Robezkrogs, LatviaTuesday, June 23, 2009
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Trip Across Eastern Europe DAY #9
Packed everything up as we will be going straight from the worship event back through Poland and into Ukraine. Headed on a road on the south side of the river from the Riga area about two hours southeast to the property that Valdis owns where the event took place. A little over an hour of the journey was on paved roads. The latter half of the journey was on gravel roads that were rutted out from the rain. This made travel a bit sketchy, especially since the cars in front of you kicked up tons of dust from the road, making it nearly impossible to see. But we made it after twists and turns on roads in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere, yet all of these Christ-followers from different churches in Latvia would travel to and worship their King.
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The property is gorgeous. Valdis and others had built an awesome covered stage and sound booth toward the back edge of the property. There is a beautiful pond in the middle of the property, next to which the girls played with many snails and frogs. We were one of the first to arrive, so after parking, we asked how we could help prepare for the event. Valdis had Jonas and I collect firewood from the property and add it to the many bonfire piles. So Jonas and I took wheelbarrow loads of wood to the different piles, even when a thunderstorm came upon us.
The property is gorgeous. Valdis and others had built an awesome covered stage and sound booth toward the back edge of the property. There is a beautiful pond in the middle of the property, next to which the girls played with many snails and frogs. We were one of the first to arrive, so after parking, we asked how we could help prepare for the event. Valdis had Jonas and I collect firewood from the property and add it to the many bonfire piles. So Jonas and I took wheelbarrow loads of wood to the different piles, even when a thunderstorm came upon us.
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It was amazing to see the many people in cars and minivans, and even a bus arrive. And all for the sake of worshipping God throughout the night, rather than drink beer and celebrate summer solstice like many other Latvians. They set up their tents on the other side of the pond. Juris and Kristine from Liepaja were so kind in bringing an extra tent for us to sleep in (well, some of us). They are such precious people. Anyway, people came by the hundreds. Some were playing volleyball. Others were cooking meat on some makeshift grills made from the campfires. It was a very raw, grassroots event. The first of its’ kind here in Latvia. We were able to see history made in Latvia, and even be a part of it. Wow! Thanks God.
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The event started with some seminars. The first man to speak was a Lutheran pastor, who seems like a very good guy. Next was Viktor, who is the key leader in the area of worship among the Russian community in Latvia. Then was Valdis, who is the key leader in the area of worship among the Latvian community. This, I believe is huge, that Valdis asked Viktor to be a part of this whole thing. I believe that there are some deep-seated issues between Latvians and Russians here in Latvia, left over from communism and the Soviet Union. Tonight, many walls were being broken down. I was the last speaker of these seminars. Each of us that spoke gave pieces of a puzzle, creating a beautiful picture of what worship is, and how it is important for this specific time and place. It was wonderful.
It was amazing to see the many people in cars and minivans, and even a bus arrive. And all for the sake of worshipping God throughout the night, rather than drink beer and celebrate summer solstice like many other Latvians. They set up their tents on the other side of the pond. Juris and Kristine from Liepaja were so kind in bringing an extra tent for us to sleep in (well, some of us). They are such precious people. Anyway, people came by the hundreds. Some were playing volleyball. Others were cooking meat on some makeshift grills made from the campfires. It was a very raw, grassroots event. The first of its’ kind here in Latvia. We were able to see history made in Latvia, and even be a part of it. Wow! Thanks God.
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The event started with some seminars. The first man to speak was a Lutheran pastor, who seems like a very good guy. Next was Viktor, who is the key leader in the area of worship among the Russian community in Latvia. Then was Valdis, who is the key leader in the area of worship among the Latvian community. This, I believe is huge, that Valdis asked Viktor to be a part of this whole thing. I believe that there are some deep-seated issues between Latvians and Russians here in Latvia, left over from communism and the Soviet Union. Tonight, many walls were being broken down. I was the last speaker of these seminars. Each of us that spoke gave pieces of a puzzle, creating a beautiful picture of what worship is, and how it is important for this specific time and place. It was wonderful.
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Then to start the actual music part of this worship event, Viktor, Valdis and Cheryl all stood on the stage and blew on shofars from Israel. It was very powerful and prophetic. You could hear the sounds of all three reverberate throughout the property and beyond, as the sound just echoed out. It was beautiful. Then, many different groups came up and led worship in Latvian. Each band led worship for about an hour each. There was a Baptist group. Then Santa and Dave’s (YWAM staff we connected with in Riga) band, Xenos, went on. I have had Xenos’ CD for a couple of years now, so it was neat to hear them live. Then Maris and Linda’s band, Jurspeis, played. Elice (another staff member from YWAM in Riga that we connected with) played percussion for them. They sounded beautiful. Then there was a couple of other bands. It was so neat to hear some familiar, and some unfamiliar songs being sung to the Lord in Latvian. Some were jumping up and down, others had their hands raised and eyes closed. It has been such a privilege to hear indigenous worship from the various places our family has traveled as missionaries. The Latvian style is definitely unique, and lovely sounding. How our Heavenly Father must delight in hearing such expressions of worship, as He created all of these different languages. Still able to see at midnight, Viktor’s band went on. But that is tomorrow. So I will write about it on the next blog post. =)
Then to start the actual music part of this worship event, Viktor, Valdis and Cheryl all stood on the stage and blew on shofars from Israel. It was very powerful and prophetic. You could hear the sounds of all three reverberate throughout the property and beyond, as the sound just echoed out. It was beautiful. Then, many different groups came up and led worship in Latvian. Each band led worship for about an hour each. There was a Baptist group. Then Santa and Dave’s (YWAM staff we connected with in Riga) band, Xenos, went on. I have had Xenos’ CD for a couple of years now, so it was neat to hear them live. Then Maris and Linda’s band, Jurspeis, played. Elice (another staff member from YWAM in Riga that we connected with) played percussion for them. They sounded beautiful. Then there was a couple of other bands. It was so neat to hear some familiar, and some unfamiliar songs being sung to the Lord in Latvian. Some were jumping up and down, others had their hands raised and eyes closed. It has been such a privilege to hear indigenous worship from the various places our family has traveled as missionaries. The Latvian style is definitely unique, and lovely sounding. How our Heavenly Father must delight in hearing such expressions of worship, as He created all of these different languages. Still able to see at midnight, Viktor’s band went on. But that is tomorrow. So I will write about it on the next blog post. =)
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