College

Raia has been planning to go to LCC since her friend started studying there four years ago. Along the way, Jaan decided that he would, too. Then Jaan and Raia worked it all out so that she would finish both 11th and 12th grade this year, and he would use this year as a gap year. That way they could go together, even though they're actually two years apart in age and school. War complicated their plans, but Raia is finishing well, and Jaan is working in Florida to make money during the second half of this gap year of his.

We have been wanting to visit LCC, and when they had "University Days" at the end of January, we finally got to go. That was two days for prospective students to go on a campus tour, attend classes, and find out about studying there. Jaan, Raia, and I traveled for two days through Poland and London to get to Lithuania, spent two days there, and then made the long trek back. We really enjoyed our visit.

Right after that, they started the application process. It has been much more difficult and complicated than we would have expected. Now I remember that when our friends--another international family in Kherson--were going through college applications with their two oldest, it seemed very overwhelming. Now I understand. I really don't know if it's usually like this, but pulling together everything to get into college has been a marathon for all of us. We're almost to the end... maybe. Jaan and Raia are conditionally accepted at LCC! Please pray that they can meet that final condition, one more big test for them to take.

Assuming we can get through this next hurdle (and Lithuanian residency and finances), Raia will study English and Jaan Contemporary Communications. I think they'll both get some Theology, too; LCC doesn't call it a minor, but that's basically what it is. 

Anyway, please pray for us, as we work so hard to get to the next step now.