Es gribu est! :)

Chao dear ones!
The title of this blog is one of the new phrases I've learned but I've been told it's one of the most important. I want to eat! :) Es gribu est! Over these past few days I have learned a lot of new phrases. Es gribu est is fun to say! :)

Since the last time I have posted a lot of incredible and encouraging things have happened! Thursday evening I went to the bible study that David was leading (missionary from Chicago) and it was cool to see what God is doing! Only a few came, but those who were there we're listening closely to what he had to say. You could see that they wanted to learn and wanted to be challenged by the Word. They are currently studying the book of John and in this particular one David challenged them to think about Jesus and was he being prideful when telling the Jewish leaders he was God, or was he humble about it? Then David challenged the youth to really think about what does it mean when God says "I AM who I AM". This really even challenged me to think the same, what does it really mean?

Then on Friday I took the morning to really rest and spend time with God. Being in the city that stole my heart this summer, Kuldīga, I know it is very important to truly rest in the Fathers' hands and listen for His still small voice. Then I met Matiss and Ilze for lunch, only 1.40 lats, and you get a good size piece of meat, lots of potatoes with gravy, some type of salad and dessert! Cheap and filling! And good I must add! After lunch I spent some time with Ilze again and we walked around all of Kuldīga talking with one anothe and walking a baby. This family is experiencing some hard times to Ilze is helping out by taking the baby some few hours a week and Friday was one of those days. Even here in Latvia my nanny skills were put to use :) in the afternoon one of the girls in the youth met up with us and it was cool to talk with her for a little bit. Starting to build these relationships, it was almost natural. That evening was the youth service. It was a small group, but you could tell they genuinely wanted to be there and they enjoyed conversing with one another. We had some worship time and Matiss hated some Word and then He asked me to share some of my testimony. I didn't know exactly what I woul share but I prayed that God would use it to reveal Himself in a way that would touch their hearts. It was interesting how in sharing my testimony, God really took control and shared it in a new way. I shared things with them that maybe even some of my closest friends don't know. And at the end I challenged them to really see that God was with them and gave each and every one of them a story. I just really feel like God spoke through me because I don't rember everything I said. I pray that God would continue to speak to their hearts over this time and they would truly know what it means to feel His love. I don't care if they ever remember my name or my face, I just pray they experience the blessing of feeling God's presence in their lives!
Which leads me to today. Today was so encouraging. Matiss and Ilze had a wedding in Riga and so I took the opportunity to make a day trip to Ventspils to see some friends! I went through my morning routine and it was like natural to b in a flat by myself and walk to the bus station. I successfully purchased a bus ticket to Ventspils and got off at the right place! In Ventspils, 3 dear friends were waiting for me with smiles and lots of hugs! I spent the next 6 hours just building those relationships and being so encouraged by what God is doing there! Today at their church was a cleaning day and so when we arrived there, they heard I was an American and they offered more snacks then I could eat and warm coffee. :) it's always so encouraging to see believers working together to serve their God as they washed windows and cleaned the church. I even pitched in a little and cut flyers for their Easter service. Then we went and ate lung and went to one person's flat an had dessert. One thing about Latvians, they eat a lot, (although they are very small) and they seem to always eat dessert! But while at my friends's flat, another friend of ours showed up! It was a sweet reunion and an afternoon full of love! I love how God bonds the hearts of His children even through the distance an time. :) we decided to then venture to the sea, even though it was so cold! And then ended the afternoon with tea and cookies :)
But what really blessed my heart about this time in Ventspils, is hearing them talk about what they learned from our team being there this summer. With hotels being very expensive here, we ended up staying with host families. Now I realized the benefits and disadvantages to this from our side. Benefit: we get to experience more of the Latvian culture than say just in a hotel. Disadvantage: we don't get as much team time. But what was cool to hear, was a Latvians side of things. Because we stayed with them, the host families got to see that even though the students were tired or maybe wanted to talk, they spent time with God. They were in the Word daily, they were journaling, and they were constantly praying to God. Yes this I something AweStar teaches, but by the end of the summer, these students lives are changed and through that, these youth in Ventspils we stayed with, their lives were changed as well! I cannot describe how encouraged that made me feel! It was a good reminder that our lives really are examples for others. Our every action and how we choose to spend our time and how we live our lives, truly can lead someone to God. It can draw them closer to Him if only we choose to make Him a priority in our lives! Aaaaaaaa loti labi! So good! :) like I said so encouraged!!!

Whew, I think that is enough for this night, it is getting late here and well tonight is when they observe daylights savings time so we will lose an hour. I would ask for you to pray for continued rest and health. Pray that tomorrow as I travel to Liepaja everything would go smoothly and as God wants it to. Pray for continued hearts to be open and opportunities to share His love. Praise God for endless opportunity to pray for His people here! Everyday as I walk I believe is another piece of land covered in prayer! Pray that God would draw his people to His heart and they would be willing to respond!
Thank you again for your prayers! Liels paldies!!!! Thank you for being a part of this journey with me and watching God work. Your prayers have been felt in my heart each an evey day! Much love from Latvia! Arlabunakti! (goodnight)