July 2007 Update:Hello Friends, It is already August; where did the time go? It seems like we just got here butwe've actually been here for seven weeks. The days are changing here also as itnow gets almost dark between 10:15 and 10:30pm. I'm not sure but I think thesunrise is now about 4:00am. I think we have fully adjusted to the early sunrise(we don't see it anymore!) and we still enjoy going out and walking very late atnight.It has been such a mild summer here. We have had one day over 80 degrees and itstill sometimes is in the low 50's in the mornings. I know we are going to pay forit this winter but it has been so nice not having to sweat every-time you stepoutside. We are still very much enjoying the people and surroundings here in Cesis. Thechurch people and others have been very kind to us and we have started developingmore relationships with the people. They are a very hard group to get close to butonce they trust you ... they will do anything for you. We have several projects that are either planned or we have started. Some of thethings we want to do will have to wait until we get transportation, others willwork themselves out as far as getting them on the calendar. Ladies Bible Study: Laura held her first Bible study last week. She had 8 ladiesthat met in our flat at 6:00pm. They are calling themselves the 'Stars' from theverse in Philippians (2:15) encouraging us to be stars shining in a dark world.She was happy to have as many that came because so many of the women work and thenride a bus or walk home. They decided to meet again this week at the same time.Laura is introducing them to some good American cakes, cookies and salads as theLatvians have been taking care of us so far. Youth Meetings: We also started the youth meetings on Wednesday. We only had 5 toshow. After scheduling the meeting we found out there was a large internationalbasketball tournament in Valmeira that some of the kids were going to attend(Latvia vs. Russia!) so that hurt our attendance. We hope to have a few more thisweek. We are able to meet in the Castle Park and then come back to our flat forsnacks and devotionals. Students cannot get their driver's license until they turn18 here. That is good because you don't have to worry about them driving. It isbad though, because they are so dependent on the buses. If they live very far awaythey are always having to worry that the bus will leave them. That is just anotherthing we are becoming more aware of as we plan our meetings.Orphanage Work: There is a semi-state supported orphanage of the edge of town thatis home to about 20-22 kids (all boys except for 1 girl!). They range from age 10to 17. The facilities are actually quite good but it is still a hard place forthem. Through a very generous donor we are going to help them with their back-to-school supplies. In Latvia, each student is responsible for buying their owntextbooks as well as their other supplies (workbooks, pens, pencils, etc.). Thestudents at the orphanage will get some of their book money taken care of by thegovernment but we will have to supplement it. We hope to also get some backpacksand possibly some new clothing. We will see how much we can get for the moneydonated and go from there. Pastor Olegs, Laura and I went to the orphanage onSunday afternoon and spent a few minutes with them. We are hopeful we can start aSunday School out there, possibly in September. We are at the mercy of someonetaking us out there because it is not on a bus route. The director desires acloser relationship with the church so we hope this will work out.
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