Another year… strange, though, that I usually feel older with a birthday, but this year I feel younger… maybe it’s that so many of my friends are younger. Anyway, honestly, it wasn’t the birthday that I had hoped & planned for, but it was good none the less. The Music Ministry Seminar is going on right now and Saturday they were still in Liepaja. This means that Chris, Ieva & Andis and my friend Lizzy who is here from the US for the seminar, were all gone. Chris came home Friday night and Saturday we drove back to Liepaja. It was so to see see everyone again. It seems like we’ve all been apart for so much longer than just a week. Anyway, as part of the seminar some of the students were playing at the Latvia’s First Rock Cafe, which included the birthday song for me. (I like to be embarrassed like that.) After the concert the 4 of us went to the beach for a couple hours and hung out before we had to head back before the doors were locked.

33 years old. I can’t believe I’ve been around that long. ;-) It became somewhat of a joke that this year I turned 23… many people even believed me. Cool.

Seems like every time I write, it’s to comment on the busyness of life. Today was not a busy day. Everything up to today, though, well, that’s another story. We’ve had friends over here, we’ve been to gone to other friends’ homes, preparation for the Music Seminar is going on all around me, and a friend is living here for a short time. *sigh* I kinda like it, the craziness of it all, and it’s about to take a break.

Thursday was insane. Chris drove to Riga to pick up Lizzy. Some of you may know / remember here. She and I did our TESOL together last summer in Pennsylvania. She’s here to help staff this Music Ministry Seminar that starts, um, tomorrow. So, she’s been staying with us for a few days, which has been nice. I’m glad she’s here. Anyway, while he was in Riga getting Lizzy, I cleaned my whole house & my new couches came! Well, they’re not new, they’re used, but SO much better than what I had! I was so thankful for Andis’ help in moving this furniture around!

Friday (oh wow, yesterday, huh?) we went to a little outdoor concert Andis was in. He’s in a music group that was planning to go to the US for a month in November to sing at Latvian-American Societies across the US. Well, their visas got denied. (I can’t say I’m sad about that.) So yesterday they had a concert in town to at least do something with all of their time spent practicing. Andis asked us all to come and then asked Chris to play guitar for him for one song. He usually sings “You Say It Best” with a track, but it was SO much better with Chris playing the guitar instead. Afterwards, Ieva and Andis came over and the 5 of us made grilled šašlik on the balcony and hung out all evening.

Tomorrow Chris, Lizzy, Andis and Ieva head to Liepaja (with our car… grrr…) to start the music seminar. We’re desperately trying to work out getting them back on Saturday, as I really don’t want to spend my birthday alone. I’m really hoping it works out. This next week will find me buried up to my neck in books and notes as I try to finish my syllabus for this fall. Can’t believe school is coming so soon. I’m not sure I’m ready for it!

It was truly a God ordained evening. When we got to Ieva’s apartment, she was waiting for us outside, obviously nervous, but that excited nervous. After we prayed together by the car, we started in and her dad walked out. He said he wanted to go to the store. Ieva was afraid he was going to go buy beer and didn’t want him to go. Of course, we couldn’t stop him and he left. She was crushed & started crying. We all said it was just an opportunity for us to pray more. He walked back in the apartment a few minutes later. No beer, but bananas. :-) Chris was already playing his guitar. Ilgonis (her dad) walked in the living room and sat down. Chris, Ieva and Andis started singing, worshipping God. Ilgonis immediately recognized one of the songs as being off the worship CD that he’s fallen in love with. After a couple songs he just completely opened up. We talked for about 2 hours. We shared God’s love with him, told him the only way he could have real, lasting joy is through a relationship with Jesus, told him how much God loved him and wanted a relationship with him. We attempted to answer his questions. It was hard since most everything had to be translated. Ieva was so overwhelmed; she tried to translate for me what her dad said, but was so overcome most of the time. When I spoke Andis translated for me. I was amazed that Ilgonis opened up to us like that. He did not pray a prayer of salvation last night, but I know he made huge steps in his journey to Christ. None of us were disappointed at all.

Ieva was so thankful that he had all come over and had spoken to him. It was a joy. I haven’t spoken with that much confidence and passion about my Savior in a long time. I was blessed by something he told us, though. He said he worries about Ieva, where she is and who she’s with. (Very natural for a father.) But then, when he calls her and asks her where she is and who she’s with, whenever she says “I’m with Lydia & Chris,” he’s not worried anymore. He trusts us with is 18 year old daughter. Wow.

It was a really good night for the 4 of us as friends, too. Sharing the love of God like this draws people together, knits them into one. Andis expressed how he’s the only Christian in his family and his family isn’t very close at all anyway; absent father, overworked mom, brother who hates him.. But God has given him a new family, us. Wow.

It was all so amazing. Thank you for your prayers, and when you think about it, please continue to pray for Ilgonis. It won’t be long. :-)

Is it possible that summer is already leaving and winter is coming? Already? The night skies are looking differently and temperatures are dropping. No, there’s no snow, not even close, but there is a feeling of change in the air.

Sometimes I sit at home in the evenings and anticipate fall coming and going back to school and being a little busier. Other times I feel like I’m so busy I can’t even stop to breathe & I wonder how I’ll fit anything else into my schedule. Sometimes I sit at home and wonder what in the world I’m doing here in Latvia. Other times I’ll be walking down the street and I forget I’m in a “foreign” country, as it doesn’t feel so foreign anymore. It’s becoming home. People ask me things about America and I forget the answers. They ask me what I miss and I have very little to say.

I’m finding that as long as I have some good friends, I can live most anywhere. That is when the real change here began for me. Not only friends to support me, but friends I can support, and who teach me and help me be more a part of this culture, this people, that help me understand what it is to be Latvian.

A friend was going through a rough time last night. After we prayed for this friend for a while, Chris and I and another friend went to his “hideout” at 11:30 last night. We were there until 2am, all of us just being together, talking, encouraging him, making sure he knew he wasn’t alone and his friends really did care about him. That God loves him so much. We talked about how God designed us for relationships, how even Jesus had friends while he was here. This morning (ok, afternoon) he told us that he was so glad we came, he feels so much better, and he knows he’s not alone. This is not the kind of ministry you can squeeze into a time schedule, but it may be some of the most important kind. I’m not sure when I started to love these friends so much, but I do. I pray for them, I cry over them and sometimes I honestly ask myself if it’s worth it. Is the friendship worth the pain that comes with it? Everytime, the answer is a resounding yes.

I was in Riga last week with the Kings Kids team before they got on the ferry to Sweden, and I bought a Latvian ring. Latvia has many folk symbols and designs, very specific to Latvian culture. Seems most every Latvian had a silver Latvian ring. Chris bought one when we first visited here, and I’ve been looking for one, wanting one. Why? To “fit in”? To feel more a part of this land? To solidify my identity as a Latvian (I am, after all, 1/4 Latvian)? The answer is… maybe. I think if you’re trying to identify with a people inwardly, it doesn’t hurt to do so outwardly, too (within reason, of course). Paul said he became all things to all men that he may win some to Christ. And, we all want to fit in, be accepted. Maybe that’s why when one of my former students saw a picture of me, it felt good to hear her say that I looked to beautiful to be an American… it was obvious I was Latvian. It was nice that some of the people on the Kings Kids team thought I was Latvian. I like it. I like being mistaken as a Latvian, especially since I am Latvian.

Chris is preparing some worship songs for this evening. We’re going to Ieva’s house. She, Chris and Andis will sing for Ieva’s dad, some of these worship songs he likes. Hopefully we’ll be able to really share Christ’s love with him and show him he doesn’t have to feel so empty, that Christ is what he’s longing for.

Yesterday was the much anticipated Delirous? concert. We have been looking forward to this for months. We bought tickets a few months ago, 2 for us and 2 for Ieva & Andis (Ieva’s birthday present). Yesterday was the big day. We left Talsi around 2pm. I ended up driving, which always makes me nervous. Chris is on crutches… go figure. (Long story, nothing broken, but if things aren’t a LOT better on Monday, he’s going to the doctor.) It’s kinda hard to drive a stick-shift car like that. Anyway, so off we went. After a quick & early dinner in Old Town Riga, Chris was off to a meeting and Andis, Ieva & I went window shopping & walking around Riga. It is actually a pretty city. I mean, it doesn’t come close to the charm of Prague, the history of Vienna or the size of London, but it is nice.

After we met back up with Chris we attempted to find the concert. It was at a place that a few had been to before but no one knew where it was really or how to get there. I was kinda concerned as it was set to start at 8pm and we finally got there at about 5 minutes till. We found some decent seats and prepared ourselves. Then the announcement came… The band was set to fly in from Ukraine that afternoon (on the one flight between Kiev & Riga for the day). I still haven’t heard the whole story but something happened and either the flight was cancelled or delayed, but they did finally get to Riga, 3 hours late… at around 8pm. Hmmm…. So what do you do? You wait! No big deal. The concert finally started at 10pm. I felt bad for the band having to do final set up and sound checks in front of the anxious audience, but it all went ok. Once it began, the nearly 2 hour concert felt like a mere 20 minutes long, not because they rushed or anything, but because Delirious, at their heart, is a worship band, and the concert was just that… a huge worship service. I left feeling like I’d been to church for the first time in so long, and felt so refreshed and alive. It was amazing. It wasn’t the lights or the effects or any of the stage stuff, but that everyone there was ready and willing to worship Jesus. Wow.

We had arranged to stay with at Dave’s apartment in Jurmala that night. (Also a YWAMer from Canada.) He gave us keys because (darn) he had to help the band tear down and pack up. I kinda know, but I’m not totally sure how YWAM got so involved in this concert… from picking the band up & taking them back to the airport, being their “cultural bridge”, setting up & tearing down the stage, taking the tickets at the door, and more. It was actually pretty cool.

We had planned to go to the beach this morning before we came home. Since none of us went to bed until 2am & when we got up it was maybe in the mid-70’s, we decided to just pack up this afternoon and head home.

Ieva’s the only one who’s well right now. In addition to Chris’ leg injury, I’ve got a cough I just can’t shake. I feel like I’m ripping my throat apart every time I cough, which is very often. Maybe I’ll get an appointment with Chris on Monday. Andis has a sore throat, too, but I haven’t heard him coughing so much… he just can’t really sing. Not good since the band is playing in church tomorrow morning. Chris can’t walk, Andis can’t sing, Peteris is still in the US, Agnese had a sore throat but hopefully she’s better now. Go Ieva!!!

It’s always interesting to me how one event leads to another and you can end up someplace totally different than where you started out, or where you thought you’d go.

I went into Talsi the other day. i was doing some research on something & Andis was helping me with it. The person we had to talk to wasn’t in, which left me with some free time in Talsi. We were walking down the street when Andis decided to get something to drink… not from the big store but from the little convenience store around the corner. Ok, whatever. We walked over and I discovered it was next to a certain second-hand shop. When he saw it, he suggested we go in. You never now what you’re going to find in shops like this around here… sometimes you score big and sometimes you strike out. We went in and I was quite thrilled that I found a cute little summer shirt (still be in the 90s here… grr…) for less than $4. When we were done, I mentioned I wanted to go upstairs because they often have furniture there. All of the furniture in our apartment, except for the bed, came with the apartment. Much of it is old, not very good condition and it’s fairly sparse. I thought maybe I could find a cheap table or something… you never know. One thing I have learned here is that if you see something you like, in second-hand shops or regular stores, and you can afford it, buy it. Don’t wait. It will be gone.

I’ve wanted a couch or something for some time now. We have one, which is terribly uncomfortable, and since it’s made to slide out to make a bed, it will often do that without your consent. The springs are starting to poke through and, well, I’ve been on the look out. The hard part is that couches here are very different than our comfy couches in America. They’re much more utilitarian here, and comfort is not a priority. And, even if I could find one that I could tolerate, they’re horribly expensive. When people come over, we only have the 1 couch, no chairs or anything else, so someone always ends up sitting on the floor.

We walked upstairs and all I saw was a bunch of old, faded, ugly, eastern European couches. Ugh. Then something caught my eye back in the far corner. I made a bee-line and couldn’t believe my eyes. There before me was a matching couch and loveseat… full & comfortable. I was so surprised at such an American style in a store like this! I started looking it over, and when I picked up the middle cushion, there it was… the tag that said “Made in Hartford, CT.” NO WAY! The price wasn’t the greatest, but not too bad & they were in excellent shape. I sat there on the couch while Andis sat on the loveseat and I called Chris. Then I made another call. It was so funny as Andis sat there looking at me with a dumbfounded look. “Who are you calling now?” “The owner of the store,” I said. “He’s a friend of mine.” Raitis, who owns the store, is on staff with us here with YWAM Latvia. I talked to him (he was in Norway) and worked out a payment deal and as we walked out, we stopped and let the salesman know to put a “Reserved” sign on it per Raitis, and we’d be back on Monday to pick it up. :-) Andis was a bit freaked out that I would be so spontaneous, but… I totally blame him… if he hadn’t wanted a Coke from that little store…. :-)

Since then I’ve been trying to figure out the possibility of doing some updating to our living room as well. Our ceiling was leaking this winter, and now that it’s fixed there’s a chance that we could do some repairs on the room. I am a bit afraid to rip the wall paper off the ceiling for fear of mold up there, but maybe it needs to be done. My American home-improvement mind kicks in thinking, “Hey, a couple cans of paint and we’re good to go.” If only it were so easy here. Re-enter Andis. His dad happens to work in home repairs and remodeling and Andis often helps him. Go figure. After a trip to the “Home Improvement store” (not as big as Lowes but at least it’s something!), we did some figuring and measuring. It’s going to be a bit more than we thought, so I’m not sure where we are on that now. It’s a toss up. If there is mold up there, I want to get it out of here! But, can we afford to do it? I mean, sure, we’re only talking about $150 to fix & finish the ceiling and paint or paper the walls… but that’s about 15% of our monthly “salary”. Might have to wait a little longer on that. But, at least we’ll have comfy couches that won’t hurt our backs anymore, and we can have people over and we can all sit and have a conversation looking at each other, rather than all in a row on the couch! Simple pleasures!

I think I got pretty overzealous with my gardening endeavors this year. Something happens when you’re this far north. Sure, your growing season is shorter, but it’s intense! All the lettuce, radishes & spinach I started back in February or March… dead. Nothing. Too early, too cold. I almost gave up when my tomatoes didn’t seem to be taking off. I’m glad I didn’t.

I was also concerned when we went on outreach. I had no one to come and water them, and we were in the middle of near 90 degree temps. (We would have the hottest summer on record this year, wouldn’t we?) Ugh. So, I took my 4 cucumber plants in little pots and my 3 big tomato pots and set them inside of 2 big Rubbermaid Action Packers filled with water. (Man, those things come in handy for all kinds of things!) I know this isn’t the best idea. It’s not good for them to sit in water like that, which is why we drill holes in the bottoms of the containers, but I had no choice. I wasn’t hoping for major growth while I was gone, just survival. My biggest dilemma was my flower box of green beans. They wouldn’t fit in with the others, and I had nothing else. I had read something about using shoe laces… soak them in water, have a bucket of water nearby, but above the plant, and use the laces almost as a drip waterer/siphon. Well, I tried it.

When I got home from Liepaja, I went almost directly to my balcony garden. I was pleasantly surprised. In the end I did lose 2 cucumbers and I don’t know if one of my tomatoes will produce or not. I thought I’d lost my beans, as they were as dry as anything, (shoe laces just did not work) but after a few soakings, they’re fine and growing. My biggest surprise was that my tomatoes grew about a foot while I was gone for 9 days. Wow.

So, today, I did it. I picked my first green bean. Anyone who really knows me knows I LOVE fresh green beans. I was SO excited! It was so crunchy, juicy and YUM! My two remaining cucumbers have some flowers on them, one more than the other. I’m trying to train them to climb my balcony railing to keep them off the concrete and give them more sun. And my 2 main tomato plants each have one good sized green tomato and more tiny little green ones on the way.

I do feel proud. I’ve tried this so many times in the past, and the only success I’ve ever had was with 2 tomatoes in Ohio… the summer we were gone to England and Czech and our “Kitty-Nanny” was able to reap all the benefits. Can’t wait to eat it all up!

Outreach was awesome… God really moved in a number of hearts and lives and we were honored to be a part of seeing people give their lives to Christ. God was worshipped and praised and the lives were changed. Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise me that within 48 hours of coming home from outreach, life seems to take a downward spiral. Of course satan will attack us. Of course he’s angry. He knows us and watches us and can find the buttons in our lives to push. The question is will we allow him to prevail. I say no. I will fight him, for the One who is in me is greater than the one who is in this world.

Prayers apprecaited.

Greeting fro Liepaja, a city on the coast of Latvia and known as “the city where the wind is born”. I’ll tell you, we’ve been thankful for that nice wind in the midst of the heat going on here!

Chris and I are staffing an outreach that is here from YWAM Orlando. They have come with some awesome dances, dramas and a passion to tell people about the love of Christ. We are 2 of the 5 Latvian staff and are “overseeing” the Latvian contingency of the trip. Ieva, Andis, Anna, Jogita and Kika have joined the team as translators, but have become a real part of the team. I’m so proud of them all… they’re translating amazingly. Their English has grown just in the past few days! But, they’re more than just translators. They’re sharing their faith, too, giving their testimonies, which I think has been so important, as people can then see that Christianity is not just an American thing, but here’s another Latvian that is into this, too. It’s been great.

For the past 2 nights we’ve been doing outreaches in the park by the sea. We’ll be doing this for another 4 or 5 evenings as well. There’s a mix of dances, dramas, testimonies, and music. For the last 2 nights, we’ve had a combanation of our Latvian friends (and Chris!) singing. For the next few nights we’ll have some more well known people, such as Kristine Dzelzs, Santa from Xenos (very popular here) and Valdis Indrosonoks, the premier worship leader in Latvia (and on staff with YWAM Latvia).

We’ll be here in Liepaja until the 7th, and communication to the outside world is sporadic (read: busy schedule, limited - next to no access to internet.)

We all appreciate your prayers as we tell Liepaja about the love of Christ!!!