Feeling my age

OOHH!  I’m so old and out of shape!  Tonight I did something I would probably never do in the States and certainly something that is not on the ‘missionaries do this’ list (if there is such a thing).  I went to a Sting concert with Sarah, Aivis and Dace.  That’s not enough on it’s own for my opening statement.  But, we bought main floor tickets – standing!  The concert was great and it was fun to be right in the middle of it all.  Just a couple of problems: 1. I’m shorter than every other person in Latvia (I only had glimpses of Sting!) 2. My ears are still ringing an hour later! 3. My feet are killing me!   As I always say, “Life is an Adventure” and tonight was a fun part of it.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get out of bed in the morning so I can go to church…

Jon and Ian in Latvia
With the Riga 1 worship team

Jon borrowed some kid's board

Saturday at Bruninieku Iela
Graeme works at the BBQ while the others play!



Jon and Ian lead Boys' Week at Patverums

Misha joins in the drill

What's going on in Latvia?

The cadets are on summer assignment so I didn’t come back to have to study or be in the training center all day. I’ve been able to slowly get back into things. Well, sort of…my first Sunday back I preached at the Riga 2 corps. I love going there and it was a blessing to be with them. Ilona, one of the corps leaders, planned and led the meeting and we did not connect at all before Sunday, except one text message. Both of us were a little concerned that we might not flow together very well. I preached about following Jesus, simply, without worrying about where or what that decision might lead us to. (A message for me, if I were to be honest.) The basic point was because of who Jesus is He is worthy to be trusted and followed. Ilona’s worship time focused on considering the awesomeness of God and her comments flowed perfectly into my sermon. That was definitely God’s work, not ours and we both recognized that and praised God – in spite of our inadequacy He worked His plan. And I believe at least one person in the congregation (besides me) needed that word. After the meeting we (Ilona and Janis with Evelina, Ieva and I) went out for lunch. I love being with them and only feel frustrated because we are limited in the depth of our conversations due to my limited Latvian. But somehow we understand each other and are growing in our friendships.

I’ve been trying to visit all of the cadets and started with an all day trip to Daugavpils last week. Dana went with me to translate and we had such a great time talking on the trip there and back. She was one of the first people I met when I came to Latvia and it is so good to hear how her faith is growing and her eagerness to keep learning and following God’s will. Because Andre and Irina are distance learning cadets (can’t figure out a good official title for them), I needed to give them a crash course in Homiletics. We spent the afternoon trying to get through what took us in the training center at least 4 full class periods (10-12 hours.) Fortunately, they are quick learners and it was fun to do that kind of intensive work together. We took a nice walk through Daugavpils and then came back for their Thursday evening meeting, which is attended mostly by homeless and addicted people. It’s such a challenging population but they are faithful in working with them and some small steps are taken by a few of the people. If only we were able to provide some kind of rehabilitation center here in Latvia. That’s one of my dreams for the Army’s work here. I should be visiting Daugavpils much more often but the 3 ½ hour drive each way and the language (Russian), combined with all that I need to do here, keeps me from going regularly. On Sunday I went to my corps, Riga 1, where Sergejs was preaching – in Latvian – his first language is Russian. He did a great job and it was so nice to see everyone. Tuesday afternoon, Solveiga and I went to Iecava to observe Velta leading their Home and Family program. She did a great job, too and it was a nice drive, although we got stuck in construction traffic on the way home and more than doubled the drive time (2 hours instead of 50 minutes.) We had Velta and Aldona with us and they always make things fun, so we survived.

We have new babies here, too. Just before I left for vacation Patrik and Hanna’s baby came – Anya. And then last week, Guna and Andre’s baby arrived – Manuela. They are both beautiful and make us all smile! I’m looking forward to some babysitting time. Finally, we have had Jon Gugala and Ian Smith from the US Central territory with us this summer. I was sorry to be away for most of their time but they were well taken care of and had great ministry opportunities, especially with Patvērums. They have been staying at the Training Center and Velta and Ilona have spoiled them a bit, I think. Misha has been their translator and basically their road manager. I took them out for a little touring in Riga, including the Occupation Museum and souvenir shopping and we had a good time together. They are great guys, having known them since they were much younger, it is a real blessing to see how the Lord has worked and led them to this point. Today I took them to the airport and we reluctantly said goodbye. Who knows what this experience might lead to in their future and what the eternal results of their work will be? It will be exciting to see what God does with the few weeks they spent here.

final thoughts about home

I’ve been home for over a week and I’m definitely back into Latvian life. Before I tell you about that, there a few post-home in the USA thoughts that I want to record. So many people have asked me questions like, “Did you want to come back to Latvia?”, “What did you like best about being home?”, “Where would you rather be?” and those sorts of things. When I was on my way to Chicago I decided to keep track of some of the things I noticed that I really had missed or just the opposite, which I didn’t miss at all. Of course at the top of the ‘missed’ list are my family and friends. It’s not about my friends here, but if you’ve been in a situation like mine, you know how precious it is to be with people who’ve known you forever. What else did I miss? Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwiches (!), TV in English, driving without fear of being randomly stopped by the police, family and friends, family and friends, family and friends….I was surprised to discover that I didn’t really miss many of the things I was so used to in my former life. Now, what habits did I fall into that I thought I had broken, which maybe implies I did miss them, too? Lattes every morning from Caribou Coffee (take away coffee isn’t popular here), fast food meals while I was driving or actually fast food for most meals (I say that ashamedly – who really needs to eat that way?) What did I find I absolutely do not miss about American life? THE PACE! Doesn’t anyone ever stop, relax and just enjoy life? I know that is an extreme assumption, but it was such a different life from what I have here that I was overwhelmed by the difference. I also don’t miss driving in the suburbs. Or I guess in other words, I really missed walking in Riga. I know that I live a much healthier and calmer life here. When I do go back to the States, I hope that has become such a part of my life that I won’t fall back into those old routines.

The most powerful insight I had this time was about my being away. First, that my family and good friends can survive without me – they are just fine! Not that we don’t need each other, but we are can live productive and good lives and support each other from far away. I also realized that I am dependent on the support from home to survive here. It starts with my family and those same friends, but it extends to so many more people. I didn’t have any idea how many people take seriously their prayer support for me and I’m sure for the other reinforcement officers from our territory. The retired officers are amazing! Even if no one else prayed from me, I would be lifted up by those powerful and consistent pray-ers. I thank God for them. And for the dozens of others who assured me they pray for me. That’s especially true of the two corps that I’m connected to: Oakbrook Terrace and Dearborn Heights (via Chris). I love being there but their love and true interest and encouragement gives me the strength and courage to be away. That’s hard to explain but it hit me in an overwhelming way this summer.

So, here I am with so much to do and already some difficulties coming up. More about Life in Latvia tomorrow.

Contrasting Images of Haiti

Hope - Hopelessness
Love – Despair
Joy – Discouragement
Laughter of children – Screams of pain/grief from woman
Shouts of fun from a football game – Gunshots from a forsaken neighborhood
Lush green fields – garbage filled streets
Clear blue ocean – dirty sewage streams
God at work – Voodoo drums and flags
God is present – Everywhere!

First train some of the kids have seen
Ben plays football (soccer)
Ben in the market with John
A little sugar cane for the road
At the ocean
Ketsia meets the waves
At the Haiti museum
In the country
Fresh, fresh shrimp - mmm!
With kids from the home

Ben's pictures from Haiti

Housing in Port au Prince
Fond de Negre Salvation Army
Tap-tap
Laundry
Outside the children's home
Presidential Palace
Hope through agriculture
City streets

the rest of my vacation

I’m back home in Latvia and before my vacation becomes a distant memory, I want to record some special moments.  This was definitely the holiday of conversations for me.  There were so many opportunities for special and intimate talks with more people than I imagined I would be able to fit in.  But, it seemed that was one of the important things I needed to do.  I already listed several of those people in my last posting.  The last 2 weeks I got in a few more – a good meeting with our Personnel Secretary, Harry Brocksieck; lunch with Chris Shay and Kristin Caddy, dinner and a really fun time with David and Diana Winters and family – Anna especially kept my attention.  That day I had been at Oakbrook Terrace corps’ day camp doing presentations for each of 5 classes of kids about Latvia.  It was fun but a bit exhausting.  Thursday evening, Lisa Jordan planned a party for me to see all (or most) of the other people I hadn’t been able to see yet.  It included the final game of Stephen’s baseball season. We had great food and fun, too.  I made the Wellers and Gortons look through my Latvia pictures.  They were very kind about it!  Unfortunately, Stephen’s team didn’t win the game.  Later in the week, I went to Little Pine Island camp and talked with Cheryl Britcher and Dina Shoults (a nice surprise), Curt and Vicki Britcher and Elise, and quick conversations with lots of other people during Music Camp.  My brother, Steve, was the guest and I went up to see him for a couple of days.  It was really fun to be back there.  

A quick (that’s a relative term – the traffic was horrible) trip to Detroit to meet up with Ben and we were off to Haiti.  It was Ben’s first trip there and Steve was determined to show him as much as possible.  We were only there for 4 ½ days but we got in a lot.  It was great to be with Steve and Ketsia in their setting.  It is a very hard place, but they are doing well and have important work there.  One of the strenuous highlights was a trip to Fond de Negre.  It’s on the coast and we drove on the worst road I’ve seen anywhere in the world (yes, Latvians, there are roads worse than yours!) But, on the other end was the ocean!  A beautiful beach, good food and even some rest.  We stayed at the Bethel clinic and hospital with the Ezehs, directors.  It is an amazing place doing significant work, especially with AIDS.  I’ll post some pictures from Haiti later.

We got home to Michigan in time for Abbie’s 8th birthday.  She and I did some shopping in the morning and then we had a party and went to see a movie with the whole family.  I was very happy to spend a day just with the family.  I left the next morning to get back to Chicago and get packed up to come home to Latvia.  One last conversation with Heidi Bailey who is in Chicago for Danielle’s wedding.  I had to fit that one in and I’m glad we did.  

So, there you are.  Not a very restful or peaceful vacation, but definitely a good one.  Now, back to work and life in Latvia.  There’s a lot to do to get ready for the fall.  More about that later.

Pictures from Commissioning and 25th Reunion

Good and 'old' friends, Carolee and Christie
Some of my sessionmates are a little crazy!
Curt (YS Editor!!) Mark (AKA Earnest Ainsley!)
More friends: Teri and Ken
"I don't feel old enough to be an officer for 25 years!"
Aunt Evie with Ben. We're going to Haiti together on Sunday (minus the mohawk)