16, 2018 I will be preaching in their new building for their first church service if all goes well in the transition.  They were able to purchase the entire second floor for 100,000 Euros.  Yes property is not cheap in this area of Lithuania.  They have one year to pay off the balance which is only: 25,000.00EU.   If you feel impressed on your heart to give this would empower this new church plant, of only two years be debt free; so that they can invest their giving towards reaching their community.  You can easily GIVE TODAY! Give to Jonava Christian Church Christmas Project

Contact Information:

US ADDRESS:

1337  Beechcrest ST NW

Warren, OH 44485 USA

LITHUANIAN ADDRESS:

Tomo Žebrausko g. 7

14187 Vilnius

Lithuania

LITHUANIAN PHONE NUMBER:

+370.6.9999.495

US PHONE NUMBER:

(I'm 7 hours ahead E.S.T., it rings

in Lithuania) 

330.984.0213 (Skype)

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:

eurasharon@eurasiajoy.com

Giving: 

Electronic

Give safely and securely online by credit/debit card,

 PayPal, or check by inserting the following into 

your browser)

(https://s1.ag.org/smccammon) Account 253425

Postal Service:

Assemblies of God World Missions 

1445 N Boonville Ave 

Springfield, MO 65802

Account# 253425

"If Just One"

Kidz Lithuania started off their fall season with getting down to the basics.  We are a discipleship group.  So, like any other group we invited our team and new team members to start meeting on a monthly basis.  We studied our core values, this is most important when having a discipleship group.  They need to understand why we meet, and what we believe.  If a child could attend my children's ministry in the USA and yet not be able explain what the core values of being a christian were, would send me into a funnel of confusion. 

Here in Lithuania, my goal as a missionary is to reach the lost with the Gospel.  In the process of doing this I take very serious the training of this current generation of young people to personal know and understand their relationship with Jesus as it relates to their church community and their responsibility to share the Gospel in their culture.

In their culture,  this is the big fence to climb.  Gods word stands on its own!  We can boldly say this as an American.  I would even say as a follower of Christ since we have accepted by faith His precious love.  Yet, in their culture....I have usually around twelve students I work with directly.  Most are in our Kidz Lithuania ministry.  I also work with local childrens centers, orphanages and clubs.

Each one of the Kidz Lithuania young people are incredible and amazing.  For example, we have a young man who is only twelve years of age and is considered one of the best classical pianists not only in Lithuania but he has also won the title internationally.  He is in the beginning stages of learning to serve.  Another young man, is on a hip hop team that keeps winning on a national level.  We have athletes, top scholars, musicians, and artists of different kinds.  Their talents are never a criteria of being a part of our ministry.  In fact, we don't even know about these we pray and we invite on their willinging to observe our core values:

OUR CORE VALUES:

• We Value Relationship with God
  
• We Encourage all people to Live according to Biblical Principles
  
• We Value & Respect all People
  
• We Encourage people to have a healthy relationship with society

As they grow and give more of their time and service to the what they believe.  They need to take the step and be bold.  In their boldness they will more likely be the only one in their school to take a stand for the Gospel.  They will stand alone and will not be respected but will be mocked.  In most cases verbally scourged for their faith in Christ.  

Please know,  they are taking those measures often.   I do not write about them since I'm not the one that will pay the price for their news getting out.  No, here in Lithuania they will not pay the ultimate price,  However, they will be socially outcasted in their their schools not only by the students but also by their teachers and administrators which has a high influence on their future academics.

Knowing all of this.  This year we decided to start up four Bible Clubs in areas where there is a need of the Gospel.  It will bring us many challenges along the way.   I'm confident of this,  "If just one", just one child ,young person or adult makes the choice to follow Jesus because of our efforts then we rejoice, of course our goal is that they all accept Jesus and make Him Lord.  

You are so important in this effort, your constant support allows us to travel to these smaller cities and villages.  Your prayers give us the strength, momentum & desire to fulfill sharing the Gospel.  Please know here is how & who you can pray for:

1. Alytus-Free Christian Youth Group, we are helping this church begin a youth ministry in their community.

2. Alytus-Bible club,  We are partnering with Free Christian to start a Bible Club. 

3. Troskunai-Seniors Club, yes believe it we are having a Bible Club for seniors in this small village that does not have a church.

4. Troskunai-Childrens Bible Club, there is no church in this community.  

We thank you!  For these opportunities:

Alytus Bible Club

Alytus Bible Club 

Erika the Teacher

Justas Sharing Gods' Word.

Alytus Free Christian Youth

When "dark" introduces itself....

At the beginning of every camp we divide the children into small groups to get to know them personally.  This was a gathering that was a first for our team.  So many in this orphanage were claiming to be "satanist", ages eight to fourteen.  It was freakishly unnerving that a young beautiful child could make such a claim with a happy smile.

Day one was filled with anger, bitterness, children self-hurting, and even one young boy put his fist through a door sized window.  Ending up with an emergency visit to repair his arm. 

We gathered that afternoon, went to prayer.  Followed how we felt the Holy Spirit was guiding our team.  Put out prayer requests in country, and to our supporters in the USA to join us on this mission.  We invited a few others to join us in ministry in person and adjusted the ministry to meet the need.

That's one of our core values, "true ministry meets the need".   On day two went back out and watched the Master change the circumstances, and the children's hearts.  It was not an easy turn but we witnessed Gods' work in and through us to the touch the lives of these precious children and even change our hearts. 

The young boy who broke the window, begged the director to allow him to attend the camp.  He had to forfeit half his years spending money to pay for the window.  She was shocked that he came into her office first thing in the morning and begged to come back to camp.  She had mentioned that was not a common response for him.  The director could not believe that Lithuanian young people could be so patient, kind and full of compassion.

The children gathered near our STL vehicles shaking hhands, hugging and asking when will we return.  Jesus did an amazing work...it's just a start. 

At our debrief our team shared how this was such a great experience.  Our co-leader, Erika said:  a young boy who started off swearing asked in calmness if he could pray before small group time.  Augi, our other co-leader expressed a desire to want to come back here.  Gabriele shared how this week ended up being very good and she knows she grew. 

We witnessed what happens to pure darkness and how ti changes in many ways with just a small        amount of light exposure, for only five days.  Jesus' love, kindness, compassion and play will always be victorious when it comes with genuine faith in Christ to touch and change the world.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Alytus this week, many children's lives were changed and we are looking for some teams to join us to return a few times this upcoming year.

My kids want to adopt this orphanage.  Would you help us by continuing your prayers, increasing your support?  For some of you maybe step out in faith and begin to financially support this ministry we are about $600 a month short every month.  Maybe you would consider bringing a team to help us as we share the gospel and build the kingdom of God.

It was asked of me this year if I really believed we are making a difference?  I can say as we follow Christ lies are being changed.  Lives that would never have entered a church.  This is our passion reaching the "unforgotten".  The elderly, poor and orphans.  I will say without hesitation Kidz Lithuania not only changes the lives of our group members but also the ones we collide with in sharing God's love.

Spring Forth "Beautiful Transitions"

How the world and all that is within goes through a transformation when "Spring" comes forth.  Just this past week I was driving through the country side realizing how fresh & green all the trees were.  The week previous seemed like a neutral color pallet of browns & grays with few buds popping on their fragile branches.

Karen & Paulius leading Elderly inWorship

Paulius & Karen (Close Friends)

Kidz Lithuania, just like most are in a season of transition. " A Beautiful Transition" Paulius Slepikas and Karen Saakjan after growing, learning and serving for 8-9yrs will move forward in their life of service.  Both young men are involved in church ministry.  Paulius, is actively involved in the Jonava Christian Church plant; while Karen is actively involved in Magunai.  This summer they will be preparing for College and their future.

Augi w/Justas, Gabriele & Erika

Erika Eismontaite & Augustas Mozorus will take the helm and are training these next six months to be independent Leaders of Kidz Lithuania.  Gabriele Volskaite & Justas Slepikas are also joining this training to prepare them for the time.  In addition we have six more coming up through the ranks.  They are all in different seasons of their spiritual journeys.  We are always excited to see them bloom into action.

Jonava Youth Center just celebrated our 10 year anniversary, while Jonava Christian Church just entered its' second year.  We are in the last hours of needing to find a home base.  The building we have been rented has been sold and they are on notice to have to leave.   We have found a building but we are about 19,000 European Dollars short.  Please join us in prayer and in action.  Jonava Christian Church is in a season of total abandonment with a leap of FAITH.

Ten Year Celebration

Jonava Youth Center

TO SEND SUPPORT TO HELP US IN THE LAST HOUR SEND ONLINE:

SUPPORT 

OR SEND A CHECK TO: 

 AGWM 

1445 BOONVILLE AVE

SPRINGFIELD,MO 65802

ACCT: 253425.48

Delusional Scattered Flurries

Winter began late in Lithuania this year, many nationals say it is normal from days of old.  I was happy about the "Scattered Flurries" in the early winter.  It meant clear roads for travel, better parking options, no winter gear to put on or carry around, or not having to jump start the our team van.

Winter without it becoming very cold is kind of a delusion, because it creates a whole set of other issues in our lives.  For example, Lithuania experienced and epidemic of influenza where schools were shut down for over two weeks due to more than 35% of the student population was ill.    That deep freeze helps kill germs, and bugs.  Without a deep winter we would have relentless "mosquito" therapy this summer.

While our ability to drive safe on the roads or walk down paths that are clear, where we don't fear slipping and falling;  along with the novelty of enjoying sunshine to gather up my vitamin "D".
There is a fierce reality if we don't have the deep winter in our part of the world.

The lack of snow hurts the ecology of our land.  Having layers of snow naturally irrigates the soil and makes it ready for planting.  This lack of moisture can create nightmares for farmers and also reduce available fruit when picking season comes.

I do need a "snow" adjustment from time to time this week I posted a photo on FB:

In all reality when I think about the harvest we are planting during these winter months it is so valuable.  It is during our deep winter where we are resting, planting and cultivating the hearts and thoughts of our ministry team.   To think if for one moment I would want to loose that time to invest deeply in their hearts during the winter months, would be an understatement and truly effect the production of fruit in their lives. 

During our winter months we gear down and spend extra weekends having "JESUS" times where we are purposeful and intensive in our Biblical Studies & Character Growth.  When I think of winter in the future i'm going to keep in mind a very natural science equation: "For every action, there is an equal & opposite reaction"  

When I think of the upcoming winters I'll do my best to see this instead of the former:

I'll be able to focus on the fruit that is coming in our upcoming harvest.  Thank you for investing in Kidz Lithuania!  Thank you for your prayers and continual support no matter what season it is in your life.

Being Present

During the Christmas season our Kidz Lithuania team was having to re-organize our presentation at the last minute this was a new adventure for our team.  It's important that we always accept the knowledge of truth, "God knows everything before it happens".  We spent five hours during our final rehearsal helping a couple members learn new parts all day so that everything we do has effective purpose and propels the gospel message.  This years Christmas theme is:  "There is No other Name...."JESUS!"

There are times when a team can face some challenges having to adjust and redistribute responsibilities.  In all the adversity that our team faced the last two weeks before our Christmas Tours---God just amazingly spoke to the hearts of specific team members to step it up, a couple kids gave an extra weekend and served.   A few kids took on these extra responsibilities which didn't show case their natural talents or gifts.

It just gives me joy that they have learned the truth about servant leadership & ministry.  Our theme this year is: "It's not all about me"  It's about JESUS.  The genuine truth is real ministry is simply meeting the need!  What a powerful lesson these young people have grasped and are applying to their will, and lifestyle.  How powerful would the body of Christ be if we all practiced this simple principle.

Thank you to all of our Friends, we hope and pray that you truly experienced the power of Gods' love during your Christmas Season.  We appreciate your faithful friendship, prayers and gifts.  We will continue to lift you and your home and church up in prayer.

Immediately, after we launched our evangelistic outreaches during December I received word that my Step-father, Carl Johnson, wasn't feeling well.  He simply said, "I have a little tummy ache".  I believe one of the greatest challenges a missionary faces is "being present" for your stateside family when they are in need.  My parents are elderly and have aged.  My mom was put into a "care facility" in October and Carl was visiting daily being the unselfish husband he was.

Life happens and the outcome of a day can turn on a dime without notice.  There can be moments of a instant gasp of air for you to breath and there can be moments of shock, or silence when you hear over the phone a loved one has less than a month to live.  When I heard the doctor say, "he has about a month maybe....but he will need hospice and someone to stay with him".  I began to make the plans to return home--during that process the Lord saw it best to take his spirit into his presence--before I was able to make it home.  He went peacefully with great hope.

So Christmas & New Years were difficult for my family and close friends.  Quite a bit of changes--I'm grateful for the Assemblies of God World Missions, granting me the time to go home and get my parents estate in order.  I'm grateful for the friends who stepped up--there are times when you can only breath.   So many people around me lent me their strength in "meeting the need"  this time the "the need" was me.

Now we are back in full swing with events coming up that involve reaching orphans and serving Teen Challenge.  My prayer is that we continue to focus on the lost and "being present" as orchestrated by God Himself.