Friday, July 31, 2009
Tate Springs on Mission - Latvia 2009
For all those that have requested to see this video again. If you wish to have your own personal disc of the video, send me an e-mail at lowthorp@mac.com I'll be glad to make you a copy.
Friday, June 19, 2009
the last day
welcome from Latvia
Its our last day and we just got back to our hotel. What an amazing trip we have had and God certainly has blessed our team. We have had such unity and focus for Jesus and it was so evident our whole time here. It was very difficult saying goodbye to the children this morning and tears were flowing not only from the children but from our team. There are children here at the point of aging out of the orphanage that were very upset not knowing if they would ever see any of us again. For myself, the relationships formed over the two years I have been here are so special to me. To feel the love from them and their need for love was overwhelming. To have one of them smile when you get off the bus the first day and grab your hand, to have them put their arms around you and bury their face in your shoulder and cry...tell you how much they love you on the last day is something none of us will ever forget. To witness how God has changed many here over the past year, how he changed them in the past 9 days shows all how powerful God can truly be. It was evident not only to us but to the working staff, the director and all those around these kids. I have been blessed to be surrounded by inspiring Christian team that was an amazing example to everyone here.
It will be a short night, we have to be downstairs at 3:45 a.m. and will arrive back in Texas about 1:20 p.m. Cant wait to see everyone and tell about this amazing trip. God Bless everyone for their support and prayers while we were gone and see you soon.
Rick
Its our last day and we just got back to our hotel. What an amazing trip we have had and God certainly has blessed our team. We have had such unity and focus for Jesus and it was so evident our whole time here. It was very difficult saying goodbye to the children this morning and tears were flowing not only from the children but from our team. There are children here at the point of aging out of the orphanage that were very upset not knowing if they would ever see any of us again. For myself, the relationships formed over the two years I have been here are so special to me. To feel the love from them and their need for love was overwhelming. To have one of them smile when you get off the bus the first day and grab your hand, to have them put their arms around you and bury their face in your shoulder and cry...tell you how much they love you on the last day is something none of us will ever forget. To witness how God has changed many here over the past year, how he changed them in the past 9 days shows all how powerful God can truly be. It was evident not only to us but to the working staff, the director and all those around these kids. I have been blessed to be surrounded by inspiring Christian team that was an amazing example to everyone here.
It will be a short night, we have to be downstairs at 3:45 a.m. and will arrive back in Texas about 1:20 p.m. Cant wait to see everyone and tell about this amazing trip. God Bless everyone for their support and prayers while we were gone and see you soon.
Rick
God of the rain
BRRRRRR!!!!
We woke to a cold and rainy Sunday morning in Latvia. After breakfast we walked down the road to get on the bus that would take us to church in Jelgava. Wish I had thought to bring an umbrella… or closed toed shoes…or a warmer suit of clothes…hmmm…
No matter. We were able to take twelve kids from Lejasstrazdi with us, and the church service was great despite the language difference. The pastor’s sermon was about the power of Jesus, which is exactly what we have been learning about in VBS. The kids were so attentive, and it was a blessing to be able to worship with them in an actual church setting. Hearts are being softened, and the Holy Spirit is definitely here and moving.
When we left the church, we could see our breath in front of us. Cold! Really missing those close-toed shoes…and the umbrella. Lunch was at Silva and the food was wonderful. Again, we experienced such a peace among our group as the children enjoyed a nice meal away from the orphanage.
Back at Lejasstrazdi we held our third day of VBS. Today’s lesson was about the power of Jesus to take away our sins and give us eternal life. The focus was on the cross and the price paid there for our forgiveness. Once again, the kids were very attentive during the Bible lesson. Two of the workers from the orphanage even listened in. During Cora’s closing prayer three kids indicated that they wanted Jesus to forgive their sins. Praise God! Please pray that God will help us to have the right words to say, and that these kids will make commitments to Jesus Christ.
It was too wet to have our regular recreation time, but Rick and Terri were brave enough to try the Coke and Mentos activity anyway. The Coke did not shoot into the air as high as we would have liked, but Rick was sufficiently surprised—and the kids were entertained.
The time of sharing that followed was amazing! As we stood shivering in the cold under the open-air shed and team members shared about times in which God has sustained us, the kids were so receptive. We want these kids to know that no matter what trials life might bring their way, Jesus is the only One who can give true peace, and He is the only Friend that will never let them down. Our hearts were warmed by the exchange and the eagerness of the kids to listen.
Then the interns performed a skit to the song “Come to Jesus,” with each of the actors in the skit finding their way to Jesus and the foot of the cross. Oh, how great is the love of our Savior that He calls to us in our time of need, and that His love kept Him on the cross in our stead. The children of Lejasstrazdi are being provided with many opportunities to learn these truths.
Team devotion time was an awesome worship experience. Wow! Today, we have truly witnessed the moving of the Spirit.
A pastor once said that nineteen drops of rain would keep twenty Baptists away from church. I don’t know about that, but I thank God today for the rain in Latvia. It is because of the rain that we have had a captive, attentive, receptive audience.
Continue to pray for the Spirit’s moving as hearts are softened and lives are changed.
Love and hugs,
Cindy
We woke to a cold and rainy Sunday morning in Latvia. After breakfast we walked down the road to get on the bus that would take us to church in Jelgava. Wish I had thought to bring an umbrella… or closed toed shoes…or a warmer suit of clothes…hmmm…
No matter. We were able to take twelve kids from Lejasstrazdi with us, and the church service was great despite the language difference. The pastor’s sermon was about the power of Jesus, which is exactly what we have been learning about in VBS. The kids were so attentive, and it was a blessing to be able to worship with them in an actual church setting. Hearts are being softened, and the Holy Spirit is definitely here and moving.
When we left the church, we could see our breath in front of us. Cold! Really missing those close-toed shoes…and the umbrella. Lunch was at Silva and the food was wonderful. Again, we experienced such a peace among our group as the children enjoyed a nice meal away from the orphanage.
Back at Lejasstrazdi we held our third day of VBS. Today’s lesson was about the power of Jesus to take away our sins and give us eternal life. The focus was on the cross and the price paid there for our forgiveness. Once again, the kids were very attentive during the Bible lesson. Two of the workers from the orphanage even listened in. During Cora’s closing prayer three kids indicated that they wanted Jesus to forgive their sins. Praise God! Please pray that God will help us to have the right words to say, and that these kids will make commitments to Jesus Christ.
It was too wet to have our regular recreation time, but Rick and Terri were brave enough to try the Coke and Mentos activity anyway. The Coke did not shoot into the air as high as we would have liked, but Rick was sufficiently surprised—and the kids were entertained.
The time of sharing that followed was amazing! As we stood shivering in the cold under the open-air shed and team members shared about times in which God has sustained us, the kids were so receptive. We want these kids to know that no matter what trials life might bring their way, Jesus is the only One who can give true peace, and He is the only Friend that will never let them down. Our hearts were warmed by the exchange and the eagerness of the kids to listen.
Then the interns performed a skit to the song “Come to Jesus,” with each of the actors in the skit finding their way to Jesus and the foot of the cross. Oh, how great is the love of our Savior that He calls to us in our time of need, and that His love kept Him on the cross in our stead. The children of Lejasstrazdi are being provided with many opportunities to learn these truths.
Team devotion time was an awesome worship experience. Wow! Today, we have truly witnessed the moving of the Spirit.
A pastor once said that nineteen drops of rain would keep twenty Baptists away from church. I don’t know about that, but I thank God today for the rain in Latvia. It is because of the rain that we have had a captive, attentive, receptive audience.
Continue to pray for the Spirit’s moving as hearts are softened and lives are changed.
Love and hugs,
Cindy
Monday, June 15, 2009
We're alive and well
Didn't have any Internet connectivity the last day and a half. When we do get it, it's VERY slow. We've all been taking turns "waiting" to blog but don't have much patience for it because we are here for other reasons.
We definitely want you all to know everything is going Wonderful! We had an awesome time today taking the kids bowling - that was a very big adventure for them and they were all just laughing and smiling the entire day.
We luv you all... we'll keep trying to post...
----Terri
We definitely want you all to know everything is going Wonderful! We had an awesome time today taking the kids bowling - that was a very big adventure for them and they were all just laughing and smiling the entire day.
We luv you all... we'll keep trying to post...
----Terri
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