13. Jul 2025

Video: Today I walked to the Catholic Church for the Sunday morning service in Vadaktai. It is the only church in the village.

Photo 1: After the service I talked with the priest, Saulas. He tends to four different parishes and the early afternoon service in Vadaktai was his last one of four for the day. I prayed with him for his ministry and the people who live in these villages.

Photo 2: The village church in Vadaktai

Photo 3: Along the main street going through the village, about every 50 to 100 meters, there was a chair on the edge of the road with a geranium plant on it.

In the late afternoon, early evening, some other pilgrims arrived at the hostel: two bike riders, Emilis, and the two sisters Egle and Lina. Unfortunately Jakobas had hurt his foot and needed to be picked up by his grandfather. We ate our evening meal together around a small wooden table in the garden in front of the house. These are always special moments at the end of a pilgrim day.

Photo 4: The Lithuanian flag: Yellow symbolizes sunshine, prosperity, and the golden fields of Lithuania. Green represents the lush forests and meadows, embodying hope and the natural beauty of the country. Red signifies courage, the blood shed for independence, and the strength of the Lithuanian people.

Photo 5: I never got to post the picture of the Latvian flag until now.
The Latvian flag is considered one of the oldest national flags still in use today. It is believed to date back to the 13th century. The red, a deep carmine, symbolizes courage, bravery, and the willingness of the Latvian people to fight for their freedom, representing the blood shed in past battles for independence. The white stripe represents truth, justice, and the pursuit of peace, symbolizing purity, innocence, and the nation's commitment to moral values.