In October, I started a weekly English conversation evenings. This started after a woman asked during the women’s evening in September if I would like to teach her English. Of course, I am not a school teacher, nor is my English perfect, but it appealed to me immediately. Currently, there is a group of six women and we meet on Friday evenings. They are challenged to speak as much as possible in English and I in Latvian. 😊 We use a book, but in addition the evenings are also used to talk about what happens in our lives or concern us and at the end of the evening we pray together. A few weeks ago, we prayed for one of the women who had suffered from her back for a long time and was also hindered in her work because of this. She recently told us that since that prayer her back pain has completely disappeared and she can do everything again without any hindrance!
MOTHER OF MANY
Since living in Latvia, I have had the opportunity to walk alongside many women in beautiful and difficult periods of their lives. Some of them have asked me to be their spiritual mother. It is not always possible to meet face to face, but then video calling is a godsend.
One of them regularly spends a few days with me. After her last stay, she indicated that she had been able to rest and get on with it.
I also regularly meet other women at my home and these encounters are always special. Time and again I experience how many women carry a great burden and/or grief and that they trust hardly anyone to share it with. How wonderful it is that I can be a safe haven for them and that I have already seen God at work in many lives.
Also Ineta and I are meeting women in my house where we take time to listen to them, encourage them and pray for them.
MEN’S/WOMEN’S EVENINGS
The men’s and women’s evenings are well attended every month! With the team, we meet monthly to look back and plan the content for the next evening. I am part of the prayer team during the evenings and also had the opportunity to open the evening once.
The first Friday of this month, we had a joint evening where we gathered with over 200 men and women! An evening where many testimonies were shared besides the time of worship. I was especially touched by a testimony of a woman who has been healed from cancer and another woman who performed a song she wrote herself after a long period of being sick. So beautiful, so powerful and how good God is!
FINALLY
Well, and then ‘suddenly’ I am in Latvia already for 14 years. Years in which I have met many people and how special to still be in contact with so many.
On Friday 10 January it will be my birthday and I will have big party on Saturday 11 January. An evening where I also want to reflect on friendships and how nice that Deborah is coming to Latvia to celebrate with me.
It remains for me to first of all thank God for His goodness and faithfulness and also each and every one of you for your support and love!
How blessed I feel that in 2024, also thanks to you, I could be actively involved in many areas: Hope for Life in all its facets, women’s evenings, the church, Well of Life, the prison and Mission of Hope Latvia outreach.
Also in 2025, all these will be part of my life and work in Latvia.
I confidently look forward to God’s guidance in the new year!
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