|
balticblond
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Country: Lithuania
Metro: Vilnius
Interests: Even though my heart is often in Vilnius, Lithuania, I actually live in Portland, OR. I also love: Chi Alpha, 1748 (our community ministry house), Collecting Coke cans from every country of the world, being accessible as I can especially to young adults, A/G missions, gathering everything in print or media on artist/composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis (my great uncle), our family history, writing the Great American Historical Novel, collecting stamps in my passport, photography, graphic design, kickin' it with international students & friends among other leaders
Expertise: Reading people & situations and what the best response is. Knowing where Iryan Jaya is (among other places), being a spiritual coach of sorts to Chi Alpha, Bible college, international students and 18-30ish adults. Being a dad, and now a grandfather.
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
7/4/2003
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| A Bit About the Real Me This week Kathy and I are hosting our FOCUS International Student Ministry Leadership Team Planning Retreat. FOCUS is a service program for international students predominantly at Portland State University. We serve about 600-800 students each year from 60+ nations utilizing mostly community volunteers. Over 90 people from 30 area churches make FOCUS happen.
We opened our meetings with Organizational Team Building based on several personality assessments, then presenting a summary of how we best operate within organizations. We used these three assessments (my strength areas listed for each):
1) Strength Finders 2.0: Connectedness, Strategic, Adaptability, Empathy
2) Myers-Briggs: INFP— Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving—“The Healer”
3) DISC Assessment: Steadiness (43%), Conscientious (26%), Influence (19%), Dominance (12%)
Here's a snap shot of the 'real me'---
I believe everything happens for a reason especially in the sense of God directing our lives. We are a product of his Divine Destiny, an agent on his mission of service. Our stories are different but they often are entwined as strands in the master Weaver’s ultimate tapestry.
In a group I’m paying attention to everyone else including those that seem to be on the fringe or perhaps feeling uninvited or unworthy of the company they’re keeping. I want everyone to feel a part, a stakeholder, and with a full place at the table. I can easily put myself in their shoes, especially if they would traditionally be underrepresented for some reason. I may not even agree with their perspective, but it is important to me that they have a voice. Myers-Briggs calls me a “diplomat” and interestingly this was one of my career interests throughout my life.
Of course then, I also am most happy when invited to a full seat at the table in any organization I'm part of.
I pay attention to and try to anticipate people’s needs and love to serve them, especially if they are among those I strongly care for or am committed to.
I may appear quiet, but I actually have strong opinions and will speak persuasively on their behalf. My quietness is actually misleading because I will become very enthusiastic in promoting anything I’m committed to.
Usually I can envision the best path through a problem or issue. I am not afraid to throw out something (an idea, program etc) I view as obsolete or affecting the well being of our staff or workers.
I tend to live in the moment rather than make a plan and work a plan. One plan tends to spin off new ideas not necessarily related. I can be distracted by these especially if they seem more interesting to me. Because of that I can pretty flexible and I’m usually not offended to put down my idea for now in favor of the teams interests. Part of the dark side on this, I am susceptible to being compulsive at times.
I hate to disappoint those I work for or with. I have a strong sense of morality, propriety and “doing the right thing”. While I usually do not impose my sense of right and wrong on others, am usually am very willing to give my assessment when invited to.
I draw the line on intervention where the unity or integrity of a group or organization is concerned. I will not hesitate to act in order to preserve that, even if someone is hurt in the process.
Because I am content to sit in the #2 position in organizations, some people assume I am not interested in or very capable of directing leadership. That is far from the truth, however I much prefer to be called into leadership rather than asserting myself into it. Some consider this a weakness, but I look at it as strength, though at times I may lose out on an opportunity or two because of it. | | |
| Review of Bill Carmichael's new book "The Missionary"5.0 out of 5 stars
A new cast of characters in the tradition of Tom Clancy, March 26, 2009
By Baltic Books "Vic" (Portland, OR USA)
David Eller has served street children of Venezuela for years. In that time living among those with extreme need, he's become a bit careless publicly criticizing the presidential regime. That criticism has the attention of an important businessman with power to greatly fund Eller's important work, but also to bring change to the national leadership. The question is how badly does Eller want to help these children and to what lengths is he willing to go?
The Missionary is an exciting thriller-adventure story in the tradition of Tom Clancy or John Grisham. Carmichael writes a new novel chronicling the inner struggle of the men and women willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to accomplish their mission in spite of personal weaknesses and internal demons.
Reading The Missionary I was pleased to see the story unfold in a way I never expected. It is well written and seems to cry out for a sequel after taking special time and care to establish an exciting cadre of characters.
I strongly recommend The Missionary!
| | |
| I'm Afraid Xanga is Dying83.79% of my online social life is over at Facebook.com now. Another 12% is at Twitter.com, leaving not more than 4.21% split between Xanga and Myspace (does anyone use Myspace anymore? If so, why?).
The truth is ever since Xanga changed their front page to that confusing thing with a little bit of everything all over the page, who the heck wants to mess with it?
It's slow and cumbersome. Xanga was much better when it stuck to what it does best-- blogging. Too bad Xanga didn't manage to get themselves bought out by Google-- instead Google bought an even worse social networking storefront in Orkut.
So I think Xanga has to die.
From time to time I'll come back, but not because its fun and easy to use.
Perhaps Xanga should remarket itself to the Baby Boomer generation.
| | |
| Christmas Week -- Heart UpdateHi everyone!
Today wrapped up a historic Christmas for Portland, Oregon. The SNOWIEST Christmas ever, biggest snow fall total for a storm period in more than 40 years, and so on it goes.
Snow in Portland changes EVERYTHING.
Portland literally slides to a stop with as little as 1-2 inches of snow, especially if it doesn't melt away in a few hours as it typically will, IF it snows. It sure did the past week.
Virtually everyone stayed home except on December 23rd and 24th when we had our last chance to get to a store before a new storm threatened. I'm certain there will be many Portland retailers that now close due to the combination of snow and economic conditions.
The past week at our house-- Our first big surprise-- Alec comes home!
Alec and Shannon Christmas morning
We prepared ourselves to suffer Christmas without our son Alec. He's living in Hollywood and felt his work needs would keep him south.
Thursday morning, Shannon walks in my room with her "What are you doing?" question. This is the question asked in the way actually meaning, "Dad, I need you to stop everything and take me somewhere". She sensed that. "So, I have an early Christmas present for you. Alec just arrived at the airport."
Yay! We all bundled up, drove to PDX to see our little 25 year guy!
Overnighter Extended!
Originally our daughter, son-in law and grandsons were going to join us for Christmas Eve only. Instead, Heather and the boys came up for an early overnight after Alec arrived Thursday. Snow started falling a few hours later... and on into the next morning.
Suddenly, they were snowed for the duration. When their power and water were down back at home a day, Jared soon joined us! We ended up with a dream Christmas. All our family at home at once!
The Flu hits 1748
We THOUGHT our grandsons had fully recovered from an early bout last week. Wrong!
I was first to fall after that initial grandfatherly-grandson exchange of Lewis' and Evander’s goopy kisses. Six hours later I wretched my way into intestinal oblivion, still filled with the joy of having my little guys near by-- it was worth the price.
Kathy joined me 12 hours later, then Alec, and finally Shannon. She was the one that stuck it out like Smith Wigglesworth on a mission and continued to "refuse" nausea forcing herself to do all the Christmassy things she had planned.
Myself? I succumbed to 3 days of bed! --Brave man of God!
Lewis and his Mighty Machines
Christmas Day we again stayed in sharing the moments together including traditional Dutch Babies breakfast, assorted Norwegian mostly raw salmon and herring tasties, a few cookies and lots of games and Christmas music.
The babies have all gone home now. It's a bit quieter and we miss them all!
My Heart Update
When our snow hit followed by the 3 day flu, my walks pretty much went on hold. We have snow everywhere outside. Unfortunately, I am not well equipped for trekking through that stuff much these days. Instead I've gone out for measured periods of light snow shoveling workouts instead. I figured if it was broken up into checks across hours and days, it would be a safe activity.
I'm still here and haven't had to resort to taking a nitro tablets or anything, so success.
I'm actually feeling better and better.
Hopefully the snow will be washed away in a day or two so walks can resume. | | |
| Jouney of the Heart--Latest InstallmentHi Gang!
Thanks for continued prayer on our behalf.
This week I met with my cardiology department for the first time following my heart attack.
Generally, that went well-- I gave up some more blood, was connected to the electrocardiogram again and given a thorough once over by a cardiac NP (my cardiologist Beth is on vacation).
They re-regulated my medications to move me closer to a max BP of 120/80.
Hospitals are generally really good these days at giving you the "worst case scenario" when they list the possibilities of outcomes. They are way over on the "glass half-empty" scale.
In my situation the worst case is preparing for the contingency of heart bypass surgery if my blood pressures don't come much lower. They going to give me 2-3 months to work it all out.
The NP also contradicted what I thought I heard my surgeon say about "Plavix", one of the current popular heart meds that I'm on. Originally I thought they said they had hopes the drug regemin would actually start opening up my secondary arteries. The NP says "no" on that-- I'll have to do more research.
My walks have been a bit more difficult in the cold weather we're having. That's normal I guess-- your body and heart work harder to maintain body temps adding stress to the circulatory system.
I've also been noticing myself trying to slip into my old eating habits in terms of food quantities. I need to nip that in the bud now. Now I'm attempting to stock the mini fridge in our bedroom (kinda like a studio suite) with carrots and other good things to nibble on. It's really critical for me to continue losing weight.
Tonight we're hoping for a bit of grandchild therapy-- If Heather can make it up through the snow, Lewis and Evander will spend the night (with their Mom of course) at 1748. That will be really fun!
The other great thing was an early Christmas present from Shannon who surprised us yesterday by flying Alec up from California. We'd settled into the idea (sadly) of not seeing him this holiday. He gives a lot of therapeutic hugs!
::EDIT-- Money talk ahead--skip down if that isn't your thing::
Some of you have been following our cash situation-- quick report there is God has been good and amazed us with our friends and supporters generosity (our salary comes out of a private donor base). We're still down a bit on the immediate need, but hopeful we'll come back to ground zero at least in a week or so. Then I quickly need to get out there to re-establish our monthly donor budget-- I'll be scheduling my weekends with our churches in Oregon and hopefully some in Washington. If you want to be included in our donor team email list, just let me know.
::END EDIT::
So-- hopefully we'll get out at least an electronic version of a Christmas card in the next 2 days-- possibly a printed one-- If you really want one of those printed ones, be sure to let us know and get your postal address to me.
Until then-- Merry Christmas!
Vic and Kathy
PS-- Please say prayers for our dear friends Janell and Dale Moseley-- Janell, one of our Chi Alpha alums from 1992 in Portland had a 2nd stroke this week. This is an awesome couple dedicated to serving struggling people around the world-- Janell has an incredible story of spiritual journey. Here is a note she wrote-- don't be fooled by her light hearted demeanor-- this is a critical moment for her. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=752190149&ref=profile#/note.php?note_id=35489249057 | | |
|
