ITS A BLIZZARD!

While it has been cold for the past few days, we've really had the snow and wind today. It was below freezing, the wind was from the north at 25 mph and the snow was whipping everywhere.

We did not see this type of weather much last year but it looks like we are in for a tough winter.

We decided to walk to church today and not risk the streets as almost no cars were moving. We live close to the police station and even the police were staying indoors.

We got home around 3:00p and I was about to stretch out for my customary Sunday afternoon nap when Inese called and invited us to her house. She said they would send someone for us. If we get stuck out there at least they have a good heating system and she is a good cook. Ata!

 

12:30p on Sunday: Snow is really blowing...

 

My picture model (Laura) is impatient ...

 

 

 

The snow has just about blown into every part of the old church door...

 

I'm sweeping snow but it's a losing battle...

FIRST SNOW

This week marked the first big snows of the winter. Wednesday provided a good dusting and then today (Friday) we got a few more inches. The snow flakes here can be so large that it piles up very quickly.

Since the snow ushers in the winter weather, I thought I would provide my Top-Ten Winter Hints for Texans living in Latvia.

1. Never leave home without your warm cap, thermal long-johns and scarf. It only takes one time for your ears to become ice-cubes and you will never forget again.
2. Just because an old lady can move really fast over black ice doesn't mean you can. She has 70+ years of walking on ice and snow, you have five months.
3. If a group of kids starting gathering around fresh, wet snow ... move away! They will bomb anybody within range with snowballs (and they are accurate).
4. A bus or tram can sling icy slush at least 1/2 of its total length (or where ever you are standing...which ever is further).
5. Don't forget to bring the firewood in every day ... or your wife gets really aggravated walking through snow at night to the woodshed.
6. Snow is soft, its the concrete underneath that is hard.
7. Snow tires, snow tires, snow tires
8. Get over the idea of having a big, steaming hot, spicy bowl of Texas chili. It just isn't going to happen.
9. If your wife is not sure-footed, go with the Yak-Traks.
10. Be ready for strange looks when you say "I've never seen this much snow in my life."

 

Here are a few pictures from today's walk:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINTER IS HERE!

It will be a cold week for the celebration of Latvia's birthday.

Here's the forecast for Riga; in Cesis we are usually a little colder:

Monday

Hi: 3°Lo: -1° Frozen Mix

Tuesday

Hi: 0°Lo: -3°Flurries

Wednesday

Hi: 1°Lo: -1°Light Snow

Thursday

Hi: 1°Lo: -2°Snow

Friday

Hi: 1°Lo: -1°Flurries

Saturday

Hi: 1°Lo: -2°Flurries

Sunday

Hi: -1°Lo: -4°Flurries

NOVEMBER 11

I'm not sure of the exact translation of the name of today's celebration but obviously it has to do with the ending of WWI. After that point in history, Latvia began its longest time period as a free country.

Tonight, the soldiers that train at a local army school led a torch-lit parade to a monument memorializing a rifleman serving in WWI. After the soldiers came many citizens of all ages with their own torches and candles. It was an impressive sight. Several hundred people eventually made their way to take part.

Losing and winning this country's freedom is still very much on the Latvian citizens' minds. Most can still remember when they did not have the freedom to march down the street or speak out against corrupt politicians.

At dinner on Sunday, one of our friends just sighed and said "I don't want to ever live like we did during the  'occupation'." Even after being here for quite a while, I still cannot even begin to know how much these people have suffered, how much they have lost and how their lives will always scarred because of their loss of freedom.

 

Here are a few shots from the night:

 

 

 

 

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!

On November 18, Latvia will celebrate its Independence Day. It is not unlike July 4 for the USA in some respects but obviously Latvia was not able to stay independent during those 90 years. That fact hasn't diminished how important November 18, 1918 is to them. The entire country will be celebrating this 90th anniversary of freedom for the next two weeks.

We knew that the Latvian president, Valdis Zatlers, was going to be in Cesis today. He was scheduled to speak in St. John's Church at a service to begin the country-wide festivities. Even though it was going to be a big deal, we had decided not to go mainly because we would have to get into the church very early to get a seat. Around 11:00 we bundled up to go out for a while and went to town center.

There we came upon a huge parade with lots of Latvian military bands, soldiers marching, dignitaries, etc. It was a very impressive display but we had evidently missed the remarks made by the president. Security was tight with Secret Service on the top of the buildings, guys talking into their wrist radios, etc.

Everything had started to break up and people were leaving. Laura and I were just milling around, acting kind of lost like we usually do, when we looked up and here comes Mr. President! I'm snapping pictures and then we realize he is shaking hands and we are in the line!

I'm trying to think of whether I should address him in the three words of Latvian that I know or just come out with some type of Texan phrase like "Hey, how ya'll doing?" or "How's your momma and them?" or even "Me and the missus here are shore glad to meet ya".

In the end, Laura just said "Hello" and shook his hand. I said "Labi Dien" (good day) while shaking his hand and then I managed to say that we were Americans. He replied saying Latvia was a great country to visit. I wanted to engage him in a little chit-chat about the world's economic problems, Latvia and Russia relations or even Obama but he was gone to the next hand-shake before I could mutter anything.

Wow, that was pretty neat! Now I know a bunch of you might be thinking "yeaahhh, right, sure you did", so here are the pictures:

 

 

Here he comes...Latvian President Zatlers, agents behind and to his right...

 

  A little closer....

 

 

Almost to us....

 

 

Getting close...don't panic!

 

 

 

Our time is over, on to the next handshake...

 

 

 

Here are a few other pictures regarding the event:

 

Secret service....

 

Parade in front of the Boys' Monument...

 

Secret service sharpshooters...

 

Security .... very unusual in Latvia to see a handgun...

 

Helicopter fly-over...

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Fall has about fallen and winter is here. We had a big frost last night and predictions are for mid-to-upper 20's for lows the rest of the week. (But, I notice Latvian weathermen are not much better than American in predicting correctly.)

Anyway, most of the people have their wood in the sheds, such as these near our house:

 

NOT MUCH TO SAY

Here are a couple of shots that I've been playing around with.

The church-looking building is actually in a cemetery and was used for funerals. It would be a great 'new' church if someone had the money to restore it. The building is in need of lots of repair but has much character (like a lot of people I know!).

The other shot is of two iron crosses that have lost their foundation and now sit leaning upon a tree. These crosses are quite common for older graves here in Latvia.

 

 

OUTSIDE THE BOX

At our home church in Athens, Texas there has been a recent series of messages concerning thinking and being outside of the "box". Pastor Kyle Henderson always seems to come up with some memorable aids to help us remember basic truths.

At this week's Youth Meeting, Laura taught a great lesson using the same concept. She challenged the kids to not to rely on doing things in their spiritual life 'just because that's the way we've always done it". The kids really picked up on the main idea and had a good discussion.

Below is her visual aid. The kids made a box using all of the excuses for not thinking and acting outside of the box.

Freedom or imprisonment?

The choice is ours.

 

HOW TO EAT NACHOS

Last night at our regular weekly Youth Meeting, Laura served nachos for the first time. We had found some corn chips that were semi-good and she topped them with melted cheese and browned hamburger meat. She also whipped up some great salsa from tomatoes, onions, garlic, etc.

When the kids had the chips and melted cheese on their plates, they just kind of froze. Some looked like they wanted to use a fork to try to eat with, others just didn't know what to do. Finally, I showed them how to spoon some salsa over the whole mound of chips and cheese and then munch away using your fingers.

That loosened them up (who doesn't like eating with their fingers?) and they were into the nachos like we were sitting in Athens at Taco Bell. I tried to get a couple of the boys to try the jalapeno peppers but that was asking too much for one night.

I'm thinking of the whole affair as just a teachable moment in culinary culture!

 

  [The way nachos are supposed to look ... not the way our Latvian homemade nachos actually looked!]

WE ARE TEMPORARY LATVIANS ONCE MORE!

After a few trips to Riga, quite a bit of money and almost two months time ... we have been APPROVED for another year of temporary residence in Latvia. Yes, sir! That's what I'm talking about!!

Yesterday we got our official Temporary Residence Permit that will allow us to stay here until September 1, 2009. Almost every foreign citizen can tell a difficult story about the immigration process. Rules change suddenly, papers are not accepted and papers without correct seals/stamps all play a big part in acceptance or rejection.

We are already planning when we should start the next application .... maybe in a week?

We thank God we have the permit, that we are legal and that we can continue to concentrate on helping the people of Cesis and Latvia. Thanks also to many of you that have been our prayer warriors in this episode. We always appreciate your prayers.

THE NBA -- IT'S FANTASTIC

 

Today was a very good afternoon to stay inside (rainy and cold) and watch the NBA.

That's right ... our friends Inese and Peteris have a new TV (Japanese) and satellite system (Russian). They pick up a gazillon channels (with two being in English) and it's fun to flip through and try to figure out what the Russian words mean.

Of course, my favorite stop was the NBA channel. Today's game was vintage NBA: Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz (1998 finals). It is rather unique hearing a Russian sportscaster commenting in an highly excited voice as Michael Jordan slams one home.

I'm hoping I get a few more invitations to come watch some games as the season progresses. It would be nice to watch a few games rather than read about them on Internet.

Loti paldies Inese and Peteris!!!

GREAT NEWS FOR OUR LATVIAN FRIENDS

President Bush announces Latvia's preparedness for Visa Waiver Program

On October 17 President George W. Bush invited ambassadors of the 13 candidate countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, South Korea, Greece, Cyprus and Malta) of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to a White House ceremony to announce the US Administration's decision to admit seven of these 13 countries to the Visa Waiver Program.

Latvia was represented by Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics.

President Bush officially announced the addition of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and South Korea to the Visa Waiver Program.

Most likely in approximately one month, travelers from these countries will no longer require a visa to enter the United States. The program currently includes 27 countries.

The President stated that the seven countries agreed to share information about security threats to the U.S. and that their citizens would use a new system that requires travelers to register online ahead of their visits to the United States.

President Bush emphasized that Latvia and the other 6 countries have fulfilled all requirements related to admission into the US VWP. Admission to the VWP will open new possibilities for interpersonal contacts, tourism and business development. The removal of US visa requirements is yet another example of the dynamic development of the Latvia-US strategic partnership.

WE HAVE THE BEST KIDS

Last night was the first youth meeting since we returned to Cesis. It was great to see some of the kids that we haven't seen in a while. A couple attend school out of Cesis, one is now working in Norway (visiting last night) and a few we just not seen in the week since we have been back.

We are about to start the study 'Purpose Driven Life'. It is one of the few books we can find in both Latvian and English. They seem excited about the challenges we put before them last night. We will now order the books and hopefully get started next week.

We also had a request from a parent to move our meetings to Friday nights. It certainly doesn't matter to us but I was skeptical the kids would give up their Friday nights to spend them at Youth Meetings. They never cease to amaze me as all but one said Friday night was great with them.

The only problem is now they can stay at our small flat as long as they want ... "NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!"

 

Here are a few pictures of last night's game - Lifesaver On A Toothpick relay. You have to pass the lifesaver between the two people using only a toothpick each, no hands allowed.