P2, my team, has made it to Latvia! This month we are working with and staying at St. Gregory Christian Mission Centre. It is a Lutheran center, originally a boarding school. Although my team has only been here for a couple days, it looks as though most of our ministry will be cleaning the center and working with kids and youth. Since we are staying here, we also get the chance to hear the stories of the staff, and pour into their lives as they pour into ours.
So as a brief introduction to Latvia, here are some fun facts. We learned these a couple days ago at orientation.
One: the national flag is possibly the oldest country flag still in existence. It is estimated the flag was made as early as the thirteenth century.
Two: Citric Acid (a product on many things) was discovered/invented in Latvia.
Three: tall women are a thing in Latvia. I’m a little out of place, but Hilary and Stephanie are right at home.
Four: Latvia has one of the fastest growing economies.
Five: Latvia holds the world record for the most simultaneous donuts performed by cars. Apparently it was 115, but 8 cars were disqualified for not performing the proper technique. That is still 107 cars simultaneously performing donuts…
Six: Ice hockey is the main sport in Latvia, although they do play other sports. Every year, during the world championships, there are celebrations all over Latvia, no matter what the outcome of the games.
Seven: The Baltic Way was a demonstration across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, as a peaceful protest against the Soviet Union’s choice to build a rail line through the countries. The Baltic States disagreed and over 2 million people formed a human chain across them to show the Soviet Union they meant business.
Currently, Latvia is experiencing the longest it has ever been independent. Their first declaration as a separate country was in 1918, and then the Soviets came in during WWII and took it away. The Nazis then pushed in, and at one point the country was split in half, with brothers, sons, and fathers fighting on opposite sides. The Soviets then pushed the Nazis back out, and Latvia stayed under their control until the Union crumbled. In 1991, they official became an independent country again.
Because Latvia was constantly controlled by other nations, they never really choose their religion. They were always told what they believed. Under the Soviets, they were communist with no religion, and under the Nazis, they were Lutheran. Now the country is 50% Christian (mostly Lutheran), 40% more are the people that only go to church if they want to and don’t want to be pushed to faith, and the last 10% are against religion.
Alcoholism is the major problem of the country. We were told not to be surprised if we see people staggering, even in the morning. Apparently vodka is cheap, unemployment is up, and people don’t know what to do with their lives.
St. Gregors, our ministry site, is in the town of Saldus, Latvia. It was built in 1995, and spent ten years as a Christian boarding school, then because of falling attendance switched to just a mission center. They now house teams and groups needing retreat space, and work with the Salvation Army to have services on the premises. They are also a quiet place for individuals to escape life for a while, just to seek Father through quietness and prayer. They have certain community rules, but let these individuals live here on donation basis.
I am excited to learn more about the staff and observe the way they live compared to Americans. They seem more quiet and reserved in their walk, and yet they have genuine joy and faith.
#GodIsInControl #redefiningdisciple
#THIRD
