New Photo Albums

We have lots more pictures posted at our webshots album for those of you interested in seeing more! While you are there, check out our other albums.

Correction about Invitations

I also had an encourageing informative conversation about invitation letters with the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) couple who took the Pittsburg team to the airport. I said "I heard only the Jews, Orthodox, Catholic, Lutherns or Baptist Union are able to invite long term foreign missionaries. " They answered, "You have been misinformed. Accually any 'registered religous entity' [a church or organisation registered in Latvia] may write invitation letters. We have done it." YWAM Latvia usually only does it for other YWAM missionaries. But, they advised, develop a good trusting relationship with an existing church that may write the invitation letter. I asked, "Would it be better if it was in the same town we would live in?" Answer: Yes because you might run into problems if you ministered in a city that was different then the one you were invited to. However, we will be asked, "Why Riga?" Is it because it's more comfortable than the villages? What about many towns and villages in Latvia where there is just an old Baptist church or Orthodox church, if they want a another kind of church, it's too far and expensive to travel to Riga." They challenged us, "Pray about going outside of Riga". I told her, "we will pray and look into other places, but in the end we have to go where God leads us." So far we are drawn to Riga because there are a million people here out of the 2.5 Million in the whole country of Latvia.

Calvary connections

More devine appointments today, I met with a team from Calvary Chapel Pittsburg and Fredricktown at the end of their 10 day mission trip and was encouraged by the YWAM missionaries that hosted them.

Background: When I first researched Latvia last year, I searched online for "Calvary Chapel" and "Latvia" and found this page about a couple Calvarys who teamed up and took a couple short trips and through YWAM to a Russian Baptist church in the city of Liepia (about 3 hour drive from Riga). So I emailed the pastor and called a couple team members, told them about our plans and found out they were planning to go about the same time. So we said, "Maybe we can meet in Riga on our last day".

This morning the Lord reminded me - Today is their last day! So, I called YWAM to find out where the team from CC Pitsburg and Fredricktown were, I found out they were on their way to the airport. So I jumped in a taxi hoping to see them there (it's a small airport). Timing couldn't have been better, I helped them bring their luggage from their van to the check in counter and spent almost an hour talking with them about what we were doing in Latvia. They had helped a small Russian church with outreach and a Vacation Bible School. Pastor John had done an Inductive Bible Study training with Sergei the Russian pastor, trying to help him to feed the sheep better, not just talking about current events and opinions but digging into the word of God. To those who had been their on previous trips, they seemed a little discouraged at the lack of progress and growth compared with 3 years ago.

They suggested I visit Liepia and encourage pastor Sergei, which I was already interested in doing, but now I see the Lord opening the door. Also seeing them off at the airport was a Russian girl (I'm sorry I forgot her name) who helped translate for the team and has been living in Liepia as a missionary sent from Calvary Chapel Smolensk, Russia. She got my email address and will, talk with Sergei about what day I could come. By the way, her pastor back in CC Smolensk Russia is praying about leading his family to Riga, Latvia to plant a church here too. Perhaps the Lord is preparing a team???

Issues for long term missionaries

Thursday, I met with Bridge Builders president Chuck Kelley - an evangelical organisation building relationships mostly between churches in Latvia and the USA. The main thing I wanted to do was make contact and ask about the invitation letters .
We had some things in common, He accually was at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in the seventies during the tent days, is friends with Thomas Kinkade, has visited Monterey and has fascilitated a sister church relationship between a Calvary in Southern California and I think a Baptist Church here.
As far as who can issue invitation letters for religious residency permits, Bridge Builders cannot. According to Chuck, only registered religious confessions can: Baptist, Lutherin, Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish. [see the next post for what others say about this issue] So, what does that mean? Latvia makes it difficult for new groups/movements/churches to come in (at least officially for a long period of time). We can be here for up to 6 months a year freely (3 months between Jan-June, 3 months between July-Dec), but to be here year round, we need a residency permit. There are other kinds of residency permits like for business and such. It might be a possibility to work (whether money can be made is questionable) but if I have a trade it might open the door year round - with strings attached.
But my desire is to be free to focus on building up the body of Christ and my family, to pour my self out into reaching lost souls and discipling new believers and still have enough time and energy for daily necessities. The Baptists have helped others with the invitations provided that they approve of the work that is being reported to them. Perhaps some relationship building in this direction would be fruitful.

Please continue to pray for God's will concerning the invitation letter and future ministry here.

If it is God's will for us to be here long term as Missionaries, then He will open the door as we pray. I believe that God has been preparing us for this place for a long time. There hasn't really been any culture shock, it feels more like home. We have some really good connections so far and there is definitely a need for pastors, church plantors and evangelists. God may be putting together a team (there is another family who is praying about moving here from a Calvary Chapel in Russia). He has given us a heart for both the Russian people and the Latvian people. It is very helpful to already be semi-fluent in Russian as most of the people we meet can speak Russian, but many Latvians want to speak Latvian (which we are beginning to learn). It is interesting that children are required to learn English in school as a second language, but they also have the choice between Russian and German as a third.
Anyway, my time is running out...

I just want to add that I have been able to bring my guitar on the street and play worship in english and Russian but mostly being friendly has opened doors to preach the gospel. It is sad how many people there are who have no idea how to get to heaven, much less how God wants them to live here. However I would encourage you to read recent news articles about how Latvians are standing up against the homosexual agenda.

More soon, and keep praying for latvia!

I started a photo collection at http://www.trekearth.com/members/brentenlena/photos/ (I can only upload one a day).

Ministry Beginnings in Riga, Latvia

Friday Morning I was wide awake at 3 am so I decided to have devotions. It was a good time in the word, I read about the temptation of Christ in the desert and the beginning of His ministry in Galilee. Comparing all the gospel accounts it was interesting to see how Jesus did not sin against the word of God as he answered each temptation with “it is written”, and when He went to Galilee he fulfilled Scripture “A light will shine in Galilee…” As we are just beginning here, I want to be obedient to the word of God, like Jesus was. I want to fulfill God’s plan for me by letting my light so shine before men and lead my family where he has foreordained that we should walk.
Later, we all had breakfast together and after Lily’s morning nap, we went out for a walk together to town (about a 30 minute walk), I took Lena to the center and we had lunch at TGIF and watched people walking by. And were getting familiar with where things were. After the kid’s napped, We found a good grocery store called Rimi, I felt like we were in an American grocery store because of the variety, abundance and organization of all the food, they even had cream cheese for Caleb.
The phone situation was kind of disappointing. We have a phone jack in our apartment but no phone, and the landlord said it will be impossible for us to have a working line there because we are foreigners. I was able to make a call from the landlords office but Dagnia was not home so I left a message inviting her to come over at 8pm for prayer and fellowship. Around 8, I went out to find a pay phone and call Dagnia to invite them out to lunch the next day, She informed me that she couldn’t come but her room-mate Ilza was on her way over to our apartment to meet us.
Ilza is Latvian-American (she grew up in the States and learned Latvian from her parents). It was good to hear her share her perspective about what is going on spiritually here, and how there is not really a church that she feels comfortable inviting people to. She was really interested to hear how God lead us here and what our vision was for church planting. It is good to have another friend who speaks English and Latvian and we are glad the Lord led her to come over to our house without even knowing us. She is a good contact and continues to show us around, help us find important things, answer questions and if she doesn’t know, she can connect us with people who do.

Saturday, we went out to lunch with Dagnia, William and Ilza at Chili Pizza, it was Latvian style pizza, but not bad. We got to know them a little more and decided to get together in the evening for our first home fellowship. It was a special worship and prayer time. I led worship, we interceded for Latvia and at the end they prayed specifically for Lena and me. God gave them each an encouraging word concerning our mission in Latvia, which they later wrote down for us to keep. Here is what they wrote:

Dagnia – Prayer and Exhortation

Do not dispise the day of small beginnings. Not only does this mean that you are
starting our here but also your children. They have been called here; watch them
as the Lord uses them. They are anointed.

William - Prophecy for Brenten and Lena

You are like a tank; strong, powerful, going into enemy territory, taking ground,
possessing the land. God is your protection – he is your Shield, when you go
through the rough ground (enemy fire) It will not harm you, you think it might
but it won’t. Trust Him. It is “not by might nor by power but by My Spirit” says
the Lord.

Ilsa - Heb 3:17-19 Amplified version

Though th fig tree does not blossom and there is not fruit on the vines [though] the product of the olive fails and the field yield not food, though the flock is cut off from
the fold and there are no cattle in the stable, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hind feet and will make me to walk [not stand still in terror but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility]

God is putting you into turbo gear to get “up the mountain” You are (on) an all terrain vehicle. He’s called you to go on rough terrain (barren lava like, lifeless) but you are WELL EQUIPPED. The 4 wheels = all the members of your family.
Worship is the key! He makes your feet like hinds feet on high places. Meditate on the “lava terrain” I think there’s more there…

Now in Riga, Latvia

We have arived in Latvia and are getting over jet lag, getting aquainted with where things are and meeting with a few Latvian-Americans who are being a huge help as far as orientation. We don't have a telephone or internet in our apartment, so I will try to update you from internet cafes. For those of you who are praying, keep it up, God is giving us firm steps to take as we step out in faith. Hopefully I will learn how to post pictures from here soon.

I am glad we are only in London one night - they are having a heat wave. Travels are going well though. The Lena and the kids are in bed at a hotel and I am sitting in a British grocery store that has an internet cafe near the daiper isle! Can't wait to get to Riga tomorrow and begin to see the reality of what is going on there. We will be visiting some other ministries, to see what they are doing. We will be meeting with other ministers to learn what they say the needs are. We will be seeking the Lord to see what our role will be in the short and long term. And we will be looking for opportunities everywhere we go to be a blessing and minister as the Spirit leads.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. "
Ephesians 4:15-16

Today is the day we leave home for Latvia. We are flying British Airways directly from San Francisco to London, then after a good night sleep there, our flight to Riga, Latvia. We will arrive in Riga at 2:55 pm. We have a friend picking us up at the airport, Dagna Duran (more about her later). She will take us to get the keys for our apartment that we are renting. You can see it at www.megapolis.lv/?path=1,102&detail=42

Please pray for our trip that it would go smoothly for the kids and that God would prepare our hearts for what He is about to do. Thank you all for your support! Stay tuned....

Pastor Roger has been supportive of us going to Latvia - even before he became the senior pastor at CCMB 4 months ago. He has been a mentor to me ever since I assisted him as he taught a Missions class last fall when God began calling us to Latvia. We actually had dinner at his house last night along with his fellow missionary from the Philippines, Dave Matthews (not the musician). We enjoyed sharing fellowship and stories and Janet's cooking. At the end the men went into the kitchen and washed dishes and laughed as he sang "if you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all". He reminded me of how fruitfulness comes from spending time with people not just creating a storm of activity and then leaving. It takes time to see peoples lives change radically. The best method for church planting is feeding the sheep the Word of God and exampling (is that a word?) the Biblical Christian life until they get it and begin modeling it to their own people. "Healthy sheep beget healthy sheep." That is when you know you are done, but it takes years.
We are blessed to have a senior pastor who was a missionary in the Philippines for 13 years. He often emphasizes missions in a very dynamic and encouraging way. Last Sunday he concluded teaching though the gospel of Mark. The call to "Go preach the gospel to all" was made simple and practical, "Are you at least available to go, if God should call you?" And this Sunday, he started the book of Acts "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth." "Acts is about first century missions," he said "A missionary is someone who is willing and trusts God to go where the Spirit leads". These aren't exact quotes but you get the idea. The timing couldn't be better as we leave this Tuesday for Latvia, God is definitely using pastor Roger to impart faith and vision for the future to us and to the rest of the gang at CCMB. In the words of William Carey, "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God."

Today, during the second service, Pastor Roger Scalice brought us before the body at Calvary Chapel Monterey Bay and prayed for us along with 2 other missionaries who are going out soon. It is good for the body to be aware that God is sending people all over the world from our local fellowship.
1. Karen Morgan is going to Uganda (Africa) for 2 or more years as a medical missionary. God provided a grant for her to work in a TB lab and she will also be plugging into a local church and women's ministry teaching God's word.
2 . Jason Krach is going to an island in China (Asia) for a couple weeks to get vision for what he will be doing when he moves there in January 2007.
3. The Powers family (us) will be going to Latvia (Europe) for a month to establish contacts for church planting and to preach the gospel. We hope to build good relationships with the people and see some get saved! (:

When are we leaving for Latvia? Tuesday, July 18th. Only 2 days left to get ready and pack for our mission trip. Lena is excited, Caleb is talking about living in Latvia and building a church there (out of legos), I can't wait, Lily is ready for anything. What is God going to do? How will He work in us? through us? inspite of us? Will we go through culture shock? Will we feel right at home? Who will we work with? Who will we reach? Our desire is to be lead by the Spirit on this trip.
"For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that he has prepared that we should walk in." Ephesians 2:10
"You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you and appointed you that you should go and bear much fruit... fruit that will remain." John 15
Lord of Heaven and Earth, please increase our faith, increase our prayers, increase Your kingdom. Let the prayers of the saints undergird all we do. The effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. Let us be a family of prayer, let us be an answer to prayer for those who you love in Latvia and Lithuania. Bring your light, your truth, your hope those in darkness, deception and dispair. Let Your Word find good soil and produce fruit that will remain. Fill us to overflowing with your Spirit. Take our lives and let them be, consecrated Lord to thee. And Thank you for the grace that you have given us, for providing all of our needs, for giving us glad hearts to serve you. You are good and your love endures!

Basic Facts About Latvia
LOCATION: Latvia is in North-Eastern Europe on the Baltic Sea next to Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus.

CAPITOL CITY: Riga (with almost 1 million poeple)

POPULATION: 2.3 Million; about 1/2 ethnic Latvians, 1/3 ethnic Russians. 1/6 other nationalities.
LANGUAGE: Latvian is the official language but there is a large Russian speaking minority too.

HISTORY: After being occupied by the Soviet Union (USSR), the Republic of Latvia became an independant democratic country in 1991. In 2004 it joined the European Union (EU).

RELIGION: About 50% of people identify with Catholic, Orthodox or Lutherin traditions, 40% are non-religios, 8% are Evangelical (Charismatic, Penticostal or Baptists) but only 2% regularly attend church. There are no Calvary Chapels in Latvia or it's close neighbors Lithuania or Estonia.