Full speed ahead!

Reformation Day brings us to the end of quite a busy October. We went on a walking tour of Old Town Rīga, had family pictures taken, completed the steps needed prior to getting our visas, and took a long hike with a friend and colleague at Luther Academy (see above). 

Quintin has been working hard to procure books via Logos for all the English-stream students now and in the future. Communicating needs from three continents to the United States is no easy task! Quintin also began teaching part of another course called Stewardship, which also encompasses Church administration and Christian leadership. He is taking on more administrative duties with Luther Academy and is participating in Vespers services on Mondays for all LA staff and students.

Lindsay is getting busier (and loving it!) with additional administrative tasks through the Academy, as well, going through previous courses’ feedback forms to figure out how overall administration and instruction can improve. Another project is on the horizon, but she will find out more information soon!

Carter had quite a month with schooling: several field trips (one to a chocolate museum, the other to an interactive blindness exhibit – done in complete darkness), meeting up with friends, and conferences (he is doing exceedingly well in school). He also got his transportation pass so that he can ride all the buses, trams, and trolleybuses without charge. (One ride usually is about $1.15.)

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

Building local connections

This past month, I have had opportunities to connect with other Lutherans here in Latvia. I mentioned last month that there are very few second-generation Christians here. And yet, young people do gather together for youth group at local congregations. One such church invited me to come and join the youth for an evening of talking about social media and how we, as Christians, can utilize this tool while also being aware of its difficulties and dangers.

 It was a great evening of playing games and the kids laughing at my (still-poor) Latvian language skills (all but one of them spoke English). It was enlightening to see the similarities and talk about the differences between American and Latvian teens. The discussion ended with a discussion about how we all search for identity, but, for us as Christians, our identities are given to us by Christ in baptism, and I was able to reinforce for them the very real identity they have as Christians. Praise be to God!

– Quintin