February – Snow and Wind

The picture is one I posted on Facebook last week. This week’s title comes from a prediction by one of our Latvian neighbours. It is 7:15 am on February 1st as I write this. I just opened the door to check the weather and it is snowing, but no wind at the moment. We heard yesterday that this has been a bad winter the worst in the last 8 years. I haven’t checked into this as to its truth but if that is so we have done very well with the circumstances we have been handed. My dream at the moment is to have our log house built and completely ready for next winter; to thoroughly winterize every aspect of living to the extreme and enjoy Spring and Summer to the fullest possible experiences.

My motto for 2010 is ‘Live in the moment with a heart prepared for change.’ My human tendency is to try to figure out what’s coming so I can get ready (prepared) but God says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Does that mean I shouldn’t prepare, I don’t think so. Yet, it does mean not to count on or build my security on my preparedness. We began our life here on the farm knowing we weren’t prepared for the extremes winter might bring and we face difficulties because we weren’t prepared. Even some of our preparations failed but for the most part our hearts have not been locked  on to the preparation for winter other wise we would be most depressed. We are learning to live in the moment and adapt as necessary. In praying for God to guard our hearts I am most concerned that my heart not be focused on faulty belief systems that are rife not only in the world but in the church. Some of these ‘unbelief’ systems are rooted in from times long past, things that move us, however slight, from a complete surrender to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Am I completely surrendered?  Rarely, if ever, but my hope is in Him not in myself to refine me to that place of total surrender.

So what are we doing amidst all this snow? “Not much,” as Ian would say, lol. Ian has shovelled snow a bit now and again. I attempt to do a ‘bit’ in the house, but again not much. We spend a lot of time on our computers, Ian is back on Facebook and I continue some fun time playing virtual farm games on the beast (FB.) Another bit I heard yesterday, there are more people playing Farmville on Facebook than there are people in the whole of the UK. I enjoy meeting people from all over the world as I play this game, including several Christians, many of whom now pray for us here in Latvia. Just to give you an insight, the creators of the game Farmville have announced in the last 24 hours that if 1,000,000 people request it, they will add a church to the buildings available on the game. They indicated they might add other houses of worship later. It all came about because at Christmas on the Farmville game there were no items directly related to Jesus’ birth and many have complained. Once the awareness was raised of this dissatisfaction level we are now offered a church building. It does pay to speak up, so those who make decisions will hear. I have shared many conversations about trusting in Christ on the game Farm Town because I have a permanent large cross built in 3D format on my farm. So though you may dismiss playing virtual games on social networks, it’s not for everyone, I have found it a new and encouraging way to share faith in Jesus Christ.

Another indoor pursuit is enjoying films together, often with popcorn, even, lol. Now I am not a fan of Clint Eastwood but — Ian has his WHOLE collection of films and we have watched most of them, now. He also has a war film collection, again not my first choice, but as we watch we share our different perspectives on various conflicts and I have learned much of life in England during WWII and after with rationing, billeting of soldiers, the American troops in Britain and such. On occasion we dip into my small collection of rom coms, period pieces and so forth and so on. It is nice to have the popcorn (Microwave) to accompany our film hour(s.)

Along with the snow shovelling we had another event this past week. Our next door neighbours offered to phone our neighbour on the other side of our farm and ask him to plow our driveway as the snow build up was reaching a level that might prevent us from getting out to the road. So along came Leoneides who helped fell our dangerous Oak tree in September. In the picture you see Leoneides and his blue tractor complete with rear loader acting as a snow plow while Ian looks on. He made us two driveways in case one drifted over and one has done just that, drifted over. Yesterday when friends called to ask us to meet them in Madona for a meal we were able to drive right out, nice and easy. The cost of plowing, 3 Ls. and it will need doing again probably this week. At 8:26 am the wind is now blowing steadily and the snow is drifting a bit.

One other event I want to highlight is Ian’s prowess in the baking department. He loves his bread machine and launched into a new endeavor on Saturday. He made some lovely crusty rolls and they were delicious hot out of the oven with butter. He was experimenting by adding bran to the flour mixture. He also made one of his fruit loaves that is a lovely healthy snack to munch on these cold snowy days.

Finally, Ian, at my urging, bought me an early birthday gift. I have down loaded an ‘Expressing Faith through Writing’ course. It is a very basic course just to get my writing juices flowing again. I plan to go on to the next course after finishing these 9 lessons with the thought toward writing articles for faith magazines. I also hope to get some discipline into the writing idea so that I can make this long held dream a reality. Watch this space. lol

Step by Step

James 1:2 “Counsider it pure joy”

Last week I listed some of the situations we are currently facing in our daily lives. All through the week the verse above from James kept appearing in different readings and we got the message from God, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance” Though some have misunderstood our light hearted attitude toward our situation we see it as God’s grace and joy in the face of difficulties.

James continues speaking of the reality that perserverence develops maturity and if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask God and He will give generously. Of course there is a condition, you must not doubt. No doubting that God can and will give wisdom, that is the condition upon receiving the wisdom. It always comes back to faith. Faith is not something floating in the air that we can just pluck up when we need it. Faith that God desires from us and is taught throughout the scriptures must be grounded and in order to be active must have a focus, an object. There is nothing etherael, there is no faith just in faith alone. Faith holds firmly to and is completely fastened to, Jesus Christ. He is the object of our faith, not our beliefs, not our creeds, not our church, not our Christian friends or family. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Does it get easier as time goes on, NO! Faith is not an automatic response but always remains a choice moment bymoment; day by day; night by night. (To be continued later today)

(Later) The pictures throughout the rest of the document some of our daily trials:

Ian is melting the ice from our dining area window with my hair dryer. He is concerned that if we let it build up the window could break. The main problem is at night when the temps drop while we sleep and the propane heater is off. There is so much moisture in the air it freezes to the windows, all the windows. He worked most of Saturday on the bedroom window and it was lovely to look out a clear window at the sunhine Sunday morning. We also pulled out our bed and discovered a frozen wall below the headboard. Ian worked all morning yesterday thawing and cleaning that and we put an insulation board in after changing the sheets and realigning the under sheet electric warming pad. We have 2 new pads to put on the bed but we didn’t have the right adapters to fit our english 3 point plugs in the mobile home so that project is on hold for the moment. But the sleep was warm and deep last night.

The other battle we have with ice features our door out of the mobile home. It too tends to get loaded with ice inside and once Ian could not get outside until he thawed it out.Here is our gem of a space heater we call the ‘Blaster.’ To thaw the door we turn her around and aim it toward the light of the glass door. Where she sits she heats the whole house quite well. Sometimes too well and we have to open the air vent in the kitchen roof. As I write this I am wearing a t-shirt with a silk undershirt also =)

Our kitchen window has a layer of ice every morning but by evening the ‘Blaster’ has melted most of it away. Speaking of processes and ’steps’ here is what we have to do to wash dishes. First we must have water from the well using our current submersible pump and filling the empty drinking water bottles. We carry the bottles outside next to the well, I take the caps off; Ian starts the pump and begins filling the bottles, I put the caps on and then we trade places, I fill he caps. The first time we filled bottles with about 50 gallons in the bright sparkling sunshine and icy temps. We store some in the pump house, that is warm and some in the old timber house where they freeze until being moved into the pump house. If we store them in our shower room they will also freeze. I also use the shower as a place to store extra meat that won’t fit in our small frig/freezer. Adapting is crucial for our life style at the moment. So then once we have water to wash it goes into a large ‘jam’ pan on the cooker to be boiled/heated. Then into the green basin you see in the sink above. I usually let the dishes soak in the boiling water until cools before washing up.

Here you see the black ‘drain’ bucket. Of course our drain pipes are frozen so all washing up water must go into this bucket and Ian empties a couple of times a day depending on use. Beside the ‘drain’ bucket are some water bottles. The trick is to move nimbly about the kitchen while avoiding triping over these items, lol. I mentioned laundry in talking about the water. We are only doing small bits of laundry like knickers or our silk thermal underwear. Occasionaly I rinse out a nightgown or pair of sport trousers and/or tops/shirts. I have also recently boiled some tea towels just trying to keep the piles of laundry from growing too big. To do this I use the same large jam pan on the cooker with well water and a non sudsy cleaning agent. In go the elected items and with a wooden paddle they are stirred about in the boiling water and left to soak. Then they are hung gingerly (very hot) over the kitchen tap until cooled. Next they are as thorougly wrung out as me ol hands can wring them. Next comes a cool rinse another wringing and they are off to the washing machine for a real good spin, which requires a walk outside to the pump house where the washing machine lives. It is nice and warm in there as we have a heater protecting the pump. After about 13 minutes it is back to the house to be hung up on the drying rack in the lounge. The same process is done with the silk thermals but in cool water not boiling and so on for each group of things laundered.

Now you maybe wanting to ask the age old astronaut question, what about the toilet? With frozen pipes we obviously can’t use the plumbed in one, and with extreme temps we choose not to use an outdoor toilet.  We have a bio- chemical toilet that Ian empties every couple of days but I decided to forgo the pictures on that one, aren’t you glad?

To wash my hair we heat the water as for dishes and Ian kindly shampoos and conditions my hair dipping into the water pan with a jug (pitcher) and I do the same for him. We do not do this on a daily basis but every week or so or if we need to look presentable, lol.

Bathing is much the same process but we use a lot of baby wipes to keep our bodies clean. I have developed the French Court habit of using cologne as well. heheheh

Now why have I written this? Let me share why I have NOT written it. It is not to elicite pity, advice (unless really practical) or to brand us insane. It is meant to inform to bring you clearly into the picture of our daily life at the moment. Also to share that these processes are ones God is using to refine us to grow us up in our faith and trust of Him. We chose to laugh and make light because it is the perspective He has given. There is plenty to take seriously in the world today, our current lifestyle is not one of them. I hope you have been encouraged to pray for us to keep on keeping on. Would I want to always live like this NO!!!

White on White

Designed by The Creator, painted by Him in frost on snow. This ice sculpture greeted us one morning this past week and for the most part remains as you see it in the picture above. Just when we think the landscape cannot possibly become any more stunning God reveals another aspect of His creative ability. At moments it is so beautiful it almost hurts but then the heart soars as the intense beauty seeps deep within. ‘How Great Thou Art’ comes gliding into the thoughts and the praise and worship bubbles out in song and verse.

We have begun to see that this breath taking beauty in the landscape all around us, is an encouragment to keep on keeping on in the face of persistent practical problems. About Wednesday this week we had a revelation. The difficulties we are facing: no running water; problems with the new pump, the new generator; the power outages due to old wiring in the old house; washing machine unable to work for lack of water and proper power; the drains frozen up; the temps too cold for Ian to get the heating tapes on the pipes under the mobile home; the cruelty from Ian’s children; the weekly problems communicating with the doctor over prescriptions; not having a language teacher and so on. ALL of these have come through the loving hands of our Heavenly Father and are a part of His will for us, why? The Refiners Fire. To rub off some of the many rough edges we have and prepare us for what, we don’t know. To make us into the image of Jesus Christ. Our moment by moment calling is to keep on trusting, keep on believing that the Lord will take us through it all. Training in Trust, is how we are looking at it, gaining God’s perspective as we go. Sounds great on paper but you know that the reality looks different at times. Yes we loose our tempers and get frustrated and have serious moments of doubt but usually about ourselves not God or His plan in bringing us here. When we remember to look up and get our bearings the frustration gives way to faith and the anger yields to appreciation for all God has done and is doing.

When the perspective is right the reality of God’s love and provision is obvious like the rose coloured sky at the end of the day.

While at other times it is all blurry and looks filled with slashing impediments.

How do we respond? Often we take the blurriness to God and ask for wisdom and clarity. Sometimes, though, that only happens after a period of trying to figure it out on our own.  So is it all bad, all difficult? No! On Friday we set out to register our address as being our new address. This involves interacting with local government. We weren’t certain where to start so we went to Murmestiena our local pagasts first. We thought we might need to go to Varaklani Novads in the other physical direction and we did but we went having the name of the woman we needed to speak with written out for us by the lovely lady in Murmestiena. In the Pagasts office in Murmestiena no one speaks English but they called in a young man from the school next door and he did the translation work. We had asked God to go before us that day and He DID! When we got to Varaklani we first went to the wrong building but God had the only person we saw ready as she spoke English and redirected us across the street. Because we had the name written on paper even without the language we were directed to the right office, she was expecting us, villiage drums at work, and it was a simple proceedure. As we paid the nominal fee we learned that all government records would now be changed and we did not have to go to Madona and Ergli  to change their records. Easy peasy. We were going to Madona anyway and when we checked the National Office there, we learned indeed all records have been changed, we are legal, big sigh.

Our time in Madona allowed for a nice lunch at one of our favourite resturants and while enjoying the meal we made out our  showering/bathing schedule through April, lol. For my birthday in February we will stay the night in a hotel and have showers/baths; for Ian’s birthday in March we will do the same and for our Anniversary in April, ditto. Hopefully by April we will have running water here at home but it is good to have a plan, now to submit it to God. I can hear the sharp intakes of breath all over the world. Actually, we are realizing that our current situation puts us more in line with many here in Latvia who also do not have running water and certainly no washing machines. In case you are wondering, we have not seen any Laundromats here in Latvia. Many people do all laundry by hand and even in freezing temps hang it outside to dry? Of course we can afford to stay a night now and again in a hotel and enjoy our lovely car to drive us there, unlike most here in Latvia.

We heard this week from a former family member in New Zealand ,that his wife had died just this past week. Ian had sent him an uplifting email and he wrote to say how it had encouraged him in the face of his loss. This lady was an Anglican minister, the sister of Ian’s ex wife. We saw her a couple of years ago on a visit to family in England. She has been ill for some time so it was not unexpected but she leaves a hole not easily filled as she was the strongest, spiritually, in the whole family. God is at work and we know this will have a big impact on Ian’s children having just lost their grandfather. They grieve without real hope.

This week we have seen our woodpecker friend again most every day. We have a job keeping the food supplied to our feathered friends but they are so delightful to watch. We had quite a piece of pork fat that we rendered down and have been mixing it with lots of seed that we put in ice cream tubs. It makes us laugh to watch the birdies tail feathers in the air and beaks deep into the tubs eating away. Today, Ian gathered the two hanging feeders in and knocked the frost and ice off them and stuffed them with fat and seed. Happy birdies everywhere. We have quite a crowd of regulars at the Langridge Bird Diner.

Thanks for your faithful prayers for us, your kind words of encouragement and comments on this blog. We pray for you most every day.

Sunshine in Latvia

The past few days we have enjoyed bright sunshine and blue skies with temps around -15C a real heat wave, lol.

Today, Monday Ian spent time knocking the icicles off our tin home and chipping the ice from our door and one of the many windows that are frozen on the inside.

It was 40C this morning in our living room. We are nice and toasty in our bed with under sheet electric warming pad, so no worries there. The update on our water is we still have none. Ian is tackling it step by step and we manage quite well with bottled water. Our generator is not happy with the cold as we discovered this particular model is designed for the tropics, what a laugh! It now has its very own electric heater. I am hand washing only what we need in clothes and we are putting them through a spin cycle on the washing machine so they hang dry more quickly. Our ‘blaster’ propane heater continues to keep us more warm than we would like at times. To counter balance its output we often open the sky vent in the kitchen. Recently, we forgot to close it and when we returned from a shopping trip discovered 2 blue tits flying about in our living room. Hey, I don’t blame them, I would want to come in out of the cold too, if I were them, lol. We encouraged them to leave the way they came in, and they did. It happened once more when we were here so though we keep it open from time to time we remain on bird watch inside as well as outside. The birds are eating us out of house and home and the woman at the Pet Centre in Madona recognizes me when I stop at least weekly to buy seed.

We are spending more time watching DVD’s and on the computer with the very cold temps. It is good to see Ian resting more and for the most part not feeling guilty with all the needs we currently are experiencing. All work on the chapel has currently stopped as the temps drop. I am hoping next winter will find us in our timber home, a driveway graveled and all buildings in shape. Ian would add the fencing done around the perimeter, sheep pens prepared, hay & silage stored and about 20 sheep & 1 sheep dog on the farm.

I suppose some chickens would be added to that list but with these temps I would want a heated nest box for them, lol.  I think the list is a bit of a reach too far but as we go each step that God directs we shall see what He has planned.

Yesterday was the monthly market at Vilani about 15 kilometres from here. We braved the cold and spent about 1 1/2 hours in the cold from about 9 to 10::30 then the wind was coming up and we tried to go to one of our favourite resturants for pankukas (pancakes) but they weren’t opening until 11 so opted for home. Our little Freelander seems quite happy with the snow and ice. We often wonder when we start out from the farmyard if she can make it through the depth of snow but she always does, so far. The snow usually fills in the tracks each day between our trips out. God’s housekeeper is very effiecient? The way he paints the landscape in white has recently reminded me of the righteousness we have in Jesus Christ. Those trees have not been able to make themselves white and have done nothing to deserve this beauty. It is all God’s doing. Just as we who believe can do nothing, absolutely nothing to gain righteousness or be covered in the beauty that is Christ Jesus it is all God based on Christ’s sacrafice of life and death. We are clothed in His righteousness and we stand before Him when we approach Him with our sins completely cleansed. We have no fear to approach our loving Heavenly Father as we are accepted in the Beloved. “Though your sins be like scarlet they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 God continues to speak through His creation.

On New Year’s Eve we went back over this blog since last January marvelling at all God has done. It was a banner year. From our move to Latvia, thinking we were moving for the last time and in August opening the door for us to buy our farm hearalding a move that remains unfinished with our things still in Ergli, to Dad going home in December, at last at peace. This blog has become a real place of reflection for us and for those both old and new who continue to follow our journey with God, going, waiting, listening, encouraging. What have we learned this year, a lesson that just keeps on teaching, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs3:5,6 I realize more each day that the word of God, the Bible is alive and along with God’s mercies are new every morning. 2010 should be a real corker. Happy New Year and blessings abundant for you and yours.

Remembering a Servant of the Lord

On December 19, 2009 at 2:07  pm, Thomas Henry Langridge left earth to be with his Saviour, Jesus Christ. His earthly body will be interred at noon 8 January 2010 in Bexhill Cemetary.

Tom was 97, born 08/09/1912 in Nutley, Ashdown Forrest in East Sussex, England. There were 8 children in the family and Tom had a twin brother Jim  who died earlier this year. Tom was the last in his immediate family to die. Both Tom and his brother Jim entered the profession of hairdressing. Jim chose barbering while Tom took on all and sundry.

Tom first married Ivy.  She seemed to be the love of his life and together they had a son, but sadly both the baby and Ivy died at the birth.

Later Tom married again, this time to Elsie May (Maisie) Rapley in July 1937. They met at Hamilton Hall a Brethren fellowship where they were both SundaySchool Teachers.

In March of 1938 Tom’s only living son, Ian was born not long before he had to leave for duty in World War II.

Tom on the left in his uniform of the Royal Engineers. He also served in the Royal Artillery installing search lights all over England. When the allies defeated Germany, Tom was sent as part of the Army of Occupation ending up in the Post Office. Tom’s haversack always contained many copies of the Pocket New Testament and he gave them out to anyone who would take one. During this time  he was approached by his Army Chaplin who had heard of Tom’s ministry to fellow soldiers as well as the people of Germany, and suggested he should apply to become a vicar in the Church of England. Maise, his wife and good woman of the Brethern Church was appalled and so Vicar Langridge did not materialise.

Above and on the right  is a formal family portrait taken about 1946 or ‘47. Like many children of his generation, Ian only only knew his father from photos until he returned in 1946 from the Occupation Army where he had been stationed in Germany.

Tom has long served His beloved Lord beginning preaching at 17 going by bus to Ashburnham to the old chapel that met in a barn before they moved to the reading rooms of Ashburnham Estate.  He had a heart for youth and was key in the ministry of Young Life in Hastings in the `1950’s.

The picture on the right shows one of the mission teams Tom led to Mountfield. The accordianist is Alan Blythe former pianist at the Tab in Hastings. Tom would see as many as a 100 young people turn up for the Young Life Meetings and from those gatherings on Saturday nights when he asked for volunteers to go with him to a church the next day to take a service, he would have more eager young volunteers than he could take.  He felt it was crucial for the health of the church to see young people trained up in frontline ministry.

Though Tom was a long time member of the Brethern Church he went to any church or chapel who wanted to hear the Gospel message. It didn’t always make him popular with his Brethern fellow elders but he loved and lived by the scripture, “Here am I Lord, send me.” Something his son Ian, inherited from him.

One story recalled by Ian, was on the occassion of a celebration at St. Mary’s, Battle. Dean Naylor asked Tom to say a ‘few’ words and Tom took flight and gave a powerful Gospel message. On another occasion Canon Griffiths asked Tom to speak at St. Leonard’s Parish Church. The first time I stood in that amaizing pulpit I took great joy in remembering that ‘Dad’ had stood there years before me. When Battle Baptist had dwindled to a very few in number, Reg Borman and others asked Tom to help organize a tent mission in the market field ( now the top carpark of Battle.) A week long  tent mission saw several put their trust in Christ as Saviour and saw the beginning of the expansion of what is now a thriving chuch. During each week Reg and Tom held a Young Life meeting at the Battle Baptist.

Tom was never ordained or earned his living through ministry. He was a hairdresser all of his working life. His first shop was in London Road, Bexhill and then he moved to Sidley, where his son, Ian was born. Shortly after this he was called up and had no time to close the business that was left to his wife, Maisie to clear out and put in store for his hoped return. On returning from the war he was offered a job at Jack Eryies shop in Battle which is now Llyod’s Bank. Upon Jack’s death some years later Tom ran the business for awhile. His clients encouraged him to set up his own shop. He did this taking on the top floor of the old fire station in Battle. After some years he moved down the high street to a shop that had been Hornbrooks radio & television, next to the Battle Book Shop on one side and Farmer’s Direct Dairies on the other side. He remained there until he retired and was bought out by Intrim. He counted among his clients Lords and Lady’s and both the Dimbley boys, Richard and Jonathan who were students at Glengourse School, as well as many of the locals from farmers to townies. One story Ian remembers: His friend, Tim Everard had a full head of hair and a large beard and Tim’s next door neighbour,Willy Lane who was folically challenged were sitting side by side in the chairs. Willy asked Tom, “Why is it you charge me the same as you do Tim?” Tom replied, “I have to charge you to find the hair.”

After Tom retired he and Maisie moved to Caterham, his son’s inherited bungalow. He was first invloved with the Brethern Church in the valley where he drew up plans to replace the tin shed with brick work. When the elders wanted to get a bank loan to do the new building Tom suggested that it should be put to the congregation first to seek an intrest free loan. As a result the building went ahead through the faith of the people. Finding it difficult travelling down to the valley he and Maisie moved to Oakhall Chapel on the flat. There they helped in any way that they could.

Tom taking a service when ever asked especially after Maisie died.

When Oakhall got involved in helping refugees through the Baptist Church in Basci Petrovic that was then Yugoslavia and is now Serbia, Tom started to make people aware of the need for good second hand clothes and food. He strongly urged people to become aware of the desperate need of the refugees in the former Yugoslavia. He asked Ian if he would drive him up to the Oakhall Ministries headquarters. Otford Manor near Sevenoaks to deliver a load of donated food and clothing. When they arrived Tom enquired if they had any room on the coach that was taking people to Yugoslavia to encourage and help the refugees. Judy, Ian Mayo’s wife said, “Why would you want to know?” Tom replied, “I have been raising funds and collecting for these people and I would like to go and see the people who are on the receiving end.” Judy replied, “At your age, 84?” He turned to Ian and said, “Ian, you’re not doing anything, would you come with me?” Ian replied, “Yes, I will come with you but I will not get involved in the organisation. I will look after you and be your carer, only.” Of course God had other ideas and He used the trip to draw Ian back into the fold.

On the left Tom and another volunteer.            Above Serbian families welcoming Tom.

The father, Tom, continued to lead Ian as he did another 10 trips and now finds himself serving the Lord in Latvia.

After Maisie died, Tom took up knitting animals and dolls to help support schools in Jamaica Here he is intent on knitting one of his Cinderella dolls. He still had his sight at this point and was using it for the glory of the Lord by supporting the needy schools in Jamaica. In recognition of Tom’s diligent and perservering fund raising, the Jamaican Association in England and the charity Oak Beams recommended that the library at Fyfffes Pen School be named the Tom Langridge Library.

When we went to Jamaica on our honeymoon in 2006, Tom contributed toward some much needed equipment for another school, Ebenezer School, way up in the mountains of South Jamaica. Tom learned of this school as he and Ian were relaxing on a beach during their trip to see the Tom Langridge Library in 1999. A lady approached Tom on the beach and began a conversation the end result being Tom was made aware of another needy school, Ebenezer. Above you see Tom and I wearing shirts given to us 3, Ian, Tom and I in appreciation for the welcomed equipment for Ebenezer School. For many visits to Dad after this he always asked, “Am I wearing my Jamaican shirt?”

Shortly after moving into Lauriston Christian Nursing Home Tom enjoyed participating in the morning fellowship meetings. Often if a speaker did not turn up the bubbly social director would ask, “Tom do you have anything to share this morning?” And away he would go. After a time he struggled to attend as his hearing and sight we almost totally gone and he had difficulty connecting with the people.

Often when we went to visit he would regale us with remembered jokes, the one I remember the best was:  A church warden went to the Vicar and said, “The church door is looking quite bad an uninviting” “Alright, ” said the Vicar and gave him money to go and buy the paint. The Warden, being very careful with the Lord’s money, bought only, what he thought, was enough to do the job. Returning to the church he began painting the door and halfway down he realized he didn’t have enough to finish the job so being frugal he added thinner to the paint and began to finish the second half of the door. But toward the bottom he once again had to add thinner to make the paint stretch. During the night a driving rain storm hit the area and upon arriving the next morning the Warden found a sorry sight, the paint had all but run completely off the bottom half of the door. Hat in hand he went to the Vicar and confessed his misdeed. The Vicar being very understanding gave the Warden more money for sufficient paint and said to the Warden in his most compassionate voice, “Go and thin no more.” Oh how we laughed, remembering.  The one that always got the staff at the home was his response to their question, “Tom, how are you feeling?” His standard reply to any who asked this, was always, “With me hands.”

Tom was a great encourager, always helping people to find a way forward but never wanting recognition. He was extremely generous with both his time and financial resources. Last year at Christmas time he encouraged our friends here in Latvia to once again gather donated hats, scarves and gloves to give out as warming gifts. He started the ball rolling with a generous donation that spurred the project on for one more year.

Though we are saddened that he has left us we are REJOICING that he is in the arms of the One he loved and served so faithfully for so many years. ‘See you one day, Dad.’

Delay to this week’s post

This week I will feature a memorial to Thomas Henry Langridge. It will be posted later when the proper pictures can be added. Until then the above pictures are from the farm, taken Sunday December 20. Sunshine and while snowing, amazing. Our little friends having a mid afternoon snack.

Tent Meeting Anyone?

We haven’t held the tent revival yet, but who knows? This very large plastic tarplin is covering the chapel while the siding is going on.  Hopefully the felt will be on the roof later this week and the tent will be removed. It is exciting each day as we see progress on this priority project. It looks like a major portion will be finished by Christmas but the finishing details will take more time.

Here is what is going on underneatht the tent. The picture on the right shows the North side of the chapel with a bit of the West end. More has been done since this was taken but to be honest its too cold for me to go out and take another picture, hehehe. Speaking of cold it is -5C today and yes, our pipes under the mobile home are frozen. Actually, Ian been able to thaw the cold water tap in the bathroom and the tap in our bedroom didn’t freeze but the kitchen sink is proving to be very stubborn. So we have access to water but not always where we want it. Of course the gas heater for the hot water is linked to the kitchen taps so no hot water anywhere. Hey, its Latvia, its farm life, and its cold. Supposed to get to -16C this week. This afternoon we have gently falling snow and at the moment Ian is outside the living room window aiming his ‘flame thrower’ via a large metal pipe at our frozen pipes, he is frozen as well, he just mouthed.

Would you like more good news this festive season? We don’t seem to have enough electricty to run our washing machine. Now this really is serious. It has to do with the fact that our 3 phase electricity is not in place, we are running on 1 phase. More than that I cannot explain, electrically challenged as I am, lol. I have been trying for 3 days to do one load and its not happening. Am I ready to give up and go back to the flat in Ergli, nope. We will find a solution. We always do, usually through prayer, God inspires us toward a remedy for the problems. Prayer for Ian, who bears much of these physical problems, would be appreciated.

Here before you stands our decorated Christmas tree, skinny little thing that it is. But we love it and find it so perfect for this little corner of our living room. It is special as our first tree on the farm and cut from our own land. For those who are engineering minded – no, we don’t have the tree on while trying to run the washing machine, lol. The tree lights brighten the dark winter evenings that are beginning about 3:30 these days with 8 more days before the shortest day on the 21st. Then second by second the days will lengthen, hurray.

Of course the most important and central focus of our decorating is the hand carved Nativity set that Ian’s parents brought back from Israel some years ago. Yes, this is the normal santized version I spoke of last week. For you theological types the figures in the distant background are the wise men’s camels and the wise men are barely visible to the immediate scene, on the left. We know they didn’t arrive until Jesus was about 18 months or so, but traditions survive.  For those who have received our Christmas letters in the past I wonder if you miss, as I do, Mr. Darcy’s commentary on the season? For the uninitiated, Mr. Darcy is our beloved cat who was adopted by our dear friends, Brenda & Terry prior to our departure for Latvia. He always had wise words about the Nativity scene and the real meaning of Christmas. Yes, I still miss him soooooooo much, she said tearing up.

Good news, just in!! Ian sorted out the washing machine, we think. The outlet hose that runs out over the ground though kept inside at night had frozen in a short time so Ian cleverly placed it in another pipe and wheeee we are away. Though the issue of not enough electricty remains as most things, including our additional vital heaters must be shut off and it is now about 15 degrees Centigrade in our living room. (Near 66F). By the grace and love of our incredible God, though daily challenged in ‘normal’ necessities, we rejoice at the gift of Kalnozoli farm. The washing is now finished, at least that load, and we know that we can manage, just, to do laundry.

After discovering our frozen pipes this morning we wondered if we should cay out our plans for the day. We had planned to go to a local monthly market, the last one before Christmas. The temps were -5C and dropping and we had frozen pipes but YES! we went anyway, survivors that we are.  We enjoyed walking through the several streets of stalls. We always go early before the crowds hit and today was the same. All bundled up with layer upon layer, coats, hats and gloves we strolled out to do some Christmas shopping for each other without the suprise ingredient usually found on Christmas morning. I had no idea what I might find that I would like. Already I had bought Ian a portable work bench to replace the one we had to leave in Hastings and on that trip he kept trying to entice me to pick out something for myself but nothing tickled my fancy. In the market we both kept looking at the stalls with coats, especially long coats and then I said, “I have seen real fur coats for sale here”  He said, “Lets see if we can find them.” So we continued to shop picking up a shirt and warm fuzzy slippers for him until we ran to ground some furs. The first stall was a no go, they didn’t look well made and were too small anyway. Many Latvian ladies are quite thin. A little further on we saw a lovely 3/4 length coat and as we looked at it the stall owner approached and began chatting in Russian persuading me to try it on, motioning me inside her kiosk to a full length mirror. On went the coat, it fit and after some deliberation and without asking the price, Ian said, “If you like it and want it, lets get it.” I said to the lady, “how much?” Her partner said in English, a price and then said no and quoted a lower price. Yep, we took it — so Merry Christmas, me. I wore it out of the ’shop’ and oh my, so lovely and warm. This is pratical stuff people not so much fashion dictated. If you are worried about the lives of the little critters who warm my tired ol’ body, as near as we could understand this is fur gained the old fashioned way, not farmed but hunted for the purpose of keeping people warm. If that still offends, I love you, but it is your problem. Of course a new hat had to be purchased that complimented the coat and that was Ian’s idea first before I even mentioned it or actually thought of it. Maybe a picture next week.

To return to our central priority at the moment: newest pics of the chapel. Ian had gone out and taken them when I had only thought about it and decided it was too cold.

The picture on the left is of the almost completed centre wall at the back of the chapel behind where the altar will be placed. The rough looking bits on either side will be lined with insulation and finished nicely like the centre bit. You can see a bit of the green insulation peeking out of the bottom of the centre wall.The picture above and right is the front of the chapel with door space and half finished porch. Don’t worry more pictures will follow next week, you knew they would. Hot drinks anyone, the snow is continuing to fall, can you see it?

It All Began in a Barn

Over 2,000 years ago a baby was born in a barn/stable. His mother was Mary, his father is God. This Christmas season, we await the completion of a chapel dedicated to this baby who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

As I took the picture above in the doorway of our barn, from next door the pungent odour of the cow shed wafted through and I had one of those precious God moments. The reality of the place of Jesus birth was no antiseptic or even clean nativity scene that we all enjoy and display each Christmas. Cow sheds, stables SMELL!!! As a mother I can’t imagine giving birth in such a place.

Suddenly, the reality grabbed me, filling my nostrils with the pungent smell of cow urine and dung. From the moment of his birth Jesus was faced with the nitty-gritty of life here on earth. I don’t think I will ever enter that cow shed again without remembering Christ’s sacrifice, his life and death for the dung of my sin. Even when it becomes a sheep pen the lessons will only deepen. Lessons from a cow/sheep shed. . . .

The old chapel came down to make way for the new. We had hoped to restore the chapel but it was quickly discovered that the wood was beyond saving. Tomorrow the new framework will begin to be put in place. The picture above shows it being constructed in the barn, it will now be taken down and put up on the site of the old chapel. The new chapel will be a bit closer to the road and slightly larger. We have kept the original altar and it is being re-finished. Today we bought a small blue oriental patterned rug to go in front of the altar for any who would like to kneel and pray. We are looking forward with great anticipation to see it finished. We also bought the red roof felt today and preservative for the outer walls. We would love to have it ready to dedicate just before Christmas, if only a private dedication as people are so busy at this time. We will see what God says as the time draws closer. As always, ‘watch this space.’

This is Ian in a ditch at the back of our property cutting our first Christmas tree at Kalnozoli 1. Add to that it was snowing ever so lightly and you have the perfect Christmas memory. We had fun strolling down our field to this ditch that separates the field from our ‘woodland.’ The woodland is .6 of a hectar, mostly boggy land that was logged before we bought the farm. Ian is planning to replant using fir cones from the nearby forrest. We think that is how our ditch came to have so many firs growing on its banks, planted by birds or perhaps squirrels, God’s natural forrest wardens.

Speaking of forrest wardens here is one on the loose, very loose. I have just discovered the saw doesn’t match my outfit that I especially chose for the tree cutting event. (If you believe that, well – you know the rest.)  If you look carefully in the distance you can see our mobile home.

Ian is just saying, “I cut it and now I have to carry it?” Ah the joys of farm life. Actually, I learned later this is the first time he has ever cut his own tree, so special moment. If you are looking for pictures of it decorated I might add some tomorrow after the job is done. At the moment it is standing naked in the corner of the lounge. Since this is a family site pictures of a naked tree indoors is not allowed, lol.

The other event we enjoyed this week was the addition to Tilly our T25 tracor. Ian found on a Latvian web site a single furrow plow in our area and he and Kaspars went off to have a look.

So Tilly is all hooked up and looking good with her matching plow. Ian won 2nd place in a plowing championship and knows his plows. He has been faithfully surfing the web in search of  a little beauty like this and we felt God provided this one nearby and at a very reasonable price. The fellow spoke Russian and Ian was glad to have Kaspars along who speaks, Latvian (of course), German, English and Russian. They were able to take the plow apart and load it into the Land Rover. That lovely car has proven to be a real work horse as well as good looking, pigs, plows and who knows what else living the Freelander farm life.

Last week Ian also went up to Ergli to the camp teaching the guys how to clat and foot rot the sheep. What is clatting and foot rotting, you ask? Time for sheep biology 101. Before the rams are put to the ewes for lamb making the area around their particular parts (the ewes) must be trimmed, 1) for ram access 2) sanitation durring preganancy and lambing and 3) normal sanitiation. Foot rotting is about trimming their hooves to avoid disease getting a hold in the hoof and if they are not trimmed they can go quite lame. Any questions? A wise decision was made to put the rams to the ewes in December to have lambing take place in May when it is warmer and there is better pasture available for feeding the ewes making better milk productioon and munchies for the lambs. On this particular teaching day the ewes were weighed, clatted, foot rotted and inoculated for worms/ticks and 2 days later the meeting with the rams took place. A woman’s work is never done. LOL

My work this week was eased a bit as we moved our washing machine down from the flat in Ergli. Our newly built pump house has now become the ‘wash house.’  To do laundry I carry the dirties in a plastic shopping bag about 6 metres (at the moment through the bloom’n cold) and do the neccessary, noting the time on my watch that I must return to set it for an additional spin so it dries quicker on the drying rack in the mobile home. After the spin I carry it back to the mobile home (in the bloom’n cold) and pin, hang or drape the laundry on the portable rack in front of the gas fire. During this time we do not use the computers, oven or microwave and we must turn down the electric heaters so there will be enough electrics to run the washing machine. We are still waiting for all the parts to come together so we can have 3 phase electrical power here on the farm. Ain’t life grand? Seriously, I am so pleased to have the machine close by and after one more load the laundry will be caught up. Or maybe 2 if I do the sheets. ‘Watch this space.’

Link to Christmas Letter

Christmas Letter 2009 II

If you click on the link above you can download the Word document. It is the letter we sent out via email for Christmas. Enjoy.

“and on this rock I will build my church . . . .” Matthew 16:18b

When I looked at this picture that Ian took this morning the verse from Matthew came immediately to mind.  Of course Jesus, in that verse, was speaking of Peter’s confession that He is the Christ and upon that truth His church, His body of believers is created and not even the gates of Hades (powers of death) shall overcome it.  It is an encouraging word for us as this week has been about sickness for me and moments of frustration for Ian. I have had an intestinal bug that is now waining after 4 days while Ian has had literally sticky moments in our water logged ground. Friends of ours have a piece of land near Ergli and are now calling it, fondly, “The Everglades” as a result of all the standing water. At times our land feels like Waterloo and we are the French, LOL.

The good news is we have begun to rebuild the chapel. Today for the first time I stood inside the chapel and with Ian we prayed and then sang the doxolgy.   What a blessing to walk in through the doorway after all these months of waiting to get inside. The door has been removed to be a pattern for a replacement door probably using the old glass window with its cross-shaped central panel.

When the chapel was opened this past Thursday the cross that had been laying on the altar was found to be made of solid lead and may have been on top of the old steeple. We hope to put it on the new steeple. Our prayer is that the rebuilt chapel will be done by Christmas. In faith we have purchased a star with lights to put on the roof, even if the chapel is not quite finished. Four of the foundation rocks are in place and we hope to purchase the wood this week. We will keep the original altar and just refinish it. Our neighbour, Lauris is in charge of the work, enlisting his brothers when needed.

Our neighbours, 3 young men, Lauris, Kaspars and Dave have rescued us numerous times when we have been stuck in our driveway. Even today as the car sat just a bit off the gravel track we were stuck again and Kaspars came rushing over to help. Within minutes the other two were on hand to push us onto the gravel standing. So another job soon will be more gravel and more grueling work to level it out so we can park closer to our mobile home. The reason the other guys were not on hand, immediately,is that they had gone to another farm with their horse and cart to pick up bales of hay. They came back at just the right God ordained moment for us. PTL!!!

The reality is, this mild winter weather is lovely for keeping warm but the amount of rainfall keeps our ground saturated and makes it impossible to move our belongings down from the flat in Ergli. Our friends and landlords are coming for their first visit on Tuesday so we will be able to express our dilema. We had hoped to be out by the first of December but that looks impossible at the moment. God knows and His plans never fail so we wait and trust, listening and continuing to encourage.

We contiue to stand amazed as God speaks through his creation. The ‘pillar of fire’ appeared in the sky behind Kalnazoli 1 a few weeks ago. It was a pillar of cloud turning into a pillar of fire as the sun set. To us it seems God’s message is a reminder that He is indeed continuing to guide us, do not doubt. A reminder, perhaps, to wait on Him, listen and continue to encourage. The photo does not really show the intense red colouring of the pillar but it was spectacular. For you scientific types, yes, it may have been a pillar of smoke that caught the sun but God still spoke to us and by eyes of faith we saw a ‘pillar of fire.’

On the left you see one of our 3 bird feeding stations. This was taken during our second blessing of snow a few weeks ago. We are delighted to be feeding the ‘little birds’ during winter right outside our kitchen/diner window. Their antics are amusing and their delight at being fed ‘gourmet’ food is charming. They are so wise, when their seed supply dwindles they actually come and peck on the window asking for more. We have seen mostly sparrows and tits and they seem to be getting along pretty well. The sparrows seem the shy ones and tits quite bold and ready for anything new. The feeder you see hanging is filled with rendered lamb fat stuffed with budgie seed. It has lasted for over a month now while the one filled with margarine and seed has been emptied twice.The little red barn feeder proved a real hit in the snow as they were able eat inside out of the wind and weather. The margarine filled feeder can just been seen in the background hanging from a roof timber of the small timber house. This picture might appear on a Christmas card if I get busy and get them designed and out.  These bird moments are such a wonderful reminder of God’s care for the smallest of creatures so why worry?

Our neigbour’s fawn, Beka continues to grow into a handsome buck, roe deer. He has taken to spending time in the woods behind our farms which caused me great concern the other day as men with bright orange hats came across our land carrying hunting rifles.

I later learned from Kaspars that Beka was safely indoors during their hunt and they came from the woods with nothing other than their rifles. Later that day when I was outside I did hear a rifle shot but it was not near our farm. We did learn that we could write a letter and have our farm listed as a no hunting farm but since we do not actually own any forrested land it would not be of any value though it would keep them from entering our land to get to the forrest and if they carried game off through our land we could claim it from them. But, think about it, would you protest to people carrying loaded rifles? Not me.

What of our neighbours cows and horse, are they still grazing our land? Not in a planned way, they have been moved back onto their own land but Friday and again yesterday they broke out of their fencing and came grazing right up to our kitchen window. It was amusing to be startled by staring at a cow smack in the face through the window. Kaspars and Lauris were here helping Ian with work projects and the cows were eventually moved on after they had a good snack, LOL. Ah, country life. We continue to enjoy fresh milk, eggs and homemade cheese from our friendly neighbours.

We were able to do them a good turn the second Sunday this month when we took Kaspars and his mother Agnesis to the street market in Valani where she bought a male pig for her two girl pigs. The pig had caught Ian’s eye as its markings were similar to the English saddle backs he used to breed. We really do live in the country and our car is truly contrified with mud all over it and briefly embracing a decided pig odour.  It only lasted a few days, the odour that is, the pig is happily ensconced with its two female pen mates.

No, they are not killing the tractor or trying to get it unstuck! They are levering a foundation rock, for the chapel, onto an old door with the goal of hauling it around to the chapel site. You can see from the top picture that it worked. We may not have a front loader but we make do and mend, quite well.

We have other projects in hand in the small timber house and the barn and they will hopefully be featured in the next blog. With the chief photographer out of commission and the governor having to do double duty of house and farm things haven’t happened exactly to plan, ah well, it is normal and all part of the learning process called LIFE!!! Amen?

We have accomplished some rather important paperwork which gives us legal right to make all decisions concerning our property even though our Latvian friend is still  listed as the owner on paper until May1, 2011, when our name goes on the deed. It helps to live in a country within the European Union, at times.

Every day in our times of devotions each morning we thank God for bringing us here a opening the way to have Kalnozoli 1. We also thank Him daily for our friends and prayer supporters who uphold us through the good and the difficult times. Those ones we can text or call in a moment of distress. Things like frozen pipes after we thought they were OK meaning more work was needed. Getting stuck time after time, wet ground when we need frozen ground, moments of frustration with communication with both English speakers and Latvians or Russians. Normal everyday items that take us to God’s throne room, on the run. In our moments of faith we see clearly and are quick to confess our lack of trust when we have panicked or become frustrated. God’s grace never ceases to amaze us, the depth of His love cannot be measured and we rejoice.