Dear Friends and Family, Hello again from Latvia.
As I sit to write this I am reminded how very far north this is from Windsor, Ontario. We are now enjoying very lovely fall days. Quite cool even with the bright sunshine and very cold at night.
When I arrived the days were very long and the nights very short.
Saturday the 24th of June was the celebration of Midsummer Festival and I was told now the days will start to get shorter. Sure enough there has been a real change. When I arrived it was daylight until around 11.00 p.m. and really never got very dark and by 4:30 it was daylight again. Now by quarter to 10 it's really getting dark and it's very dark in the night.
Then on August 1st I was told, the summer is over now it will get cold, and sure enough, there is a dramatic change in the weather. I have had to close all the windows at night and put the duvet back on the bed. This morning I was reminded of those first days when I was so cold all the time. I hated to get out of bed. I think I would have a hard time to survive the winter here as this old building doesn't have good heating.
This past two weeks have had it's ups and it's downs. I did experience a few days of loneliness at the end of June. Henrik and Lisbeth had been gone all month on furlough, Maud was away with the children at the camp, Sarah and Aivis were extremely busy with the young people. The people in the building were all on vacation except for Ineta and Edvins and for some reason they were tired of trying to speak English so took a break.
The Sunday service was very long. I was at the piano, but again everything was in Latvian. The two women who were in charge seemed to talk, and talk, and talk and the voices were humming me to sleep. I had to try and concentrate so I would know when they needed the piano. But the sermon was over 30 minutes and it was a real challenge to stay awake. I was feeling sorry for the congregation, thinking it was probably as dry for them as me but when they had the prayer meeting one man came forward and then I felt guilty.  It was probably a good meeting.  Usually when I am sitting and not understanding I try and pray for those taking part but I failed on that Sunday. So that was the start of a poor week.  I spent each day in the office with Edvins, the finance man and Ineta the secretary and worked on a couple of projects but it was very quiet.  Every day I went up to the flat and brought down a tray of coffee and cookies and we would sit and visit for a while. But Thursday when I brought the tray down they talked in Latvian to each other and I really felt sorry for myself so, like a sulky kid, I took the tray up when they were finished and stayed in my flat.
Perhaps I needed that quiet time, because Friday things turned around and it has been good everyday since.
I had a number of phone calls over that weekend also some nice long letters both by post and e-mail and they really helped and I thank each one of you who took the time to write. You have no idea how important those letters are and what a difference they make.
On Friday I had the women here to the flat to discuss the Adult Fellowship Group which commences this Friday, the 10th. What a beautiful afternoon. I really enjoyed their company and their enthusiasm and also they had some real good ideas. We had a cup of tea and I had made some small sandwiches and had some cake and cookies.
I ask that you pray about this group. There is nothing in the Corps for the seniors and they really need something. I had bulletins and invitations printed up and we handed the invitations out last Sunday and will again this week. I am stressing to them that this is their group and they have to do the work and it must be self supporting. In this country they expect to be paid for everything they do. They haven't learned to work in the Corps as good soldiers. (A lot of this is to do with the fact they lived under the Soviet system for so long, and are use to having things handed to them.) They seem excited about that and I hope to have this group established so that it will continue after I leave, under the leadership of this group of women. I will have a planning meeting with them in the week between each gathering.
Last week-end was the Song and Dance Festival. I had heard about it and that it was wonderful but didn't pay a lot of attention.  WOW!!!   I hardly know what to tell you about this.  It's three days of splendour culminating on Sunday with 20,000 people, men women, young people and children, all in native costume, coming from all over the Baltic States.
Sunday morning the streets were full of people going down into Old Riga where they gathered and lined up for an enormous parade with Brass Bands, Singers and Dancers. Then in the afternoon they were performing in all the parks. The final event was at 10:00 Sunday night. I put the T.V. on to watch and was overwhelmed by what I saw.
The camera panned an enormous field filled with people all sitting on benches as far as they eye could see in every direction. Then it went on the stage and my mouth fell open. There was such a large platform with seats rising perhaps 50 rows high or more.
It started with a group of 6 musicians on center stage playing instruments I didn't know. A couple of bag pipe type instruments, something that was played like a cello but was a long rectangular box, and a violin and another instrument that looked like a football. Then there were a couple of women singing and the singers started to pour into the seats, as they came in they joined in the singing. They marched in from the top of the stadium, from the bottom and from the sides. 20,000 singers in costume with flowered wreaths or other fancy headdresses and all carrying large bouquets of flowers. I have never heard such rich and powerful singing
The music was awesome. Many different kinds of songs and accompaniments from Piano, organ, symphony, brass bands, bell ringers and acappella. Many of the pieces were sung without musical accompaniment but obviously well rehearsed as there were different parts being sung. Several conductors led the various pieces. Truly amazing. I watched until almost midnight and I understand it went on till well after 1.00 a.m.
Sunday was quite a day. Urzula came to take me to the Anglican church for the English Service. I told her I couldn't walk far because of my knees. I really stressed that to her and she said okay. As we left the building we walked up to the corner where I expected we would get a tram, but she said "Ne.. Ne... It's not far". After a few blocks I said I can't walk any further we must get a taxi or a tram. "Ne, it's not far... no problem." So I struggled to catch up. It wasn't long till I was soaked with perspiration and was in real trouble with the knees and back. But each time I complained she insisted we were almost there. We walked for over an hour. Finally I quit complaining and just did one step at a time. By the time we got there the service was started and I was so done in I didn't enjoy it. A Latvian American minister and 25 of his congregation from the States were in the service and he was the guest speaker. He knew a lot of the history of the early days of the occupation. He had lost family members during those days and I'm sure under different circumstances I would really have enjoyed his message.
When we came out she said you're rested now we will walk back and again she wouldn't listen so I stopped a police woman and asked about getting a cab. She directed me over a couple of city blocks and I came home by cab. I've really paid all week with stiff and very sore knees.
The walk was very beautiful though, as we were walking quite slow we were passed by all the singers and dancers hurrying down town. The different groups were in different styles of costumes and they are so wonderful. I had my camera in my purse but not expecting to use it didn't have extra film and soon ran out. I did get some nice pictures but not nearly enough. It also gave me a chance to really look at the beautiful parks as we walked by them, and also some of the large monuments. When you are driving you go past them so quickly you miss them. I would love to be able to go down town and really spend the day walking around.
I came home and slept sound for a couple of hours as I had the meeting at 4.00 at Riga 1.
It's interesting to lead a meeting with a translator. I started the meeting then had Sarah come and lead the middle section and I played for the singing. Then I sang a solo.. First time in a few years for that. Then I preached. I like preaching with a translator. It gives you time to check your notes while the translator is speaking and gives a lot of freedom. Eventually I just put the notes down. I knew what I wanted to get across so was able to speak without them. I was pleased with the meeting. One young woman came forward and as we finished the prayer meeting we sang, 'He is Lord' and many had tears streaming down their faces as they sang with arms uplifted. What a beautiful spirit. And what a lovely memory for me to take home with me.
As you know I prayed before coming over that I would make a difference in someone's life or that it would be useless for me to come. The Lord is rewarding me in some wonderful ways.
One is with Dzinters.. The young man who stole the electric heater from the kitchen for my flat.
The change in him is remarkable. I have prayed continually for him and still do. He was so surly that the girls in the office were afraid of him. He dressed all in black, was always dirty and quite mean. I let him come into the flat for coffee and to talk. One day when I was in he office alone he came in and asked if we could talk, and I said of course. We really had a good talk about spiritual matters. He said to me 'I have problems with relationships with other people.' I told him that when his relationship with the Lord was right the others would fall into line. We talked for a long time. The next day he showed up with his hair cut and clean shaven, with clean clothes on. Even light grey trousers. I hardly knew him.
At prayers in the morning, It's compulsory for them to come, he always came and sat with his walkman on and often fell asleep. Now I sit by him, and coax a smile from him. I ask him to sing so I know how to pronounce the words, He said, ' I can't sing' I said, "That's okay. I can't speak."  But he laughs and does sing out so I can hear. Henrik is amazed at the change. He told me he was ready to fire him after they returned from vacation, but now will give him another chance.
He is also coming to the Sunday meetings. Please pray for Dzinters, his life story is very sad. He lives with his mother who is an alcoholic. I long to see him really established and growing before I leave Latvia.
But that is just one story out of many.
Last week again, I was out to the Children's camp and did another hour with the children. I was pleased at how attentive they were and how well they responded to the Bible study. I haven't been this week but next week I will have to get over to the Home and spend a day with them.
One of my cousin's daughters has access to children's colouring books, crayons etc and has written offering to send some things over and I am delighted and will see they are disbursed when they arrive.
Major Sanda Hosken from Territorial Headquarters is sending some resource material for Community Care Ministries. Again, I'm grateful for their support.
We are still praying that the Lord will touch someone's heart and provide the resources for the two vehicles that are needed.
Yesterday was moving day for the offices here at Headquarters. The Eastern Territory in the U.S.A. provided the funds to renovate the back of the building. It is wonderful.  Instead of everyone crammed into three small rooms in an old flat they now have wonderful working conditions. Large rooms, brightly lit, and new furniture. What excitement. Everyone spent the day transporting all the things, except for the furniture, from the old offices to the new. I just stood guard. Security is necessary here. So after the safe's were emptied to be moved I sat by the money until the safes were back in place and then Edvins and I took it and it was locked up safely again. The work that has been done in the building and also outside in the past couple of months is great. The parking lot is now completely fenced with electronic gates, It's paved with stones and there is now a good walk to the back door and good drainage. Even some lovely benches to sit on. The change is dramatic from when I arrived.
And once again we say 'God is good'.  He provides for our every need and pours His blessings on us until we have so much more than we need. And we continually say Dievs ia Lubs.... God is good.
He has met my every need and I thank Him with all my heart for this wonderful experience of coming to Latvia and being part of this work for a little while.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers, that as we work together as a team the kingdom will grow. That not only will people be brought into the Kingdom, but that the Salvationists will grow and develop to mature Christians.
Thank you each one for the way you have supported this effort with your prayers,
God bless you all,
Wilma
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