January 31, 2008
Members of IDE:
Good News!
As I wrote in the January issue of the IDE Today, I was in the process of waiting for a ruling about volunteer laborers for the Palanga project. The following is an email which I received from Rev. Dr. Darius Petkunas on January 29th:
Dear President Arp, It took the Ministry of Labor over a month to ponder the question on guest workers from the USA. Now they have sent their decision. I found it to be incomprehensible, so I took it to our Lithuanian church's attorney who told me that it means that the ministry approves the coming of guest workers from America to serve as volunteers by helping us in Palanga. They ask however, that the workers should be covered by insurance so that the Lithuanian church and government would not find itself involved in legal questions concerning liability, etc. They suggest also that when workers come we should invite someone from the local agencies to advise them concerning safety regulations. The visits by workers over the past two years have proven to be a great blessing to us. It does lower to some extent the overall cost of the project, because of the donation of their labor. I have planned the program of these visits so as to make sure that they have plenty to do and will not feel that they are wasting their time. I am very gratified that the Labor Ministry has taken this very liberal and helpful position and hope that we will be having more working visits from our brothers and sisters in Christ in Iowa East District. Yours in Christ, Darius
If you are interest in making a trip, please contact Rev. Dean Rothchild at 319-373-2112 or deanrothchild@lcmside.org
In Christ,
Rev. Arp
