Greetings from Latvia from Evelyn&Kaspars,
Time flies here in Latvia. It is again time to update.
Ministry for people with disabilities
We have regularly continued small group in Riga for people with disabilities. It is really great to see how people are getting more open and closer to God. Kaspar also has started to apply his physiotherapy knowledge into practise and is training a person from our small group. We have also confirmed our summer camp time – 29th of June till 5th of July, 2008. We are still looking for a place where to do this camp. Building in South of Latvia what we went to look last year, has good potential, but is not totally finished and this year they are asking really big amount of money to use it. If we would have this money, we would be able to rent a hotel. Please pray, that we would find affordable place outside of town with wheelchair access. It is not very usual combination in Latvia.
Mission Days in Riga
In January there were third Mission Days in Riga and YWAM was one of organiser. I was responsible for YWAM book table and Kaspars helped with translation and with photography. He was using his friend camera and some of the photos came out so good, that were used in official Mission Days page and in Christian magazine. Now Kaspar is really dreaming for good digital mirror camera. Main speaker in mission days was missionary and writer Don Richardson who has written popular book called “Peace Child”. Ailita from our small group translated this book into Latvian and it was presented in Mission Days.
Kaspars
Kaspars’ studies are going well. This semester physiotherapy has more normal schedule and he needs to be in Riga just twice a week (not four times like last semester). Soon he will have again three-week sport education session. Kaspar is also helping little bit in the YWAM training centre and continues to teach English. During last lectures he has been speaking more theology like English, because his student Viktorija likes to hear more and more abaut God. It is hard for her to accept Jesus, because she is mind-oriented and likes to understand everything. Please pray that God would be able to reveal Himself for her. If you would like to hear from Kaspars personally and you have self-phone, then you can check out his number from the end of this letter and write message for him. He is not very good with e-mailing, but much better with SMSing.
Evelyn
I am still helping part time in the training centre – keeping library in order, trying to keep up with all the events planned in the training centre and to finish all project what I have started during last 5 years. Adding for this, I am also helping to organise International Christian Social Project in Balvi Latvia from 24th of February still 3rd of March. My main task is to find and register Latvians and to help with administrating. This year we are also planning event for local people with disabilities and we will be main leaders for this. Hopefully we will have some members from our small group joining us.
Generally from YWAM Latvia
After YWAM Latvia National Leader Maris Dzelzs death at 13th of December, 2007, we are going through many changes. We are in process to get National Leadership team with 4-5 members instead of one leader and also we are looking through our ministries and updating these. This year YWAM Latvia will get 15 years old and it is also giving for us opportunity to stop, look back and to hear from God how to continue. We have started regular training days for staff once a week and also taking part from global YWAM prayer days once a month.
Moving
Even before we know these changes will take place in YWAM, we knew that this year will be different for us. We have decided now to move to Riga or Riga’s region and will move there 6th of March, 2008. There is just one small challenge – today we still have no idea to where we will move. It is not hard to find apartment in this area, but we are not able to pay so much like normally asked and it makes search much harder. Please pray that we would find our apartment very soon. We have done everything from our part and now miracle making is Gods task. Nothing is impossible for God!
Please pray:
- Place and finances for our summer camp
- Kaspars’ studies
- Viktorija
- Project in Balvi
- Apartment in Riga or in Riga’s region
Blessings,
Evelyn&Kaspars Apinis