I just want to thank God for His provision. All year since we have been back from Latvia, Richard and some of the other kids have been asking if we were coming this winter. Each time my responce was "Not unless God does a miracle" not wanting to build any false hopes especially knowing our budget.
Recently Cindy has felt strongly that I should try and return for a short vistit. Winter is long, cold, and dark so she thought it would be an encouragement if I were able to visit. So, as we started to pray about it we shared it as a prayer request with our small group and several others. Immediately God raised half of the money for a plane ticket. The WWW missions team at AZ Hills stepped up and committed to fill in what ever was remaining, so we went ahead and purchased a ticket for after Christmas.
I will be there for Richards' birthday on the 4th of January. He wrote earlier in the year that it was his dream to "spend his birthday with someone can call his Dad" as this is something he had never done before. It was really a blessing to be able to tell him that God had done a miracle in raising the funds for a ticket. Below are a couple of excerpts from the emails we recieved after we told the kids I would be visiting.
Richads writes...
"I'm very happy that Curtis can come. When I came back home, i called Lasma (she is sick as well) and she started to scream of happiness. I was praying for you all night long. I'm so happy. My wish is coming true... i'm thinking of you all the time, but now I'm even thinking of you when I'm studying. I love you!
Sincerely, Richard"Lasma writes...
"I'm so happy
Please give big hugs and the best greetings to Curtis from me in this special day.
Richard called me and sayed: "I have suprise for you, but I will not tell you!" but he sed "ok ok Curtis is coming to Latvia" When I head that I were in shock. I didn't belive that. It is the best news in the last cople months. I am soooo happy. I just have no words.
I love you all very very VERY MUCH!!!
Your latvian daughter"Be praying that God will bless this trip and that He will use it to encourage the kids. The youth are still meeting on Friday nights and the AWANA kids are still going strong on Saturdays. It is our prayer that God will use these kids to forever change Limbazi and all of Latvia.
I will try to update the blog as I get ready to go and while I am in Latvia. Please comment as often as you can. If you want to review the highlights from this summer click on the "July Archives" link on the right side of the page.
God Bless,
Curtis
attend. So I got tonavigate the icy roads of the Lavian countryside and Riga in a five speed! (haven't driven a stick in a few years).
Lasma the Hug I got made all the travel and expence well worth it. It was truely a blessing to see them. Today we are going Ice skating and going to the movies. It will be awesome.
