72 HOURS IN LATVIA
BBI board member braves the winter cold to
visit dear friends and deepen a partnership
By Tommy Weathersbee  | 72 Hours in Latvia? You must be crazy!
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A late evening phone call to Chuck Kelley started the dilemma. During the course of our discussion, Chuck informed me that SAS was offering a one-day, 9 round-trip special from Chicago to Riga. I had been to Latvia three times in the past four years, but always in the summer for mission projects. I had longed to see this beautiful country in the middle of a Baltic winter?with lots of snow, sub zero temperatures, six-hour days?I had high expectations. I was not disappointed!
In November, our church had hosted Girts and Inta Asnevics, the pastor of our partner church, Vilandes Baptist church, as well as Eriks and Inese Esenvalds, for a two-week visit to Richardson, Texas. We had several discussions about summer mission plans while they were here, but by the end of their trip, and now the end of the year, we had not been able to finalize our plans.
Brainstorming via email has its limitations! A few hours of face-to-face discussions was needed to move things forward. So, I decided that a weekend trip to visit our friends and to finalize our plans was just what was needed. Clark Red, a friend from our church that is in the process of adopting a ten year-old Latvian orphan, agreed to travel with me.
We arrived in Riga on Friday afternoon at 1:30 to one meter of snow and -15 degree C temperature. The Lord blessed us with on-time flight connections and bags full of warm clothes. We had been able to sleep on the plane and were ready to check in, freshen up a bit and make previously scheduled afternoon meeting appointments.
Clark and Chuck were primarily focused on adoption issues, I met with Talis Talbergs from the Latvian Christian radio station to discuss the possibility of supporting a Christian recording studio in his facility. I was amazed how well we adjusted to the time change. I attribute this to much prayer from the home front. We had an evening meeting with key governmental officials to discuss upcoming visits with Buckner Orphan Care International representatives in Moscow and in Dallas later this year, and a late evening meal with our friends at the Vilandes Baptist church. Thus ended a 40-hour day?and all was well!
 | The temperature at concert time
at the Dome Cathedral was -20 C.
(L - R - Clark Red, Vineta Zale
& Tommy) |
Saturday was a clear, bright day but the temperatures remained frigid. Signe Kurga and I had a morning appointment to visit our Venture Latvia loan recipient at his new Christian car repair shop. Our Richardson Business Team had loaned the money for him to purchase diesel diagnostic equipment to expand his business. This trip would provide an excellent opportunity for some encouragement and a chance to observe the new equipment in action. Unfortunately, the extreme cold and insufficient heating in the shop did not permit a full demonstration.
After lunch, we were able to visit a Latvian lumberyard to obtain standard lumber dimensions and approximate lumber costs for our playground construction team to plan summer construction projects.
Chuck and I had an opportunity to visit for a few hours in the afternoon followed by a marvelous concert by the Moscow Russian Orthodox Men's choir in the Dome Cathedral. Dinner with our dear Vilandes friends at our favorite Latvian restaurant, Lido, was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.
I was given the opportunity to preach in the Vilandes Baptist church on Sunday morning. Aigars Bastiks had recently returned to Latvia from the US and did a brilliant job of making my Texas drawl understandable to my Latvian friends. Following the service and a brief social/fellowship time with the congregation, we were able to finalize our plans for the summer mission project.
Later that day, Almers and Vija Ludviks took Chuck and I to visit Bill and Dana Shultz, founders of Mission Pakapieni. There, I was introduced to this significant and important children and family ministry and enjoyed a wonderful sunset on the snow-covered beaches of the Baltic Sea near Jurmula.
 | The prayer session at the Partners office was
exceptionally tender. (from L - R - Tommy, Peteris
Eisans, Signe Kurga and Almers Ludviks)
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Monday morning provided an opportunity to visit with the "Partneri" staff at the BBI Partners office. It gave me a chance to share what the Lord is doing in my life and to thank them for the incredibly good and important work they are doing in Riga. After a meaningful time in prayer I said "good bye" to my dear friends.
Off to the airport?back on the plane?72 hours in Riga?a whirlwind tour?a life changing experience!
Notes from
Tommy Weathersbee
Trip to Riga, Latvia
January 9-13, 2003
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