About being home

I’ve been home  (USA home) for about 2 ½ weeks now.  I arrived the day before Commissioning weekend and after a quick lunch with the Jordans and a stop at my townhouse (provided by the territory) drove straight to the hotel (note to self and anyone else in a similar position: don’t go straight from another country to Commissioning!)  We were supposed to have the General but he cancelled and so the territory had to make a new plan, which included Commissioner Gaither and our territorial leaders. The Lord was definitely in the changes.  We started with Officers’ Councils which totally overwhelmed me when I walked into the auditorium.  Thankfully I quickly saw Mark and Carolee Israel, good friends from the South, and I attached myself to them for the day.  Of course, there were many people I wanted to see and talk with.  But, I wasn’t prepared for the small talk or seeing so many at once.  I came home this year because it is my 25th anniversary as an officer and the territory generously brought me back for the recognition/reunion.  We had our official dinner on Friday evening where I had to give the little speech.  Actually, it was fun to prepare for it.  I do love being an officer and don’t mind telling about how God is working in my life.  Maybe I’ll post my speech later.  The Friday evening program was excellent, focusing on missions.  The territory is so committed both financially and with personnel to serve the whole world.  It was inspiring to see the summer mission team dedication.  I already mentioned the Release Party that night but before we went to that, there was a surprise party for Pete McBride (50!!!!) – how fun to be home for that! Saturday we had our private session reunion. It was really fun to be with so many old friends, some I haven’t seen in years.  The evening program included a farewell for Barry and Sue Swanson, on their way to NHQ.  It was great – simple but genuine and just what Barry and Sue wanted.  Sue preached that evening and the Lord clearly used her to say just what needed to be said.  The response was immediate and overwhelming.  One of the highlights for me was to be able to spend some time with good friends such as Bill and Sue Harfoot, the Israels, Catherine and Peter Mount, David and Miriam Gorton and others.  I also got to spend a bit of time with my sister and family.  The Lord provided a little time with some of the people I really wanted to see.  Sunday morning was a holy time for the cadets and the rest of us.  The Lord moved during their covenant service and during Commissioner Gaither’s message.  Again, there were many who responded.  I had a special time of prayer with Sue Harfoot and my sister, Chris which was a real blessing.  I went home from the weekend exhausted but also overflowing with joy and gratitude.  

After a few days in Chicago which included going with Lisa and Cathy to a Cubs game (pathetic team), I went to Michigan to spend time with my family.  They are a busy bunch!  But, it was really fun to just join in to what was happening – softball games, graduation parties and much more.  I love my niece and nephews and am so thankful they still seem to enjoy having me around!  Chris and Steve are also great and I love being with them.  I also love watching them lead the Dearborn Heights corps.  They are good and it’s a blessing to see them.  The corps people are always so friendly and interested when I come home.  Even though I’ve never soldiered there, it does feel like home. They put up with a little presentation from me and seemed genuinely concerned and I believe they do pray for me, which I need.  I didn’t get to stay as long as I’d like because of all of our schedules, but the days were very good.  

Now I’m back in Chicago to finish up Dr/Dentist appointments and try to see some friends.  Of course, they are all busy (who said things slow down in the summer?) but I’ve fit in a few special times with Commissioners Baillie, Cheryl and Bruce Bailey, Eric and Cathleen Himes, Donna Hutchings, Sue Swanson, Viki Payton and Carol Shoults.  Saturday was Matt Harfoot’s wedding, which was absolutely beautiful and I got to see the whole family there.  Then some time with Lisa and the Arnolds.  Yesterday was my only Sunday to be at Oakbrook Terrace.  I can’t adequately explain what an amazing place that is and how important the corps family is to me.  They dedicated at least 21 people who will be going out on some mission work this summer.  They recognized dozens of people who serve the corps in some way and then farewelled 3 sets of officers moving out of the area.  It was my first opportunity to see David and Miriam Gorton as the corps officers.  They are doing a great job and I am proud of them.  The Lord is doing so much in the corps as a whole and in the lives of so many individuals there.  Knowing that I would want to talk to everyone and would be frustrated that I couldn’t, I asked the Lord to put the right people in the right place for conversation.  And He did  - Kirsten Gorton, Lindsay and Danielle Bailey and then the afternoon with the Gorton family which was just like old times.  

I’m sure I’m missing someone or something special that has happened, but that’s about all I can talk about tonight.  2 more weeks which includes a trip to Haiti with my nephew, Ben (FUN!) and then I’ll be home in Latvia.   Until then, I’m looking forward to more blessings and maybe even a little rest (I think that might have to wait until I get back to Latvia!)

Covenant Day in Sweden

The ladies wait for our plane
Evie and Sarah (newly married to Anders - new captain)

My once a year opportunity to play - I should stick to talking!
Arturs giving testimony with our friend, Guna translating

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

This is my result when I took the 'Classic Movie Test' . Try it! Now you know what I do on vacation. Comments welcome.

(Thanks to Carole http://cjbate.blogspot.com/ for this site.)

Thinking about Latvia

Today was our cadets' first Sunday at their Summer Assignment corps. I've been thinking and praying, wondering how it's going. I left them in the middle of their trip to Sweden. I traveled with them last week and spent a day together with them at the Swedish Training College. We attended their Covenant Service for their soon to be captains. It was wonderful to see our cadets in that setting, part of the bigger Army. It was also special to be with the 3 Swedish cadets as they committed themselves to serving as officers. I feel a closeness to them because of our partnership, they have visited us in Latvia and I have been with them in Stockholm several times. I left Sweden so I could be home for Commissioning weekend in Chicago. The cadets stayed through the week and attended the Swedish commissioning meeting. I have heard good reports, but look forward to hearing their stories. I'll put up pictures later. On June 14 they started Summer Assignment at 3 corps in Latvia; Riga 1 and 2 and Iecava. Arturs went to the Raynes Park corps in the UK. I'm so excited about what he will learn and bring back to us in the fall. Much to tell about my time here in the States, but today I'm thinking about Latvia and wanted to share that, hoping you will join me in praying for them. And while you are praying, think about Jon and Ian - summer interns from the US Central Territory who are in Latvia for the summer. They are particularly focusing on ministry with young boys and men. This is an huge area of concern for us and I believe God has chosen these two to be involved in something exciting and important. They are great guys and I know they will also appreciate your prayer support.

Red Book Sessions

I should be asleep as it’s my second day home, I’m at the Congress and I’m exhausted – and it’s midnight. I need to write about the amazing concert I just came from. It was the release party of the Red Book Sessions CD by The Singing Company. You can hear a demo of one of the songs “Never Mind, Go On” at .: ARMYBARMY :. resource for training materials, music and shopping. I’m bursting with joy and a little pride too, because of the wonderful, gifted and inspired young adults I know who are part of this band. Eric Himes, Keri Shay, Nate Irvine and Jon Bukiewicz. Each of them has a unique and even miraculous testimony of God’s grace in their lives, leading them to be part of this project.

And then there are the songs…Phil Laeger Phil Laeger . com joined the group for recording and the concert. He is a beautifully gifted pianist. Nate Hood also plays guitar – amazing, too! I’m running out of adjectives but you can probably guess that I’m very excited about the recording and the work the Lord is doing through it all.

If you are in Europe, I’m bringing home some CDs to share. Just let me know if you want one and I’ll get it to you somehow. More about a really wonderful day - later.

Birthday pictures

Flowers, flowers and flowers painted by Sergejs


Evie's game - created by the girls!


My friends - Sarah and Zoe (we all wore the same sweater that night!)

It's after midnight so my birthday is over. I'm officially closer to one big birthday than the lesser one - EEK...I might be having a little trauma about that. I don't usually like to make much of my birthday. But, I'm in Latvia and you can't ignore any special anniversary here. I got an early greeting from a friend in the US who sent these words from Henri Nouwen:

Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: “Thank you for being you.” Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: “Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.” No, we say, “Thank you for being born and being among us.” On birthdays we celebrate the present. We do not complain about what happened or speculate about what will happen, but we lift someone up and let everyone way, “We love you.”Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people’s birthday every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are the ways of saying: “It’s good that you are alive; it’s good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let’s be glad and rejoice.”

I decided to let people celebrate my birthday and to enjoy it myself. In Latvia the birthday person brings the cake so we had a nice chocolate one this morning at the training school. The cadets sang and gave me the traditional flowers. One of the things I love about Latvia - flowers! Sergejs also gave me two of his painitings. One of flowers (in place of the real ones) and another he painted after our last field training Sunday. It's of the road we traveled on to Liepaja. I love it and I love the sentiment, too. We had a great Homiletics class this morning, too. It had nothing to do with my birthday but was an affirming and encouraging time for the teacher, who just happened to have a her birthday today! I came home hoping to go out for a nice walk this afternoon but the weather was against me. I talked with Veronika for a bit (more flowers!) and Dace also brought me a nice bunch. My flat smells very nice. One of my favorite Latvians is Nina, a lovely woman who lives in our building and goes to the Riga 1 corps. We carry on crazy half Latvian/half English conversations and love each other. She stopped by with a little gift, too.

This evening was our last small group for the season. I offered to bring dessert. We met at Henrik and Lisbeth's and had no idea that they had planned to make a little party for me. I brought my Bible - no one else did! Lisbeth made a chocolate cake and I brought a fruit pizza (auglu pica). We ate a lot and they also had gifts. Wow...this was turning into one of my most celebrated birthdays! It wasn't over. 4 of the girls from the small group I used to lead showed up at the door with flowers and a gift. It was so cool. They made a game for me. I'll try to put up a picture of it. They stayed and we played their game. It was really fun and I'm going to sleep feeling very celebrated and very blessed.