It’s a year of change for work in Lithuania.

Lithuania (MNN)–It’s a year of growth for Lithuania. NATO flags are now flying over army bases in the former Soviet republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The Baltic states were among seven Eastern European nations that formally joined NATO last week in the western alliance’s biggest ever expansion.

Bethany Christian Services is also expanding their ministry into Lithuania. It has been a long time in the preparation, but the adoption agency recently placed their first Lithuanian child with a family. This special needs child is now home and doing well. A second family is waiting for court assignment to travel and meet their 3-year-old son.

Bethany is honored to be approved by the Ministry in Lithuania as one of the few U.S. agencies authorized to place children for international adoption under new adoption guidelines.

Bethany’s mission is being the hands and feet of Christ through the social services they provide for families, both here and abroad.