VENTSPILS, LATVIA

Laura and I have actually done very little traveling around Latvia. We stay very busy and when we get a day off we usually head to Riga for a movie, some sightseeing and shopping for essentials.

One place that we have visited before that has quickly become a favorite destination is Ventspils. This is a port town that has a nice harbor area and great beaches. We decided to take a day to drive over and enjoy the sights before the weather gets too much cooler.

When we were here last (for a Christian camp) the city was fairly crowded with tourists. This time everyone is back in school and we had the whole place to ourselves. The beach was quiet, the eating places uncrowded and no traffic.

We spent a lot of time at the beach looking for amber and just enjoying the great creation that is God's. Here are a few of our favorite pictures:

 

 

Bob sled runners (pushers?)made out of flowers....

Ends of logs that are sunk in the sand for a walkway...

Lots of pebbles and rocks on the beaches here...

Don't know what I was thinking about but I seem to be lost in thought....

Storm is coming in...

Lighthouse at the end of the breakwater....

 

 

 

Latvian pine forest....

Bluffs....

 

 

 

 

Is she doing this on purpose?

KIRSU IELA

Work continues on the property that has been recently purchased by Cesis Baptist Church. While we are anxious to begin the remodel and update to the building that will become the church building, we must first demolish a large building at the front of the property.

This wooden, brick and stucco building is 2.5 stories tall and is well made. We really wish we could have kept it because of the huge amount of space it offers but there is just too much repair that needs to be done. However, it is not going to do down easily. It was constructed with huge beams using old construction techniques. There aren't too many 2x4s just nailed in.

The schedule is to get this building down and the foundation smoothed out before the fall rains and winter snow arrive. We are making progress but we can't slow down or we are going to get caught.

Here are a few pictures from last Saturday's work crew.

 

 

Almost to the bottom floor. Top 1.5 floors have been removed

Every piece of wood that is removed is cut up to eventually be used for heating.

 

Friends from Valmeira Church arrived to help...

The cut wood is housed where Emils is standing...

Vilma cooked up a good zupa for lunch...

 

Sawdust, coal dust and dirt was used for insulation. It is removed and dumped into the white bags for transporting.

SAWING DAY AT KIRSU IELA

Our church in Cesis is demolishing an older structure next to the building that will be our new church. We have taken down the second floor and chimneys but have had to stop for a few days to get all of the wood cut into useable lengths for the boilers (heaters).

The good wood is selected and stored while the rest is cut using an electric saw with about a 24 inch blade. It cuts the wood at a fast rate but it is just a bare-bones machine; no fancy safety switches or cut-offs. You'd better be paying attention to what you are doing are you will quickly lose the ability to dial a cell phone.

 

 

 

Trees behind Aivars and Arturs are already turning colors....

 

 

These boys don't need any eye or ear protection (or so they think!)

Wood shed had to be filled up before winter hits...

Lunch: 3 kinds of bread, meat and all the cucumbers and tomatoes...

GETTING READY FOR WINTER

Even though the middle of August is still a week away, Latvians are busy getting wood stored for the coming winter. We came across this wood yard deep in the country last week. A lot of work goes into cutting, splitting and stacking the wood so it ages correctly.

Even the bees know that cold weather is not far away.

 

I really don't know why some wood is stored inside and some in these pods.

 

Latvian-American Wheel-of-Fortune lady...

 

 

Daugmale Nometne - 3 PUNKT CAMP (3 Point Camp)

This year's camp is in the very small town of Daugmale. It sits close to the  Daugava River, about an hour and 45 minutes from Cesis.

It is always a challenge for me to find these places. It's one thing to find the larger cities but when you get the directions in a language that you are not that fluent in and they tell you to turn at places you never heard of, it creates quite a problem. Thank goodness for Google maps, which is fairly accurate in most place of Latvia.

The gym we are using is an old style, concrete beam structure that has seen a million games. There are no bleachers, just a balcony on one side that chairs are brought in for games. It is great for a camp and is well-kept even for its age.

I lucked out and I bunked by myself in the mathematics room. It is a hard floor but at least when I want to go to sleep I don't have to be concerned about a getting a bunch of the kids quiet. This classroom has 15 desks, a blackboard and that's about it. There is no way we would be able to fit a USA class of 22-25 students into this space.

This is the second year I've been invited to participate in this camp. It is not entirely provided by Matthew's Church but most of the staff is from there. We have about 50 kids total in both the soccer and basketball camp. Most are from Riga but we have nearly all of Latvia represented. We have the entire spectrum of talent levels...from a small 6 year old that isn't big enough for a regular size ball to a couple of older guys that have played in the Latvian Basketball League. One of our girls has signed a Div. 1 basketball scholarship in the states and we have two that play on U-20 Latvian national team.

We practice, eat, sleep and have recreation all in the pamatskola (this one goes to 9th grade). Meals are served in a small cafeteria (will not seat more than 50) and for an American, the food....well, it is interesting. I'm just glad there is an Elvi veikals not too far away.

Kids here are not perfect...they are just a little different than American kids (in a good way!). We don't worry about the little ones wandering off or about the older kids bullying the little ones. Everyone seems to take care of each other. Since Latvian kids can't even get their driver's license until 18, we don't worry about anyone driving off. For that matter, I don't think I even know anyone 18-20 years of age that has a car. We live, eat and sleep in close quarters for five days and we've never had anything stolen or a major problem of any kind. That is truly amazing when you think about it.

After each meal, the kids have to wash their own dishes and police the dining hall. All in all, they take care of themselves; treat us with respect and love to play basketball and other sports.

We have at least two sessions each day concerning something of a spiritual nature. It might be a testimony, a few words from the Bible or just a question and answer discussion group. These are always my favorites.

The greatest thing about the camps is that I get to know another group of young adults from throughout Latvia. Our network continues to grow at a rapid rate and it has already helped us to share the Gospel with more young people.

Thanks to all you at the 3-Punkt camp. It was a great time and we are already looking forward to next year's camp!

 

Evening shadows....

Sunsets are particularly beautiful in Latvia...

The floor is uneven, a few boards separated but I love these old gyms...

Some of our oldest group...

Waiting for their next training session; a card game breaks out...

Madara (TTT Juniors)...me (Athens Hornets '73)...Liene (signed scholarship with Western Illinois Univ)...Liga (TTT Riga...one of the best women's team in Latvia)

You'd better wake up ready to go every day!

The best brothers in the camp!

Typical breakfast...sausage and something like buckwheat...

Novus...sort of like miniature billiards....

Camp league games at night from 8:00pm to about 11:30pm...

Dunk off the great pass...

I think the school was built in 1926...the gym probably a few years later...

Ednica (dining hall)....waiting on the group prayer....

Brokast...some are more excited than others...