A view of the Mission and Prayer Conference I

Just a taste of our wonderful and blessed weekend. I'm not ready to put it into words, that will come later with a few more pictures. (click on pictures for better view) So will the report of the Andersens' farewell...


Worship Team - Cadets Andrejs and Sergejs, Ilona (also conference organizer), Vita and Karina

Sarah - powerful preacher with Dace, master translator

"Latvia for Christ" prays Janis
Ugis, Latvian pastor and another powerful preacher
Wandsworth guests and English-speakers getting translation from Guna

Lukas gets into the worship but Davids has had enough
They even let me be part of the worship team
Evie and Everita
Evie and Vicki from Wandsworth, UK

The tornado called Latvia

I feel like today is the calm in the midst of the tornado. Since Helsinki life has been moving very quickly. Henrik and Lisbeth are less than 2 weeks from leaving, I'm teaching doctrines 9 and 10 (holiness this week), the cadets started individualized field training programs and we have our annual mission and prayer conference this week. That's just the big stuff!

Helsinki was a really good break for me. I met with 5 other training officers from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. They are people I have known for a couple of years now and really value their friendship and support. We met to plan a Northern European Cadets Training Course for January. It was tough work, trying to find themes and speakers that would meet all of our needs. What we need in Latvia is not exactly what the cadets in Norway or Sweden need. It would take a long time to explain that but basically it has to do with the difference between a 100+ year old Army and a 15 year old Army. Also, the availability of quality teaching and teachers. In between meetings we also took some walks through Helsinki. We went to one of the most amazing and powerful church buildings I've even seen. It is built into the side of a rock and all of the walls are natural stone. Every part of if is natural - copper, wood or stone. And the acoustics - I would love to play with the CSB in there. We didn't go for a service, just walked around but the atmosphere was moving. I could picture Jesus talking with his disciples or teaching in a place like that. On Friday I met a lovely retired officer friend who I got to know during Brengle in the spring. Osmi is a bundle of energy. We walked, talked and toured through Helsinki (see pictures below) and I enjoyed our time so much. She even graciously walked through the art museum with me, even though she couldn't figure out why some of it was identified as art (me, either!)

The next day we had a day of teaching and prayer. 37 people showed up and it was a great day. I taught a seminar on 'praying around the world'. Of course I had too much material and we didn't pray enough, but still I think it was helpful, for me anyway. Henrik taught about ministering through the Holy Spirit and Ieva and Graeme did a seminar about the Human Trafficking issue. These regional leadership development days are fun for me and people seem enthused about them. I wish we could do them more often, but I just can't fit them in.

I've been out visiting the cadets at their assigned field training corps. Arturs is at Bauska, which is a pretty traditional corps with lots of potential but a small and limiting building. He is one of very few men and certainly one of even fewer young men. The corps officer, Ruth, is very happy to have him there and I expect he will learn a lot from her and the experience will give him a vision for corps development. I like visiting there and really love the young people they do have. Arturs is working with them on Friday nights. Ilona is at Riga 2, where she was for the summer. I believe this is a corps on the verge of something special - Ieva and Ilona (another one) are great leaders and have a real vision for their corps ministry, especially an integrated mission approach. Ilona loves being part of their team and is so excited about what she is learning. I don't think I've ever worked with a cadet so eager to learn all she can and willing to face her own 'issues.' She is a joy to work with. And I also love being at Riga 2 so that's an easy one for me, besides it's just downstairs from my office. Sergejs is continuing his work witht he Russian speaking ministry at Riga 1. They are in transition and Sarah is depending on his help. I went to his Bible Study group, with Dana translating. It was great! There were 7 of them and most actively participated. Some are new Christians, others veterans and then a couple who are seeking. The others tried to help and encourage them. Sveta was my favorite. She works at the corps so I see her every day but not like this. She shared her testimony so passionately that if I wasn't a Christian I would have become one right there. My favorite line "I'm only sorry that I didn't say yes to Jesus sooner." Velta is in Iecava with Aldona. Lisbeth is done with her leadership there and Velta will be helpful to Aldona. I haven't been to visit them yet this fall.

Along with all of this, there are some exciting personal announcements coming out of Riga. Hanna and Patrik have been accepted as cadets in Sweden but are waiting to find out where they will do their training. Sweden doesn't have a traditional training program, so they have to go elsewhere. AND Graeme is applying for training, too, in the UK. Amazing, what the Lord is doing. AND...Zoe is going to have a baby!!!! due in April. That will be fun!

Enough for today, didn't even tell you about all the wonderful things the Lord has been teaching me personally. This week will be our Mission and Prayer conference and Andersen's farewell and the Larssons arrive. Not too much happening. Oh yeah and I'll be teaching about sanctification, too! So, if you think of us - a little prayer would be appreciated.

Pictures from Helsinki

1st a visit to Riga from the Clarks (Tartu, Estonia) - Elizabeth and Peter posing

State Church - Orthodox
State Church - Lutheran

Narrative later...

Can we pray for you?

Next Saturday I'm leading a workshop titled "How to Pray around the World". I'd like to share specific requests for our prayer time. Do you have something specific regarding your ministry, your city/nation, or a personal need that we can pray about on September 30?

Mikos and Edvins are having too much fun!
Best friends (like the Army hat?!)
Linda flys off to Finland and everyone watches!

More about Linda

Linda was the Regional Commander's secretary, Riga 1 worship leader and is a friend. She is going to Finland for a year to work at a Christian high school. The regional headquarters tradition for good byes is to go to the Big Lido, a mega restaurant/entertainment center. And to make the person leaving look like a fool, apparently! So here's Linda, who still looks great even with goofy hats, etc...

Sian is a bit nervous about it all.
Linda's 'men' - Lukas and Romans

Linda is under attack and everyone seems to be enjoying it except her!

Last Days

We had several 'last days' recently:

Linda's farewell dinner at Big Lido (more pics later)



(The movie stars?!)

Andersens Last Spiritual Day with the cadets


Solveiga's Last Day working with us. Velta and friends fixed a HUGE lunch, very Latvian and very good!

hmm...

I'm taking a risk by sharing these thoughts, because I'm venturing into an area of which I am no expert and really, only an observer. But, I'm trying to figure out what the Lord wants to teach me, so I need to do a little processing.

Since I've come to Latvia, I've been struck by the desperate need for people to experience God's healing power from addictions. Of course, my immediate American solution was to build an Adult Rehabilitation Center. It's still a dream of mine, but recently the Lord has been bringing stories into my thinking which challenge me to consider that maybe He has other ideas. First I read a book that Zoe shared with me about a women in Hong Kong who worked with gangs and especially drug addicts. Her stories are of dozens of young lives drastically changed, often instantly, by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. And I think - why doesn't that happen more often? Then I just finished Jim Cymbala's Fresh Power. His approach is almost opposite the Hong Kong one, but the results are the same. People are dramatically saved from all kinds of addictions by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. And again I think - why doesn't that happen more often?

I don't intend to offer solutions here or even hint that I have the answers. And I am not promoting one method or the other. In fact, I found both books to be weak in some areas. I am just sharing the process the Lord is taking me through. Which leads me to my Bible reading this week in Luke 8. This chapter is full of stories of Jesus' power to heal from a variety of deseases, physical and spiritual and cause miraculous things to happen in a variety of ways. Here's what struck me yesterday and again as I was reading this morning - each time Jesus healed or calmed the sea, His approach was simple and fairly unemotional. (OK, the swine herd was a bit dramatic.) There was no magic formula, no special words that were repeated every time or even singular method for how He 'touched' the needy person. It is the result that is always the same, people are instantly healed and lives are changed forever.

And again I ask, why doesn't that happen more often here and now (where ever you are?)

A few more pictures

1st a picture from Scripture; I was reading Exodus this week and these verses seemed very sad to me. Exodus 24:1-2 "Then the Lord instructed Moses: "Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel's leaders. All of them must worship at a distance. [2] You alone, Moses, are allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come too close. And remember, none of the other people are allowed to climb on the mountain at all." But, this is the Old Covenant and we live under the new! Hebrews 4:16 "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. " A picture of hope!

Now some pictures of Latvia:
Sandra and Sian at the wedding

More leaders' conference pictures...

Janis and Dace. Ronalds stealing Davids' bike!


Henrik's Birthday Celebration! (thanks to Linda, Dana and Veronika)


A little line dancing (guess who took pictures!)


And a little praising (we thought Aldona might fly away!)

and a little praying.


First day back in school.

New teacher- Graeme. Soon Solveiga will leave us.

The end of summer

Leaders' Conference - praying and walking


Patrik and Clive (our guest) , Velta, Erika and Karina (babysitters)


Everita, Dace and Josh at Alina and Edmunds wedding


Old faces new Riga 1st Day of School in Riga

How Great is God!

From last Sunday to this, I think I've sung "Cik Liels Ir Mans Dievs" (How Great is my God) at least 5-6 times. We learned it last Sunday, sang it a few times during our regional leaders' conference and then again in church today. I love it and so, it seems, does everyone else. But this morning I didn't really feel like singing it. Maybe because of the repetition. Honestly, it's more likely because I'm feeling quite anxious about starting our training classes again tomorrow. This summer the cadets have been away at corps and I haven't had the day to day responsibility for them. That starts again tomorrow and I don't feel ready for it. Back to the song - instead of singing, I closed my eyes and just prayed and the Lord said to me, 'these words are not about your feelings they are truth, no matter how you feel today. So, sing them as truth, not as an emotional exercise.' I did and God assured me, He is a great God! And thank God, that truth is independent of my feelings. I'm still anxious but expect God will take care of that and as He always has He will be faithful to provide what we need this week. And if you would like to support me by praying, I'd be very grateful.

One of the small group discussions at our conference led to a bit of a disagreement about passion in The Salvation Army. I'm not sure that we all define it the same way or that we can judge the level of passion in a person based on our own definition. Anyway, Eric had this link on his blog and as I watched I did see passion. For those who only know me via Latvia, this video represents a significant part of my life - Central Bible and Leadership Institute. (Just an ego thing - for the last four years in Chicago I was part of the planning and leadership of this event.) Anyway, if you want to know a little more about where I've come from and see God at work in a variety of ways and ages, take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eu_S9HiROM
Video Description
CBLI 2006 Highlight Video prepared by the Teen Track