"I'm full" the lady said--not from food, but from all the Biblical teaching on how to handle our suffering and disappointments of life.  It was an intense week-end with teaching that reached to the heart.

In addition to the teaching, we had discussion groups, snack/fellowship time, book table and lunch time together.  So good to meet new Latvians!

Elija and Mareks blessed us with a mini concert Friday night. 

Thanks to Martins & Anda Martinsoni who led the the group.  

Thank you, God, for the truth that you are sovereign and in control of all aspects of our lives . . .even the painful ones.

Photos below & slideshow on sidebar

THANKING GOD FOR . . .

. . .  three newly published booklets in Latvian!!  We have 4 more to go! Pray they will be done by the end of May.  Pray God will use these booklets.

. . . Also thanking God for the 50 people who have registered for the "Lost in the Middle" (Apmaldijies puscela) conference this week-end.  We'd appreciate your prayers!

INDEPENDENCE RESTORED; CELEBRATIONS GALORE!

 May 4th is a special day here in Latvia!  

On May 4th in 1990 Latvia declared their independence from the Soviet Union.  Many celebrations abounded on what turned out to be a gorgeous day--lots of sunshine and the warmest day yet!

We (Carl & Becky) had to see some of it!  First, we went to the Freedom monument where brass bands from all over Latvia rotated throughout the day.  The Latvians, who love flowers,  had made a flower "map" of Latvia.  It stood at the base of the Freedom Monument which says "To Fatherland and Freedom."  A moving site.

At another park, dancing and singing shows (along with all kinds of children's activities) were abounding.  

Here are the famous "Dzintariņš" children and youth dancers. 

Behind Becky are the dancers!

Praise & Prayer May 1 - 7

Praising God for a spiritual refreshing MTW conference this past week in Spain.  We were able to hear teaching each morning from David Meridith and each evening from Paul Kooistra.  

What a joy to worship in our native language.  The music was fabulous.  The weather was fabulous.  The seminars were helpful.

A special treat was fellowship with other missionaries.  Here we are with Johnny & Annette Johnson from the Czech Republic.  

Another special treat was being with our daughter, Carolann, who came to work with the youth.  We were able to tour some of Seville with her on our day off.

Please pray for our "Lost in the Middle" conference which will be next Friday and Saturday.

Continue to pray for the Lux Mundi website--it is back online after hacking again last week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to:
Timotejs Martinsons - May 4
Andrew Chaplin - May 5

PRAISE & PRAYER April 22 - 29

Becky, Lāsma & Elza

Praise for good visits this past week- 
~Jeanne & Becky had a lovely visit with Lāsma, Elza & Jasmīna - took a long walk! 

~Enjoyed Māris and Inara's visit on Sunday evening - such a nice time!

~Good Moms' group - a studious group

~Good visit to orphanage by two "clowns" from Riga Reformed Bible church along with Jeanne, Robert & Ieva

Rudolfs and Līga from RRBD

Please pray for-
~Meeting on Monday, April 22nd regarding security measure for the website, Lux Mundi; pray God will give us wisdom on what to do

~That the seven brochures which have been translated into Latvian can be quickly printed

~LOST conference, May 10-11
~MTW Area Retreat in Spain (see below!)

***OFF TO SPAIN ***

It's time for the every 4-year M.T.W. European Area Retreat!!

What is that?  A time of spiritual refreshment plus learning new things about missions.  Pray for us and Robert & Jeanne Smith as we travel to Spain on Tuesday, April 23, returning Monday, April 29.  Pray God would renew us spiritually & physically.  Pray we will learn much, get connected with other missionaries, encourage each other, and glorify God.  May the Son and sun refresh us! 

PRAISE & PRAYER APRIL 15 - 22

Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.  James 3:13

ANOTHER WEEK!  We praise God for that.  Praise God for good worship services yesterday, good meetings this past week.

APMALDĪJIES PUSCEĻĀ (Lost in the Middle) CONFERENCE - registration has begun.  Check out the "Apmaldijies Puscela" page above for all details.  Registration website

LATVIAN CHRISTIAN LITERATURE WEBSITE, LUX MUNDI - still having problems with hacking.  Pray God would give wisdom and people to help.  Had a good board meeting this past Friday.  Pray for God to send Latvians who have a vision for Christian literature in Latvian, to work with us on the website.

Many thanks to Kristīne who has put in hours to fix the problems.

THANKFUL FOR THE MOMS' GROUP - 

Always a joy each Thursday.  Pray for the moms and their families.

Here is Anda telling the children (& moms) a story.

Praise & Prayer, April 8 - 14

Men, son breakfast

~Praise for good Mens, Sons breakfast;  Thanks, Maris, for the great breakfast.

~Thanks to Elija for sharing with Jeanne & Becky about her trip to India--very interesting

~Pray for the seminary course which will be every night this week.  Gordon Campbell will be teaching on Mark

Young Adult group!

~Pray for Carl as he teaches the Young Adults on Tuesday evening

~Pray for the "Lost In the Middle" conference which will be May 10-11 at Pestisanas armija (Salvation Army). Pray as we publicize that God will bring people. 

Anyone wanting to register can do so at: Apmaldījies pusceļā reģistrācija
or at: apmaldijies.puscela@gmail.com

PRAYER & PRAISE April 1 - 7

Supper after Good Friday with Jen and others

~Praise for a good trip to Vilnius and back over Easter.  Please continue to pray for these churches.

~Praise that Carl's health is much improved!  

~Praise that we have a warm apt., as it continues to snow :)

~Praise for meeting Jen who came over Easter to visit an orphanage here.  She will work with Ieva to provide some things for the orphanage.  Pray for this orphanage in Riga.

Maris & Robert

~Praise that the Men & Sons' Breakfast fellowship continue this Sunday, April 7th.  Maris Dupurs will host it at his home.  Pray for the men & boys who attend.

~Praise that our website, Lux Mundi, has many hits, but continues to be hacked :/.  Pray we will know how best how to solve this growing problem.

~Praise for the Women's Retreat this week-end, April 5-6 with RRBD.  Pray for this retreat.

~Praise for our team.  Please pray for our team meeting this week as well as the other weekly meetings of youth, adults and Moms.

If you really want to know what the love of God means, read what Paul wrote to the Romans, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). God condemned sin in the flesh of His own Son. This is the love of God.   Read again Isaiah 53, that wonderful prophecy of what happened on Calvary's hill.  You notice how he goes on repeating it. "Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted . . . It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief" (vs. 4, 10). 

These are the terms.  And they are nothing but a plain, simple, accurate, factual description of what happened on the cross.  Read Paul summing it all up:  For He (God) has made Him (the Son) to be sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21).  Do you realize what I am saying?  Men and woman, this is the whole trouble of the world.  It is bound in its blindness.  God has made his own Son to be sin for us, though He knew no sin, in order that He might be able to forgive us, in order "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (The Cross by Martin Lloyd-Jones)

EASTER IN LITHUANIA - We will be in Vilnius, Lithuania attending the Evangelical Reformed Church (see photo).

Pray for Algimantis, the leader of the Reformed Church in Lithuania as well as Jonas, pastor in Kaunas.

HE IS RISEN!

EASTER IN COMING!

Please pray for our Easter related activities:

~Anda has written a 10-day Easter devotional for children & parents which is being distributed to her 70+ kindergarden children plus to children & parents at both Reformed Churches.  Pray God will use this in many lives.

~Easter Devotional for adults is attached to the blog as one of the pages (see above).  Hope it is helpful to you.

Literature for Easter

~Distributing literature at Moms' Group; Ladies Bible Study and through a book table at RRD on Palm Sunday (24th).  Pray God will use this literature to help people grow close to Him.

~Pray for the Good Friday services at the Riga Reformed Churches; Pray for pastors Alvis and Ungars

Previous Easter Service at Riga Reformed

~Pray for the Easter 
Services at the Reformed Churches both here in Riga and in Lithuania

~Continue to pray for the situation in Lithuania.  Carl & I plan to go to Vilnius to worship with and encourage the group there on Easter.  PLEASE PRAY for Carl's continued recovery from his infection and anemia.  He is better, but still recovering.

BAPTISM, BABIES and a BEACH

Ēvalds, son of Jānis and Anete Perkoni, was baptised this past Sunday by pastor Ungars. What a special time.

So good to see new babies in the church. (with more to come!)

I enjoyed watching Lote, daughter of Ungars & Gundega, during part of the service while daddy preached and mom played the piano. Lote is great fun. Here she is wondering when daddy will finish so she can get out of this thing!

BEACH - LATVIAN STYLE!

Jeanne, Robert & Becky looking for sand.  

SPRING AT LATVIAN BEACHES!!

Thanking God for a good class & medicine

God enabled Carl to teach his Principles of Christian Leadership this past week.  All seemed to go well.  Thank you, God, and thank you for your prayers!  

Carl was able to get to the doctor and have various tests run.  He is now on antibiotics, iron and various food supplements.  Please continue to pray for him.  He is still very weak.

Prayer needs for Carl

Carl by Luther's picture in Riga Museum

Carl needs your prayers! 

1) Carl is teaching a class on “Christian Leadership Principles” this next Monday – Wed. evening (March 4 – 6).  It is part of the Bible School program here, but also open to anyone, especially members in both Reformed Churches.

We feel that this is such a vital topic here, as both churches need more leaders.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would work in Carl and all who attend. Pray God would raise up Latvian leaders.

2) In the light of this, we would ask you to pray for Carl’s health.  We don’t want to blame Satan for everything, but it seems that often when we are preparing for something major, something happens.  Carl has been struggling with health issues off and on for several weeks.  (While we had the “Lost in the Middle Conference” in January—Carl was sick those exact two weeks.)  Now with this class coming up, Carl’s flu-like symptoms have returned—zapping his strength.  Pray that God would “deliver us from evil” and would heal Carl.  Pray that God would “renew Carl’s strength.”

Carl went today (March 1st) to the doctor.  Since from the initial exam, not much could be told, a chest x-ray, blood and urine tests were ordered.  Hopefully from the results of these we will know more.

3) Carl's work in Kaunas, Lithuania has been greatly hampered due to his sickness.  Twice he has not been able to go.  The last time, he was completely ready and woke up unable to go (4 hour drive--one way).  Pray, if it is God's will, Carl can resume his trips to Kaunas in March.

Thank you for praying!

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12

God's Beautiful Handiwork . . .

 . . was on display today.  With Lāsma Šauriņa, Robert & Jeanne Smith, Becky went east of Riga to St. Meinard's Island on the river Daugava.  

On this small island are ruins of the oldest stone church in Latvia built by catholic bishop, Meinard.  Very interesting.  River was frozen so we were able to walk across.  Sun was shining!

Thanks to Lāsma who was our guide!

Jeff, Robert, Carl

 Dr. Jeff Richardson was in town this past week teaching a course at BRTS.  We (Carl, me, Robert) enjoyed getting to know him over lunch one day.  Continue to pray for the Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary.

Pray that God will use Carl as he teaches a course for the Bible school (part of BRTS) on Lay Leadership March 4 - 6.  Pray for God to guide Carl has he prepares.

We give thanks for the teen groups.  Usually they meet at the Smiths, but this past week they met at our apartment   It was good to have them.

Happy 89th Birthday to Mildred Coleman (Feb. 23)--she has been a faithful supporter for us and Martins & Anda.  At 89, Mildred is still teaching some Bible classes in a local school.

Happy Birthday (Feb. 25th) to Becky's brother, Lindsey!

 We and trying to learn more Latvian history and culture by visiting museums during the winter.  

Our museum this week was more of an exhibition about public transport in Riga.  

An extra bonus was a fascinating wooden model of the old section of Riga.

Continue to pray for our Literature Projects - pray for God to guide us to publishers for Pilgrim's Progress and Instructing a Child's Heart.

Approach the throne of grace with confidence so that you can receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need.  Hebrews 4:16