We had great adventures in Latvija. Highlites for us were meeting new friends, going to a few hockey games, and visiting some beautiful cities. We found the people friendly and the food very tasty. We saw a great hockey game in Ogre between the Riga Under 20 team and the professional team from Ogre. Both the players and their fans were very passionate. It was fun. The purpose of our trip was to scout out hockey outreach locations for the future and we feel that we found a few good posibilities.
The second photo is of Glen and Maris Dzelze, YWAM National Director for Latvija. Maris has an amazing life story. The following is an article I found on Maris at http://www.gospels.com/maris.htm
"During the 50 years of Communism the people were left with a moral and ethical vacuum which had devastating moral consequences-deceit, fear, unwillingness to make decisions, rampant crime, drugs, murder, alcoholism, and pornography are deeply embedded in the society. A deep yearning for something better has swept through the land. We have a unprecedented opportunity to share with them of the hope which lies in Jesus.
Maris Dzelzs was a moving force in Christian witness during the Soviet occupation of Latvia. His stories are legendary throughout the country.
Under communism it was highly illegal to print and distribute Christian Literature and Bibles. After leaving his daytime job Maris would work in an underground print shop producing Christian literature. During the communist occupation they produced books by Billy Graham and Louis Palu. These books were distributed throughout Latvia and Russia.
After being in the Christian underground for most of his Christian life on Christmas 1990 during the national revival he was able to meet with the Latvian President and Congress sharing with them the true meaning of Christmas. He was able to share the Gospel with an audience of open ears for fifteen minutes and give each of them a personal copy of the Bible. He told them the day was soon to come when they would need Jesus. Three weeks later on January 13, 1991 Latvia would experience its greatest political revolution ending communism as they knew it.
That January 13, 1991 over 700,000 people marched on Riga the capital city of Latvia. All eyes were glued to the TV News. Following that evening news Maris was given the microphone at the TV Station and in the next minutes he called the nation to repentance and prayed with hundred of thousands of people to turn to God as only He could deliver them out of the hands of the enemy. The power of God won and the communists power was defeated in Latvia. Within a few short weeks national elections were held and Latvia became a free nation after 50 years of Soviet occupation.
After the revolution in Latvia while Maris was establishing a prison ministry (which later along with others resulted in a Prison Fellowship Latvia ministry) and helping The Latvian Christian Mission in Riga he came in contact with some young leadership people from the Youth For A Mission movement in Europe. Together with others he decided to establish a YWAM work in Latvia. "