Tartu!

Good Evening faithful readers! I pray this blog finds you all blessed by our great heavenly father. We sure have been blessed..and blessed again! Since arriving here in Tartu we have visited a children's home that houses children whose parents are no longer ago to care for them. I know that broke the hearts of us on the team becuase we have had the opportunity to get to know some of the kids and they are just fantastic. Since visiting them yesterday a few of the children have attended some programs here at the corps. Hallelujah! They brighten our day for sure. We have also had the opportunity to do 2 open Airs in the town square. For many of us that was a new experience all together let alone in a country that we dont speak the language! But again God blessed us! Even while singing and preaching in the rain! It was really amazing.
Well I must leave some things to write for the others. Thank you for reading and praying for us. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as well. We miss and love you all.
God Bless-Kelly

The Prayers of the Righteous

Friends:

Thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement, at times the girls gather around the computer to hear them read; they are much appreciated. Also, we continue to feel the affects of the prayers of those praying for us; it is almost unbelievable that we are two weeks into our trip and we are all healthy, happy and safe; PRAISE GOD for His faithfulness. Thank you for covering us in prayer, it is felt by us in Estonia. The word of God says that the prayers of righteous are powerful and effective, so friends who are praying, you are righteous; your prayers are effective!

love Mhairi

Tartu

Hi everybody.
We have recently gotten back from our time in Narva. Our first night was a welcome and get to know you meeting. It was followed by a tea time with the corps people. They really are wonderful people. Jen made a connection with one of the women.
The next day we prepared to go do an open air and it started to rain. We really did not want to do our thing in the rain. We would not have any electronic music support. Then we decided to try and it stopped raining right away. We sang and four of us did the dance to amazing grace. I think it went well. When we were done it started raining again. We then went to the childrenś home. The kids are all so adorable. Jen did the devo. She talked about the lost sheep(called Habib). The kids loved it. That night we had a Youth night program. It was a time to hangout. we played games and had snacks and a devo.
Saturday, we did the open air again. It was a beautiful day. It just seemed to go smoother. We then went back to the corps and had circle time. we sat on the grass and played games, sang songs, did crafts and had a devotional. Some of the kids from the childrens home came. In the afternoon, we all had prep time for what we were doing. I was trying to write my sermon , but I was very frustrated. I was haveing trouble organizing what I wanted to say in to the traditional 3 point sermon. i was still concerned when we went to distribute flyers to the neighborhood. Evelyn told me not to worry about the 3 point structure and that calmed me down a lot. We had another meeting that night.
Sunday, we had the choice to go to a Estonian church with no translation or another church that was having american missionaries. So, there was the possibility of some english. I chose the estonian service. After lunch, we went to the corps and got ready for the army meeting. I really felt Godś peace about preaching even though my notes consisted of six words. The whole meeting went smoothly and when it was time for me to preach I got up and spoke. i really felt unorganized but something was getting through because I could see it on peoples faces. It flowed smoothly into a time of prayer(there was a woman who had a heart attack in a lutheran church that morning. She is a single mom.) Everything just came together so well thatr it had to be of God. I am wraping this up.
I just pray for the corps in Tartu as it grows. I pray that the children we reached out to would stay with the corps as they grow. I have a particular love for the children. Pray for us as our journey continues.

Tartu

Hi everybody.
We have recently gotten back from our time in Narva. Our first night was a welcome and get to know you meeting. It was followed by a tea time with the corps people. They really are wonderful people. Jen made a connection with one of the women.
The next day we prepared to go do an open air and it started to rain. We really did not want to do our thing in the rain. We would not have any electronic music support. Then we decided to try and it stopped raining right away. We sang and four of us did the dance to amazing grace. I think it went well. When we were done it started raining again. We then went to the childrenś home. The kids are all so adorable. Jen did the devo. She talked about the lost sheep(called Habib). The kids loved it. That night we had a Youth night program. It was a time to hangout. we played games and had snacks and a devo.
Saturday, we did the open air again. It was a beautiful day. It just seemed to go smoother. We then went back to the corps and had circle time. we sat on the grass and played games, sang songs, did crafts and had a devotional. Some of the kids from the childrens home came. In the afternoon, we all had prep time for what we were doing. I was trying to write my sermon , but I was very frustrated. I was haveing trouble organizing what I wanted to say in to the traditional 3 point sermon. i was still concerned when we went to distribute flyers to the neighborhood. Evelyn told me not to worry about the 3 point structure and that calmed me down a lot. We had another meeting that night.
Sunday, we had the choice to go to a Estonian church with no translation or another church that was having american missionaries. So, there was the possibility of some english. I chose the estonian service. After lunch, we went to the corps and got ready for the army meeting. I really felt Godś peace about preaching even though my notes consisted of six words. The whole meeting went smoothly and when it was time for me to preach I got up and spoke. i really felt unorganized but something was getting through because I could see it on peoples faces. It flowed smoothly into a time of prayer(there was a woman who had a heart attack in a lutheran church that morning. She is a single mom.) Everything just came together so well thatr it had to be of God. I am wraping this up.
I just pray for the corps in Tartu as it grows. I pray that the children we reached out to would stay with the corps as they grow. I have a particular love for the children. Pray for us as our journey continues.

The Henderson's

For the past couple of days we have been at the Salvation Army's camp in Loksa, Estonia. From the camp house it is just a 2 minute walk to the Baltic Sea; unfortunately the weather has not been on our side, and so days lazing on the beach have been kept to a minimum.

The camp house has just 3 bedrooms, one small kitchen, a cooks' bedroom/pantry, shower room, two small bathrooms, a dining room and a multi purpose room. To think that just one week ago the Argentina team and the Estonia team were leaving the Lodge at Star Lake with such incredible facilities... we are blest in the west. Four of the team are sleeping in the house, while four of the lassies are out in a tent; (please know, all of the girls offered to sleep in the tent!)

American standards are again challenged when it comes to showering in a house with 5 showers, a population of 35 and limited water supplies, did I tell you that 3 of the showers are co-ed communal? Yes, praise God for swimming costumes and protective Officers!

Let me tell you about the officers, Captains Daniel and Anya Henderson, and their five children. Anya and Daniel are Western territory officers who are tomorrow leaving for their homeland furlough; if any set of officers deserve a restful time, it's them. The team in constantly in awe of their faith, their compassion and their consciencious spirit; fatigue does not stop these officers!

The town of Narva, where the Hendersons' live, is an extremely poor and deprived one; on Thursday evening, Capt. Dan led a prayer walk around the town, sent out four groups in different directions, each pray-er, holding a candle. I was on Capt. Dan's team, and as we were walking we bumped into one of his corps members who joined us on our prayer walk; we were instructed, "Don't pray out loud, they won't let you in the building." We followed Capt and Sveta up ten flights of stairs to Sveta's apartment; as we climbed the stairs, the depravity increased; the smell of urine, the gravity on the walls; everything got darker and greyer, and yet when I looked to my hands there was a candle; my security.

Sveta lived on the top floor with her ten month old son; their was no elevator and so she had to carry his stroller up all ten flights every time she wanted to go out. The building had had a fire a year previous and the effects were still apparent, especially on the top floor. As Sveta struggled to open her apartment door, I was expected a sparsely furnished apartment, a little dirty; it was worse than I had feared. The bricks of the walls were visible as no dry wall was left after the fire; in some areas, even the yellow insulation was visible. The floor was filthy, her bed was just a box spring and mattress and no bed clothes; Samuel's crib had obviously seen better days; a baby bath sat on the floor with dirty clothes in it; I worried for the babies health, but my heart broke for Sveta. Sveta was in goverment housing, and it was this apartment or the streets.

Everything about Narva is grey; the sky, the buildings, the playgrounds, the people; well, most people, except the Hendersons'. We fell in the love with the Hendersons', with Isaish, Sophia, Annuta, Ilusha, wee Mark and their parents. Their appointment is not easy, but they are light in a very grey place. The Word of God says this about people like the Hendersons':

John 8
12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Please pray for the Hendersons as they travel home, and continue to pray for my lassies.

Much love,

Mhairi

Finally... pictures!

More pictures of our adventures can be found at flickr

;)

Tallinn, Estonia

Psalm 1:6
"For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish."

The people of Estonia are very proud of their capital city, Tallinn. To the Western eye it is no bigger than Newark, NJ, and yet the people speak of it with such love. Afterall, it is their capital city.

Many Scandinavian and British tourists come and spend time here, and so they should. The city of Tallinn has some of the most beautiful architecture, to take a walk in this city is to teleport into any of Grim fairytale, (the Disney versions of course,)it is truly a beautiful city.

Our first day in Tallinn was not sight-seeing, this was all imaged from a short ride in the Clark' van to Loostekeskus, (Children's Centre,) where the Salvation Army has a day centre for children in a Russian project. Thankfully, we have both Russian and Estonia translators. We played with the children and had a short devotional before it was time for their lunch.

A short drive back down the road, (there are no highways in Estonia,) took us into another part of town, Kopli, where Lootusemaja is situated. Lootusemaja, (Hope House,) is a day centre for the homeless where for 5 Krooni, (50 cents,) the homeless can come and enjoy a meal. Many of these men find the money for their meals after collecting bottles on the street and exchanging them for money.

For many the favourite part of Lootusemaja was the Work program that they run. In this centre there is room for 3/4 men to live, it is basic, but homely. While they live there, the workers of the Salvation Army home counsel them, teach bible to them and help them back onto their feet. It is a wonderful program, praise God for such programs, investing in the lives of these men in such a profound way.

Once we returned to the corps we packed the vans and headed off to Narva with Captain Daniel Henderson, he reminds me alot of Alastair Bate, they must have come from the same stock.

Blessings to you all,
Sincerely,
The Estonian Lassies

Arrived Safe and Sound

Deuteronomy 12:10

10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.

Dear Family;

This is a short note to let you all know that we have arrived safe and sound; our flights went smoothly and apart from being jet lagged we are well. The Clarks' were waiting for us at the airport, even though we had arrived an hour early; God is good; He provided us with hosts that always have their eyes and ears open!

Our apartment is small, but homely; one bedroom, one bathroom and a small kitchen; it's lovely. As Americans we have been reflecting on the vast differences between our homes in the two countries. After unpacking and alotting each individual a space to place to call their own for the duration of the summer, Captains' Clark took us for a short walk to a restaurant named "Travel." Again, the portions served to us were not the same as in America; however, they were ample for our needs.

We decided to make our quiet hour for the apartment 10 pm, due to the living quarters, however, I don't think one of the lassies made it past 9 pm. ;) Jet-lag is not our friend!

This morning, we set our routine for the mornings and then headed to the Office for a short tour of Tallinn, before heading to Narva, a town right on the border of Estonia and Russia.

I must go, but please remain in prayer for the girls in Estonia; Alberta, Olivia, Valerie, Kelly, Christine, Franyfe, Jenn and Mhairi; they are good soldiers of the gospel. Also be in prayer for our sisters and brother in the Argentina team, they will shortly be arriving in Argentina, pray for their safety, attitude and energy.

God be praised!

love Mhairi