CESIS: A year in the life of . . .: MAN-HU CONCERT and MIS-COMMUNICATION

We have seen how much music is a part of Latvian culture, so this year we wanted to offer a concert along with the other activities.

It was our good fortune to be able to get the group 'Man-hu' to perform on Thursday night. They are a young Christian band from Riga and we have been to several of their playing engagements. They 'walk the walk' with their music and lives and we have enjoyed a great friendship with them.

Originally, we had reserved Castle Garden for the concert, mainly because we couldn't afford Castle Park. Castle Park is more centrally located at the bottom of the Castle and it uses a natural amphitheater. Castle Garden, while very nice, is a bit more secluded, using the 8-centuries old rock wall around the castle. Either would have been great for our purposes.

There was bit of mis-communication and the band began setting up at Castle Park. By the time we realized this, it would have set the concert back at least an hour or two to move everything. We appealed to the city and they allowed us to use Castle Park at the same price as Castle Garden. The reason for this story is that when the concert started we were able to bring in a lot more tourists, walkers and others that originally had not planned on being at the concert. It was great to see more and more people join in as the concert play on.

'Man-hu' performed for about an hour and then we had Samuels Thomas speak. Samuels is an Indian that is now living in Latvia. He has married a Latvian woman and has a great family, recently adding another child.

Some men exhibit 'something' that just causes you to know they are a man of God. I have seen this in a few people but never like what I see in Sams. He is always guided by God to say just what is needed, at just the right time. People can just sense, whether they are believers are not, how sincere, how honest, how believing, he is in his walk with God.

After he spoke, he encouraged anyone with questions to see him during or after the concert. Almost, continuously from that point, he was counseling, accepting decisions and helping us to encourage the young people to become a part of the weekly youth services we have in Cesis. It was amazing to see God work through him as he was able to talk to young and old alike.

We know of at least two life-changing decisions that were made and we believe many more will be lead by God in the coming times to make public their faith. We just thank God that we have been able to work with Janis Zabaks, his band 'Man-hu' and especially Pastor Sams and his interpreter Santa. These are such good people to whom God has led us.

After Sams' talk, Man-hu finished up the night and it was so great to see how much the crowd had grown. We had three of our soup kitchen people there, probably 20-30 tourists from different countries that had wandered down from the hotel, kids that were drawn by the music, sport camp athletes and curious bystanders that just happened to walk by.

Sam spoke with the last person seeking his counsel about 10:45pm. The concert had started at 7:45. What a great night!

God used the entire mis-communication problem to move the whole concert to where He wanted the concert to be held; to where the most people would be impacted. He moved it right to the location that people would have to be involved when they walked by. How many hearts did God touch tonight? How many people see Christians in just a little better light tonight? How many doors will be opened for future conversations? How many lives have hope for today?

Thank you God for working in your powerful ways when we think our little, puny efforts are best. Please help us to quit relying on our efforts and just be ready to be amazed at what You can do if we will just let you.

What a great night!