Building relationships

It is easy to forget that, in Europe, Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday that is celebrated. Over what would have been Thanksgiving, I traveled to Palanga, Lithuania, for a conference for the Lithuanian Lutheran pastors. 

It was a wonderful few days with deeply theological presentations from other LCMS Eurasia missionaries. We were able to engage in discussion and fellowship with other Lutherans who have lived very different lives than anyone from the United States has experienced.

It is a true joy to see the friendship that we have in Christ and to recognize the body of Christ in places that I have never been before. 

Now, it might seem strange that a missionary is going to a pastor’s conference. Missionaries are supposed to be making contact with non-Christians, right?

In my role as a theological educator, it is important to make contact with other faithful Lutheran pastors to encourage them, as the church bodies in these countries are quite small. Also, it is a help for them to meet and get to know those who are working to train new pastors so that local Lutherans will be encouraged to study at Luther Academy in Riga. 

Training new pastors from the local populations is the way forward for missions because those who have been raised in these cultures can speak to their fellows in a way that a foreigner will never understand. 

Please pray for this work and that the Lord will provide many new workers for his vineyard.  

– Quintin

Official residency!

It’s official – we are legal residents in Latvia for the next year! Obtaining our identification cards makes many things so much easier, especially when it comes to paying bills, going to the doctor, etc.

November brings quite a few cultural celebrations here. November 11th is Lāčplēsis Diena (see sidebar), November 18th is Latvijas Republikas Proklamēšanas Diena (Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia, or Independence Day), and November 29th was the first Sunday in Advent. November 18th brings nationwide ceremonies, a military parade, and family gatherings. We were surprised that the Sundays (especially) in Advent are so widely celebrated here, and not just in the churches. The tree-lighting ceremony occurred in Dome Square on November 29th, and we were blessed to witness the gorgeous (and cold!) spectacle.

Two hours of Latvian class continue for Quintin and Lindsay every week. We have a long way to go, but we are thankful that Google Translate helps fill in the narrowing language gap! 

Quintin became part of the Luther Academy Academic Council in November, so has meetings for that each week. They discuss the direction of the school. This kind of administrative leadership is important for the development of the program. Quintin has also been active in preaching and doing the liturgy at the English services at St. John in Vecrīga (Old Town). 

Lindsay has taken on another administrative task at Luther Academy: a registrar of sorts. She will be keeping records of admissions and grades and will be able to produce transcripts. She also volunteered with the International Women’s Club of Rīga for their annual Christmas Bazaar that benefits many local charities, including crisis centers and foster families.

Be sure to follow our Facebook page, “The Cundiffs in Latvia”, for even more photos and stories of our missions in this beautiful country!