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 | Thomas Kinkade's summer 2004 visit to Latvia was remarkable in many ways. This world-class artist visited some of Latvia's most magnificent edifices and some of her simplest, and captured the beautiful essence of five of these sites in his plein air paintings. |  |
 | Thom, his wife, Nanette, and two of their daughters also assisted with BBI's Children's Art Camp at Barbins Christian School in Riga. Nearly one-third of the children who attended the camp are orphans. How wonderful to see the eager and smiling faces of these precious children as they carefully followed Thom's drawing instructions during an art lesson. |
| Thom's visit opened doors to the art community in Latvia. This segment of society is often untouched by evangelism, because they "speak a different language" and live in a culture that can seem foreign, even to other Latvians. Through the common thread of mutually shared artistic expression, Thomas began building bridges to several artists in the Riga community that led to discussions about spiritual matters. |  |
Now Thomas Kinkade, through the Thomas Kinkade Foundation, is blessing Latvia and BBI even further. Lithographs of one of his paintings that he created in Latvia, "Sunset Over Riga, Latvia"© will be distributed through Bridge Builders International as part of a special fund development campaign. Donations received from the campaign will support BBI's ministry in Latvia.
| Also see this related article: | |
The fund development campaign began at a special reception that BBI hosted at First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas, on November 27th, 2004. The five originals that Thom painted in Latvia were unveiled. These paintings had not been seen outside of Latvia. Thom spoke and signed canvas and paper lithographs of "Sunset Over Riga, Latvia"©. |
 | In a special meeting at the BBI-Partners office last summer, Thomas Kinkade prayed for the Lord's blessing on Bridge Builders' ministry in Latvia. This blessing continues through his generosity to BBI.
We are thankful to be able to share the beauty of "Sunset Over Riga, Latvia" © with many of you, and thus further bless Latvia with more partnerships to serve orphans, train youth leaders and church-planters, and bring Christ's hope to Latvia and beyond. |
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