“My world was slowly passing by, as I searched my inner world.”

by Andra Konovalcika, Project Manager for “Partners”

   

RIGA, Latvia – “Partners” Association Latvia, in cooperation with the biggest mission agencies and Christian organizations in Latvia, organized the mission mobilization conference “Mission Days” for the fourth year. This year’s Mission Days called together hundreds of present and future missionaries for a great mission celebration – a conference and festival called “Vos Estis...” or “You are...” This theme was taken from Matthew 5:13-14: “You are the light of the world… You are the salt of the earth.”

Thursday
    The organizers of the conference created a special atmosphere and many who arrived acknowledged that even the air on the site was filled with love and joy. The participants were welcomed by a friendly hospitality team that took care of their well being during the whole conference. The decorations made by young artists created a unique atmosphere: a composition of silhouettes of people that formed the word “Mission”, writings in graffiti style, large photographs by talented photographer Billy Locs, and saltshakers formed out of glass.

    This year’s special guest was Youth with a Mission’s Europe Director, Jeff Fountain, who arrived from the Netherlands. Jeff explained the theme of light and salt in the Old and New Testaments. He encouraged the listeners in his session “The Signs of Hope for Europe Today” and challenged people to step out from the saltshaker, when speaking about “the most exciting phase of mission work.”

    Mission Days was unique not only because of the exciting sessions, but also from many after-class activities. On the first evening, participants had a chance to embark on a journey through the Mission labyrinth. The idea of the labyrinth was gained from a tradition that began hundreds of years ago in the church history. Today the labyrinth has gained a contemporary image, touching many hearts.

    The impressions of the participants:

1. •“If history will say that I have helped a single person to meet God in such a way as you have helped me here, I will be happy.”
   

2. •“I have been a Christian for ten years, but only now and here have I met Jesus! It is only the beginning, but thank you for helping me make a way for Him to get through.”
   

3. •“Thank you all for an appropriate and creative ritual so that me and others could meet God... I received a lot of insight and got rid of many things.”
   

4. 

   •“A calm and deep experience in such unexpected circumstances. The world was slowly passing me by, while I searched my inner world; it was my unique journey.”
   

    All throughout Mission Days it was possible to spend time in the prayer room. This room was like a “sanctuary” or “oasis” for many participants. The lights of the candles, the cushions, the lit footprints and the strings of lights created a special atmosphere that invited those who entered to stop the everyday haste and to find refreshment in God’s presence. Photographs in the prayer room invited prayers for people who suffer from violence, poverty, addictions and other social problems. “I understood that my mission field is here in Latvia. It is my street, my region, my school... I can and wish to be a light where I am,” one of the participants confessed after prayer.

Friday
    I can still remember the scent of coffee and buns that marked the beginning of the second day. Still somewhat sleepy, participants enjoyed the fellowship. Slowly they arrived to the first session. Some had smiles on their faces; others were just aroused from their sleep. The main speaker of the conference did not let anyone sleep during the sessions. Now he was on the stage, now among the participants, always emphasizing his words with gestures and examples. Also the emcee of the event, Baltic Pastoral Institute student, Edgars Deksnis, always had prepared a joke or two that caused the rain of laughter to fall across the hall.

    Pastor Petr Samoylich and his church members took care of feeding the participants. Some of the participants said: “These are not the meals and coffee breaks of the missionaries. It is too tasty and too much!!” The pastor promised to change it, but he did not manage to do it and the participants of the conference were spoiled like that till the end of the conference. The organizers and participants expressed their major gratitude to the church of Peter Samoylich for the warm welcome in the church facilities and for the care during all three days!

    Mission Days participants had had an opportunity to “grill” the main speaker, Jeff Fountain, with difficult, important questions which were answered during the talk show. Miroslav Tumanovsky, another student from BPI, made sure that the show went on unhindered and that the most difficult questions were asked. A lot of valuable insights were given: “We are like dominoes in God’s plan: you are to work so that God’s work in you will not stop.” The answers given brought encouragement and edification to everyone.

    Mission Days would not be Mission Days, if the missionaries did not participate in it. Their testimonies spoke to our hearts. Janis Polis shared of God’s calling to speak to the lost in Europe, traveling around Europe on his bicycle. Dace Kasa shared her impressions from the mission trip to Ukraine. Kristina Ece gave a testimony about the mission trip in Uzbekistan, Ojars Freimanis spoke about the mission work done in Ireland, and Pastor Peter Samoylich spoke of God’s mighty works among teachers in Latvia. Every testimony melted the listeners’ hearts as a blazing fire. Tears were shed in deep emotion.

    Many were very thankful to the youth worship band of Talsi Lutheran church, led by Pastor Mareks Ignats. The corporate worship was very special. The songs, their lyrics and the emotion deeply touched the minds and the hearts. Many of the participants admitted that the most emotional moment of Mission Days was singing the song “How Great is Our God!” Rita, from the city of Liepaja, said: “I had not wept like this for so long. For some time this song will be my humming song.”

    Peter Eisans, the assistant bishop of Union of Latvian Baptist Churches commented on the mission composition where two people formed a letter “M” standing hand in hand, “Unity and cordial fellowship are vital to missions.” With this thought in mind the organizers of the conference challenged the participants to take on “Mission Impossible”, which consisted of different team building activities where participants had to learn to work in unity. The teams were challenged to form pasta towers while blindfolded, a team of 10 had to get through the circle of elastic bands in five seconds, they had to fall backwards into the team members’ arms from a higher place, etc.

Impressions of the participants:

1. •“I thought of how far I am willing to go for Christ’s sake.”
   

2. •“We became fast friends during Mission Impossible. It is worth it.”
   

3. •“When my parents will inquire of what I did these days, I will first tell them about Mission Impossible. It was unique!”
   

Saturday
    Every missionary heading out must be well equipped. That’s why the third day of the conference was devoted to practical workshops. The participants had an opportunity to select three out of nine workshops on these topics:

1. •“How to Pray for Mission Work” – led by the pastor of the church “House of God”, Samuel Thomas Valuthadathil from India.
   

2. •“The Six Biggest Myths about Missions” – led by Elise Carey and Cheryl Harrison from Youth With A Mission.
   

3. •“How to Understand the Will of God in Your Life” – led by Mark Sandberg from Greater Europe Misson and Igors Rautmanis (the former leader of the Latvian Christian Student Fellowship).
   

4. •“How to Find the Financial Support for Missions” – led by a missionary Kristina Ece from Youth With A Mission.
   

5. •“Can God Really Use a student?” – led by Becky Aravan from “Agape Latvija”
   

6. •“Conversations About God in Pictures – Soularium” – led by Viktors Cernavskis from “Agape Latvija”.
   

7. •“Dancing with Elephants – How to Work Together in Different Cultures” – led by Bridge Builders International president Chuck Kelley.
   

8. •“Alpha Course” – led by Anete from the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
   

9. •“Must I Forsake my Studies to Go into Mission Work” – led by the leader of Latvian Christian Student Fellowship, Kaspars Prusis.

   

   
   

    After spiritual victories, hearty prayers, journeys through the labyrinth, fellowship during “Mission Impossible”, valuable workshops and sessions there was an opportunity to participate in the final event of the conference – “Missions Festival”. The event was led by wonderful and attractive emcees – Janis Snipke and Santa Padoma.

    The music of the festival was provided by the bands Xenos, Man-hu, Jorspeis, Morning Star worship band, Liba Ece and friends, and MC Blessed & The Realblaze. The program of the festival was enriched by the youth from the Christian dance group Christlike. Those were an unforgettable five hours spent in worship in God’s presence. The festival summoned together more than 400 participants.

    Our 4th Annual Mission Days was made possible as these ministries cooperated with “Partners” and BBI: Latvian Evangelical Alliance, Agape Latvia, Latvian Christian Student Fellowship, Youth with a Mission, Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Union of Latvian Baptist Churches, Latvian Pentecostal Church, Greater Europe Mission, “Atradums – Personality Development Resources”.

    We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth! See you at the next Mission Days!

Andra