Latvia Mission Trip 2018
Personal Reflections from Our Latvian Mission Trip – 2018
by John Barnhill
This was the third year our mission team has gone to Latvia. For those unfamiliar with Latvia, it is on the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It borders Lithuania, Belarus, Russia and Estonia. It lies directly across the Baltic Sea from Sweden. For most of the 20th century it was controlled by Russia, and was part of the Soviet Union following WW2. It finally gained its independence along with the other Baltic states in 1991. While under Soviet control, most protestant churches including Methodist were forbidden, particularly if they were considered to be tied in some way to the West (the U.S.). Since 1991, the Methodist Church is making a comeback in Latvia, albeit slowly. Latvia, in terms of area is about ¾ the size of South Carolina, but its population is only about 1/3 that of SC. It is the 3rd poorest country in the European Union. They are a proud people, but with low incomes and only about 500 members spread over 11 Methodist churches in the country, they have a daunting task to renovate / restore many of the church buildings that were used for other purposes during Soviet rule and allowed to deteriorate. Consequently, they need all the help they can get.
Our mission team this year was originally 12, but unfortunately Hurricane Florence’s timing resulted in 3 needing to stay behind. So, our team dropped to nine, but we still managed to accomplish quite a bit. Those participating from Beulah were Tony Rowell, Karolyn Grimm, Donnie Woolsey, David Rhoad and John Barnhill; from Prosperity were Leonard May and Ron & Carol Charette; and from Dalzell was Ray Mills.
Our trip over to Latvia was made even longer this year due to the approaching hurricane, which caused us to have to drive to Atlanta to begin our flight journey, but blessings on Doug & Sandy Lorey, who were willing to take us there on the church bus! After leaving the church parking lot at 3:00am Wednesday morning, we finally reached our hotel in Liepaja about 36 hours later. It was quite an endurance test, by way of Atlanta, Washington, Frankfurt and Riga.
In the area around Liepaja, there are 3 of the 11 churches mentioned above, as well as the Wesley Camp, used mainly as a summer youth camp. They all have needs, so it is an opportunity-rich environment for our mission team. The challenge is deciding which projects to undertake. Ultimately that is determined after considering local priorities, project scope, our skill set and time available. While our focus is largely the work, another important aspect of the mission is the human element – fostering relationships with our brothers & sisters in Christ. Our time in Latvia over the last 3 years has allowed those relationships to develop, and we have gained an appreciation for what the Latvians, particularly the older generation, endured under Soviet rule. We have come to know them as a reserved, but caring people. Tony framed it well in his sermon the other day by describing the culture of the “city church” in Liepaja as a little standoff-ish, given the older average age of the folks there, whereas the “country church” in Tasi (pronounced “Tashi”) is more of a “get up on the couch” type of loving family church. While we have been welcomed by both churches, we have truly shared the love expressed by those at Tasi.
Our projects this year were split between the Wesley Camp and Tasi. At the camp, David, Donnie and Ray installed about 50 ft of 3 level shelving in an outdoor storage container to accommodate their camping equipment. They also installed railing in the barn loft around an open stairwell. In Tasi, Karolyn, Leonard and John finished the stucco work started last year, as well as installed door framing trim around several doorways. Meanwhile, Ron and Carol focused on conducting bible school for kids after school at both the Liepaja church and Tasi. Our leader, Tony, coordinated logistics with the local folks while maintaining his shuttling of people, meals & supplies between locations, and providing assistance where needed.
Sprinkled within, after and between work days were special moments such as these:
These are just a sample of the special moments we experienced as part of our mission work. There were also hilarious moments, as well as musical moments and serious moments. All these combined to form a very successful trip, and one that we’ll all remember. It was great being with our friends in Latvia, but it was also great to come home! I’m sure I speak for the entire team in expressing our appreciation to our Beulah Church family for your prayers and support of our efforts.
by John Barnhill
This was the third year our mission team has gone to Latvia. For those unfamiliar with Latvia, it is on the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It borders Lithuania, Belarus, Russia and Estonia. It lies directly across the Baltic Sea from Sweden. For most of the 20th century it was controlled by Russia, and was part of the Soviet Union following WW2. It finally gained its independence along with the other Baltic states in 1991. While under Soviet control, most protestant churches including Methodist were forbidden, particularly if they were considered to be tied in some way to the West (the U.S.). Since 1991, the Methodist Church is making a comeback in Latvia, albeit slowly. Latvia, in terms of area is about ¾ the size of South Carolina, but its population is only about 1/3 that of SC. It is the 3rd poorest country in the European Union. They are a proud people, but with low incomes and only about 500 members spread over 11 Methodist churches in the country, they have a daunting task to renovate / restore many of the church buildings that were used for other purposes during Soviet rule and allowed to deteriorate. Consequently, they need all the help they can get.
Our mission team this year was originally 12, but unfortunately Hurricane Florence’s timing resulted in 3 needing to stay behind. So, our team dropped to nine, but we still managed to accomplish quite a bit. Those participating from Beulah were Tony Rowell, Karolyn Grimm, Donnie Woolsey, David Rhoad and John Barnhill; from Prosperity were Leonard May and Ron & Carol Charette; and from Dalzell was Ray Mills.
Our trip over to Latvia was made even longer this year due to the approaching hurricane, which caused us to have to drive to Atlanta to begin our flight journey, but blessings on Doug & Sandy Lorey, who were willing to take us there on the church bus! After leaving the church parking lot at 3:00am Wednesday morning, we finally reached our hotel in Liepaja about 36 hours later. It was quite an endurance test, by way of Atlanta, Washington, Frankfurt and Riga.
In the area around Liepaja, there are 3 of the 11 churches mentioned above, as well as the Wesley Camp, used mainly as a summer youth camp. They all have needs, so it is an opportunity-rich environment for our mission team. The challenge is deciding which projects to undertake. Ultimately that is determined after considering local priorities, project scope, our skill set and time available. While our focus is largely the work, another important aspect of the mission is the human element – fostering relationships with our brothers & sisters in Christ. Our time in Latvia over the last 3 years has allowed those relationships to develop, and we have gained an appreciation for what the Latvians, particularly the older generation, endured under Soviet rule. We have come to know them as a reserved, but caring people. Tony framed it well in his sermon the other day by describing the culture of the “city church” in Liepaja as a little standoff-ish, given the older average age of the folks there, whereas the “country church” in Tasi (pronounced “Tashi”) is more of a “get up on the couch” type of loving family church. While we have been welcomed by both churches, we have truly shared the love expressed by those at Tasi.
Our projects this year were split between the Wesley Camp and Tasi. At the camp, David, Donnie and Ray installed about 50 ft of 3 level shelving in an outdoor storage container to accommodate their camping equipment. They also installed railing in the barn loft around an open stairwell. In Tasi, Karolyn, Leonard and John finished the stucco work started last year, as well as installed door framing trim around several doorways. Meanwhile, Ron and Carol focused on conducting bible school for kids after school at both the Liepaja church and Tasi. Our leader, Tony, coordinated logistics with the local folks while maintaining his shuttling of people, meals & supplies between locations, and providing assistance where needed.
Sprinkled within, after and between work days were special moments such as these:
- Harvesting apples in the camp’s orchard and participating in the juicing process as members of 4 different congregations enjoyed fellowship together during the annual apple festival
- Seeing a full double rainbow directly over the Wesley Camp’s barn with its cross on top
- Walking silently around a Jewish memorial in the shape of a giant menorah remembering the Latvian Jews who were victims of the Holocaust during Nazi occupation
- Sitting around the coffee table in Tasi with a sweet 80 year old woman named Velta who speaks no English but she told us through a translator she thought we were a gift from God
- Witnessing a beautiful sunset while walking along the Baltic beach in the evening with Mik, a typical 10 year-old boy who likes to skip rocks on the water
- Taking time out of shelf building to play games with the kids at the camp
- Visiting a nature park to stand in awe of a herd of wild horses & cattle and witness God’s presence in allowing nature to manage the ecosystem with minimal human intervention
- Working for a day in Tasi alongside Vivita, a young mother of 2 girls, who with her husband and led by faith has decided to open a Christian bookstore in Liepaja
- Lovingly embraced by the Tasi members & taken to a special lake-side retreat for afternoon fellowship after church
- Getting a more vivid understanding of the oppression endured by all Latvians through a tour of the old KGB building in Riga – and being reminded of how much we take our own freedom for granted
These are just a sample of the special moments we experienced as part of our mission work. There were also hilarious moments, as well as musical moments and serious moments. All these combined to form a very successful trip, and one that we’ll all remember. It was great being with our friends in Latvia, but it was also great to come home! I’m sure I speak for the entire team in expressing our appreciation to our Beulah Church family for your prayers and support of our efforts.