Latvia

I'm back in Latvia!

It's been 8 years since I've been back. I flew into Riga late at night on the 1st of July. It was past midnight and there was still a haze along the horizon from the sun. Driving towards the city I suddenly felt a warmth like I had come home. So many great things happened to me in Latvia during those two summers that molded my life into what it is now. It felt great to be back.

I recognized the airport, the station where I almost got deported, where the baggage claim is. Then driving down the street to the town I saw familiar buildings and landmarks. But, then I noticed some things that were different. There were now enormous malls, and supermarkets, home improvement stores, and car dealerships everywhere. They were no where to be seen 8 years ago.

Turns out Latvia has changed a lot. 8 years ago the kids were wearing what poor Americans wore in the 80s, the buildings were damaged and needing renovation, the streets needed paving, and the cars that were there were on their last legs. Now, their fashion is caught up with everyone else's, there are BMWs and Mercedes all over the place, all the buildings look like they've been fixed, the roads are working, and the store fronts now don fashionable clothing, or expensive jewelry. I'm still in shock how much everything has changed.

This isn't the full story though. In 2001 Latvia was three years away from entrance into the EU. They were working really hard to get out of communism into the capitalist system. They were also in a prime location and situation and so money started flooding into the country from foreign investors, especially from Scandanavia. They worked a lot on retail development, but unfortunately didn't do enough work with manufacturing and other production industries. So, money and Western culture crashed throughout the country and they were living the American or Western dream. But, even though the appearance was changing there still hadn't developed a strong core to the economy. So, when the crises hit the economy was shown for what it is, a hollow shell. Unemployment is up to 17%, teachers salaries were just cut in half equivalent to about 350$ a month. The government a few months ago needed an overhaul and some officials straight up resigned. Lativia is one of the hardest hit countries from the crises. So although there are now fancy restaurants and malls and BMWs it's really hurting right now.

In the midst of this God is working in the lives of some of the Latvians. Scott Runzo and his team which is now lead by Kelly and Donna Harden have developed some young people that are beginning to take leadership roles in the churches and produce some significant fruit. I've met with several friends who were at the camps we did way back. It's been encouraging to see them again and see how they are doing. Most are still following the Lord, some are not. All still have the same personalities and make me laugh the way they did 8 years ago. They're a hard working group. Many have or will get a bachelor's degree. Others have gone on and completed their Masters already. One wants to get her counseling degree from Denver Seminary, which is a wonderful program, another is going to work with an orphanage in India for a year. They're doing well and God is faithful.

This week has been mostly hanging out in Riga and reuniting with friends. Tomorrow the first camp that I'll be doing will start. I'll be helping out with two camps. This first one is in a town called Kuldiga. We have a team from Colorado working with us and we are looking forward to it. The second camp will be a music camp setting up a Gospel choir in Riga. There is a team from the Czech Republic who have had huge success with this in other places and their hoping it will have the same effect here as well. I'll be speaking at that camp and I'm looking forward to it. Until next time here's some pictures of Riga.