Having taken over responsibility for missions again at our church, Carrubbers, I went out to Latvia to spend time with Dave. Dave is working with the youth of Grobina, a small town some 2 1/2 hours away from the capital Riga, not far from the Lithuania border.
It's funny how so many people here in Scotland use the expression "it's Baltic" to describe cold weather. Well when you have been to the Baltic countries, you understand better what that means.
Each day I was there, I put on another layer to try and stay warm, and that was in the flat where Dave lives above the church! The heating has been broken since the spring and the cold in the kitchen just seeps through. Thankfully Dave has a good heater in his room so he isn't perpetually cold but I have great respect for him living in difficult conditions and investing his whole life in trying to bring the Good News of Jesus' love to the young people, particularly through music which Dave is very gifted at. Dave is trying to help a young lad who is a new Christian, learn the drums.
As the border with Lithuania was so close, it seemed like a good idea to do a road trip and go there for lunch. Another young lad from Carrubbers was also visiting Dave for the week so we all piled in Dave's old Golf and headed for the border. We had a great lunch (steak for £5) and then went to the beach and experienced the true Baltic effect, as the wind blowing off the sea meant it felt like -10c.
The journey home was a bit of a trek as involved a 3 hour bus journey to Riga through snow, there were 5 cars in the ditch on the way there, then a bus journey to the airport, a 3 hour flight and then a 3 hour train journey back home. It was so great to see Heather, the kids and Jaz the dog coming to meet me across the field by the station.
Earlier this month I had my first full day of meetings at a church that supports the ship ministry - Rayleigh Baptist in Essex. This involved over night stays on the Saturday and Sunday nights at the parents of Doulos friends that live nearby. It was a great day with the opportunity to speak for 30 mins in the morning and 45 mins in the evening and I spent the afternoon with a lovely old couple who support friends in the ship ministry.
I really enjoy taking these meetings and letting people know all about what is happening in the ship ministry, but it is a shame that it has to involve more time away from the family.
Home life is getting more frantic now that Heather is working 4 days a week and the kids have so many activities. There are also lots of challenges associated with the missions work at Carrubbers. Last Sunday night we had an update night with all our missionaries around the world. This was a great chance to speak to them by phone and find out what was happening in their work and then pray for them. It is such a blessing to be involved in a church that is so involved in missions.
The coming weeks are busy again with 2 days in Carlisle this week at a seminar, speaking at a church in Edinburgh Sunday night, 3 days in the South West of England next week meeting pastors and supporters and then another full day of meetings in Slough the following Sunday.
At least we don't get bored!!
