Tuesday Morning
I tried to get the day's blog out to you last night, but my wifi cut out and I lost what I was doing. In hindsight, it was probably God telling me that I was too tired to be writing. So now I have to try to remember what I wanted to tell you all!
We had a nice day on Monday... a warm welcome with lots of hugs from pastors, members, youth. Their tradition is to bring flowers to people at the airport, so we were all gifted with a beautiful flower to welcome us to Latvia!
We had a nice day on Monday... a warm welcome with lots of hugs from pastors, members, youth. Their tradition is to bring flowers to people at the airport, so we were all gifted with a beautiful flower to welcome us to Latvia!
After checking in at the hotel, we went immediately to First Riga for refreshments and introductions. District Superintendent and Pastor of First Riga, Gita Medne (Mednis in the US), gave us a history of the church and explained how they got to where they are today. We'll be sharing all about this in more detail when we get home. For now, here's a brief rundown...
The Methodist Church was established here in the early 1900's, then had to go underground during the Soviet era. They have been rebuilding since Latvia gained its freedom in 1991. The building where First Riga and the District Offices are located has been renovated since its Soviet use as a theater and later a sporting facility (although there is still a wrestling club in the basement).
We'll be sharing Gita's story about this candle tree when we return.
The wooden building next door was originally a Methodist orphanage. It has been vacant for a number of years now, and is in poor condition. It's a historical building, though, so they are not allowed to tear it down. There are dreams for its future use, but no funding for that sort of undertaking.
We have altered our original plan to go to Cesis and the Hope Center on Wednesday... we will be doing that on Tuesday instead. So we'll have more for you later!
Gita Medne introducing "little" Gita, who runs the Hope Center.
Gita's husband has made cross-and-flame symbols to hang on the walls in various places.
Much of the furniture, including the pews and the pulpit, have been gifted to First Riga by Danish churches that were (unfortunately) closing due to aging, declining membership. The altar cross was a gift from a church in the US.
The Methodist Church was established here in the early 1900's, then had to go underground during the Soviet era. They have been rebuilding since Latvia gained its freedom in 1991. The building where First Riga and the District Offices are located has been renovated since its Soviet use as a theater and later a sporting facility (although there is still a wrestling club in the basement).
We'll be sharing Gita's story about this candle tree when we return.
The wooden building next door was originally a Methodist orphanage. It has been vacant for a number of years now, and is in poor condition. It's a historical building, though, so they are not allowed to tear it down. There are dreams for its future use, but no funding for that sort of undertaking.
We have altered our original plan to go to Cesis and the Hope Center on Wednesday... we will be doing that on Tuesday instead. So we'll have more for you later!
Gita Medne introducing "little" Gita, who runs the Hope Center.
Gita's husband has made cross-and-flame symbols to hang on the walls in various places.
Much of the furniture, including the pews and the pulpit, have been gifted to First Riga by Danish churches that were (unfortunately) closing due to aging, declining membership. The altar cross was a gift from a church in the US.
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