TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

My husband, Vernon, and I were fortunate to be a part of a team
who left on August 2, 2001, bound for Latvia.
Our goal was to serve human needs and above all, to spread God's love.

On the last leg of our two day travel to Daugapils, Latvia
we stopped to walk the grounds of a former death camp used during WWII
..... primarily for the Jews.

This was a reminder of the hard times these people have endured
the past 50 years.....very sobbering.

At the close of WWII, Russia occupied Latvia. They murdered or shipped to Siberia thousands of Latvians and brought in Russians and of course, enforced Communism.
Today the population is still about thirty eight percent Russians.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1991, Latvia once again regained its independence.
Now they are working very hard to reconstruct and repair their war torn and impoverished land.

Some arrived at 4:00 am, awaiting the opening of the clinic at 9:00 am.
They came on foot, bicyles, wheelchairs and horse and carts
patiently waiting for hours to be seen.

We joined with the local Latvians and Russians to offer dental work, physical therapy, eye exams and glasses, nursing care and spiritual counsel and prayer.
Being used to very long lines and curt, impersonal service, they were in disbelief when we served them with love and careful attention.
The people asked over and over again, "What does it cost? What does it cost?"

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They wanted to do something for us, so some brought chocolates, flowers or baked wonderful ginger cakes to express their gratitude.
They came to us with very solemn, stoic faces, but most returned to their homes with smiles on their faces.

Our beautiful little translator, Avia, shows a moment of frustration as she tries to explain the use of the Focometer.....switching constantly between Latvian, Russian and English.

Smiles do not come easily with these world weary people.

But Sigii, another laughing, tireless translator manages to gets a small smile from this Babushka as she tries out her new glasses.

Someone asked if Americans smile...and then think !!

Yes, we smile because we have lived FREEDOM and we have hope in our LORD.

Vernon got several big payoffs when a lady, breaking all tradition, would become overjoyed
and 'lay a big one' on him !
By the way, he became pretty good at his Russian as the week progressed.
I never got past....'horashow' (Good) and 'Da' (Yes) !

Teens are the same world over.....Diana and ......Olga
are sharing ear phones to a CD!
What shining Christians they are and we would have been dead in the water without all
our local translators.

Our accomodations were not exactly the Hilton, but we got through the week....
We slept on thin cotton mattresses on wooden beds
(see bed & pad in background of pic !!!)
and bathed in the lake.....
or we could take the van a mile and a half to a shower facility that had hot water....... some of the time....
until there the last two days when there was no water at all !

We gained a bit of weight on their pork cutlets and MOUNDS of golden
(from butter) mashed potatoes.
One night we had a different menu when we treated them to a Texas bar-b-que.....
mannnnnn......it had never tasted so good !!

The days were long and hard and the nights seemed even longer and harder,
but seeing people like this dear little ninety two year old man was all the pay we needed.

Our last day he came tottering in on his cane in his yellow checked western cut shirt, suspenders and billed cap and waited his turn in the long line.
I just had to whip out my camera (right on the job)
and get a shot of this wonderful character.

He moved on from my station and in a few minutes I heard a person shouting
....in Russian or Latvian, of course.....
I looked over and saw he was reading the newspaper......he was jubilant !

When he was led out the door, he tottered over to a bench,
sat down, put on his glasses, pulled out the Bible he had been given
......and began reading

What a picture !

I found out later that someone commented on his spiffy outfit
and he said, "Yes, I am ninety two years old, and I still look good " !
(And he did !)

Alexis and Pastor Slava are the two men continuing to lead the people in Daugapils and Dagda.
They both fled Chernoble with their families and God relocated them here
to shepherd His flocks.

Our missionary family Gary, Cathy, Scot and Carla Ramey live in Daugapils supporting, assisting or leading in the work in the area. They all need our prayers as they ascertain the steps God would have them take in the mission He has appointed.

We went home with a great deal of respect for the people of Latvia.
Our experiences were too many to relate, but they will be in our hearts forever.
Much is to be done to help these people effect their communities for the Lord.
People with every kind of expertise or interest can be utilized to share some of the riches
with which we in Ameica have been blessed.

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Please click on a page below to continue our visit to the Baltic States and Russia
....what an experience !
Each area had its own story to tell.....
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