May 2005
Klaipeda, Lithuania

On April 30, Lithuania Christian College held its tenth commencement. Eighty-four students participated in the ceremony. Eric offered the closing prayer and benediction at baccalaureate. The day was filled with family poses and flowers offered to the graduates. These are the best moments for teachers, which we were able to experience because, through the church of Jesus Christ, you sent us here.

We are now preparing for six months of "interpretation assignment" (what we used to call "furlough" or "home assignment") with you in the United States. Reflecting on the meaning of the past four years has begun. We have been thinking about our mission orientation in 2001. Most memorable was Anthony Gittins, a mission writer and Catholic priest. In his recent book Ministry at the Margins, he uses the metaphor of “passing over” and “coming back” as a way to think about being a missionary in the twenty-first century.In 2001 we “passed over” to enter the new world of Lithuania. Our time here has been the faith adventure of a lifetime, just as Gittins said it would be. We have lived here as guests and as strangers. As much as we shared what we have and who we are, we received more in return from our Lithuanian hosts. This has been a gift-exchange, “a way of ministry and a missionary method” (page 119).

We return with new-found riches and new-found faith. We are eager to share this work with you and to affirm God’s mission in the world. But we also know that we are changed by these encounters, just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus were changed by the encounter with the risen Christ.

How can we participate in interpreting mission with you? The best we can do is to share what we have become in our four years in Lithuania. There are different ways for us to be present with you—a sermon or other participation in worship, Sunday school, a potluck supper, prayer breakfast, bag lunch, Presbyterian Women’s meeting, mission committee, or we’d be happy to speak at a mission fair. We particularly like working with small groups (we’re teachers, after all). We are available for Saturday retreats or mid-week events. Since we are still under appointment (receiving a salary from the PC(USA)), no honorarium is expected or required. The church or inviting body is expected to pay our travel expenses (mileage, meals, lodging), however.

Our general plan is to be based in Pennsylvania. At the end of July we will be at the PC(USA)’s missionary sharing conference in Louisville with other returning mission personnel. In mid-August we are headed to Washington state to visit our son and daughter-in-law and then back to Pennsylvania after Labor Day.

The best place to reach us will be through the Lewistown Presbyterian Church, 17 East Third St., Lewistown, PA 17044, (717) 248-4561, email: lewispres@acsworld.com. Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, and First Presbyterian Church, Warren, have offered us office space.

We plan to return to Lithuania at the end of December refreshed, renewed, and reinvigorated, in grateful anticipation of a second four-year term of mission service. Anthony Gittins reminds us that “by virtue of Baptism everyone is called to be, supposed to be, capable of being a missionary” (page 11). Christ has called us all: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Friends, we are as anxious to hear what in the world you have been doing as we are to share the missionary meaning of our time here! It should be a joyous gift-exchange!

Grace and peace to all of you in the name of our risen Lord!

Eric and Becky Hinderliter
PC(USA) Mission Co-workers, Lithuania