Tilza pictures

1. Moreen & Wes being recorded for a movie
2. Moreen & Dave working on camera specifics

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1. Paula, 2. Aija, 3. Dan, 4. Katie & Estere

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1. Wes, Nancy Kelly (visited for a week), Claudia - Language Training

2. Wes, Katie, Liga, Claudia, Paula - Language Training
3. All of us at lunch time

Community

Something that really impresses me is the nature of community life in Tilza! Last time I arrived – just to spred my sickness in Tilza – everyone was welcoming me as being the guest of honor! People are so warm hearted and loving..... I just love to be there!
The contrasting experience can be entering a bakery here in the big city! Having a fantastic morning, smiling and just being nice to people, can be a major mistake!!! Either people strangely stare at you or they even yell at you, asking why you laugh about them..... No kidding, really happend!!!
Tilza on the other hand seams to me that people still look at each other, talk to one another and maybe also smile on the street... maybe not often, but I already saw some.....
So, my conclusion the country side is more human than the big city! Well, maybe it is a strangers view at a beautiful spot in the country...... not facing any struggles out there and knowing the magical way for a strategical withdraw back to the city..... just a romantic tourist perspective???
Well certainly it is no fairy tale playground in Tilza..... life is very different there! Especially for me being a city kid.....
But the last time I drove out, with every meter I happy anticipated my arrival! I just loved to meet all the people..... Let me tell you about them:

1. Dan & Katie plus their 3 kids – Jonathan (pirate), Anna (princess), Estere (she already now conquers the world and captivates every person around her) – Dan & Katie build up christian youth groups in the neighbourhood..... lots of teenager from the nearby bording school spend their afternoons at the yellow house..... They are also involved in bible studies and camps around Tilza. Besides teaching latvian language to strangers like me, Katie also teaches at primary school English!

2. Kaspars & Liene with David and – yes, I forgot the name, too bad – they are the pastors couple and also involved into all the ministry work in and around Tilza. Liene parallel works at the local bording school!

3. Paula, our sunny american „Grandma” substitude. With her permanent smile and fullhearted laughters, she filles the room with a fascinating positive atmosphere. Paula being in her 60s she decided to spend the rest of her life in Tilza...... „God called me here and I loved this spot” she simply told me!

4. Liga – our native latvian teacher, who does an incredible good job, even when she hates teaching..... yes, she already hated it before meeting me – what a relief!.... Liga is also engaged into youth ministry around Tilza and I guess quite popular among the boys there.... After a long morning teaching, she loves to move and sweep all floors in the house..... the only substitude for that, could be Sports like eg. volleyball! Besides this I she is my latvian-english-german translation champion! If I listen to her switching between latvian and english, I find latvian must be the easiest language among all!

5. Aija – our „chef de cuisine”! She parallel manages to overlook 3 children as a nanny and cooks most delicious food with the kids..... all very eager to help, peeling carrots, stearing pots or cutting cheese..... Every time I have been at her and Ligas place, the stove was spicked with something..... After lunch, that she prepares for us students and all families, she enjoyes sharing a good talk and a cub of dark „non” decaffeinated coffee with me! I will definately start my latvian cook book with her!!! Yes, as you can guess, also Aija is involved into the youth ministry in Tilza and next to this studiing to become a pre-school teacher and supervisor for children. If you ask me, she is already skilled to run for the gold medal!

6. Dave also lives in the yellow house! He is a Scotsman!!! Maybe you would not directly recognize by appearance...... cause he does waer jeans!!!.... but as soon as I tried to communicate, I immediatly doubt to have learned any English language throughout my life at all! Dave is also a missionary, living in Tilza now for 1,5 years! At the moment he attends classes at the Baltic bible institute, so he just arrives at the yellow house sometime at Thursday nights! He loves to have fun and a good laugh! Dave & Wes seem to have found common ground lately, cause they can talk for hours in the kitchen, joking around..... even when they try to explane the jokes, I still mostly do not get them.... don't give up on me folks, I do fancy a good laugh too......

7. Finally Moreen & Wes, canadian missionaries! Wes & Paula are my study companions and Latvian language fighters! Moreen is already fluent in latvian, so she spends the time with paperwork or ministry, when we attend classes. Sometimes, depending on the day, Moreens language skills can be encouraging or devastating! She is sooo good at it and when I was asked the other day to talk about architecture at bording school, she translated for me! Moreen is definately a perfect example, that it is possible to speak this language.
Wes has this very dry and funny humor, I just love..... if I understand what he actually said!..... He combines funny expressions with a good portion of intellectual knowledge and that can be just hillarious...... Besides this he probably knows every hunting or fishing store in this country. I am waiting for him to join the „pinguin fishers” one day.... as Jonathan calles the fisher men on frozen lakes...... those fishers cut holes into the ice and sit around this hole (at every temperature you can imagine) all day long. Not all around one hole for better communication and joining a good beer...... no, the lake is evenly sprinkled with small black dots and probably as perforated as a swiss cheese!

All these people practically live & work together including me for this term! It is great to arrive, knowing someone is waiting and looking forward spending time together!

Latvian construction mistakes

Soviet relict - Apple transport

Tilza pictures

Katholic church, Tilza
The Cross at kath. Church

some vehicle along the way

russian orthodox church in Tilza

AUDIO BOOK

Being sick gives you lots of time....... and so I listened to Hape Kerkelings’ audio book „Ich bin dann mal weg!” („I am gone now!”).
Hape is a german comedian, who walked the St. James pilgrim route in 2001. 800 kilometers from the pyrenees to Santiago de Compostella in Spain. So this book is about his encounters along the way!
I just loved his stories.... and because they were send one by one as mp3 files via skype.... yes, through my very slow wireless connection.....I got quite desperate in between downloading for hours. But finally today, I was able to listen to all parts – what a glorious day!

„GO HOME”!!!

I am sick, since almost 4 weeks now!
It all started on my way to the bible seminar in Smiltene on the 02.February. Smiltene is approx. half way back from Tilza to Riga and I decided weeks ahead, that I would take part in that old testament seminar, which took place at a New Frontiers church – pentacostal movement! It was a great evening with lots of worship, prayer and good bible teaching!
I actally planned to stay the night in order to also join the second day as well, but it turned out different!......
God send me home.... he directly told me to leave and drive home that night! And on the next day I knew why....

Arriving in Riga around 24h, I felt very tired and went to bed without even unpacking stuff! During the night I developed 40 degrees fever that stayed for 2 days. I felt terrible, every movement hurt. So I basically just slept! Since then I got not only this sudden 40 degrees fever on/off, but also various other sypthoms like a cold, swollen lymphnots, allergic reactions on medications, inflammations somewhere in my body.... after tests the docs cannot find reasons! So besides taking antibiotics, anti-inflammation druggs and drinking 2-3 liters a day, there is not much what can be done about it... we will see....

There are some chances being at home: sleeping, reading, listening to music or seminars, watching my movies all over again..... I got time! Lots of time to think, pray and finally do NOTHING!
Also the nice thing about being sick is, lots of people call or drop by to either enquire about me or to shop for groceries! They even drive all across town just to deliver milk and tea!..... Unbelieveable!..... TRUE friendship and pure love of CHRIST! Wow!!!

According to the medication and me sitting here writing again... I must be on the mend......

Pirates

Did you know we got pirates in Latvia? Real ones: scary, dreadful, creative and treasure hunting ones..... who are they? They all look different but have this one common symbol – back scarfs and black eye lids.....
If you see one around.... be careful..... your possessions are in great danger!!!
And if you believe it or not, I met one last week in person! My goodness, that was a agile one!!!.....fighting for his honor, searching for treasures everywhere and you know - he found many of them... we had troubles to hide our pressious belongings...... He would have found everything with his perfect instinct for values, that we would have tried to hide..... so it did not help, we surrendered!!!
Now there is one thought that kind of makes me wonder..... Do Pirates have a certain statue, or can they actually appear looking like every person? Cause how will I know in the future, if I am facing one??? Maybe they also adapted to this strange new world and do not anymore treasure hunt with ships on foreign islands, but they also expanded their territories on the continent.....
For example, this weekend Tilza was a gathering place for Pirates..... they actually met at the russian border, far away from the sea, but I am sure this also has an important meaning.... maybe they thought about new strategies..... exchanged new hunting ideas, were attracted by a very famous lake with a small island.... maybe also Tilza is THE famous Pirates touri destination???.... what do I know???.....
BUT one thing was important: they all gathered to celebrate one special occasion – THE birthday!!! The famous Christopherous Pirate turned wiser and grew taller than he ever was before..... He actually is one of the Pilgrims among the Pirates and his sisters are among the most beautiful princesses in this country.....
Did that attract all international Pirates?..... Not only.... there is more to it, than beautiful princesses ........ a Pirate needs challenges, good fights, new hunting experiences... and proper food!

All this was provided and so it turned out to be a huge celebration......