[:en]Greetings from snowy Riga!
Concerning the calendar spring will soon start and for Apinis’ family is time to wake up from winter sleep. Our last newsletter was written in October, but so many things have happened to make this letter long. Still it would be good idea to read till end and find a surprise 🙂
Evelyn’s Administrative Work
My talent to handle office work is greatly appreciated in mission field. Even during global financial crisis unpaid missionary does not need to worry about getting fired or getting reduced salary! 🙂
YWAM Latvia is planning short-time mission trips during this summer and I am outreaches registrar – to answer participants’ questions, send out information and applications. We are accepting also foreigners and if you are interested ask of me more information or look up outreaches on YWAM Latvia webpage. In addition to administrative work in YWAM Latvia I have also agreed to help in Global YWAM communication team as data steward. Starting from this spring or next 
winter my work will be to help YWAM bases to fulfil survey in internet – nothing really complicated, but what a title and career jump 😉
Humanitarian Project in Rezekne
Every year during ninth week (this year 22. of February till 1. of March) YWAM Stockholm and YWAM Latvia are organizing International Christian Social Project together with local government, social office and local churches (this year Rezekne, South of Latvia). During this project we gave out 700 food bags, big truck load of clothing; visited needy homes, elderly home; had programs for children and handicapped people; organized concert and evangelical meetings. This year we received a lot of help from Rezekne churches (Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal and Orthodox) who worked well together and for the first time in YWAM Latvia history our work was blessed by an Orthodox priest. I (Evelyn) am in this project leadership team already three years and my task is to do administrative work (to be a registrar for Latvian participants, make up teams, send them out, keep statistics etc). This year also Kaspar got free time from school 
and was able to take part in this project. You can look more photos from here.
“Wings for Wheels”
At last we have got name for YWAM Riga ministry for people with mobile disabilities – “Wings for Wheels” or shortly W4W. We have continued with small group ministry even if our small group has been lately very tiny. We also took part in handicapped program in Rezekne and Ailita and Baiba from Riga came to give their testimonies.
In February we helped Sintija (summer camp participant) to have a memorable day by bringing her from Saldus to Riga (1,5h drive) to look around in shop, go to cinema, to eat in Lido (Latvian famous eating place) and to take part in the small group. For us this wasn’t anything really special, but Sintija wasn’t able to sleep almost a week before waiting for it to happen. Sometimes we can do something really small, but this person who receives it can remember 
it till the end of his life…
Kaspar have started new form of evangelism – physiotherapy – that is opening doors for these people with mobile disability who would otherwise not come to Christian events. At the moment Kaspar has three physiotherapy clients and one whom he is teaching English. During exercises Kaspar is giving possibility to speak about spiritual things and so he is helping to improve both body and the spirit. Two of them have showed interest to take part in our small group and we hope that it will happen soon.
Slowly we have started to prepare for our summer camp which will be run during 5.-10.of July in Talsi Christian School. We are need people who would pray for this camp and participants; we also need people who would support this camp financially; and we would like to see people who would come and help us practically (we still need a cook, a kitchen worker, a sport game leader, personal assistants etc). If you would like to help us in one of these categories, please let us know.
We have started to understand how important it is to work among people with disabilities and how brief can be the possibilities to speak with them about God. During last December two of our summer camp participants died unexpectedly. One of them was a Christian and visited our small group regularly, second had her opportunity during camp time, but decided not to accept it (yet). They both did not have very bad health and it was shocking to hear them die, but this is reality in our ministry.
Kaspars’ Studies
Kaspar has at the moment his last sport pedagogy session before defending his thesis in September. After that he will have just physiotherapy and two more years to specify. Writing thesis for Kaspar is really challenging and he would be really grateful for prayers.
Mission Days 2009
During last weekend of January there were ecumenical Mission Days held in Riga. YWAM Latvia was one of the organizers and also me and Kaspar took part in it. Traditionally I (Evelyn) was asked to help with YWAM Latvia information table, but additionally we helped in Mission 
Café (which meant that in menu was Estonian National Food – kama) and in seminar about Myths in Mission. We also helped Baiba to participate in mission days, because this church was really not wheelchair accessible, but fortunately there were many strong men around.
We Moved
No, physically we still live in the centre of Riga and seem that we have this apartment for longer time. We moved in virtually, because our old website refused to work normally. Now it is possible to find our newsletters, photos and some other writing in this page here. We hope to update it more often than we send out newsletters.
A Little Missionary
There is a little missionary who is waiting to join Apinis family in July. He/she is already trying to say something in our meetings, but unfortunately we are not very strong in reading the code of Morse… 🙂 I did not feel good in the beginning and this is reason why our news was held back so long. I am planning to spend all the summer in Hiiumaa, Estonia and will not be able to take part in W4W summer camp this year. Kaspar will spend his vacation together with me (hopefully this time arrives also our little missionary) and will make trips between Riga and Estonia. Please pray for our little missionary and also that he/she would wait with arriving still the end of the camp (our due date is 23rd of July).
Blessings,
Evelyn&Kaspars
[:et]Kalendri järgi saabub Riiga varsti kevad ning Apinise perekonnal on aeg talveunest üles ärgata ning oma tegemistest teada anda! Kuna eelmine uudistekiri sai saadetud välja oktoobris ning vahepeal on palju toimunud, siis sai see üsna sisutihe ning pikk. Siiski soovitan kirja lõpuni lugeda ning üllatus üles leida. 😉
Evelyni administratiivne töö
Minu kontoritöö talenti hinnatakse misjonipõllul ning tööpuuduse üle ei saa ma kurta. Mittepalgalisel misjonitööl on vähemalt see hea omadus, et isegi globaalse kriisi tingimustes ei pea kartma vallandamist ning palga vähendamist 🙂
Sel aastal plaanib Läti NM mitmeid suviseid misjonireise neile, kel ei ole võimalik end täisajaga misjonitööle pühendada. Minu ülesandeks on huvitatute küsimustele vastata, ankeete ja informatsiooni saata ning viia kokku osalejad ja nende juhid. Misjonireisidest ootame osa võtma ka välismaalasi ning eestlased on ka teretulnud. Huvi korral võib minuga ühendust võtta või tutvuda internetis YWAM Latvia leheküljega siit. Lisaks kohalikule kontoritööle olen tulevikus (alates kevadest või järgmisest talvest) lubanud kaasa aidata Noorte Missiooni globaalses kommunikatsiooni teamis, kus mu ülesandeks on aidata NM-i keskustel täita internetis olevat ankeeti. Inglise keeles on mu tiitel nii pikk ja keeruline, et ma ei püüagi seda praegu siia kirjutada, aga olen tegemas suure hüppe oma karjääriredelil 🙂
Rezekne humanitaarabi projekt
Iga aasta üheksandal nädalal (sel aastal siis 22. veebruar kuni 1. märts) korraldavad Stockholmi ja Läti NM Rahvusvahelise Kristliku Sotsiaalse Projekti, mis sel aastal toimus Rezeknes, Lõuna-Lätis. Selle projekti käigus me jagasime 700 toidupakki, suure autokoormatäie riideid, külastasime vanadekodu, viisime läbi programme lastele, puuetega inimestele ning korraldasime evangeelseid koosolekuid. Projekt toimus koostöös kohaliku omavalitsuse sotsiaalabi osakonnaga ning kohalike kogudustega. Rezekne kogudused (luteri, baptisti, nelipühi, katoliku ja õigeusu) tegid väga head koostööd ning esimest korda Läti NM-i ajaloos õnnistas meie tööd õigeusu preester. Mina (Evelyn) olin selle projekti juhatuses juba kolmandat aastat ning mu ülesandeks oli registreerida lätlastest osalejaid ning kohapeal teha administratiivset tööd (moodustada osalejatest gruppe, saata neid välja, pidada statistikat jne). Sel aastal sai ka Kaspar end koolist vabaks võtta ning kogu projekti kaasa teha. Projekti pilte saab vaadata siit
„Wings For Wheels“
Lõpuks oleme misjonitööle liikumispuuetega inimeste seas leidnud nime – „Wings For Wheels“ (lühendatult W4W). Otsetõlkes oleks see siis „Tiivad Ratastele (ratastoolidele)“, aga kuna nimi ei lase end eriti tõlkida, kasutame ka Lätis inglise keelset varianti.
Oleme jätkanud regulaarset väikegrupitööd, kuigi meie grupp on olnud vahel tõesti väike. Osalesime Rezekne projekti käigus liikumispuuetega inimeste programmis ning meie ratastoolis kaastöölised Ailita ja Baiba sõitsid Riiast sinna, et anda oma tunnistus.
Veebruaris tõime Sintija (suvelaagris osaleja) üheks päevaks Saldusest Riiga ning viisime ta poodi, kinno, Lidosse (Riia kuulsaim söögikoht) ning väikegruppi. Meie jaoks ei olnud seda palju, aga Sintija, kes liikumispuude tõttu väga harva toast välja saab, ootas seda päeva nii väga, et ei saanud pea nädal aega öösiti magada. Kui lihtne on vahel teha mingi väike heategu, mis selle inimese silmis on võib-olla väärt, et kogu elu meenutada!
Kaspar on leidnud uue evangelisatsiooni vormi – füsioteraapia – mis avab uksi nende liikumispuuetega inimeste juurde, kes muidu ei tuleks kristlikele üritustele. Praegusel momendil töötab Kaspar kolme inimesega ning neljandale õpetab inglise keelt. Harjutuste tegemise käigus annab ta võimaluse rääkida vaimulikel teemadel ning seeläbi aitab parandada nii nende ihu kui ka vaimu. Kaks neist on näidanud huvi meie väikegrupiga liitumiseks ning loodetavasti neil see võimalus ka avaneb.
Tasakesi oleme alustanud suvelaagri ettevalmistusi. Sel aastal toimub see jälle Talsi Kristlikus koolis 5-10. juulini. Vajame abilisi, kes palvetaksid laagri ja osalejate eest; abilisi, kes aitaksid rahaliselt; ja abilisi, kes tuleks ise kohale ning aitaksid praktiliselt. Meil ei ole veel kokka ja ühte koka abilist, sportmängude läbiviijat, isiklike abistajaid jne. Kui oled valmis ühel neist kolmest viisist kaasa aitama, siis palun anna meie teada.
Oleme hakanud rohkem aru saama, kui tähtsaks peab Jumal tööd puuetega inimeste keskel ning kui kergelt võivad lõppeda meie võimalused. Eelmise aasta detsembris surid kaks meie suvelaagris osalejat – üks neist oli kristlane ja külastas regulaarselt meie väikegruppi, aga teisel oli võimalus oma otsus teha suvelaagris, kuid ta pidas paremaks seda mitte teha. Mõlema tervis ei olnud suvel kehv ning mõlema surm oli väga ootamatu. Kahjuks sellised teated võivad saada meie tihedaks külaliseks ning nendega võib olla väga raske leppida – see on meie töö reaalsus.
Kaspari õpingud
Kasparil on praegu käsil kehakultuuri viimane sessioon enne septembrikuist bakalaurusetöö kaitsmist. Sel aastal on jäänud veel vaid füsioteraapia õpingud ning kaks aastat spetsialiseerumist mõlemal erialal. Bakalaurusetöö kirjutamine on Kasparile suureks väljakutseks ning ta on väga tänulik kui tema eest palvetataks!
Misjonipäevad
Jaanuari viimasel nädalavahetusel oli Riias oikumeenilised misjonipäevad. NM oli üks korraldajatest ning ka meie Kaspariga aitasime selles kaasa. Traditsiooniliselt oli minu vastutada Läti NM-i infolaud, kuid sel aastal aitasime koos Riia Noorte Missiooniga korraldada veel ka misjonikohvikut (see tähendas, et menüüsse lisandus kama!!) ning läbi viia seminari teemal „Müüte misjonist“. Sellele lisaks osales ka Baiba misjonipäevadel ning kuna misjonikirik on ratastoolidele väga ebasõbralik koht, aitasime tal erinevatest üritustest osa võtta ning leida tugevaid mehi ratastooli tassimiseks.
Kolisime
Füüsiliselt elame siiski edasi Riia kesklinnas ja praegu õnneks kolimist ette näha ei ole, aga kuna meie eelmine internetilehekülg lõpetas normaalse funktsioneerimise, siis oleme kolinud virtuaalselt nüüd sellele lehelüljele siin. Siia me paneme üles oma uudistekirjad, saab vaadata meie pilte ning loodetavasti kirjutame siia tihedamalt ka meie lühiuudiseid.
Noor misjonär
Arvatavasti ühineb juulis Apinise perekonnaga veel üks pisike misjonär, kes juba praegu püüab kaasa rääkida meie koosolekutel, kuid kahjuks ei ole me morse tundmises väga tugevad 🙂 Seoses minu halva enesetunde ja väsimusega ongi meie uudised viivitanud nii kaua, kuni ma suutsin jälle normaalselt tööle hakata. Alates jaanipäevast plaanin ma terve suve veeta Hiiumaal ning seega ei saa ka kahjuks olla meie W4W suvelaagris. Kaspar veedab oma puhkuse Hiiumaal (loodetavasti sel ajal sünnib ka väike Apinis) ning arvatavasti sõidab mitmeid kordi suvel Riia ja Kärdla vahet. Palun palvetage Pisi-misjonäri eest ning et ta ootaks oma ilmumisega vähemalt suvelaagri lõpuni (tähtaeg on meil tegelikult 23.juuli).
Õnnistusi,
Evelyn&Kaspars[:LV]Greetings from snowy Riga!
Concerning the calendar spring will soon start and for Apinis’ family is time to wake up from winter sleep. Our last newsletter was written in October, but so many things have happened to make this letter long. Still it would be good idea to read till end and find a surprise 🙂
Evelyn’s Administrative Work
My talent to handle office work is greatly appreciated in mission field. Even during global financial crisis unpaid missionary does not need to worry about getting fired or getting reduced salary! 🙂
YWAM Latvia is planning short-time mission trips during this summer and I am outreaches registrar – to answer participants’ questions, send out information and applications. We are accepting also foreigners and if you are interested ask of me more information or look up outreaches on YWAM Latvia webpage. In addition to administrative work in YWAM Latvia I have also agreed to help in Global YWAM communication team as data steward. Starting from this spring or next winter my work will be to help YWAM bases to fulfil survey in internet – nothing really complicated, but what a title and career jump 😉
Humanitarian Project in Rezekne
Every year during ninth week (this year 22. of February till 1. of March) YWAM Stockholm and YWAM Latvia are organizing International Christian Social Project together with local government, social office and local churches (this year Rezekne, South of Latvia). During this project we gave out 700 food bags, big truck load of clothing; visited needy homes, elderly home; had programs for children and handicapped people; organized concert and evangelical meetings. This year we received a lot of help from Rezekne churches (Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal and Orthodox) who worked well together and for the first time in YWAM Latvia history our work was blessed by an Orthodox priest. I (Evelyn) am in this project leadership team already three years and my task is to do administrative work (to be a registrar for Latvian participants, make up teams, send them out, keep statistics etc). This year also Kaspar got free time from school and was able to take part in this project. You can look more photos from here.
“Wings for Wheels”
At last we have got name for YWAM Riga ministry for people with mobile disabilities – “Wings for Wheels” or shortly W4W. We have continued with small group ministry even if our small group has been lately very tiny. We also took part in handicapped program in Rezekne and Ailita and Baiba from Riga came to give their testimonies.
In February we helped Sintija (summer camp participant) to have a memorable day by bringing her from Saldus to Riga (1,5h drive) to look around in shop, go to cinema, to eat in Lido (Latvian famous eating place) and to take part in the small group. For us this wasn’t anything really special, but Sintija wasn’t able to sleep almost a week before waiting for it to happen. Sometimes we can do something really small, but this person who receives it can remember it till the end of his life…
Kaspar have started new form of evangelism – physiotherapy – that is opening doors for these people with mobile disability who would otherwise not come to Christian events. At the moment Kaspar has three physiotherapy clients and one whom he is teaching English. During exercises Kaspar is giving possibility to speak about spiritual things and so he is helping to improve both body and the spirit. Two of them have showed interest to take part in our small group and we hope that it will happen soon.
Slowly we have started to prepare for our summer camp which will be run during 5.-10.of July in Talsi Christian School. We are need people who would pray for this camp and participants; we also need people who would support this camp financially; and we would like to see people who would come and help us practically (we still need a cook, a kitchen worker, a sport game leader, personal assistants etc). If you would like to help us in one of these categories, please let us know.
We have started to understand how important it is to work among people with disabilities and how brief can be the possibilities to speak with them about God. During last December two of our summer camp participants died unexpectedly. One of them was a Christian and visited our small group regularly, second had her opportunity during camp time, but decided not to accept it (yet). They both did not have very bad health and it was shocking to hear them die, but this is reality in our ministry.
Kaspars’ Studies
Kaspar has at the moment his last sport pedagogy session before defending his thesis in September. After that he will have just physiotherapy and two more years to specify. Writing thesis for Kaspar is really challenging and he would be really grateful for prayers.
Mission Days 2009
During last weekend of January there were ecumenical Mission Days held in Riga. YWAM Latvia was one of the organizers and also me and Kaspar took part in it. Traditionally I (Evelyn) was asked to help with YWAM Latvia information table, but additionally we helped in Mission Café (which meant that in menu was Estonian National Food – kama) and in seminar about Myths in Mission. We also helped Baiba to participate in mission days, because this church was really not wheelchair accessible, but fortunately there were many strong men around.
We Moved
No, physically we still live in the centre of Riga and seem that we have this apartment for longer time. We moved in virtually, because our old website refused to work normally. Now it is possible to find our newsletters, photos and some other writing in this page here. We hope to update it more often than we send out newsletters.
A Little Missionary
There is a little missionary who is waiting to join Apinis family in July. He/she is already trying to say something in our meetings, but unfortunately we are not very strong in reading the code of Morse… 🙂 I did not feel good in the beginning and this is reason why our news was held back so long. I am planning to spend all the summer in Hiiumaa, Estonia and will not be able to take part in W4W summer camp this year. Kaspar will spend his vacation together with me (hopefully this time arrives also our little missionary) and will make trips between Riga and Estonia. Please pray for our little missionary and also that he/she would wait with arriving still the end of the camp (our due date is 23rd of July).
Blessings,
Evelyn&Kaspars
[:]