Daveski posted a story (27-Apr-10) :

For Such A Time As This

When I first came to Latvia and sat down to talk with Maris Dzelzs ( the founder of YWAM in Latvia ), we spent most of our conversation on one topic: creating a movement. It was an idea burning inside him that Latvia would see a House Church movement transform the Christian landscape of his nation. For me, I had the skills to start a house church, but I didn't quite see what he did, at that time

That has all changed. My eyes have been opened to not only starting House Churches in Latvia, but that this was something burning on the heart of God for Latvia. Last September, Santa and I started the Breakfast Club as an experiment. It has been a great success. It is clear to me now that the strengths of a House Church are just what so many people are really looking for these days: Eating together and intimate Christian community, teaching not preaching, comfortable couches and great coffee .... and all of this done for a ridiculous little amount of money.

So far, we have been very successful. By success, I don't mean many people coming each Sunday. That is old thinking. By successful I mean that people are being challenged and are changing, an excitement for God is growing, and a vision of a community of people loving one another in a personal way is being realized. We are only beginning, but we have seen God answering our prayers ... financial provision for large needs, jobs for people needing jobs, and even help with teething babies.

I am excited to be apart of something I know Jesus is all about. I look forward to writing future stories about the faithfulness of God to his people.

Elise posted a story (12-Mar-10) :

Amidst one of the coldest winter on record in Latvia, approximately 250 people, local and from around the globe, gathered in Riga to attend the Mission Days 2010 event. People from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Canada, USA, UK, Brazil, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Argentina, and Netherlands, among others, were represented there. People from different denominations gathered to worship, pray, learn, and understand their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Indeed, God was up to something bigger than we could imagine, and over the three days of this event, it would unfold before our eyes.

On the opening night, our keynote speaker, Dr. Lindsay Brown, International Director for the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization, challenged us to be open to take up the call to Missions. The barriers that serve to hinder our 'going' were matched with truth. The testimonies that followed served to inspire us to go and caused us to see that we are without excuse if God calls.

Throughout the event, God's heart for the nations became more evident. We saw the extravagant love of God toward Latvia, as He called a young Brazilian to come for 3 days. His purpose was to encourage people, and remind Latvians of the treasures that exist in them - treasures needed by other nations, that will bless the nations, and serve to build His Kingdom among the peoples.

We experienced the power of God to do the impossible as a young mainland Chinese girl shared in a seminar about her family, 5 generations of Christians, who were 'missionaries' within their own nation. God called her to study to be a missionary in other lands, provided finances and visas, and ultimately brought her to Latvia to share His love, tell of His faithfulness, challenge us to walk in the reality that nothing is impossible for Him.

A young Latvian girl, impacted by participating in a missions training course and outreach to Albania, obeyed the call of God to gather a small team of Latvians to go there to minister in that nation on a short term outreach.

On the final evening, opportunities to take all we'd learned and heard, and all our inspiration and put feet to it. Several groups shared of the many opportunities that exist from Latvia. One group of young people lined the front of the church whilst passing loaves of bread, which were piled up on either side of the pulpit. It was 200 loaves all together. A message was being shared about how this bread was representative of Jesus' love. We've freely received His love, we've experienced it, and can therefore give away what we've received. Then, each participant was encouraged to come up and receive some bread to either keep or give away. The Mission Days event, marked the beginning of what has become the Baltic Bread Project. Many who attended have continued to participate in this and other projects.

Mission Days 2010 was a great success as so many are taking seriously the call of God to go, and saying "here I am, send me", instead of "here I am, send him".

Marnie posted a story (13-Oct-09) : This summer I staffed a DTS (Discipleship Training School) outreach in The Netherlands, 5 students, 3 staff. We represented 7 Nations ( Burundi, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, Curacao, Latvia & USA) and 8 different mother tongues. Together we spoke more than 16 Languages! 4 of the students/men in the DTS are Asylum Seekers in The Netherlands and so the focus of the outreach was working in the different Asylum Seeker Centers (AZC) across The Netherlands. Most of the people we met had to flee their country because of political & religious reasons as well as escaping tribal wars ext.. and arrived in the Netherlands with only what they could carry. We worked along side locals who are already working in the AZCs, mostly with women and Children, they asked for help reaching the young men, so that was our focus. Single men make up more than half the population on the AZCs. We organized sports games, small bible studies, we hung out every day at the AZC building relationships, drinking tea & coffee, eating with them and praying with them. It was an amazing time! If you would like more information please email me marniehoo@gmail.com

Daveski posted a story (17-Sep-09) : YWAM Riga House Church Experiment: Santa and I have started a 12 week experiment called the Breakfast Club. It is a house church in our home for an invited set of people. It's purpose is to learn about house churches in the content of Riga and to met Spiritual needs that are not being met in people who occasionally go to church.

We have completed two Sundays and the group is doing well, growing together, learning and being challenged. As the leaders, we are certainly learning alot of what it takes to lead a house church in an urban center and post-modern generation. Stay tuned for more updates.

Santa posted a story (07-Sep-09) : XENOS has released a new song called "IN YOUR ARMS" The author is our bands' electric guitar player Maris Veliks. It is a love song to God which talks about His mighty power and finding refuge only in Him. At the same time, the song shows God as a loving Father, who wants to embrace all of us as his loving children. We are encouraged to look at the cross where all our scars are healed, fears disappear and we are offered complete freedom. You can hear the new song here: http://www.draugiem.lv/xenos

Daveski posted a story (27-Jul-09) : The end of a great week together came today as Santa, Elise and I saw off the St. Johns team from Sheffield, UK. On Friday, they completed both of the outdoor meeting areas at our training base in Valdemarpils. For the next 2 days, the team got to enjoy Riga along with a trip to the Lido Restaurant and Indian Raja.

We want to acknowledge the hard work and incredible generousity they showed to all of in the mission that they encountered.

Daveski posted a story (25-Jul-09) : XENOS had a concert at the Valmeira Lutheran church days. It was an incredible 30 minute set off most of our lively songs. The crowd of 400-500 people enjoyed it. We had about 150 of them up on the large stage with us dancing away and having a good time.

Daveski posted a story (24-Jul-09) : On Thursday the team embarked on a very large task - to short through donated clothes. YWAM often is the conduit of aid from which items from giving people flow to those in need. At the moment, the loft to the shed is full of clothes and shoes that have been donated. The team jumped in an began the needed sort of these items.

Construction also continued. David the carpenter and Sam the apprentice, where busy building the roof sections. Others in the team, wheel-barrowed in some sand to make up the bottom of the meeting area.

Daveski posted a story (23-Jul-09) : On Wednesday, the team from St. John's got their hands dirty. The construction of the outdoor meeting areas progressed to the point of getting the outer structure complete. Other parts of the team prepared the first floor windows for painting by sanding all of the surfaces. The team also completely cleaned out one of the shed's on the base. The refuse from that shed, along with a large pile of branches, become a 20 foot inferno. Many of the young guys had been trained through Scouts the art of managing a fire, so they made sure things were kept under control.

Daveski posted a story (22-Jul-09) : The team from St. John's Chapeltown ( Sheffield , UK ) arrived at our Valdemarpils training center to start a week of service. The team is made up for 4 adults and 9 youth. This trip is the first missions experience any of them have had. They will be doing a variety of projects including building 2 outdoor meeting areas.

They started off the day by doing the ropes course. This is a team building experience where most of the activities get people to work together to overcome some kind of obstacle.This was a great way to start the week off.