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.’

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.

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?

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.’

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.

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.

Since we purchased Kalnozoli 1 in August of this year Ian has spent most of his time redeeming the land. Above he is tending one of several brush fires at the edge of our wood. Just beyond these fires is a deep drainage ditch and all the rubbish from digging and clearing out the ditch in years past has been left to molder. Ian has made great headway in clearing this rubbish that includes piles of matted grass and some rotted logs. He says it brings job satisfaction to see one more area of the farm cleared. If only we had marshmellows, graham crackers and hershey bars, LOL! Smores, anyone?

At the other end of the property we had this project thrust upon us. Yes we ordered the gravel but it was a project we hadn’t planned on just yet, but the rains came and Ian got stuck twice or was it thrice?Can you see those water-filled ruts? With the help of Lauris and Kaspars we managed about half of it spread on Friday. Even I hefted a shovel for a couple of hours. Where is the road grader when you need it? That pile may not look like much but it is 10 tons and by the time we put on 20 more tons we may have a fairly decent drive. For those who know about such things yes, we should have graded it first laid down sand and then the gravel but NEEDS MUST!!! Finances are always an issue as well. And everyone said “AMEN!!!”

We have had warmer weather though and such a blessing, but not the rain. Above zero C every night and even into the 10’s and 15’s that is 50 F for you dear foreigners. Running our electric heaters has been a bit spending keeping  Jack Frost from our mobile home door so this break is really encouraging.

Well it is a short one this week no more time left to type or stay on internet.

Tuesday October 27th. Here is an update: about the middle of November we should have internet down on the farm yippppeeeee!!!! Our wonderful, English speaking computer guy, just met us at the flat and we made the arrangements. Next step, get the washing machine moved down and the freezer. Still no movement on the hot water heater, so prayers are appreciated.

October— golden, red and falling leaves right? Sometimes it also means snow. Yes, we had our first snow of the Autumn at Kalnozoli 1 this past week. It was blizzard conditions and then it passed and the following days have been lovely again. This woman was on her knees when the flakes started. Ian was trying to help our neighbours finish our pump house before the really bad weather arrived and the snow was a real fright for us. But God . . . heard our pleas and the snow was gone. Our little pump house is finished and the pump is installed and we have running water in our mobile home. I am learning daily thankfulness for what used to be just the ordinary things of life.

Following the completion of the pump house came more digging of ditches. Pipes must be insulated and buried deep, over a meter to be kept from freezing. At times I think Ian wondered if he would ever get the trench dug deep enough from the well to the pump house. Now he is on the home stretch of the trench from the pump house to the mobile home. Next Spring in the warm will be the trench from the pump house to the timber farm house. Currnently the insulated pipe is above ground but should be in the trench by tomorrow as we pray for good weather to remain. We invested in some insulated waterproof overalls for Ian this past week and he has been ever so thankful to have them with the cold and wet weather. He is so amazing to be so active and glad to be able to do all that he is doing. Don’t worry friends he takes it slow and steady and even allows me to call for coffee breaks but not for long, “I must get on” is his mantra. LOL! We have been enjoying lots of hot stew from the crock pot on these cold days and I have even ventured a bit of baking to make the guys coffee breaks a bit nicer. Trouble is I rarely have all the ingredients called for so they take “pot luck.”Here is Lauris our neighbour, friend and builder removing ’shingles’ from a timber outbuilding. The plan is to use it for tool storage and workshop. He is young and agile and better able to scamper over the roof pulling off the shingles and removing the thousands of nails used to put them on orignally. Ian started the job but when his ladder slipped suddenly we both felt it was a job for the younger ones.

Here is the building currently sheeted for the winter. Now the interior work can be done and the roof finished in better weather in the Spring.

We are both doing well and enjoying life so much on our farm. We go to bed early and rise early and enjoy all that each day brings, for the most part. It is so much of an adventure, walking this path with our Lord. It is hard to express the richness of each day and each task that is joyfully seen to completion. Remember, its never too late for dreams to come true.

When I was a little girl and even when my children were small, we had a toy building set called ‘Lincoln Logs.’  Each log was notched on either end and with different sized pieces you put together buildings of varying descriptions.

The logs you see in the picture above are NOT toys but notched logs from a tumbled down building on our farm. They are layed out in the order they were to be used to build our pump house. Our neighbour Lauris is skilled in timber structures (side note: Timber Structures was the name of the company my Dad worked for for over 25 years in Portland) and he is building the pump house for us. It is so interesting to watch him work, especially as I can sit in the warm house, drink tea and see it all happening out my dining room window. On the right you can see Lauris placing moss between the logs, Latvian insulation. Ian has taken the young men, Lauris and Kaspars to the woods on two occasions to gather moss for this purpose. The first time they also picked bear, chicken and one other type of mushroom. That night we enjoyed omlettes with fresh eggs, homemade cheese and bear mushrooms, oh, and freshly picked onions, whipped up with fresh cream, chased down with a lovely red wine. Ah, the ‘good life.’

Back to the building project — our pump house. Here is the South wall done, showing the space for the door facing east. You can also see the first picking of moss placed between each layer of log. Ian got his hand into it and is enjoying learning Latvian timber building, another skill for his overloaded CV, LOL. When we left home this morning for Ergli the North wall was finished including space for a window and the East wall was also up but both need the moss that the guys got in the wood yesterday. Tomorrow the roof will begin. So more pictures to follow of the finished project. All this to be followed by more trenches and pipes laid to bring running water to the mobile home. Pipes must be thoroughly insulated and put about a meter and half down in the ground to prevent freezing, one hopes. We need to further winter proof the mobile home but are held up with the pipework needing to be done underneath, ah the ‘good life?’ With all the work Ian has been doing his waist has gone from 44 to 36 inches since we moved here in March. He feels much better and loves working each day and feeling work satisfaction at the end of the day. I am really happy in our mobile home, easy to keep tidy and clean and hopefully Internet soon to be added. My next project is curtains for the back door, our main entrance, and one over the toilet window and bathroom window. We bought some nice weight green material yesterday in Madona so this week is ‘curtains.’ This will be a hand job and very simple, something I can do sitting on my green couch in front of the fire. The curtains should add to the warmth and winterizing the ‘tin can’ we currently live in. This past week I picked up a lovely bright rag rug for the hallway and we already feel the difference in the temp there with the rug down. Now here is what I love about Latvia, I bought it at the local building merchants, on sale for 4.20 Ls. I love the shops because you never know what might be tucked up in some corner just waiting for you to discover it.

So with all the building and winterizing what is God teaching us these days. People are more important than projects. We need to get this pump house done but it is more important to build relationships than get jobs done and usually both happen but there is less frustration when the focus is on people. We had this pointed up to us recently when we went to a big chain store in a nearby town. I won’t go into detail but after spending a fair amount on equipment and things a simple act of changing a till roll left us without one of our items on the copy we were handed and after going to customer service for the gaurantee on one item it was discovered the item wasn’t on our receipt. This led to about a half hour hassel through translation which ended in Ian, Lauris and Kaspars being allowed to leave with the cart and all items but not before Ian suggested he return all the items and get his money back. It was Ian that told them to go and check the till copy which they did and gave him a copy of that till receipt. Only when we got home did he realize the item in question showed up on the till copy and that is why they let them go ahead. No ’sorry’s’ were said and no fault admitted. It is doubtful we will return to that store, a shame as it is the closest one for us. Their concern was for their proceedures not customer relationships. We have been enjoying our times together in God’s word each morning along with prayer time to build that relationship as a priority. Once or twice the day has got on top of us and the quiet time pushed aside and often the result has been painful as our relationship with God wasn’t where it needed to be, though He remained faithful we weren’t aware of Him as at other times of coming fresh from meeting with Him. As we move into this new phase of our lives here in Latvia, time with Him becomes more crucial everyday so that we hear the voice of our Shepherd and walk in the path he has chosen for us.

A few days ago I said to Ian, “If we don’t get the bulbs planted in the bed you prepared it will be too late.” I felt the Shepherd prompting me. Ian agreed and so, near the chapel where Ian had rotivated a flower bed in the form of a cross, we planted about 150 Spring bulbs. We planted them in compost covered by thorougly rotted dung and covered over that with the dirt taken out of the bed itself. I believe what Alan Titmarch always says, “Plant ‘em deep!!” The hay mixed in with the dung will keep them toasty until Spring. We hope to show you glorious pictures of flowers  as Spring takes hold. The cross shape is outlined with crocus bulbs so that should appear first then other Spring beauties to follow. As Ian was digging out the dirt, actually wet mud, from the bed he asked the Lord to keep it dry and send wind to help dry the dirt. Such a wind from the South began to blow and not a drop of rain fell until it was all filled in and the tools put away. This is not always the case but I felt my Father’s compassion as I am not a very good all weather gardener. Even though Ian did most of the labour I stayed out there with him and we finished the project holding hands and blessing the planting for a ‘fruitful harvest’ come Spring. Ian also staked each end of the cross so any mowing will not harm the plants coming up. My role was mostly design and overseeing the placing of the bulbs, and so we wait to see succesive years of Spring beauty near our chapel, in the form of a cross, the sign of hope in the season of hope.

Here is our newest adoptee, Tessie the T25 tractor with Ian putting her through her paces on our farm. We travelled down near the Lithuanian border for Tessie, her plow, cutter and harrow. She is a lovely little pop pop tractor but she does need some work as most 39-year-old tractors do. One neighbour commented she should be in a museum but Ian really identifies with her and is looking forward to putting her non existent wiring back in place as currently he has to jump start her with the car each time he takes her out for a spin. Yesterday we discovered her PTO shaft for the grass cutter is the wrong size so that will be something more to put to rights or maybe  better to save it for spares and pickup another cutter for a reasonable amount. I helped Ian, like a good farm wife should, to get the mower on the tractor a matter of lifting and fitting rods into specific holes and having the right pin to drop in before the rod slid out, oh what fun!!! I will share more redemption stories as they happen.

Here as promised are pictures of Molly our mobile home with her new canopy added for style and grace to give a measure of dryness to the entry door. The picture on the right is taken facing her lovely windows from which we enjoy the sunset each evening. Even on rainy days there is usually a sunset often quite spectacular. Then we light the candles and enjoy our electricity free lifestyle. Hopefully, tomorrow we will take the next step in bringing electricity to our comfortable home when we register with the electric company. Then we wait for them to come and put up a meter and fuse box and our friend Calle to do his magic bit with cables and such. The big thing is making certain they wire in the 3 phase power as that is a must on the farm. Don’t ask me to explain it I just know we need it, LOL.

Having posted this yesterday I realized, in the night, that one of the redemptive stories needing to be told was of Tilly our utility trailer. A couple of weeks ago we travelled to Cesis to look at and hopefully buy a double axel covered trailer. She looked good to us and so we watched her go through road inspection, pass, bought her, hooked up and drove home. She handled very well on improved and unimproved roads. That week we loaded her with several things for the farm and took them down, she did very well. We then planned to take her on our journey for the tractor as she was listed as being capable of the weight. Having agreed on Tessie’s the T25’s price the loading of impliments went well but as she was being driven into Tilly the trailer the farmer caught the corner of the trailer with one of the attachments and broke it and that part of the floor. This meant we could not safely carry Tessie the tractor. The farmer said he would deliver the tractor on his flatbed trailer the next day. This meant we had to cancel our proposed visit to our friends Val and Roger and rush back home with a strapped up Tilly the trailer. On our journey back home we received a call from the farmer’s son saying he was delivering the tractor that night and would be about an hour behind us so on we sped. As we were on the infamous A12 headed for our turn off onto the P84 we had a call from the non-English speaking famer to say he was in Jekapils so he was about 3/4 of an hour behind us. We hoped he would make to the P84 turn off where we waited for him. I referred to the infamous A12 as we had this same meeting agreement with those who delivered our mobile home but in their wisdom they choose to take the P62 and with much consternation they finally got rerouted to the P84 so where we going to go through the same thing again? But NO, our farmer arrived at the P84 after midnight and on we travelled together to Kalnozoli 1, our dear little farm. We pulled into our front field and turned round with Tilly safely attached so our headlights could facilitate unloading Tessie. All was done with ease and we waved the farmer off on his over 4 hour journey home. Next morning Ian joyfully goes out to start up Tessie the T25 and as he is driving her round to the farm yard he sees a wheel laying in the grass and thinks, “Oh no, the farmer has left his spare trailer wheel behind. Then he drives pass Tilly the trailer and sees it is SHE who is missing a wheel. Ian realized that God had indeed protected us on our journey and perhaps angels were involved holding that wheel on until we arrived in our own field. We both praised the Lord and expressed great thanks for the completed journey. So Tilly the trailer needs much work toward her full redemption. She is sitting in the farm yard with her wheel arch broken and the bearings on the stud axel missing with her axel exposed ready to repair, we hope. But each time I look at her I praise the Lord for his protection and pray for the way forward to restoring Tilly again.

Tomorrow we  have the deeds registered in the land book and that is important, hopefully they can give us precise measurements of our boundaries as Ian is purposed to get boundary fences up so we can bring sheep on to our pastures. Our neighbours use light moveable fencing for their cows and they would be helped immensely to have permanent fencing at least on one side. We will put in a gate on their side so we all have access.

Here is Beka, Ian, Kaspars and Lauris. Yes, Beka is an abandoned fawn who adopted this family when another brother, Andris, found it in the wood. Beka is a type of mushroom and the colour of the fawn so it all fit together nicely. It thinks Andris is its mother but it sticks close to all the boys.

After petting her Ian said the scripture that came immediately to mind was, Ps 42:1, As the deer pants after the water so my souls pants after you, O Lord.

I could only take her picture but I couldn’t get close enough to pet her, maybe another time.  Our adopted sometime dog, Meggis thought she was quite interesting also. Meggis continues to come over every morning and then spends most of the day following us about to see what we are up to. He is very affectionate and funny to watch. He has decided that empty Pepsi bottles set out to fill with well water are good play things and goes after them with great gusto.

His first attempt he tried a full one and got a bit of a surprise when he got squirted after a particularly forceful bite of the bottle. Now he drags one off by the neck and throws it about to make certain it is empty. Ian filled an old tin tub with well water and I am so tempted to put Meggis in for a good scrub but he is not ours and wouldn’t want to cause an offense. He is a real mop haired darling. Even Ian gives him a playful pat or two during the day. When I am in the mobile home he sits at the door, usually on the step, right in the way, waiting for me to come back out. At night when he knows we have gone in and called it a day he trots on back to his real home across the road.

Ian has been so busy clearing out more weeds, tree limbs and even buildings that needed to come down. Our neighbour Kaspars has been a faithful, willing helper and worked two full busy days helping Ian with various projects moving us further along than we could have imagined. The picture on the right is of a tumbled down timber workshop that Ian and Kaspars cleared out and have begun dismantling saving any good bits for further construction. Redemption work sometimes means tearing down the ravages of time in preparation for the new build.

Another site we saw this past week was another bit from the past. Our neighbour Kaspars working with his horse and wagon gathering sacks of potatoes.

I have begun a daily visit to the horse who is staked out in our field, giving him one or two apples a day. He loves them and when ever he sees me out side he tosses his head as if to say, “Where are my apples?” Ah life down on the farm. It feels more like home every day and we find it very difficult to leave it for any length of time. With scenes like these, is it any wonder?