Latvia Updates:

Thursday, July 4th, 2024 (PST):

As we near the end of our time in Latvia we are filled with gratitude and hope! Our final day at camp closed with a Labrinth experience. This is an experiential activity where students enter into 6 various stations to reflect on the themes and teachings of the week. Many Latvian students finished asking leaders to pray for and with them. We were so encouraged to see students desire both an initial connection with God as well as some asking for ongoing discipleship. As a result, the local team leaders are developing a plan to move ahead with small group discipleship over the next year!

We had a great community turn out for our concert in the park Saturday evening. Matt proclaimed the gospel to the community in Straupe and gave an overview of our great week at camp. Students performed the camp dance and sang worship songs and we closed with a well-known Latvian worship artist singing praises to God. Stephen got the opportunity to lead worship and give a powerful gospel message at the local church on Sunday.

God was so faithful in answering our prayers as His presence was strong and His Spirit was clearly at work! Thanks be to God for an amazing week in Latvia! And thanks to all of our Grace family who sent and supported us as we took the gospel and the love of Christ to these precious people.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 (PST):

We have continued to experience the truth that God has gone before us, preparing the way and empowering the local team here. Arturs and Zane, the local youth leaders, have clearly continued to grow in their confidence and leadership, which is very noticeable and exciting to see for the returning members of our team. They are leading the camp with excellence, and have also clearly been equipping and utilizing the other believers in their community for ministry leading up to this camp and in their normal ministry over the last year. After a few days of team building and time together with the local team, we started the camp today (Tuesday). In contrast to the 7 students we had on the first day last year, we had over 20 students today at camp, a mix of returning and new students. The team, made up of our American team, the local Latvian leaders from Straupe, as well as 4 others from other places in Latvia or further who were with us last year, has been working together exceptionally and joyfully. As in the words of one of the local leaders, it has felt like a “family reunion.” The first day of camp went very well and we eagerly look forward to what God has in store for the community here this week.

As many of the students at camp are not believers, we ask for prayer for soft hearts in the students and deep relationships to be built with the local leaders during the camp. We are praying for continued physical strength, health, and energy, as well as team unity and boldness for deep Gospel conversations.

Thursday, June 20, 2024 (PST):

“After about 24 hours of travel that went about as well as possible, we arrived safely in Riga and got settled into the hotel we will be staying at until Saturday afternoon. We had a short Bible study time as we continue to prepare ourselves for the opportunities we have confidence God has already set before us, and then got some well-needed rest. Then this morning after breakfast, we had another Bible study that was filled with encouragement and excitement for what God is doing already on this trip. After that, we went into Riga to see more of the area, and stay active enough to fight against the jet-lag. We had a great time exploring the city, arrived back in time for another Bible study before bed, and are now heading to bed. Tomorrow, we begin our official training with Josiah Venture, learning some more specifics of Latvian culture and how we can be most effective on this trip. We will be here until Saturday afternoon, then headed to Straupe to get settled in the “palace” we will be staying in, and getting ready for church the following morning.
We would appreciate continued prayer for unity and focus as a team, energy and good rest, and for us to be an encouragement to the local leaders here as we learn from them. We also continue to pray that we will be aware and bold in potentially unexpected opportunities to be a light for Christ.” (Stephen)

“We arrived in Riga Wed pm after some long flights, we finally made it and it was good to get to the hotel. Thursday morning was our day to recover from travel and spend some time in the city. We also had the opportunity to meet with Patty and Luke Tolbert... Ron and Jeanne Burgin's daughter and son-in-law as they gave us a tour of the city and told us about their ministry here in Riga. We begin our team training Friday morning and will train all day Friday half a day Saturday before we head to the church that we will be serving at in Straupe.
Spirits are high. God is good and our team unity is thriving. Thanks for your prayers. Further updates coming soon.” (Matt)

Tuesday, June 18, 2024:

Our Latvia team is in the air! They flew out of Portland this morning and will be arriving to Latvia tomorrow. Please pray for safe travels and their first week in Latvia as they go through training for the youth camp next week.