Happy New Year's Eve!! We are off to a games, food, and fireworks night in a few minutes, but I wanted to take a moment to write about a few prayer requests.
"Prayer" can sometimes be a daunting word - or task, and sometimes it can seem wildly unknown and foreign. Sometimes it happens when we are unaware. Sometimes it seems an automatic response to situations - so automatic, in fact, that at times we forget we even asked God for help, wisdom, intervention, etc... And only as times passes and we look back do we remember and realize, "Oh, wait a minute, didn't we pray about this or that or the other?"
When we returned to Latvia in November, Courtney needed to see her doctor about the baby. Her doctor informed her that she would be out of town, but she could see her associate. Now we liked this doctor because she appears competent, proficient, AND she speaks English!! The thought of trying to do the doctor/baby/ultrasound/what will having a baby in Latvia be like conversation in Latvian added a bit of anxiety. We went anyway, praying that we could understand enough of the technical language to know what to do... we walked into the office and the associate spoke to us in English and appears just as competent as Court's first doctor. What a relief...and a reason to give thanks for God's provision.
Last week Court didn't feel well. She had the same pain in the same place for a few days - sometimes a dull ache, sometimes a sharp pain. Finally we phoned the Ob/Gyn to ask for an appointment. She informed us that her office (and most doctors' offices for that matter) are closed until January 5th, so we should go to the hospital and have them check Court. As we understand things, here in Latvia, without a doctor's recommendation, the only way for a hospital to see you is if you go to an emergency room. An emergency room in a foreign language when things didn't seem an absolute 'emergency' appeared daunting to us. We prayed, asking for wisdom, strength, and help. The next day, Court's pain was gone and it hasn't returned since. Coincidence? Maybe, yet we are thankful that God can bring relief.
One more story (there are many to tell) involves the Hope Center. Their grant is running out, and the budget has been stretched as thin as possible. At the beginning of December they had just enough to pay the staff and house the girls, and then they received notice from the government about year-end health and fire inspections, which cost to have completed, plus the costs of the remodeling they require to have done. If these things weren't completed, the Hope Center would have been shut down and the girls and their babies would have no where else to go. We prayed and asked God to provide for all that is necessary - and knowing that many times, God allows others to be answers to prayer, we started telling the story to others. In the midst of holiday spending and fears over the plummeting economy, various people and groups gave enough to help the Hope Center get through the next couple of months. WOOHOO!! God does answer prayer - not always how we expect, yet the answer always comes - whether it be a 'yes,' 'no,' or 'just wait and trust.'
I know many people have many questions about God, prayer, and the 'whys' and 'why nots' associated with those questions. I don't intend to offer a theological defense here, nor do I want to try to explain why some seem answered and some seem forgotten. I just wanted to take a few minutes and say that I know God hears, and I am thankful for the relief and response we have felt these past few weeks.
Well, we're off to celebrate the New Year with some friends. We are not sure what will happen in 2009, yet we know that we can trust our ever-faithful and loving God to be with us throughout this next year.
We pray that you would know peace in that reality as well.
PEACE ~ Dan and Courtney
31 December 2008
29 December 2008
Christmas, Light, and the Past Few Weeks
Once again, a few have passed since posting...sorry.
The past few weeks have seen Courtney trying to fight off a nasty cold-and-sinus doozy that kept her on the couch and doing minimal activity for almost 3 weeks. She seems to be just about over it, and for that we are thankful! I (Dan) took a 6-day intensive training course for camp leaders - a requirement from the Latvian government for all camp leaders. Some of the information was new (especially Latvian law and regulations), some of it was review from my camp experiences, and ALL of it was in Latvian - even the two tests at the end! I am so thankful for my friend, Rihards, who attended the course with me to help translate. We both passed the tests, too - woohoo! (and Praise the Lord!!)
LIGHT! - the days are becoming longer, which means a bit more light through the windows, and that is a blessed thing. In fact, we have had mostly clear skies the past few days. On Christmas we watched the sky turn orange, red, pink, and then purple before becoming dark around 4pm... and the past few mornings the we have glimpsed the clouds turn from orange to gold as they caught the rising sun at 8:40am. We look forward to the lengthening of days over the next 6 months.
CHRISTMAS! - Two weeks ago (the 15th) I went on a Christmas tree hunt with Rihards. We met up with Riga 1st's part-time maintenance man, Janis, at his country home and tromped through the woods with his two dogs. After walking a while we found a nice little grove with some skinny little trees, and borrowing Janis' handsaw, I cut one for our apartment in Riga. In the photos you can see the three guys and the tree - in the woods and in the apartment.
We wanted to attend some of the Christmas Eve services in Methodist churches in the eastern part of Latvia, yet Court didn't feel well, and the 4 hours on a train and almost an hour of walking wouldn't help her feel better, so we attended the candle-light service at Riga 1st which started around 4pm. We got home about 6.30pm and made our traditional 'Ante Pasta' which includes a variety of meats, some cheese, olives, bread, etc...
Christmas Day turned out a lot quieter than expected, and we welcomed the time to chat, read, and talk to our families on the phone. On Second Christmas (Dec. 26th), we went to the Hope Center with a few others because they were having a small Christmas party for the girls and their babies, yet even more exciting - two of the girls AND their babies would be baptized. Courtney really enjoyed the opportunity to help with the service
and to distribute gifts to the girls from some folks in North Carolina. (Thanks, Jacquie and Cirlcle 5!) Yesterday after church we went over to Gita's house (the District Superintendent and the pastor of Riga 1st and Cesis) for a small Christmas/New Year's party. They cooked an awesome roast and we exchanged gifts and sang songs and played games.
Court and I look back on this past year and we give thanks for God's grace and love experienced through the support of our friends and families, and also in the peace and perseverence in the difficult times. We are amazed at the little life growing in Court, and also nervously excited as we anticipate a lot of changes with the baby coming at the end of May or beginning of June.
So many, many more thoughts, but that's it for the random stream of consciousness at this time.
PEACE - Dan and Court
The past few weeks have seen Courtney trying to fight off a nasty cold-and-sinus doozy that kept her on the couch and doing minimal activity for almost 3 weeks. She seems to be just about over it, and for that we are thankful! I (Dan) took a 6-day intensive training course for camp leaders - a requirement from the Latvian government for all camp leaders. Some of the information was new (especially Latvian law and regulations), some of it was review from my camp experiences, and ALL of it was in Latvian - even the two tests at the end! I am so thankful for my friend, Rihards, who attended the course with me to help translate. We both passed the tests, too - woohoo! (and Praise the Lord!!)
LIGHT! - the days are becoming longer, which means a bit more light through the windows, and that is a blessed thing. In fact, we have had mostly clear skies the past few days. On Christmas we watched the sky turn orange, red, pink, and then purple before becoming dark around 4pm... and the past few mornings the we have glimpsed the clouds turn from orange to gold as they caught the rising sun at 8:40am. We look forward to the lengthening of days over the next 6 months.
CHRISTMAS! - Two weeks ago (the 15th) I went on a Christmas tree hunt with Rihards. We met up with Riga 1st's part-time maintenance man, Janis, at his country home and tromped through the woods with his two dogs. After walking a while we found a nice little grove with some skinny little trees, and borrowing Janis' handsaw, I cut one for our apartment in Riga. In the photos you can see the three guys and the tree - in the woods and in the apartment.
We wanted to attend some of the Christmas Eve services in Methodist churches in the eastern part of Latvia, yet Court didn't feel well, and the 4 hours on a train and almost an hour of walking wouldn't help her feel better, so we attended the candle-light service at Riga 1st which started around 4pm. We got home about 6.30pm and made our traditional 'Ante Pasta' which includes a variety of meats, some cheese, olives, bread, etc...
Christmas Day turned out a lot quieter than expected, and we welcomed the time to chat, read, and talk to our families on the phone. On Second Christmas (Dec. 26th), we went to the Hope Center with a few others because they were having a small Christmas party for the girls and their babies, yet even more exciting - two of the girls AND their babies would be baptized. Courtney really enjoyed the opportunity to help with the service
and to distribute gifts to the girls from some folks in North Carolina. (Thanks, Jacquie and Cirlcle 5!) Yesterday after church we went over to Gita's house (the District Superintendent and the pastor of Riga 1st and Cesis) for a small Christmas/New Year's party. They cooked an awesome roast and we exchanged gifts and sang songs and played games.Court and I look back on this past year and we give thanks for God's grace and love experienced through the support of our friends and families, and also in the peace and perseverence in the difficult times. We are amazed at the little life growing in Court, and also nervously excited as we anticipate a lot of changes with the baby coming at the end of May or beginning of June.
So many, many more thoughts, but that's it for the random stream of consciousness at this time.
PEACE - Dan and Court
06 December 2008
Ebbs, Flows, and the Nutcracker
Ebb and Flow describes this past weeks - emotionally, physically, mentally... We have had some good times with people, some frustrations causing stress, we have felt alert and out-of-it - and that's mostly because of a virus working its way through (and hopefully out of) our bodies. Court has taken the brunt of it with congestion, coughing, and soreness - yet she has actually taken time to lay on the couch and rest.
I had a couple of frustrating days at the beginning of the week...not one thing exactly, but enough to steal the joy and peace.
Anyway, in the midst of all that, we still had tickets for the Nutcracker ballet on Wednesday night. (An amazing thing about living here is that people love ballet, opera, etc... AND tickets are accessible to everyone. Tickets started at $5. We payed $20 and sat 14 rows from the orchestra pit.) We decided to make the attempt to go. WOW! What a great evening. The inside of the opera house is probably the most beautiful building interior I have seen in Latvia. The orchestra played wonderfully and the main dancers performed exquisitely. We had a nice walk home, and the fresh air and exercise did us both some good.
We are constantly reminded that God is faithful and good. We have hope that is steadfast. Even if circumstances don't always seem good, we can trust that God will not abandon us - and that God will always provide those things necessary for us to live in hope and peace.
I had a couple of frustrating days at the beginning of the week...not one thing exactly, but enough to steal the joy and peace.
Anyway, in the midst of all that, we still had tickets for the Nutcracker ballet on Wednesday night. (An amazing thing about living here is that people love ballet, opera, etc... AND tickets are accessible to everyone. Tickets started at $5. We payed $20 and sat 14 rows from the orchestra pit.) We decided to make the attempt to go. WOW! What a great evening. The inside of the opera house is probably the most beautiful building interior I have seen in Latvia. The orchestra played wonderfully and the main dancers performed exquisitely. We had a nice walk home, and the fresh air and exercise did us both some good.
We are constantly reminded that God is faithful and good. We have hope that is steadfast. Even if circumstances don't always seem good, we can trust that God will not abandon us - and that God will always provide those things necessary for us to live in hope and peace.
27 November 2008
Thanksgiving in Riga
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Latvia today. Some of our American friends in ministry here in Riga came over joining three folks who flew in from 
Alabama today (they came to do a training in Lithuania). We had mashed potatoes, cranberry-apple sauce, salad with craisins and mandarins, stuffing with fennel, bread, scalloped potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, green-bean casserole, and...Chicken. Yep, turkey was way too expensive, so we decided on two small birds and stuffed them and rubbed them in honey from a local farm.
23 November 2008
We're Back - and in a blizzard, sort of
Well - we returned to Latvia last week and finally returned to blogging today. Yesterday and today has given us the weather we expected when we arrived last year - snow and wind and cold. We are thankful that we live in a apartment with HEAT. woohoo! A friend told us that the news said that the real bulk of the storm will arrive on Monday and Tuesday. So for people in the Carolinas, Tennessee, and thereabouts, this is a blizzard. For those from New England and the Rocky Mountain region, this is just one of those winter storms when your glad for hot chocolate (Thanks, Grammy!!) and hope the electricity doesn't go out.
We had a very full time in the states - a lot of driving, a bit of flying, and plenty of good food with friends and family. We visited various camps and met with their directors, which proved quite enlightening and encouraging for some of our work in Latvia. We enjoyed eating ice cream with our niece, Aria, and nephew, William, in Georgia, and we had a blast carving pumpkins and making chocolate chip cookies with our niece, Emily, and her new baby sister, Brooke, in Portland.
Well, the small, latchless window in the kitchen just blew open, so I'm off to keep the snow out of the apartment.
PEACE
We had a very full time in the states - a lot of driving, a bit of flying, and plenty of good food with friends and family. We visited various camps and met with their directors, which proved quite enlightening and encouraging for some of our work in Latvia. We enjoyed eating ice cream with our niece, Aria, and nephew, William, in Georgia, and we had a blast carving pumpkins and making chocolate chip cookies with our niece, Emily, and her new baby sister, Brooke, in Portland.
Well, the small, latchless window in the kitchen just blew open, so I'm off to keep the snow out of the apartment.
PEACE
29 September 2008
A Haven of Healing and Hope
I want to share three stories about Camp Wesley. When Courtney and I first anticipated the summer, we knew we would help with programming and life at camp, yet through the course of the summer we realized that Camp Wesley offers more than just a place to gather and to have a good time – I hope these stories will help explain (FYI: I have changed the names…)
The first story happened this past weekend at the Apple Festival, which turned out to be more than just a day to pick apples and make jam. We knew ‘Susan’ from this summer. She is a 12 year-old with a ton of energy who likes to be the boss and get everything she wants. I confess that when I saw her on Saturday I simultaneously thought, “Good that she is coming, and Oh-no, she is coming.” She came with her sister and a friend from their apartment complex – which is the Soviet-bloc style housing in an ‘under-privileged’ area.
The three of them met up with some of the other youth and spent little time picking apples :) They chased the boys around camp, swung on the rope swing in the barn, and tried to put frogs in each others’ hair. Around 2 o’clock they asked Courtney if they could stay the night. Courtney thought another group of youth was staying so she said, “Sure.” Turns out the other groups would soon be leaving (even so, I think Courtney would have still said, “Yes,” …). They ran up to me and asked, “Can we sleep in the barn, can we sleep in the attic, can we sleep in the big building, can we…” I told them that I wasn’t quite sure what they were asking me. “Courtney said we could spend the night – isn’t that great?”
As I drove a group to the bus station in town I tried not to be frustrated as this unexpected plan. I really didn’t feel like being a baby-sitter for three 12 year-old girls. I phoned Courtney and discussed the entire situation logically, yet the entire time I knew in my heart that I needed to let the girls stay. Courtney asked the girls if maybe they could stay on a different night just not this night. “Well, where are we going to sleep tonight? Mom has already left for work, locked the apartment, and she won’t be home until 6am. We can’t go to our dad’s apartment because he drinks and, well, it is not safe for us there.”
For these sisters and their friend, Camp Wesley offers a place to live as kids and experience a haven – if even for only an evening – from the storms in their lives.
The second and third stories happened during children’s camp this summer:
‘Sally’ comes from one of the most economically- and resource- deprived towns (if you can call it that) in Latvia. This beautiful child has a ton of behavioral and socializing issues – some resulting from alcohol and drug use during pregnancy and some stem from poor (or lack of) nurture at home. Her life displays obvious signs of neglect and abuse. At moments this summer all 60-pounds of her would go into a screaming rage and only her pastor’s strong, patient arms of love could enfold her and calm her down.
Swinging on the rope swing in the barn became one of her favorite things this summer. While swinging, a smile would grow on her face and a life-light would fill her eyes. The swinging did not fix the behavioral issues or problems at home, yet those 60-second periods allowed her a tangible experience of freedom, joy and God’s love.
‘Sam’, his older sister, and younger brother came to camp because someone from a local congregation invited them. Their family deals with the many issues associated with unemployment, alcoholism, and abuse. The two weeks before camp were especially difficult – so much so that the sister chose to leave camp early because emotionally things were much too raw to stay.
‘Sam’ came to camp with a shirt, shorts, and a pair of shoes too small because the family budget cannot keep up with his 13 year-old growth spurt. By the third day of living, playing, and sleeping at camp his and his brother’s clothes became an object of scorn of other children. “Sam” and his brother also had a number of infected scrapes because they had received no proper care for them at home.
Over the course of the week, the camp nurse cleaned and freshly bandaged their scrapes daily, and we washed their clothes and gave them a fresh change of clothes. The thing I remember best about “Sam” is the smile that cracks open when someone takes the time to stop and truly see him and not push him away.
We saw “Sam” a couple of weeks ago – seeing that smile again brought a flash of joy to my heart.
Camp Wesley offers a haven where kids can receive healing and hope in things I often take for granted – like clean clothes, simple medical care, a safe place to sleep – and it also offers a place where they can experience God’s kingdom –love, hope, joy and peace – in tangible and practical ways.
The first story happened this past weekend at the Apple Festival, which turned out to be more than just a day to pick apples and make jam. We knew ‘Susan’ from this summer. She is a 12 year-old with a ton of energy who likes to be the boss and get everything she wants. I confess that when I saw her on Saturday I simultaneously thought, “Good that she is coming, and Oh-no, she is coming.” She came with her sister and a friend from their apartment complex – which is the Soviet-bloc style housing in an ‘under-privileged’ area.
The three of them met up with some of the other youth and spent little time picking apples :) They chased the boys around camp, swung on the rope swing in the barn, and tried to put frogs in each others’ hair. Around 2 o’clock they asked Courtney if they could stay the night. Courtney thought another group of youth was staying so she said, “Sure.” Turns out the other groups would soon be leaving (even so, I think Courtney would have still said, “Yes,” …). They ran up to me and asked, “Can we sleep in the barn, can we sleep in the attic, can we sleep in the big building, can we…” I told them that I wasn’t quite sure what they were asking me. “Courtney said we could spend the night – isn’t that great?”
As I drove a group to the bus station in town I tried not to be frustrated as this unexpected plan. I really didn’t feel like being a baby-sitter for three 12 year-old girls. I phoned Courtney and discussed the entire situation logically, yet the entire time I knew in my heart that I needed to let the girls stay. Courtney asked the girls if maybe they could stay on a different night just not this night. “Well, where are we going to sleep tonight? Mom has already left for work, locked the apartment, and she won’t be home until 6am. We can’t go to our dad’s apartment because he drinks and, well, it is not safe for us there.”
For these sisters and their friend, Camp Wesley offers a place to live as kids and experience a haven – if even for only an evening – from the storms in their lives.
The second and third stories happened during children’s camp this summer:
‘Sally’ comes from one of the most economically- and resource- deprived towns (if you can call it that) in Latvia. This beautiful child has a ton of behavioral and socializing issues – some resulting from alcohol and drug use during pregnancy and some stem from poor (or lack of) nurture at home. Her life displays obvious signs of neglect and abuse. At moments this summer all 60-pounds of her would go into a screaming rage and only her pastor’s strong, patient arms of love could enfold her and calm her down.
Swinging on the rope swing in the barn became one of her favorite things this summer. While swinging, a smile would grow on her face and a life-light would fill her eyes. The swinging did not fix the behavioral issues or problems at home, yet those 60-second periods allowed her a tangible experience of freedom, joy and God’s love.
‘Sam’, his older sister, and younger brother came to camp because someone from a local congregation invited them. Their family deals with the many issues associated with unemployment, alcoholism, and abuse. The two weeks before camp were especially difficult – so much so that the sister chose to leave camp early because emotionally things were much too raw to stay.
‘Sam’ came to camp with a shirt, shorts, and a pair of shoes too small because the family budget cannot keep up with his 13 year-old growth spurt. By the third day of living, playing, and sleeping at camp his and his brother’s clothes became an object of scorn of other children. “Sam” and his brother also had a number of infected scrapes because they had received no proper care for them at home.
Over the course of the week, the camp nurse cleaned and freshly bandaged their scrapes daily, and we washed their clothes and gave them a fresh change of clothes. The thing I remember best about “Sam” is the smile that cracks open when someone takes the time to stop and truly see him and not push him away.
We saw “Sam” a couple of weeks ago – seeing that smile again brought a flash of joy to my heart.
Camp Wesley offers a haven where kids can receive healing and hope in things I often take for granted – like clean clothes, simple medical care, a safe place to sleep – and it also offers a place where they can experience God’s kingdom –love, hope, joy and peace – in tangible and practical ways.
Apple Festival and an end to the camping season
This past weekend we had an Apple Festival at Camp Wesley in Liepaja (on the coast next to the Baltic Sea). About 50 people from 8 of the 13 congregations participated. Camp Wesley has about an acre of orchard containing many apple trees (of 4 or 5 different varieties - I need to learn the specifics!) a few pear trees, and a couple of plum trees. The camp also has quite a few cherry trees along with an assortment of various fruit bushes.
People gathered together to pick, peel and preserve apples. Some people stirred the two big, black kettles bubbling over the camp fire, while others made two giant cakes in the kitchen. Some people canned the jam and preserves in jars they had brought from home, and Everyone tasted the progress along the way.
We also tried to do some work at winterizing the camp ... as we drove away yesterday we reminisced about the past 3 months of activity at the camp... The unknowns and anticipations before hand - the many different groups and people we had the opportunity of meeting - Wow - only three months ago... (obviously I am currently struggling with words - hopefully I will be able to articulate something later.)
We will try to post some photos when Courtney returns from Switzerland this weekend (she brought the camera with her).
People gathered together to pick, peel and preserve apples. Some people stirred the two big, black kettles bubbling over the camp fire, while others made two giant cakes in the kitchen. Some people canned the jam and preserves in jars they had brought from home, and Everyone tasted the progress along the way.
We also tried to do some work at winterizing the camp ... as we drove away yesterday we reminisced about the past 3 months of activity at the camp... The unknowns and anticipations before hand - the many different groups and people we had the opportunity of meeting - Wow - only three months ago... (obviously I am currently struggling with words - hopefully I will be able to articulate something later.)
We will try to post some photos when Courtney returns from Switzerland this weekend (she brought the camera with her).
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