Introduction / History

The ancestors of the Lithuanians came from Asia between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago. Lithuania was united with Poland between the 1600s-1700s. In the late 1700s Russia took over this small country. Germany occupied Lithuania during both WWI and WWII. Russia made it part of the USSR after the war, and it remained a "Soviet Socialist Republic" until the USSR dissolved in 1991.

They have their own language by the same name, Lithuanian. It is neither Germanic nor Slavic.

Lithuanians have been migrating to other countries for work since the end of the communist era. Though the bulk of the Lithuanian population is in Lithuania, there are small numbers of them in other countries including Poland. There is a long, close history between Lithuania and Poland. The Polish-Lithuanian Union lasted for 400 years from the end of the 1300s till the end of the 1700s. Since that time, they have faced common enemies, especially the Germans and Russians. But Poland is a larger, stronger country, so Lithuania sometimes feels dominated. The Lithuanians in Poland usually live in Gmina Pu?sk in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Lithuanians in Poland have their own Lithuanian language newspapers and magazines. They have 17 schools in Poland.

Unfortunately, Lithuanian families have been facing a far higher percentage of divorce in the last couple of decades. They once had large families, but now they are having fewer children.

Lithuanians have many dishes with sour cream. One of their favorites is saltibarsciai, a cold soup with sour cream and buttermilk as its base. Saltibarsciai includes sliced cucumber, green onions and hard boiled eggs. They also like mildly spiced roasted meats.

In their spare time, Lithuanians enjoy basketball. They love saunas so much that they consider them a necessity.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are mainly cultural Roman Catholics. Many are secular, partly because of their communist past.

What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, the Lithuanians need to put Jesus Christ central in their lives so they can enjoy his perfect guidance and mercy.

Prayer Items

Pray that God will show the best ways to evangelize the Lithuanians.

Pray that when Lithuanians face troubles, they will turn to Jesus Christ for answers.

Pray for spiritual hunger and a desire for truth among the Lithuanians in Poland.

Pray for Lithuanian disciples to make more disciples, especially among family leaders.

Scripture Prayers for the Lithuanian in Poland.

References

http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Lithuanians.html

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lithuanian-people

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanian_minority_in_Poland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln71gI7HbcA