23. Jul 2025

Alytus - Miroslavas

Photo 1: I thought this Camino waymarker was interesting. It is on a concrete anti-tank barrier from World War II. Something that was once used to obstruct violent entry, is now pointing the way to peaceful passage. May it remain so...

Photo 2: At noontime I walked through the village of Miroslavas. This young lady passed by me on the other side of the street. I saw her coming and asked the Lord if this might be someone he wanted me to talk to. We said hello and she continued on. About a minute later she turned around and passed me again. She looked at me and asked: "Camino?" Her name is Ruth. She was using her lunchbreak to take a walk. She wanted to know why a 68 year old man would carry a heavy backpack through the Baltics to Germany. I told her that I was walking with Jesus and he asked me to pray for the countries and people as I walked. I said that God loves the people in Lithuania very much and he wants them to know his heart. She placed her hand over her heart and said that these are healing words. I asked her if she knew the story of her name Ruth that was in the Bible. She did not. She said that she loved and trusted Jesus. I asked if she had ever read the story of Jesus in God's book. She had not. She did not have a Bible. I sensed a longing in her heart to know God in a deeper way. I told her that there was so much more to discover about God and his ways, but it is important to know what he tells us in his word. She promised that she would get a Bible. I told her to read the story of Ruth, and then read the story of Jesus. As I prayed for Ruth and her family, she kept placing her hand over her heart. It was a God-lunchtime-appointment. There are so many people in the Baltics like Ruth who hold to a Christian tradition, but do not know how to walk with God in daily life or what it means to follow Jesus.

Photo 3: Originally I wanted to stay at the parish house in Miroslavas, but the weather was good for walking and it was still early in the day. I decided to go to the campground Akromų Sodyba at the end of the next stage. In making and cancelling the reservation in Miroslavas, I found out that the priest there spoke some German and told him that I would like to still come by and meet him. He is actually from Poland and his name is Miroslav like the name of the village. I had a cup of tea and we talked and prayed. Since he spoke polish, I asked him if he could call the monastery in Sejny where I would spend my first night in Poland, whether they had a pilgrim room and a bed available. I could find no contact information. He made the call and it was confirmed that I could come. That was a relief, because the other two places listed in the Camino Lituano App had no availibility and rain was expected that evening.

Photo 4: When I left the church in Miroslavas I took a wrong turn. When I turned around, I saw this Holy-Spirit-Dove-Cloud hovering over the church tower. This is my prayer for Lithuania that God's Spirit would bring renewal and draw people to the truths of God's word and to a living relationship with him.

Photo 5: It was a long day, walked almost 40 km. I slept well in my tent. It did not rain in the night...