On 13 December, for the seventh time in a row, five Rugutė‘s friends – elves came to Lithuania from Sweden. These were the notorious Stefan, chief-elf Anita, interpreter Ieva and fifteen year old students Mimmi and Filip. Later on Stefan’s daughter Olivia joined this elf party.
As on the previous journeys, the elves came to Klaipėda by ferry and drove throughout Lithuania by minibus full of gifts for the Lithuanian children collected and beautifully packed in seasonal wrappings by the Swedish students.
On the first day, which was Friday, the elves traditionally popped in to see their little friend Domantas and his little brother Danielius, who lived in Gargždai. After staying there for a while the elves turned to Kaunas, where they visited little patients of the Children’s Disease Clinics of Kauno Klinikos (Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences) and cheered them up with the gifts from Sweden. In the evening the elf minibus turned to Vilnius, where our wonderful travelers stayed the night.
On Saturday the elves visited the Children’s Oncohematology Department at the Children’s Hospital of Santariškių Klinikos of Vilnius University Hospital. There they not only distributed gifts, but also performed juggle tricks, sang and danced and wished peaceful holidays to the little patients and their parents.
In the afternoon the little ones with their mothers and fathers gathered together at Rugutė’s Home patiently waiting for the moment when they would be able to get more closely acquainted with the jolly elves and spend some lovely time with them outside the hospital environment. The elves started the afternoon gathering with a special walk of St. Lucia’s Day celebrated in Sweden and traditional songs performed in Swedish. Afterwards it was the children’s turn to show off their talents. After listening to their poems the elves presented the children with the gifts prepared by the Swedish children and, to make it more fun, didn’t forget to teach them some juggle tricks. After all the presents were distributed everybody – both the children and elves – crowded together for one more piece of entertainment – decorating the Christmas tree.
On Saturday evening Rugutė’s Fund also received an incredible present. During the campaign in Sweden the total amount of 29 300 LTL was collected and presented to Rugutė.
On Sunday the guests from Sweden again turned towards Kaunas. There six families waited for their visit at their own homes. As every year the day started from visiting Kaunas Christmas tree which adorned Rotušės Square which has become a tradition.
The first one to open his home’s door wide was Ditas who was well prepared to meet the elves: his home was decorated with the banner written in Swedish and when the time came to part he presented the elves with his handmade postcards with Swedish holiday felicitations. Not for the first time the elves visited Liepa’s home. The girl recited a poem for the elves and treated everybody to some dainties. The elves also visited Emilija for the second time. The girl introduced her new pet – a turtle – to them. Dovas tried to perform some juggle tricks together with the elves and his sister sang, recited poems and played the piano. Domas showed the elves the ship’s model which he constructed in his free time and the cups with which the boy was awarded at the ship model’s competitions. Finally the elves also visited little Emilytę, with whom they also had got acquainted previously. The girl and her sister invited the elves to play a game with them and sent the elves off with the presents of her hand-drawn postcards and homemade honey cakes.
On Monday evening tired but happy elves left for Sweden.
Shortly afterwards the letters from Sweden written by the elves with their journey impressions reached us! We also asked the children to share their memories from the meetings with the elves with us:
Some Ditas’ thoughts when remembering the visit: ”I was so excited when the elves started climbing the stairs, my heart was beating so fast that I was able to hear it right here (he put his hand on his heart).“
“So many Elves came for a visit. And Santa Claus’s wife probably waved to Vilius, who was looking through the window, but he wasn’t very good, he hit me in the yard in summer, that is probably why she came to visit me, not him.“
“I really liked the elf who sat separately on the armchair (his name is probably Filip?), his face was so serious and composed.“
I liked it very much when Santa Claus’s wife was throwing those glowing “Martians” in the air. I so dreamt of having them, but you always failed to buy them for me. And now I have been given them as a gift. Yes, I did wish to have them, you know. And when she threw the kerchiefs in the air… I will also try this out… (he tries to throw the “Marsians” in the air but doesn’t manage it very well – but he doesn’t give up and continues throwing then in the air. And he doesn’t despair – decides to learn that later on).“
“I liked the song about frogs without ears and then it was very funny when one guy jumped after we danced the frog dance. (He laughs and starts jumping like a frog and tells me and his grandmother to jump, so we all jump :) I liked it when they danced my dance and when I was the Christmas tree in the middle of everybody.)“
“It was fun to go fishing with the elves. I caught a lot of fish.“
“And who are those boys, who have given me the presents? He takes the postcards with the photos of the children who prepared the gifts.)“
“I really like that [toy] which makes dreams come true, which Edita gave to me as a present (he takes the Daruma doll and looks at it intently. He presses the doll between his palms, scratches one doll’s eye). When I think of a very big dream... Mom, and what can big dreams be? I… I… you know, I would like to be a Santa Claus. (… but he hasn’t yet painted the eye).“
“Let’s go and do the frog dance!“
“I need to go brush my teeth, because the Santa Claus’ wife gave me toothpaste and a toothbrush as a gift. I dreamt of the one with the Spiderman, like this one. Brumm... and I fly like him to brush my t-e-e-e-e-e-e-th! (It is a true miracle, because Ditas haven’t missed one day to do that and he doesn’t need any bidding any more, as it was before! :D)“
“Did the elves visit other children? Will they come next year too?“
“We can also make or buy a present and give it to a child who doesn’t have money. (He said so while looking through postcards with the photos of the children who prepared the gifts.)“
Our home became empty, but glorious mood and goodness in our heart stayed. The grandmother asked Ditas: “Well, how did you like it?” He stood up from his toys and said: “Snowmen’s heads are sitting firmly, noses sticking from the snow, today I am in a great mood, my heart is overflowing with joy“. The poem was so to the point that we couldn’t stop laughing. We talked about the elves until the night came and reminisced about them again and again, we danced, played and enjoyed the dainties. :)
TACK! TACK! TACK! We thank everyone and everybody and give you all a big hug! HAVE A JOLLY HOLIDAY! Ditas (impressions written down by Ditas’ mom).
We send our thanks to our unsurpassable Swedish elves –
Anita, Stefan, Filip, Mimmi, Olivia and Ieva –
for the wonderfully spent time and gifts.
We also send our thanks to the students of the Swedish schools who prepared presents for the Lithuanian children,
and are grateful to all by courtesy of whom one more magical
journey of Swedish elves to Lithuania was realised.
We sincerely thank you for an unexpected and valuable gift brought to us by the elves –
the funds in the amount of 23 900 LTL collected for Rugutė— during the campaign in Sweden.
We are genuinely grateful to all supporters whose generously contributed funds will be used for the purchase of the necessary drugs, medicines or support for the families.
We send our thanks to the staff of the Children’s
Oncohematology Center at the Children’s Hospital and Kauno Klinikos,
especially to the chief nursing administrator J. Arcišauskaitė for a pleasant reception.
We sincerely thank UAB „Apiterapijos centrui“ for especially fragrant and tasty honey tea.
The Bridge of Friendship Sweden-Lithuania 2013
