You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2008.
A life in transition. No need to adjust your screens this picture is not straight on purpose. It is meant to illustrate our lives at the moment. Yes, those are boxes packed for the move to Latvia in March (?) or January (?) Do you see what I mean. We don’t know even for certain when our stuff will be loaded up and trucked off to Latvia.
These boxes are sitting in the place where my desk used to set. We are clearing out the office to become the staging room for things either packed or waiting to be given away or sold.
When applied to chemistry the word “transition“ some alternative words might be: progress, growth, lapse and flux. Now I know about progress, growth and unfortunately lapse but flux moved out of chemistry into soldering as I talked with Ian. In soldering “flux” is a cleaning agent that prepares the surface to receive the new soldered joint. It means that the joint will hold, it becomes solid, firm and stable. So far in this transition we have seen progress: the call to Latvia. We have seen growth: our willingness to obey and go to Latvia. We have expereinced lapse: those moments when we are overwhelmed with it all. As for flux we look to the Holy Spirit to keep us clean as we walk with him and we look forward to those moments of stability in the midst of unsettling transition as we trust in our solid Rock, Jesus.
A moment of stability occured when we moved my desk from the office to the living room instead of dismantling it down to its flat pack origins.
Though the picture is still on an angle denoting transition in process, the reality of having my desk available for preparing sermons and such gives this ol’ heart great comfort. We are so aware of allowing “flux,” the cleaning and clarifying movement of the Holy Spirit active in our lives. In those moments of overwhelming details demanding to be addressed, those moments when we are tempted to throw in the towel and just stay put are often becoming those moments when the Holy Spirit’s presence flows in and the bonding stabilizes our perspective. Our prayers have been centered on our response to his call, “here we are, send us.” We are asking him to send us, to find a moving company with reasonable rates, to sell our flat in a huge moment of grace to all concerned. On a daily basis for health and strength to continue paring down, giving away and some selling of items along with packing.
Now today I have acquired a “gift” of a chesty virus, or so it seems, my body only wants sleep. I am trying to give it what it needs. While also today 2 more printers went out the door to a good home. So on we move embracing progress, growth; accepting lapse and surrendering to flux.
It is raining in England, imagine that! It has been raining in our lives as well this past week. Dark clouds have hovered. When you start this process of obeying God’s call there will be testing and opportunities to trust. Circumstances crowded in and at some points we forgot the reality of God’s presence and care in this new process of going to Latvia. In one way we weren’t surprised yet there was stumbling, when grace was needed.
Issues of selling our flat and Ian’s Dad became an even stronger reality and challenge. For those who don’t know, Ian’s Dad is 96 and in a nursing home. Leaving him is one of those mountains staring us in the face. He has yearned for heaven for some time and we long for him to be at peace with his Lord. He has taken a downturn just in the past few days not unlike previous times but this one has come close upon another recent time of deterioration. Perhaps God is answering his prayer to “go home.” Though we, in one sense, are prepared yet it hard to watch. He was sick in Ian’s arms on Sunday and it was hard on Ian, though he has experience as a carer it is difficult when it is someone so close. So we hope for a peaceful release soon.
So though it is a rainy time we hold fast to God’s promises. His presence, love and care as we take each step in obedience. We will continue to choose to soar as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint. We look forward to seeing the rainbows again in Latvia.
Isaiah 40:31
Go to my new page: Where Eagles Soar in Ergli to follow our progress as we prepare to obey God’s call to Ergli, Latvia.
The lake behind the Ergli townhall
Lovely Latvia in the autumn. After visiting in May we wanted to return to see what God was doing in Latvia, especially Ergli where we have friends; American, English, Swedish and Latvian. We were in time to see the autmn colour parade. The days were cooling bordering on crisp and we had several days of sunshine after a rather damp start. We returned to the Hotel Ergli and it felt like coming home. The staff are so lovely there and the Mayor’s wife who owns the hotel always comes to greet us personally when we are there. This time we made time to pamper ourselves using their sauna and jacuzzi. It was Ian’s first time in a sauna and I had the privilege of showing him how to raise the temperature by pouring a little water on the hot coals. Though the hotel keep the Jacuzzi quite luke warm we were glad after the hot sauna. They also have a cold pool but we were not that brave, or should I say foolish. Nor did we use the cold shower but hustled back to our room for a warm shower and then a lovely breakfast each morning.
Much of our time was spent waiting for our flat, that’s right
- OUR flat
to be cleared out so we could try camping out in it. More about that a bit later.
We also had the privilge of making new friends through our American friends, Bruce and Kim. Kim and I met at Multnomah Bible College in the 80’s and I had visited her in Riga, Latvia in ‘99. Now we are both married and all four of us have heard God’s call to Latvia. She and Bruce have been there for five years and are old hands, so to speak. Anyway they have met some sheep farmers who are Latvian by way of Australia. So out we went because they wanted to ask Ian some questions, Mr. having been a contract shepherd with agricultural college background and an experienced farmer with estate farm management on his CV. We met Maira, John and their son Karl. They have begun remodeling an old farm house which is looking very rustic at this point but with plans for more modernization after their roof has gone on, which should have happened by now. They have a growing herd and Ian gave them some answers but longs to have more input on ways they can improve and manage their sheep. They have a large barn in better shape than the house, really. Typical of many farm settings. We were treated to a lovely meal of lamb, vegetables and lovely Latvian potatoes with fresh picked mushrooms.
In our second week we went back to the camp and Santa the shepherdess and her wonderfully filled out sheep. She is doing a good job with them and was the one who had met Maira on sheep course they took together. So God continues to bring people together for his purposes. Ian is in his element talking about sheep, when he can get a word in edgewise. Sometimes his humility and quietness even frustrate him. When others talk over him he just goes quiet and if I am there I can get a bit defensive.
But he and Santa did have a few moments to talk on their own until a well meaning friend came up and entered the conversation. Both Ian and Santa are quiet types and stand little chance at cutting through those with more forceful communication skills. It reminds me of times when I get so busy and fail to listen for the still small voice as the Holy Spirit tries to speak to me. I can easily ‘talk over’ Him with words or actions and even thoughts, missing choice moments. How often have I, as a strong communicator done this to others who are more reticent or quite communicators? By grace God persists and is faithful to lead me to a point where I can listen. But what of the quiet ones, do we take the time and give space for them to speak? I am learning this lesson, sometimes well and other times not at all.
We had some lovely meals and fellowship during our fortnight in Latvia. Some at the hotel and some as mentioned in friend’s homes. We also had a lovely day out at an arbouretumn with a personal tour, tea and biscuits and Belgian chocolate. Our friends Bruce and Kim had gone earlier to celebrate their 8th wedding anniversary and we went with our English friends, Joanna and Ian. Yes, there are moments of confusion with 2 Ians. Joanna suggest nicknames but none are forth coming at the moment.
Now about that flat, our flat. This is a view of our kitchen and bedroom windows. Our flat is located at the edge of the village of Ergli. Very quiet 
lovely views. We know that God has called us to go to Latvia, lock stock and barrel. One of the confirmations of this was our friends purchasing this flat so that we could live there.
The view from our kitchen window. These are the garden allotments each flat 
has one and we could have two if we wanted. It costs 5 lats a year. That’s about £5.68. With this comes 2 apple trees near our allotment and about 5 more across the road, not to mention a row of gooseberries and currents. So ‘The Good Life’ here we come.
What are we going to ‘do’ out there. We have been called to wait and listen and while we are waiting and listening, to encourage. No strategy no ’doing’ plan just go. We are the third couple, that we know of, who have received the same call. The other two are English as well. So our journey begins.
Our flat in Hastings is on the market and the first viewing is tomorrow. Before we left Latvia we planted bulbs and a rose bush. 
On our last day in Ergli I planted 4 stargazer lilies and 4 pink Hyacinthe’s and Ian finished off with 10 tulip bulbs. When we move in March we will be there, hopefully, for when they’re blooming. So our journey to Latvia begins.
Ergli means eagle in Latvian and so I leave you with one of the verses God has used to encourage us: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings of eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
