Openings Days of the Training School

The Salvation Army Training School in Latvia has officially opened.  Here’s a little bit of it all from my perspective. (This is a bit abbreviated from what I just sent to my ‘journal’ friends, so if that’s you, feel free to skip and just look at the pictures.)  Last weekend was a bit crazy, running around trying to make everything perfect.  I realized that wouldn't happen and so just tried to have it ready.  Even that was not quite possible.  I remember spending lots of time cleaning cadets' rooms and the rest of the college in Chicago, so that all was spotless.  That's what I hoped I could do here, but no. I did get to do a little sweeping and shifting on Monday morning and then decided it was fine.  Not up to the Marilyn Arnold test, but OK.  I was very calm on Monday amazingly.  I had a sense of all of the people praying and a picture of myself just resting on Jesus and not worrying.  And I didn't.  I had invited the cadets’ corps leaders and the training program committee to join us for dinner and a short program.  I'm trying to keep as many people involved as possible.  Henrik (RC) couldn't be there but Lisbeth came.  Aivis shared some scripture and a few nice thoughts (I think, it was in Latvian).  He will be the discipleship coordinator.  We had a few get acquainted activities and then I had the cadets spread around the room and 2-3 of us gathered around each and prayed for them - very powerful.  Lisbeth ended with a beautiful pastoral prayer.
 
Tuesday was orientation, of course.  Solveiga has to translate everything.  Please pray for her.  She may have the most demanding job.  I'll explain in a minute.  We started the day with prayers, which I led. It was a special time.  We prayed for each other and many shared their concerns about those they left at home.  I think we were much more open than would be normal for the first day of training.  Another answer to prayer.  Remember we have 3 Latvian speaking and 3 Russian speaking.  So - it's always complicated.  Some understand English and so they get the original info.  More understand Latvian and get the second.  That's what we can manage.  I thought all would be able to pick up something from one of those languages. But, after an hour Irina came to me and said she didn’t understand anything.  I'm glad she came but I have to admit I wanted to cry or scream.  I said she would have to sit through the morning and we would try to think of a solution.  I slowed down my speech until I nearly put myself to sleep.  And afterward I simply walked toward my office and yelled (silently) "Help, Lord!"  All I could think of was that I would have to teach each class twice and that nearly sent me packing. On instant messenger was Henrik who asked how I was so I told him!  He said he thought he had the answer in one of our temp employees who may be able to be hired, if he is interested.  That was a fast answer!  He speaks Russian, Latvian and English!  The cadets are great.  We talked today about the hard things like their finances, uniform wearing and discipline, etc.  They were so good about it all, even when it was confusing or they didn't really like the information.  Everything is brand new to them.  We laughed a lot today, too.  Especially when I gave them their work detail assignments.  And when the ladies met privately to talk about how we should wear uniform.   So, all with the cadets has really been great.  Even the language issues are not causing them to be angry or negative, at least not to me.  Everyone is working to make this as good as it can be.  I have to admit that being the only full-time staff person has been exhausting so far.  All of this talking and thinking of every detail and finding every answer is going to wear on me.  So, you can pray for me, too!
 
We did have one big crisis today.  Sweden's training college has donated some of their old (not really) furniture to us.  Our warehouse arranged for a truck to pick it up and I hoped it would be done before the cadets arrived.  No, it came today!  I had to cancel afternoon interviews, skip lunch and go.  I climbed into the semi-truck and realized there was way too much furniture for us.  It got very complicated and very stressful.  Lisbeth was with me and trying to keep me from freaking out.  The truck driver needed to leave and only wanted to go to my place. Which meant I had to store it all.  Of course the cadets were not in, except dear Arturs.  So with a few from the warehouse, Arturs, Lisbeth and I, we unloaded a semi truck and took most of it upstairs to the training center.  Our friends from Riga 2 also pitched in. The more furniture we got, the more worried I became about what I would do with it all.  We had to fill the corps Sunday School room. Before everything got carried into the building our 3 warehouse men left. Lisbeth had already left, so there stood Arturs and I looking out at a snow-covered yard with lots of big pieces of furniture.  Panic set in!  I called Lisbeth and as soon as she heard my quivering voice she went into action and made Henrik and another guy (on their way to teach a Bible course) come and carry the rest in. By the time they arrived I had calmed down and Arturs and I had started to arrange the furniture we did want.  Anyway, a very long, long day and I've left out lots of interesting and frustrating details.  But, we ended OK and thank goodness for Lisbeth today.  The training center library is filled with furniture and I still have to figure out how to get some of it out.  All before our Open House and Welcome next Saturday!  And I'm gone all weekend on the cadet retreat.  But, it will work if I have to push it all out the window!  The good thing is, we got some very nice furniture that we never could have afforded.  Just way more than we can ever use!
 
So, 3 days into it and I love the cadets.  And as we have found so many times here, the Lord does provide, sometimes in very surprising ways. I'm looking forward to the retreat and enjoying fellowship with the cadets and also the new lieutenants.  I expect the Lord has some wonderful plans for us.