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First day in Latvia- rain and sunshine- fellowship and exploring.

We arrived at Schipol airport on Friday afternoon, thinking we’d have lots of time to have dinner and leisurely catch our flight. What we take into account was the long line at check-in which was slower than normal because they insisted on weighing all the luggage, checked and hand luggage alike. Since I hadn’t checked-in online, I had the great pleasure of standing in the queue, and being reminded of what it was like back in the day when online check-in was something of the future.

After finally getting checked-in and through security we had just enough time to eat some slightly cold pizza (a very strange system of “heating” up already cooked pizza and selling them in slices...interesting). Then we got on the plane and off we went, excited to be on our way to Riga.

The flight was chilled and quite uneventful. It was quite amusing finding an article in the in-flight magazine about the “blond parade” on Saturday which is apparently a yearly even organised by Latvia’s blondes association. I am sure it will be quite a sight... who knows, we might end up seeing it.

Travelling back from the airport in the bus we got our first glimpse of Riga by night. It seemed to be a beautiful city and it gave me Brazil associations, I think especially coz the weather was quite warm and it was dark and we were on a bus in a big city. From the bus we had a walk through the deserted downtown and it was so exciting to get a feel of the city... exciting to be here!

At Lysette’s apartment it really felt like I was in Eastern Europe. It’s an amazing apartment! High ceilings, really old decor, and wires on the outside of the walls. But it’s got such a good atmosphere. And it’s right opposite a club called “Sin City”, so perfect location to pray for God’s light and presence to fill the city! It was already late when we arrived so after getting settled it was good to get some sleep.

Waking up I had a tad of time confusion having forgotten to set the clock an hour forward, so (in my mind) I got up at 7:30 am but when I was having breakfast after taking a shower it was almost 9 am. Outside it was pouring down with rain and I said a little prayer to Jesus, asking Him to stop the rain when it was time for us to go outside. Our morning was chilled and we just had some time as a team before the staff of the YWAM base here came to the apartment for staff meeting and lunch. It was a great time of connecting and it just amazes me to see how people are brought together from different nations to one place and can unite around Jesus and His heart and purposes.

In the afternoon it was indeed sunny, and warm (read flip flops, short sleeved top, sunglasses) and we decided to go to “Amelie” a small kafēnica (coffeeshop) for a coffee. It was a lovely cafe which unfortunately is closing on Saturday. We also strolled around the old city and were proper tourists taking lost of photos everywhere. Riga is a beautiful city!

The evening was spent in one of the roughest areas in the city, but you’d never know as we went to dinner at the leader’s house and she has a beautiful apartment! It was a lovely evening of eating rocklette which is as Swiss eating thing where you have a grill machine on the table with little scoops and chopped up cheese and veggies which each one grills for themselves. It was yummy and a new experience for me. Dessert was karums which are these little square chocolate covered cheese sweets which is almost like a bite-sized cheesecake. They were served with fresh strawberries and blueberry jam from local blueberries. It was so gorgeous!! I am glad I don’t really have much space in my luggage going back, because it would be very tempting to stock up on karums.

Riga has a good feel to it. It’s modern yet not really, and it really feels like a big city, yet without the numerous tourists that consume Amsterdam. And the people are friendly. On the tram back from dinner this evening a lady sat next to me realised we were looking at the architecture of a building we passed. She explained it was the department of knowledge, and every country that was part of the former Soviet Union has one in the same architecture. I asked what was in the building now and she said she thought offices and stuff. I wonder what the “department of knowledge” was in Soviet days?

It’s good to be here in Riga. Good to be a part of this team and good to be allowed to partner with God’s heart for this place. Riga is such a pearl in God’s eyes and God has so much for this city.

I am excited about the rest of this week. Tomorrow we’re handing out bread to people to express God’s love!

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