Early Sunday morning, February 3

Weekly review from my personal point of view

This week has contained a number of flashbacks from our time in Latvia. On Monday Edgars arrived in Riga with our last belongings from Latvia. Some boxes with books and a small sofa. He returned to Latvia with the boat on Tuesday with the mini-bus filled sith humanitarian aid things from Stockholm. We had good talks with Edgars and we were updated about the present situation for our friends in Latvia.

Friday night we met our successor as leader for the Salvation Army work in Latvia, Christine Bailey from United Kingdom, and "our" personal secretary and translator Iveta Rasa. Iveta is no longer "our", that is why I had to write "our" between these signs "".

Christine and Iveta had been in Stockholm for a number of meetings and then we spent Friday night in our house. Christine had of course some questions about the work in Latvia and we had many questions about all people in Lativa. How are the officers doing? What about the new officers? The new soldiers? The new converts? We received good positive answers on all these questions (If somebody from Latvia is readings this: We are still praying for you!)

Saturday it was the annual meeting for "the Skangali Friends", a support group for the work at Skangal, which was donated by the Palme family after the liberation from the Sovjet Union.

Christine presented herself in the meeting and gave her first impressions from Latvia. She summarized her impressions with the words Admiration, Focused work and Warmth. Modris, the director for Skangal reported what has happened at Skangal since last meeting and Marie Willermark ended the gathering with a devotion. Bertil Rodin, Mr. Skangal, was leading the meeting.

Rut and myself were asked to tell about what has happened in the Salvation Army in Latvia during 2012. I showed some pictures and here you can follow my speech:

New soldiers. The Salvation army is growing (1). Pictures from some of the soldiers enrolments during 2012. The pictures are from Bauska, Iecava, Sarkani and Liepa..

New corps. The Salvation Army is growing (2).  Two new corps opened in March 2012. Corps number 8 and number 9. Both Seda and Drusti have had several soldiers enrolments and they were now ready to be Corps of their own.

The Congress in Riga in June was a highligt during 2012. You can see the march to the opening meeting, the tambourine brigade at an open air meeting and Riga Staff Songster.

Children´s musical. During the Congress children from all over Latvia performed the musical "What´s up Zak?"

New Officers. The Salvation Army is growing (3). Eight new Officers were ordained during the Congress.

Summer camps. Pictures from the Children´s camp in Ainaze and from the Family Camp at Beranti on the West Coast of Latvia.

New Corps plantings. The Salvation Army is growing (4). In the end of the summer two new Corps Plantings were opened. One in Agenskalns in Riga and one in Saldus.

The Social Center in Riga. Pictures from the preparation of food parcels and from the sowing studia at the center.

Congress in Prague. More than 80 participants from Latvia took part in the European Congress in Prague during October 2012.

EU-project. During 2012 a life skill program financed by EU has taken place at Riga first Corps.

Emergency team. In 2012 a new emergence team has been organized. Here you can see the Salvation Army officer in charge surraound by the fire fighters at Riga Fire Department.

Borås News Paper. At Christmas time a Swedish Daily Paper made a nine page long report from the Salvation Army work in Latvia.

There are of course much more to be told about the work in Latvia during 2012, but this report gives some hints.

Now it is Sunday morning and time to go to Stockholm for the Sunday service. And then...another week. I pray it will be a blessed week for you.
Peter Baronowsky