If I will but come to the end of myself, He will begin in me!: January 2008

This is Lithuania :).

the particular city this picture was taken in is Vilnuis, with many many beautiful sites to see.

ok. i have to explain a little from here. i left for lithuania around 7am on monday(jan 7). got to Vilnuis(capital of Li) on tuesday at about 3pm. luggage was nowhere to be found lol. but the show must go on right? :) so we went straight to a hostel in downtown vilnuis where we would stay for about 3 days. we being the 24 study abroad students from the states :). i guess the point of going first to Vilnuis was to meet and bond with each other and tour the beautiful city together. because it is this study abroad group that will go together for spring break to russia :). yup guys.. its all part of the package :).

so come thursday morning (jan 10th :) which was my bday) we were on our way to klaipeda, my home for the next four months! and we have been getting situated, learning the area, getting familiar with the stores (grocery stores called Iki and Maxima) and making this place our home :). its been very exhilerating and exhausting to the point where the mix between jet lag and walking all day long makes you pass out when you reach the bed :). its all very wonderful.

i can't explain it except that my senses are being awakened. my passions for language and people and culture and faith are taking a whole new perspective and slowly coming alive!. i can feel my dreams stirring. i mean its just the beginning :).. but here i am. ready for whats to come(i hope).

so basically i love love love it here!

it was not what i expected. hah. i don't even know where to begin . plus being on the computer to reply to emails takes me away from soaking in the culture and life. so i really apoligize for not replying if i didn't, but i hope this blogger will be a good enough reply to your email. i am writing this for you :) (family and friends)

i miss you very much. but i am also learning that this is part of my journey...

to experience it, in a sense, alone, at least for a short time.

i've met soooo many people!!! everyone is amazing.

lol today was only the first day of school and so i'm a new born at this experience. this is not a missions trip, although i am realy hoping to find some opportunities here before i go back home.

what i am doing in Lithuania is Studying Abroad though a Fresno Pacific University program for anyone who doesn't know :). if you have any questions about that, email me lol. but i don't know how quick i will be able to respond. i think the best email to reach me currently would be amaymadee@gmail.com

and if by any chance you guys want to send me a letter , my address here would be:

Kretingos g. 36
Klaipeda LT-92307
Lithuania

but i just found out it costs a lot for me to send something so i think i will stick with emails :) and blogging.

i also have skype, if you want to call me for free through internet. my account is: amy.datsko

if there is any more info i missed on contacting me, let me know..

ahh i don't mean to make the focus on me, but i think it is much harder for me to reply to each person individually then through this blog. so i hope this will work out. :)

oh and for your knowledge, there is a 10hr time difference from california area to here(where i am) so for me it is only about 4pm right now.

putting all that aside, i'm really excited to see why God has brought me here. i know i have a lot to learn about trust and true faith, so i will keep you posted on that.

some more pictures :)