Fellowship

I've been thinking a lot about this word and more importantly, the value of fellowship and community. It fits with much of what has been happening in the last week. So, I'm going to update on life in Riga focusing on fellowship. I'm going to work my way backwards from yesterday.

• The training center was going to have very special guest for lunch - General Eva Burrows and Commissioner Ingrid Lindberg (both retired). I know that for Americans that wouldn't be such a big deal, but it was a real privilege for us. But, nothing happens in Latvia without a little crisis - so at nearly 10am Dana told me the catered lunch wasn't coming. Off to the grocery store to find out what I can quickly put together for a General and a Commissioner! Sandwiches and salad works for everyone! So, it all came together just fine. But the joy of the day was to sit at lunch with these lovely ladies and the cadets. First, to hear about the beautiful friendship between the two - over 50 years of friendship. That's amazing. And then the joy of our 6 cadets getting personal attention from a retired General - they felt special and I think learned a little from her too. And Commissioner Lindberg is a jewel - she is so nice and although I hardly know her, I know that she is a caring, praying woman. She is one of those people I wish I could get to know better.
• I came home to get ready for small group at my house. We've had a lot of construction in our building so I was washing the door. My dear friend Zoe put a towel in front of my door to protect my flat from dust. I threw that towel in the washer and went on with my cleaning. A while later I discovered that my kitchen was flooded - a bit of the towel was stuck in the washer door. There was no stopping the machine until it was all the way through - yes, I spent the next 2 hours mopping up the kitchen. But, in spite of that we had a good time. We talked about fellowship and looked at some scripture which we all found interesting. We read Philippians 2:19-30. We all agreed we had never really read these verses. They are between important teaching in chs. 2 and 3 and about details of Paul and his relationships. Usually I skip over these, but this week I read them and realized that Paul is actually giving real illustration about that teaching - his own relationships with his friends and the Body of Christ. It was kind of an 'aha' moment for us. And in the group, we also experienced fellowship and community - praying together and caring for each other - just as we always do. I guess that realization (mentioned in an earlier post) is what started me thinking about this theme. I also had them watch a couple of scenes from "A Series of Unfortunate Events" - not your usual Bible Study movie, but there is a great quote about finding sanctuary with those you love, even when life around is really hard. Check it out!
• Sunday - Tuesday we had a guest at the training center and in my home from the UK. Karen Shakespeare came to teach Ethics and hold a discussion about the sacraments. She was great with the cadets and it was good to enjoy fellowship with her, too. We had a beautiful afternoon walking through Riga, looking at the architecture (my favorite, of course) and walking through Old Riga.
• Saturday evening I got to party with the youth! It was a birthday party for Linda's 21st and Velta and I were definitely the 'most mature' there. But, we, sat on the floor on cushions, played the dancing game and ran outside with everyone else. It was really fun and reminded me how much I really love the youth at our corps. They are a special bunch!
• And finally, last Friday evening I was at the Riga 2 corps for their fellowship night. It was american night and I planned it. Not very creative but we had fun! I borrowed a stick ball set from Patrik and we played a quick and very sloppy game. I made chili and french fries, with Coke. I think that was a hit. But mostly again, it was just fun to be with the people from the corps.

I've been reading Psalm 133 this week - " How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! " The Psalmist goes on to describe what this fellowship is like. It's been a while since I've had comments here, so here's a question for you - How would you describe fellowship?

I want to practice living in fellowship and community with other believers. It is my responsibility to do what I can to make that happen. Here's the prayer (in English and Latvian) I've been using this week, from Disciplines for the Inner Life:

O God, you have made us for fellowship, and have given us the power both to help and harm our neighbor, grant us the wisdom to know what is their good, and the ready will to help them to attain it. Heal those we have wounded, strengthen those whom we have failed, grant us all your healing grace and make our fellowship to be your family, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

Ak, Dievs, Tu esi radījis mūs sadraudzībai un esi devis mums spēku gan palīdzēt tuvākajiem, gan nodarīt viņiem pāri. Dāvini mums gudrību, lai mēs saprastu, kas ir labākais priekš viņiem, un lai mēs būtu gatavi palīdzēt viņiem to sasniegt. Dziedini tos, kurus esam aizvainojuši, stiprini tos, kurus esam pievīluši. Dāvini mums savu dziedējošo žēlastību un dari tā, lai sadraudzībā mēs esam daļa no Tavas ģimenes caur Jēzu Kristu, mūsu Kungu. Āmen!