A letter from Becky and Eric Hinderliter in Lithuania
Eastertide Velykos 2013
Greetings. Jo cia nera; Jis prisikele. Su sv. Velykomis, biciuliai. Kristaus prisikėlimas. (He is not here; he is risen. A blessed Easter, dear friends. Christ is risen).
Winter here has been long and cold. On this last day of March the ground is still covered with snow.
Resurrection candles are lit in the early dawn of Easter, here together with traditional Lithuanian iron crosses
Becky and I got up early today—in the darkness with a fresh snow—to walk to the Lutheran church here for a sunrise Easter communion service. We all lit "resurrection candles" in the darkness. We all sang Alleluia and declared, Christ is risen indeed! The day of Christ’s victory over sin and death.
We continue our engagement with young people from Eastern Europe. In addition to our daily teaching at LCC International University, our mission partner, we participated with its admissions office in contacting prospective students and recruiting them to LCC. During spring break we spoke individually to over 100 students in Kaliningrad, Russia. In early April LCC International University will host its annual multidisciplinary academic conference (AAC). This year‘s topic is Whose Justice? Global Perspectives in Dialogue. We are busy helping 19 LCC students organize their dialogue and poster session on "Justice and International Trade." They will be giving their views on the benefits and limitations of "fair trade," on access to "essential pharmaceuticals" in poor countries, and on our role in promoting better working conditions in poorer countries. And we continue our regular visits to the men’s prison. The semester ends with a May 4 graduation ceremony. In all we do, we want our witness to be authentic and effective.
Becky with Rita Rindokienë (far left), an LCC admissions counselor, and four teachers of English in Lyceum #49, Kaliningrad, Russia
By the time you receive this newsletter we expect to be in the United States. We are now able to let people know our summer 2013 plans for mission interpretation in the U.S. We will be staying in Camp Hill, Pa. We arrive in Harrisburg, Pa., on May 8. We are available for church visits and other events; we start Sunday May 12 at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church. The Carlisle Presbytery Mission Advocacy Committee will host a Mission Celebration on June 18. We are invited to offer a keynote both about our ministry and about international mission in general. In August we will attend the PC(USA) "Big Tent" mission gathering and PC(USA) sharing conference in Louisville, Ky., and then visit churches in Kentucky and Ohio. We return to Klaipeda on August 22 for the start of the fall 2013 semester at LCC.
Today—Easter—is the last day of our third mission term with the PC(USA). We are looking forward to our new term, starting tomorrow. We committed to four more years of mission service—until 2017. This will be a challenge on many levels. Personally we know this will require energy, strength, patience—and above all faith that we have been called by God to do this work.
And just what is it we are "doing"? Our PC(USA) mission sending agency, recently renamed the Presbyterian Mission Agency, in Louisville tells us we must be committed to “doing mission in the way of Jesus who humbled himself, showing the way of self-giving and self-emptying” (Philippians 2). We are to respond to three critical global issues: addressing the root causes of poverty (especially as it impacts women and children); partnering in evangelism to share the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ; and working for reconciliation amidst cultures of violence, including our own. World Mission is emphasizing equipping Presbyterians to respond to these challenges, while inspiring and building connections for prayerful service. World Mission encourages us as mission co-workers, together with U.S. Presbyterian mission participants and global partners like LCC International University, to build communities of effective mission practice. We think we can help equip mission-minded Presbyterians at home with words and experiences about mission practice from your fellow Christians over here.
Students in accounting with Becky after class
Today mission co-workers like the two of us are challenged to take a larger role in mission funds development. We are facing changes in how the church funds international mission, how World Mission is responding to those changes, and what that will mean for all of World Mission, including mission co-workers like us, Louisville-based staff, and the funds development team. We want to be part of this effort. Our first task is to express our gratitude to the congregations and individuals who have prayed for us, visited us, and offered their financial support. We never would have made it these 12 years without our mission-minded fellow Christians. During this Easter season the Heidelberg Catechism never rings more true; it is the most personal of the Reformed creeds. Each question of the catechism is personal, addressed to "you." The Catechism opens with instructions to us on the three things “you” need to know: First, the greatness of my sin and wretchedness. Second, how I am freed from all my sins and their wretched consequences. Third, what gratitude I owe to God for such redemption. We are Easter people; we must be grateful. It is rightly said that mission workers must have the attitude of gratitude. Please consider these sincere thanks as an encouragement to keep on keeping us here in Lithuania.\
May your Eastertide be filled with joy and the blessings of God's everlasting love. We look forward to seeing you when we arrive in the U.S.A. We are seeking invitations to meet with you about our ministry. Because we are teachers, Sunday School, adult education events, mission committee meetings, and Women Association Bible studies work best for us. We are also open to participation in worship. The way to contact us remains our PC(USA) e-mail: eric.hinderliter@pcusa.org. (You can use the "Write to" link below.) We do have a U.S. mobile: 717-385-7560 (for use only when we are in the U.S.A.). We look forward to hearing a good word from you.
Peace,
Eric & Becky Hinderliter
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 284
Read more about Eric and Becky Hinderliter's ministry
Write to Eric Hinderliter
Write to Becky Hinderliter
Give to Eric and Becky Hinderliter's sending and support
