teisipäev, märts 08, 2005
Lõuna Eesti (South Estonia)
We saw more of Estonia today! We had several meetings in southern Estonia to look into the possibility of expanding the Army's work there. It was a lot of driving, but well worth the trip.
We started off in Võru, which is about 75 km south of Tartu. We, along with our translator Ermo, our regional commanders Majors Derek and Helen Tyrrell, and a local Methodist pastor, met with the director of social services for Võru to talk about the possibility of the Army working there. This man would very much like to see the Army working in his city, and identified several programs where we might get involved, such as a youth hostel, a feeding program and a day center for pensioners. All of these things fall in line with the Army's mission, and there is clearly need in the community. Now it is simply a matter of working out what would be the best place for the Army to start, and how it can happen. Please pray that God will guide our leaders as they try to discover the Army's place in Võru.
From there, we went to Hellenurme, a small town that is around 35 km southwest of Tartu. The drive was gorgeous, because there are no main roads leading to Hellenurme. We have had around 8 inches of snow in the past few days, so the roads were snow-covered, but so were the trees and the landscape was a brilliant white. It was like out of a post card!
We went to Hellenurme to meet a pastor who contacted our regional office in Tallinn. In the past, a Salvation Army corps in Sweden had provided support for his church, but they are unable to do this any more. He wanted to see if there was some way he could work together with the Army in Estonia. He is a great guy who sincerely cares about his community. It is a small village of less than 300 people. Most people are moving away to the larger cities, and those who remain are either at the old people's home or on farms. Most of these people have very little. Evelyn said to me, "I feel like I'm seeing the real Estonia." He showed us his church building, told us how many of the people who come are from the old people's home and how they used to have a church in a nearby town, but had to close it. It was sad to see. He is hoping the Evelyn and I can do church services at his church occasionally, and possibly from time to time help with humanitarian aid, such as food and clothing. We are excited by this prospect.
We ended the day by going to Elva, which is just north of Hellenurme. We had dropped Chris and Elizabeth there in the morning to spend the day with the Harrisons, and American missionary family. They have six children, and our kids love spending time with them. We had dinner with them, and enjoyed the chance to talk and relax. It was the perfect ending to the day.
Tomorrow we go full steam ahead, talking to someone about arranging an Estonian language class, finalizing the printing of posters for the opening, arranging for a caterer for the opening, and hopefully arraging regular programs at the childrens home. Please continue to pray for us in these various endevors, that we will keep focused on mission and not feel overwhelmed by the preparations for the opening.
--Tim
Today we prayed for Evelyn's neice Jessica, and her daughter Jalin.
We started off in Võru, which is about 75 km south of Tartu. We, along with our translator Ermo, our regional commanders Majors Derek and Helen Tyrrell, and a local Methodist pastor, met with the director of social services for Võru to talk about the possibility of the Army working there. This man would very much like to see the Army working in his city, and identified several programs where we might get involved, such as a youth hostel, a feeding program and a day center for pensioners. All of these things fall in line with the Army's mission, and there is clearly need in the community. Now it is simply a matter of working out what would be the best place for the Army to start, and how it can happen. Please pray that God will guide our leaders as they try to discover the Army's place in Võru.
From there, we went to Hellenurme, a small town that is around 35 km southwest of Tartu. The drive was gorgeous, because there are no main roads leading to Hellenurme. We have had around 8 inches of snow in the past few days, so the roads were snow-covered, but so were the trees and the landscape was a brilliant white. It was like out of a post card!
We went to Hellenurme to meet a pastor who contacted our regional office in Tallinn. In the past, a Salvation Army corps in Sweden had provided support for his church, but they are unable to do this any more. He wanted to see if there was some way he could work together with the Army in Estonia. He is a great guy who sincerely cares about his community. It is a small village of less than 300 people. Most people are moving away to the larger cities, and those who remain are either at the old people's home or on farms. Most of these people have very little. Evelyn said to me, "I feel like I'm seeing the real Estonia." He showed us his church building, told us how many of the people who come are from the old people's home and how they used to have a church in a nearby town, but had to close it. It was sad to see. He is hoping the Evelyn and I can do church services at his church occasionally, and possibly from time to time help with humanitarian aid, such as food and clothing. We are excited by this prospect.
We ended the day by going to Elva, which is just north of Hellenurme. We had dropped Chris and Elizabeth there in the morning to spend the day with the Harrisons, and American missionary family. They have six children, and our kids love spending time with them. We had dinner with them, and enjoyed the chance to talk and relax. It was the perfect ending to the day.
Tomorrow we go full steam ahead, talking to someone about arranging an Estonian language class, finalizing the printing of posters for the opening, arranging for a caterer for the opening, and hopefully arraging regular programs at the childrens home. Please continue to pray for us in these various endevors, that we will keep focused on mission and not feel overwhelmed by the preparations for the opening.
--Tim
Today we prayed for Evelyn's neice Jessica, and her daughter Jalin.
